Jonah Patel
The Ohio Constitution can be amended through a legislative, citizen-initiated, or convention-referred constitutional amendment. Ohio is among 17 U.S. states where citizens can propose constitutional amendments, according to the Council of State Governments. The state constitution is the fundamental document outlining a state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. The Ohio Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of ways citizens can directly propose laws | 2 |
| Ways citizens can directly propose laws | Constitutional amendment, initiated statute |
| Current majority required for citizen-proposed laws to pass | 50% |
| Proposed majority required for citizen-proposed laws to pass | 60% |
| Number of signatures required from each of the 88 counties | Equal to at least 5% of the total vote cast for the office of governor in that county at the last gubernatorial election |
| Number of U.S. states where citizens can propose constitutional amendments | 17 |
| Number of states requiring a supermajority from voters to approve citizen-initiated amendments | 3 |
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What You'll Learn
- Ohio is one of 17 US states where citizens can propose constitutional amendments
- A supermajority of 60% of votes is required to amend the constitution
- Signatures must be obtained from all 88 counties in Ohio
- Amendments can be proposed through a constitutional amendment or an initiated statute
- The Ohio Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution
Ohio is one of 17 US states where citizens can propose constitutional amendments
Ohio is one of the few US states whose citizens can directly propose laws. There are two ways to do this: through a constitutional amendment or through an initiated statute. Both currently require a simple majority (50%) of votes in a statewide vote to pass. However, this could change as voters will decide in August 2023 whether to require a 60% supermajority for future amendments.
Ohio is one of 17 or 18 US states where citizens can propose constitutional amendments. The exact number depends on whether Mississippi is counted among them. While Mississippi has an amendment process in place, its Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that the requirements cannot be met, so the process cannot be carried out in practice.
The number of states that allow citizens to propose constitutional amendments is notable, as state constitutions are much easier to amend than the federal Constitution. While the US Constitution has only been amended 27 times, state constitutions have been amended around 7,000 times.
The specifics of the amendment process vary between states. Some require a supermajority of voters to approve citizen-initiated amendments. For example, Colorado, Florida, and Illinois require 55%, 60%, and 60% respectively. Other states have signature requirements, such as Ohio's State Issue 1 proposal, which would require signatures from voters in all 88 of its counties.
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A supermajority of 60% of votes is required to amend the constitution
Amending the Ohio Constitution is a challenging process that requires a significant level of voter support. Currently, a simple majority of 50% of votes is required to amend the constitution. However, there is an ongoing effort, known as State Issue 1, which seeks to increase this threshold to a supermajority of 60% of votes.
State Issue 1 is a ballot measure that aims to make it more difficult to amend the Ohio Constitution. If approved by voters, it would require a 60% supermajority in a statewide vote for any future amendments to pass. This proposal has sparked debates about the appropriate level of difficulty in amending a state's constitution and the potential impact on various issues, including abortion rights.
The Ohio Constitution already stands out among other states' constitutions by allowing citizens to directly propose laws through constitutional amendments or initiated statutes. The current requirement for a simple majority of 50% makes it easier for citizens to initiate changes compared to states with higher thresholds or different approval processes.
By raising the bar to a supermajority of 60%, State Issue 1 would align Ohio with a small group of states that require a higher threshold for citizen-initiated amendments. This includes states like Colorado (55%), Florida (60%), and Illinois (60%). The proposed change in Ohio is part of a broader trend of states reevaluating the ease of amending their constitutions.
The push for a supermajority requirement in Ohio has faced legal challenges and sparked concerns about the motivation behind it. Some critics argue that it is a strategic move by Republican lawmakers to hinder an anticipated abortion-rights amendment. On the other hand, supporters of State Issue 1 emphasize the importance of maintaining stability in the constitution and protecting against what they perceive as "radical" amendments.
The outcome of the vote on State Issue 1 will determine whether Ohio joins the small group of states that require a supermajority vote to amend their constitutions. This development underscores the ongoing tensions between ensuring government responsiveness to citizens' initiatives and maintaining the stability and integrity of constitutional documents.
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Signatures must be obtained from all 88 counties in Ohio
Ohio is among the 17 US states where citizens can propose constitutional amendments. The Ohio Constitution can be amended through a legislative, citizen-initiated, or convention-referred constitutional amendment, all of which require voter approval.
Currently, a simple majority of 50% of votes is required for an amendment to pass. However, State Issue 1, which will be voted on in an August special election, proposes to increase this to a 60% supermajority. This change would make it harder to amend the Ohio Constitution, as it would require a larger consensus among voters.
State Issue 1 also proposes expanding the mandatory signature-gathering requirements for amendment campaigns. Signatures must be obtained from registered voters in all 88 of Ohio's counties. Each county must provide signatures equal to at least 5% of the total votes cast for the governor in that county during the last gubernatorial election. This requirement is unique among US states, with only Colorado and Nevada having similar rules based on legislative districts.
The proposed changes to the amendment process in Ohio aim to make it more challenging to alter the state's constitution. By requiring signatures from a broader geographic base, the changes ensure that any amendment has more widespread support across the state, rather than just in a few concentrated areas.
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Amendments can be proposed through a constitutional amendment or an initiated statute
The Ohio Constitution can be amended through a constitutional amendment or an initiated statute. Ohio is one of the few states that allow citizens to directly propose laws. Both methods require a 50% majority vote to pass currently, but there are efforts to increase this to a 60% supermajority.
The constitutional amendment route is more popular with citizen groups as these amendments are harder to undo. Any changes to a previously approved amendment also require a statewide vote. On the other hand, an initiated statute can be changed or repealed by state lawmakers without going back to voters.
To get an amendment proposal on the ballot, the Ohio State Legislature must give approval with a 60% vote, which is a minimum of 60 votes in the Ohio House of Representatives and 20 votes in the Ohio State Senate. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Amendment campaigns must collect signatures from registered voters to qualify for the ballot. Currently, Ohio requires signatures from registered voters equal to 5% of the total vote cast for the governor's office in the last gubernatorial election in each of the state's 88 counties. However, there are efforts to increase the number of signatures required.
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The Ohio Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution
The citizen-initiated process allows citizens to directly propose laws through a constitutional amendment or an initiated statute. Currently, both require a simple majority (50%) in a statewide vote to pass. However, there is a push to increase this to a 60% supermajority, which is already the case in some other states for citizen-initiated amendments. This proposed change, known as State Issue 1, would also make it harder for campaigns to qualify for the ballot by increasing mandatory signature-gathering requirements. Signatures would be needed from all 88 Ohio counties, with at least 5% of the total vote cast for the governor in the previous gubernatorial election in each county.
The legislative process allows the state Legislature to refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voter approval. According to Article XVI, a 60% vote during one legislative session is required for the Ohio State Legislature to place an amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 60 votes in the House of Representatives and 20 votes in the State Senate.
Ohio is one of 14 states that provide for an automatic constitutional convention question to appear on the ballot every 20 years, with the next one due in 2032. This convention-referred constitutional amendment process allows for proposed changes to the state constitution to be put directly to a vote.
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Frequently asked questions
The Ohio Constitution can be amended with a legislative, citizen-initiated, or convention-referred constitutional amendment, all of which require voter approval.
Currently, a simple majority (50%) of votes is required to amend the Ohio Constitution.
Yes, there is a proposal to require a 60% supermajority for amendments to pass. This will be decided by voters in a special election on August 8, 2023.
Ohio is among 17 U.S. states where citizens can propose constitutional amendments. The state Legislature can also refer amendments to the ballot.
Yes, in addition to the percentage requirement, signatures must be obtained from all 88 counties in Ohio, with at least 5% of the total vote cast for the governor in each county in the last gubernatorial election.
