Still confused about Issue 1? Here are the facts

Ohio's special election to decide Issue 1 happens TOMORROW, Aug. 8.

Opponents, including the media, are circulating a lot of misleading and confusing information about this issue.

So here are the facts:

Issue 1 seeks to elevate the standard for making changes to Ohio's Constitution. Right now, our founding document can be amended if just half of voters agree (technically 50% plus one additional vote), meaning half of voters could disagree. Issue 1 would raise the bar so it would take 60% of voters — a true consensus — to amend the constitution.

Does Issue 1 change statutory ballot issues or referendums? No. There are three types of citizen-initiated ballot issues: those that change the constitution, those that enact a law, and those that revoke a law. These are three entirely separate processes. Issue 1 deals exclusively with changing the constitution and nothing else.

Why should it be harder to change a constitution than to change the law? A constitution is a general framework for structuring and operating government, outlining the obligations and limitations of its power, including protections for the fundamental rights of its citizens.

Laws, on the other hand, are a set of specific rules to govern the behavior of people. The people's will is translated into law through elected representatives who answer to their constituents.

Confusing the two is a grave mistake. Unlike laws, which reflect the will of the people at a given moment in time, constitutions are intended to be bedrock documents that endure changing partisan administrations and outlast the ever-fickle winds of political whim.

That's why our nation's founders made changing the U.S. Constitution difficult. It requires support from two-thirds of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate and then three-fourths of the states.

Is Issue 1 radical or undemocratic as opponents claim? No. In fact, it is the current system that is radical. Consider this:

32 states do NOT allow initiated constitutional amendments AT ALL. Of the 18 that do, seven have additional requirements, such as higher voting standards with 55% or 60% majorities, minimum vote counts, or successive votes in multiple elections.

Only 11 states allow initiated constitutional amendments with a simple majority of 50% plus one vote, such as Ohio. All of which means Ohio is in the tiny minority of states with such low standards for changing a constitution.

A YES vote for Issue 1 raises the standard for constitutional amendments to 60% to bring us into line with 78% of other states that want some kind of clear consensus among citizens before amending a constitution that affects everyone.

Why is Ohio's Constitution so easy to amend? Over a century ago, progressives inserted a loophole into Ohio’s Constitution to allow changes to be made with no statewide consensus. Now deep-pocket, out-of-state billionaires and radical groups can buy their way onto the ballot and attack our basic rights even if half the state disagrees!

Why do some people oppose Issue 1? The same people who always oppose your gun rights oppose Issue 1, including the Democratic Party, ACLU, Everytown, Mom's Demand Action, and nearly every left-wing organization in Ohio. That’s because they have plans to use our state constitution to end-run the legislature and jam gun control and other leftist ideas down your throat.

Is it unfair to require signatures from all 88 Ohio counties for an issue to get on the ballot? No. Left-leaning activists prefer to limit signature collection to blue and bluish areas where their supporters live. This makes it easy to collect signatures, target millions of dollars in advertising to big-city markets, and permanently change the constitution with only half of Ohio voters in agreement.

Does that seem fair to you? Ohio is both urban and rural. Constitutional amendments affect ALL Ohioans, not just big blue urban areas. Issue 1 would ensure ALL Ohioans have a say.

Is there a real threat to gun rights? Yes. Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb recently admitted that if Issue 1 fails and Ohio’s Constitution continues to be easy to amend, they will use a ballot initiative to come after your guns. And the U.S. Conference of Mayors, including Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, recently vowed to wage an "all-out campaign" to reverse preemption laws so cities can enact a patchwork of gun control.

Is there a threat to hunting or sportsman rights? Yes. That's because ballot issues are the favorite avenue for attacking hunting, trapping, and sportsman activities. And whoever has the most money almost always wins a ballot issue. Anti-hunters have billions of dollars at their disposal. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) alone has nearly a quarter of a billion dollars to advance its radical agenda.

What happens when states allow easy changes to the constitution? Take a look at California. They're changing their constitution all the time. In fact, they've amended it more than 500 times since the 1870s. How’s that working out? It's mob rule and chaos. Do you really want Ohio to turn out like California?

Do opponents of Issue 1 practice what they preach on easy-to-amend governing documents? No. They're complete hypocrites. The Democratic Party of Ohio requires that 60% of its delegates vote in favor of any changes to the organization’s constitution. The ACLU Ohio requires a two-thirds (66%) vote in order for the board to overturn an action by the executive committee. Planned Parenthood requires a vote of two-thirds (66%) to amend its own bylaws.

Chapters of the League of Women Voters require a two-thirds (66%) vote in order to amend its bylaws. The NAACP requires a two-thirds (66%) vote to amend the bylaws of local chapters. Teachers’ unions, such as the North Eastern Ohio Education Association and the Columbus Education Association, require a three-fourths (75%) vote to amend their constitution.

We're not aware of ANY organization opposing Issue 1 that allows changes to their constitutions or bylaws with a mere 50% vote.

How will Issue 1 appear on the ballot? Issue 1 is the only thing on the ballot on August 8. Here is the exact language you will see:

Issue 1

Proposed Constitutional Amendment

ELEVATING THE STANDARDS TO QUALIFY FOR AN INITIATED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND TO PASS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

Proposed by Joint Resolution of the General Assembly

To amend Sections 1b, 1e, and 1g of Article II and Sections 1 and 3 of Article XVI of the Constitution of the State of Ohio

A majority yes vote is necessary for the amendment to pass.

The proposed amendment would:

Require that any proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio receive the approval of at least 60 percent of eligible voters voting on the proposed amendment.

Require that any initiative petition filed on or after January I, 2024 with the Secretary of State proposing to amend the Constitution of the State of Ohio be signed by at least five percent of the electors of each county based on the total vote in the county for governor in the last preceding election.

Specify that additional signatures may not be added to an initiative petition proposing to amend the Constitution of the State of Ohio that is filed with the Secretary of State on or after January I, 2024 proposing to amend the Constitution of the State of Ohio.

If passed, the amendment will be effective immediately.

SHALL THE AMENDMENT BE APPROVED?
YES NO

Election Day for Issue 1 is Tuesday, Aug. 8. If you didn't vote early, GET OUT AND VOTE YES for Issue 1.

Protect our constitution! Protect our gun rights!