Know what you’re voting on in August’s heat
- Melissa Herrera: Not Waiting for Friday
- July 16, 2023
- 1406
I have my absentee ballot incoming for the special election being held Tuesday, Aug. 8 because, well, summer. This special election is being held despite the elimination of August elections by the Ohio legislature. I personally don’t think we should have pop-up elections that catch folks in vacation mode, unsure of what exactly we’re voting on. In my case they’re consolidating several voting precincts into one central spot, and rest assured this will cause people to shrug their shoulders and not show up.
I feel for our board of elections in Holmes County. It isn’t their fault, and they’re doing their best. But do you know what you’ll be voting on? Do you know what Issue 1 is?
“When one party (whether Republican or Democrat) controls state offices, the legislature and the supreme court, it leaves only one avenue for the citizens (in this case, Ohioans) to express their differences with legislation — constitutional issues. We now have a legislature actively working to eliminate that option as well,” Mark Gooch said in a Letter to the Editor of The Wooster Daily Record.
“Readers fear too few people know about the danger of this proposal, which would allow 40% of Ohioans to dictate policy to the other 60%. Many in Ohio’s legislature use the gerrymandered districts in Ohio to give themselves super majorities, to block voters from using the ballot to reverse some of the laws they have passed,” said Chris Quinn, editor of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, talking about readers of the paper who have written or emailed in.
“Issue 1 is not protecting our Ohio Constitution; it is denying the people a reasonable opportunity to petition the government for change,” said Holmes County resident Leslie McKelley, who, along with many others across the state, gathered signatures for an amendment that may appear on the ballot this November. She stood in parking lots for weeks gathering signatures, as our Ohio Constitution allows for anyone to do.
“For 111 years Ohioans have been able to seek votes from fellow voters when they believe an issue is not addressed properly (or at all) in the Ohio Constitution. Sixty percent of voter approval would be required instead of a simple majority of 50% plus one if Issue 1 is successful. Those seeking to get amendments on the ballot would have the virtually insurmountable task of collecting signatures from at least 5% of voters from the last gubernatorial election in all 88 counties. Currently, they must go to 44 counties,” The Columbus Dispatch Editorial Board said.
I’m not sure about you, but I’d like my one vote to count for myself. I don’t want 40% of us to represent the other 60%, to have their vote hold more weight than mine. I’m not a policy wonk by any means and couldn’t argue this in person if I tried — thank goodness debate class wasn’t a requirement — but I know we should be able to gather signatures to get something on the ballot and it should be able to pass or fail with a simple majority.
It’s really that simple. I’ll mark my little ballot when it comes, carefully filling in the circles, and drop it in the ballot box. Don’t decide you’re too busy to vote because there are numerous ways to do so, the easiest being absentee. Ohio is a no-excuse absentee voting state, meaning you don’t need an excuse to vote absentee. It’s fast and easy, as voting should be.
At the grassroots level, if I want to sign a petition to get an amendment on the ballot, like raising the minimum wage or if my cat should have the right to enter a restaurant and sit down at a booth (Tina would love this), then I’ll vote no on Issue 1. Voting yes will make it nearly impossible for any of those issues to have a chance — especially the issues you’re passionate about, despite your political leanings. It would be unfair to all Ohioans.
“Ohio voters should retain their right to petition their government,” McKelley said. “But if Issue 1 passes, Ohioans may never have a citizen-led initiative for amendments ever again.”
Voting absentee is your right, as is early voting, which began July 11. You also can vote in person on Aug. 8.
Want an absentee ballot mailed to you? Call the board of elections at 330-674-5921. You can request one up to seven days before the special election on Aug. 8.
Melissa Herrera is a columnist, published author and drinker of too many coffees based in Holmes County. You can find her book, “TOÑO LIVES,” at www.tinyurl.com/Tonolives or buy one from her in person (because all authors have boxes of their own novel). For inquiries or to purchase, email her at junkbabe68@gmail.com.