by JD Davidson
After approving the final, controversial ballot language for Issue 1 this week, Ohio Democrats want to change the rules.
Two lawmakers, including a member of the Electoral Commission, are planning what they are calling a legislative overhaul of the commission, saying voters are tired of the commission’s lies, mismanagement and the failures of its leaders.
Reps. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio, D-Gahanna, and Terrence Upchurch, D-Cleveland, say the changes they are proposing are necessary to ensure free and fair elections in the state.
“One of the fundamental freedoms that makes this country unique is our ability to hold fair elections free from interference of any kind,” Brown Piccolantonio said at a news conference Friday. “Unfortunately, for three consecutive elections, Ohioans have watched helplessly as a Republican-controlled Board of Elections plays partisan politics with the democratic values guaranteed to voters in the Ohio Constitution.
“All of us who serve as legislators are elected by the people of Ohio, who rightly expect and want us to work together to represent their interests in government so that we can improve their lives and communities. When we put aside partisan politics and work toward common goals, no matter our background or beliefs, people win.”
The Republican majority on the Ballot Board has been under fire for its three recent ballot language decisions, two of which came last year and involved changing the constitution to make it harder to pass constitutional amendments and enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.
Voters approved both amendments despite controversial ballot language last year.
At the beginning of this weekThe council once again approved the final version of a proposed amendment that would take away the powers of the five-member council composed of politicians over the division of electoral districts and give them to a 15-member citizens’ committee.
All three votes to approve the languages resulted in a 3-2 vote, with Republicans voting to approve.
The proposed recent regulations aim to:
• Reorganize the Electoral Commission so that co-chairs come from opposite sides and jointly convene meetings and set the agenda.
• Require that nominations of legislative leaders to the Elections Commission be approved by the legislative leaders of the opposing parties in the House of Representatives and Senate.
• Prohibits lobbyists and politicians from serving as appointed members of the Electoral Commission.
• The Voting Commission, not the Secretary of State, will set statewide ballot issue titles by majority vote. Currently, the Secretary of State can act alone.
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Born in Ohio, J.D. Davidson is a seasoned journalist with more than 30 years of experience at newspapers in Ohio, Georgia, Alabama and Texas. He has served as a reporter, editor, managing editor and publisher. Davidson is a regional editor Central Square.
Photo “Ohio Statehouse” by Generalization.CC BY 3.0.
