DAYTON — A discussion was held Tuesday night to inform voters about the August special election and Issue 1.
The League of Women Voters of Greater Dayton hosted the bi-partisan panel, but some in attendance argued the discussion was still one-sided.
In six weeks the statewide special election will take place, and one of the things presented to voters will be Issue 1.
“We want people to feel informed, we want them to have a clear understanding of what Issue 1 is,” Christine Corba, League of Women Voters of Greater Dayton Area executive director said.
If approved Issue 1 would require 60 percent of voters to pass a new constitutional amendment, instead of a simple majority of 50 percent plus one.
>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Ohio Ballot Board meets to re-write ballot language for State Issue 1
Citizens who want to place an amendment on the ballot would have to collect signatures from at least 5 percent of voters from the last gubernatorial election in all 88 counties — instead of the current 44.
It would also get rid of a 10-day cure period that allows citizens to replace any signature deemed faulty by the security of the state’s office.
Bob Taft, former Ohio Republican governor, and Michael Curtin, former Ohio Democratic lawmaker, led the panel. Both do not support Issue 1.
“I believe it should not be submitted to voters. At an August 8 election, which is a very low turnout election, I think voters should reject it now, if we want to consider it more seriously in the future, maybe a November election, next year’s presidential election when there’s very high turnout,” Taft said.
“This proposal has been a rush job from the start. They’re trying to rush this through before people realize what’s going on ...that’s just bad faith,” Curtin said.
Robert Tuttle who went to the event said he was disappointed in the discussion.
“Very disappointed they call it a nonpartisan event yet here only presenting one side of the issue,” he said.
Tuttle is for Issue 1.
“The Constitution should be hard to amend. We don’t want a Constitution that’s just as easy to amend as passing a new law,” Tuttle said.
He said he believes Issue 1 goes against the Constitution.
“I believe that issue 1 is a good thing and people who are taking the position against issue 1 are actually arguing against some fundamental principles and structure of the constitution.”
Tuttle thinks as a country we should move away from democracy.
“Issue 1 is slowly trying to correct the problem that we are moving too much toward a democracy, which is what our founders warned us against time and time again. So fundamentally, I believe that we should not be trying to become more democratic,” Tuttle said.
According to the secretary of state’s office, the Aug. 8 special election would cost between $12-15 Million.