Ohio voters reject tougher conditions to amend its constitution

Ohio voters rejected in a referendum the choice to increase the majority needed to amend the state constitution to 60%. Issue 1, as the initiative was named, also contemplated tightening the requirements for residents to submit legislative initiatives. With 57% of the votes against, this result leaves open the fight for abortion in the state.

The vote on Issue 1 turned into an arm wrestle between Republicans and pro-life groups, who championed the proposal, and Democrats and pro-abortion groups, who opposed it. The changes about which the population was questioned were intended to make it more difficult to modify the state's constitution by increasing the number from a simple majority, to 60% of the votes required to approve changes. It also increased the complexity for the citizens' initiative to propose amendments, going from requiring 5% of signatures from the inhabitants of 44 counties to requiring signatures from 88 counties.

"They will see the devastating effect of their vote soon enough"

Ohio Republican Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, the primary driver of the vote, lamented the final result and warned that "Ohioans will see the devastating impact of their vote soon enough." LaRose cited several of the initiatives that opponents of his proposal will be presenting in the near future that will affect all levels:

Biden applauds Ohio result

The President Biden was quick to applaud the result, noting that "tonight democracy won" over a measure that "was a blatant attempt to weaken voters' voices and further erode the freedom of women to make their own health care decisions."

Pro-lifers criticize "ostrich strategy"

Pro-life associations were particularly critical of the results, denouncing that the state authorities had used "the ostrich strategy and buried their heads in the sand" while "millions of dollars and liberal dark money flooded Ohio to ensure they have a path to buy their extreme policies in a pro-life state."

In November, citizens are called to the polls to vote for a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution by pro-abortion groups "to defend reproductive rights." The proposals contained in the initiative are described as "radical" by SBA Prolife, which warns that the rule could limit parental rights, would eliminate the need for parental consent for minors to have abortions or undergo sex change procedures and would allow abortion "on demand."