Final language approved for Issue 1 redistricting ballot question
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ballot language for state Issue 1 is approved, for the second time, after revisions were ordered by the Ohio Supreme Court.
“[The language] was done and it was created for the main purpose of hoodwinking the voters,” state Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) said.
“To say that this misleads people is simply untrue,” state Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) said. “The ballot language, this summary accurately describes what’s in that amendment.”
Watch: Final language approved for Issue 1 redistricting ballot question
Issue 1, brought forward by a group called Citizens Not Politicians, wants to create an independent redistricting commission of 15 Ohio citizens, rather than the current commission made up of seven politicians, as was adopted by voters in 2015.
A "yes" vote for Issue 1 will give the power of the pen to citizens; a "no" vote means to keep the redistricting system the way it is.
On Wednesday, the Ohio Ballot Board made two revisions to the wording that Ohioans will see when voting, each less than a sentence long. The changes were approved by the Republicans on the board, making this the final language that will appear on ballots.
“What you, what you saw was a one-party-controlled board try to sway the outcome of an election,” state Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) said. “That’s what they’re trying to do."
During the meeting, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said he gave suggested language revisions from Upchurch and Hicks-Hudson “full consideration” before drafting the ballot language, but said the changes were made based only on the directive by the court.
“The drafted language that we circulated from the Secretary's office has constrained its approach to just what was out of the court's decision and to perfecting the language based on the guidance from the court,” LaRose said.
The ballot language, largely written by LaRose, asserts that Issue 1 would “require gerrymandering” and would limit the public’s ability to weigh in on the process. The Ohio Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, did not rule that those provisions were misleading but asked for two changes. Each of those changes is less than a sentence long and can be seen in red below.
“It is absolute propaganda,” Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said. “It is free campaigning for the folks and the politicians who want to remain in this process and hold on to power in drawing their own lines for their own purposes.”
LaRose said there was a sense of urgency to get the language approved, as overseas voting starts in less than 48 hours, and early voting in less than a month. He said it would be “dangerous” to make further revisions than the two made.
“I don't want to risk making changes to what has already been approved by the highest court in the state, potentially creating an opportunity for another lawsuit that could delay ballots going out to our military personnel and those studying and working abroad,” LaRose said.
Hicks-Hudson called that excuse “disingenuous” and said more could have been done to provide what she would consider fairer language. She offered several amendments, which all got voted down along party lines with 3-2 votes.
“As a former board of elections director, there are ways in which the boards have been able to adjust very quickly when there's been directives done,” she said. “And that was back in the day before we had all of the computer and the ability to print ballots within the offices.”
“Disingenuous, I think goes a bit far,” LaRose said. “It's, completely my honest opinion, that our boards of elections have to get this language today and it has to be final language.”
LaRose said if ballots do not go out on time, that poses larger issues.
“If we don't to start distributing overseas in military ballots in the next 48 hours, we will actually be in violation of federal law, subjecting ourselves to a DOJ lawsuit, etcetera and that’s not something we can risk,” he said.
“They love to run out the clock and create a sense of urgency so that we just have to do the thing that they want to do, which is always bad for Ohio voters,” Russo said. “The Supreme Court absolutely could have demanded more corrections.”
Russo said despite what she considers misleading language that is “propaganda,” she thinks voters will see through it.
“They will walk into the ballot box, know exactly how they're going to vote on that issue, probably ignore the ballot summary,” she said. “Which is why I think we will see 'yes' win in November.”
“I think it's our job to work with the people that put forward this ballot measure to make sure that we're educating these people so that when we do get to Election Day, they'll be prepared and they'll know what to expect,” Upchurch said.
LaRose did not answer any questions from reporters after the meeting; all his comments are from the duration of the ballot board, which he chairs.
“Not being able to stand up with a straight face and take tough questions as it relates to this misleading ballot language speaks for itself,” LaRose said. “It's because they know what they are doing is not only illegal and not the role of the ballot board, but they know that they are manipulating voters."
The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 7 and early voting begins Oct. 8. More details about Issue 1 can be found here.