OH Archives | American Democracy Minute

Following Three Chaotic Years of Politician-Run Redistricting, Ohio Organizers Submit Ballot Measure Signatures for Citizen-Led Commission

July 4, 2024July 4, 2024

After three chaotic years with a politician-led commission and an anti-voter legislature failing to produce Ohio redistricting maps without gerrymandering, a ballot measure proposing a citizen-led redistricting commission will likely be put to the voters in November.

It’s Been a Year Since the East Palestine Toxic Train Derailment. Since then, the Rail Industry Spent Millions in Congress to Stop More Regulation.

February 4, 2024February 4, 2024

February 3rd, 2023, 38 Norfolk Southern rail cars detailed in East Palestine, OH, 20 of which carried hazardous materials, and 11 of which caught fire. The Railway Safety Act was filed shortly after in Congress, but in 2023, Norfolk Southern and the rail industry spent millions to kill it.

Ohio’s Legislative Majority Continues Quest to Lock Down Power, Proposing Bans for Ranked Choice Voting and Ending Open Primaries

October 4, 2023December 29, 2023

After ignoring Ohio’s constitutional ban on partisan gerrymandering and attempting to make it harder to pass citizen ballot initiatives, the majority in the Ohio legislature is now attempting to ban ranked choice voting and close party primaries.

Ohio Voters Defeat Republican Effort to Raise Citizen Ballot Initiative Passage to 60% in Pro-Voter Victory

August 9, 2023December 30, 2023

With an unofficial 57% to 43% margin, Ohio voters soundly defeated the effort by the Republican-majority legislature to raise the threshold for passage of citizen ballot initiatives. Issue one would have also required minimum numbers of qualifying signatures in 88 counties rather than the current 44.

Early Election Turnout for Ohio Legislature’s Anti-Voter Constitutional Amendment Strong, as Century-Old Pro-Voter Ballot Initiative Rules Hang in the Balance

July 16, 2023July 16, 2023

Reports from around Ohio suggest a strong early voting turnout for a constitutional ballot question designed to defeat a November question on reproductive rights. Issue 1 would change the threshold to pass for ALL Ohio ballot questions from 50% plus one to 60%, and importantly, require qualifying signatures from 5% of voters in each Ohio county.