DeMora Condemns Passage of Proposed Constitutional Amendment Language

Today, state Senator Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) issued the following statement after the Ohio Ballot Board voted along party lines to approve the ballot language for a proposed constitutional amendment to increase the burden for citizens to pass any future constitutional amendments. This process was initiated by the passage of Senate Joint Resolution 2 last week.

“In true Republican fashion, the Ballot Board just approved sneaky, misleading, and factually incorrect language that was handcrafted to deceive the voters,” said DeMora. “I look forward to the defeat of this poorly veiled attack on reproductive rights in August. All citizens need to vote ‘no’ to protect Ohio’s future against this clear Republican power grab.”

The Secretary of State prepared the language for the constitutional amendment, which the Ballot Board voted along party lines to approve. Objections were raised during the meeting regarding concerns with misleading language in both the explanation and title of the issue, factual errors regarding the number of petition signatures required, and the failure of the ballot language and explanation to inform voters about the current law.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green), and Mr. William N. Morgan voted in favor of the language, while Senator DeMora and Representative Elliot Forhan (D-South Euclid) voted against it.

The proposed amendment, Ohio Issue 1, will be on the statewide ballot on August 8.