Voters to Decide on 60% Constitutional Amendment Plan; Special Election Set for August

On a 62-37 vote, the Ohio House this week agreed with the Senate to let voters decide the fate of a plan to require a 60% voter-approval standard for proposed amendments to Ohio’s constitution. (Under current law, only a simple majority is required.) See this summary of Senate Joint Resolution 2.

Ohio election officials must now prepare for a special Aug. 8 election.

Republican proponents call the measure needed election reform that will limit out-of-state activists, noting that the Ohio Constitution has been amended 172 times (opposed to 27 times for the U.S. Constitution). Opponents, primarily Democrats, say the measure is undemocratic and will erode the ability of Ohioans to make their voices heard.

Only Florida, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Colorado require more than simple-majority approval for constitutional amendments. However, Ohio is one of just 18 states that allow citizen-initiated constitutional amendments. 5/10/2023