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Yes on Issue 1

Bring needed order to the pursuit of statewide ballot issues

Published on Sunday, Oct 05, 2008

Ohio's constitution provides citizens with powerful tools. Voters can, if enough sign petitions, take proposed constitutional amendments to the ballot. They can establish new state laws. They can submit a newly enacted statute to an up-or-down vote in a statewide referendum.

Such issues are often lengthy and complex. Then, there is the factor of confusion. In some instances, issues appear on the ballot before signature counts and challenges are resolved. Voters can end up making decisions that don't matter, wasting their time and costing taxpayers for ballot preparation and legal ads.

Last week, absentee voting started while signatures were still in question on Issue 5, a referendum on a payday lending law. Additional signatures were submitted Wednesday for checking.

Fortunately, voters have a chance to bring some clarity and predictability to the process. Issue 1 on the statewide ballot, a constitutional amendment proposed by the legislature, would streamline and improve the process, ensuring that all issues appearing are ready for voters to decide.

We recommend a ''yes'' vote on Issue 1 on Nov. 4.

Issue 1 would standardize the deadline for submitting petitions at 125 days before Election Day instead of the current 90-day deadline, shortened to just 60 days for a referendum. The amendment would set deadlines for checking signatures and making legal challenges and give the Ohio Supreme Court jurisdiction to act quickly.

Because the referendum process is triggered by legislative action, some petitions might be filed after the 125-day deadline, holding up a vote until the next next regular or general election, more than a year away. Still, the benefits of a more rational, predictable petition process far outweigh that disadvantage.

Ohio's constitution provides citizens with powerful tools. Voters can, if enough sign petitions, take proposed constitutional amendments to the ballot. They can establish new state laws. They can submit a newly enacted statute to an up-or-down vote in a statewide referendum.

Get the full article here.


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