News
Ballot language for Issue 1 is set, but backers of the redistricting plan say the wording is unfair
< < Back toCOLUMBUS, Ohio (Statehouse News Bureau) — The Republican-dominated Ohio Ballot Board has made some minor tweaks to the language voters will see for Issue 1 when they go to the polls in November, at the order of the Ohio Supreme Court. But backers of the amendment said that language doesn’t fairly represent the redistricting process they want voters to approve.
After the meeting, LaRose and the board’s Republicans ignored calls from reporters for comment, and exited through a side door of the hearing room.
But the Democrats on the board stayed. Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) lambasted LaRose and the majority members on the panel for their decision to approve ballot summary that did not accurately summarize the redistricting amendment.
“This was done and it was created for the main purpose of hoodwinking the voters,” said Hicks-Hudson. “There’s never been language like this done. If you go historically and look at how other secretaries of state have dealt with language such as this, they were take they’re taking no chances to try not to hoodwink and to destroy our democracy.”
Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) disagreed with
the decision but said he intends to work to make sure Ohioans understand the truth about the amendment.
“We’re going to get to work the same effort and enthusiasm that those folks put in to get those 700,000 signatures,” Upchurch said.
Citizens Not Politicians spokesman Chris Davey said while Democrats opposed this summary language for Issue 1, the amendment itself has support from both Republicans and Democrats around the state.
“I think history will judge Frank LaRose and the other lying, cheating politicians who are doing everything they can to cling to power by stopping Issue 1, and people are seeing right through it. It’s going to backfire,” Davey said.