Tuesday’s Ohio Special Election Attempts to Take Away Simple Majority Rule for Ballot Initiatives.  Now the Legislature is After Ranked Choice Voting. 

Brian Beihl

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 8, 2023

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

The Ohio special election on Issue 1, the legislature’s attempt to raise the threshold to pass a citizen ballot initiative to 60%, is Tuesday, Aug. 8th.  Now, in an effort to wrest even more power from its citizenry, an Ohio legislator has introduced a bill going after ranked choice voting. 

Tuesday’s election culminates the Ohio legislature’s attempt to raise the bar for all Ohio citizen ballot initiatives, but particularly to stop a November issue on abortion rights.  Early voters have shown up in stronger than expected numbers, and turnout is likely to be heavy on Tuesday.  

Now, Ohio joins Florida, Tennessee, Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota in scrambling to stop ranked choice voting.  RCV allows a wider range of candidate choices, promotes better candidate behavior, and tends to minimize extremist candidates.  Polling indicates Maine & Alaska citizens like it. Party leadership, not so much, because it loosens their exclusive grip on power.  Early in 2023, the Republican National Committee adopted a resolution opposing ranked choice voting anywhere in the U.S.  

The Statehouse News Bureau reports that an Ohio state senator proposed SB 137 in mid July, a bill which prohibits RCV to be used in Ohio state elections, and PUNISHES local municipalities which adopt it by withholding state funds.  The bill will be heard in the upcoming session. 

We have links to the anti-RCV bill and how Ohioans can vote in Tuesday’s election at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
FiveThirtyEight – Everything You Need To Know About The Ohio Ballot Measure That Could Block Abortion Rights
Ohio Legislature – SB 137 Prohibiting the Use of Ranked Choice Voting
Statehouse News Bureau – Bill seeks to punish Ohio communities that pass ranked choice voting
The Athens Register/Associated Press – Ranked choice voting works in some other states. In Ohio, it’s fodder for a publicity stunt
Republican National Committee – RESOLUTION TO OFFICIALLY OPPOSE RANKED CHOICE VOTING ACROSS THE COUNTRY

How to Vote in Ohio’s Aug. 8th Special Election
Ohio Secretary of State – Voting Dates & Times for Aug. 8th Special Election
WOSU – Ohio voter guide: What to know about the August special election
Ohio Secretary of State – Find My Polling Place Tool

Groups Taking Action:
One Person One Vote, Ohio Voter Rights Coalition, Ohio Citizen Action, Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights, All Voting is Local, Rank the Vote Ohio

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