Eleanor Finch
The Ohio Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Citizens can initiate constitutional amendments by proposing a ballot measure that amends the state's constitution. This requires signatures from at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties, with signatures equal to at least 5% of the total gubernatorial vote in each county. A simple majority (50% +1) of voters must then approve the amendment. The legislative process allows the state legislature to refer constitutional amendments to the ballot, requiring a 60% vote during one legislative session. The third method is a state constitutional convention, where delegates propose constitutional amendments that are then put to a vote. In 1845, delegates proposed 42 constitutional amendments, of which 34 were approved by voters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of voter support required to amend the constitution | 50% +1, a simple majority |
| Number of counties from which signatures must be obtained | 44 out of 88 |
| Minimum number of signatures from each county | 5% of the total vote cast for the office of governor in that county at the last gubernatorial election |
| Time by which the Secretary of State must determine the sufficiency of the signatures | 105 days before the election |
| Number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment | 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election |
| Number of signatures required with the initial petition application | 1,000 |
| Number of votes required for the Ohio State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot | 60% (a minimum of 60 votes in the Ohio House of Representatives and 20 votes in the Ohio State Senate) |
| Proposed change to the percentage of voter support required to amend the constitution | 60% |
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What You'll Learn
Citizen-led initiatives
The Ohio Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution, one of which is a citizen-led initiative. This process allows citizens to propose constitutional amendments directly to the people of Ohio for a statewide vote. The steps for a citizen-led initiative to amend the Ohio Constitution are as follows:
- Signature Collection: Petition signatures must be obtained from across Ohio, specifically from at least 44 of the state's 88 counties. From each of these 44 counties, signatures must be collected equal to at least 5% of the total votes cast for the governor's office in that county during the previous gubernatorial election. Additionally, Ohio requires 1,000 signatures to be submitted with the initial petition application. These signatures must be submitted at least 125 days before the desired election, and the Secretary of State must verify their sufficiency no later than 105 days before the election.
- Ballot Placement: If the petition signatures meet the requirements, the proposed amendment can be placed on the ballot for a statewide vote.
- Voting and Passage: For a citizen-led initiative to pass and amend the Ohio Constitution, it must receive a simple majority (50% + 1) of votes in favour.
It's interesting to note that Ohio's citizen-initiated amendment process was established through a constitutional amendment itself. This amendment was one of 34 approved by voters out of 42 proposed amendments during the state's constitutional convention.
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Ballot measures
The Ohio Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
Citizen-Initiated Process
Citizens have the power to initiate constitutional amendments in Ohio. This is done through a ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Ohio is one of 18 states that allow this. To get a citizen-led initiative on the ballot to amend the Ohio Constitution, the following is required:
- Petition signatures must be obtained from at least 44 of the 88 counties in Ohio.
- From each of the 44 counties, there must be signatures equal to at least 5% of the total vote cast for the office of governor in that county at the last gubernatorial election.
- The number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election.
- A simple majority (50% + 1) of voters must approve constitutional amendments.
- Initiative sponsors must submit 1,000 signatures with the initial petition application.
- The Secretary of State must determine the sufficiency of the signatures not later than 105 days before the election.
- Petitions are allowed to circulate for an indefinite period of time. Signatures are due 125 days prior to the general election that proponents want the initiative on.
Legislative Process
According to Article XVI, the state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A 60% vote is required during one legislative session for the Ohio State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 60 votes in the Ohio House of Representatives and 20 votes in the Ohio State Senate, assuming no vacancies.
State Constitutional Convention
A state constitutional convention is a gathering of elected delegates who propose amendments to the constitution. In 1851, there were 119 delegates, including 62 Democrats, 52 Republicans, three independents, and two socialists. They proposed 42 constitutional amendments, of which voters approved 34 (80.95%) and rejected eight (19.05%).
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Legislative processes
The Ohio Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution, one of which is a legislative process. According to Article XVI, the state legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A 60% vote is required during one legislative session for the Ohio State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 60 votes in the Ohio House of Representatives and 20 votes in the Ohio State Senate, assuming no vacancies.
The Ohio General Assembly can also propose a two-pronged proposal to reinstate August special elections. First, it would allow for an August Special Election by way of a Senate Bill. Second, it would approve a Senate Joint Resolution that would – if approved by voters – require 60% of voter support to amend the Ohio Constitution as opposed to a simple majority.
Petitions for a legislative process are allowed to circulate for an indefinite period of time. Signatures are due 125 days before the general election that proponents want the initiative on. The number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval. Ohio also requires initiative sponsors to submit 1,000 signatures with the initial petition application.
The legislative process is just one of the ways to amend the Ohio Constitution. The other two methods are a citizen-initiated process and a state constitutional convention.
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Constitutional conventions
The Ohio Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
Citizen-Initiated Process
Citizens have the power to initiate constitutional amendments in Ohio. This is done through a citizen-initiated ballot measure, which requires signatures from registered voters in Ohio. The number of signatures required is equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, with at least 1,000 signatures from each of the 88 counties in Ohio. The signatures must be submitted to the Secretary of State at least 125 days before the election. The percentage of state voters who would have to vote "yes" to pass a future proposed amendment is currently 50% + 1 (a simple majority). However, there are efforts to increase this to a 60% voter requirement.
Legislative Process
According to Article XVI, the state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A 60% vote is required during one legislative session for the Ohio State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 60 votes in the Ohio House of Representatives and 20 votes in the Ohio State Senate, assuming no vacancies.
A constitutional convention is a gathering of delegates who propose amendments to the constitution. In the case of Ohio, there were 119 delegates, including 62 Democrats, 52 Republicans, three independents, and two socialists. These delegates proposed 42 constitutional amendments, of which 34 were approved by voters (80.95%) and eight were rejected (19.05%). One of the approved amendments created the citizen-initiated ballot measure process in Ohio.
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Voter approval
The Ohio Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
Citizen-Initiated Process
Citizens can initiate constitutional amendments in Ohio. This is done through a citizen-initiated ballot measure, which requires signatures from registered voters in Ohio. The number of signatures must be equal to at least 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Additionally, there is a signature distribution requirement, which means signatures must be gathered from a minimum of 44 out of Ohio's 88 counties. From each of these 44 counties, signatures must be collected from at least 5% of the total votes cast for the governor's office in that county during the previous gubernatorial election. The signatures are due 125 days before the general election that proponents want the initiative on, and the Secretary of State must determine the sufficiency of the signatures no later than 105 days before the election. Once the signatures are verified, a simple majority (50% plus 1) of voter support is required for the amendment to pass.
Legislative Process
According to Article XVI of the Ohio Constitution, the state legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A 60% vote is required during one legislative session for the Ohio State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 60 votes in the Ohio House of Representatives and 20 votes in the Ohio State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Once the amendment is on the ballot, it requires a simple majority (50% plus 1) of voter support to pass.
State Constitutional Convention
A state constitutional convention is a gathering of delegates chosen to propose revisions or amendments to the state constitution. In the case of Ohio's constitution, a convention was held where delegates proposed 42 constitutional amendments. Voters approved 34 (80.95%) and rejected eight (19.05%) of these amendments.
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Frequently asked questions
The Ohio Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
Citizens have the power to initiate constitutional amendments in Ohio. To get a citizen-led initiative on the ballot to amend Ohio’s Constitution, petition signatures must be obtained from at least 44 of the 88 counties in Ohio. From each of the 44 counties, there must be signatures equal to at least 5% of the total vote cast for the office of governor in that county at the last gubernatorial election.
According to Article XVI, the state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A 60% vote is required during one legislative session for the Ohio State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
This is one of the three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution. However, I could not find specific information on what this entails.
