Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, through his Director of Elections Chris Burnett, sent a letter to University Heights public officials regarding the language of Ohio’s Issue One ballot initiative.
This amendment seeks to produce an independent commission to draw Ohio’s congressional districts. Proponents of the amendment say it will “end gerrymandering in Ohio.” Opponents of this amendment believe that it is merely an attempt by a Democratic minority to gain undeserved representation and that giving the power of redistricting to unelected bureaucrats limits the voice of the people.
Many Democrats support the amendment, however, Republican leadership has denounced the amendment as “a left-wing power grab in Ohio,” said Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou
LaRose’s letter to the University Heights officials said that “The November 2024 State Issue One official ballot language, explanation arguments for and against and the full text of the statewide issues, is now posted on the office’s website at VoteOhio.gov.”
The letter further encouraged University Heights to “direct interested voters to this website and, if possible, to include a link to the information regarding State Issue One on your own website.”
Brennan said in response, “I’ll be tossing this letter in the recycling bin – and telling our residents not to be fooled by misleading ballot language.” He said the letter was an attempt “to help [LaRose] spread his shady deceptions and partisan messaging about Issue One.”
Brennan is not the only person who believes that the ballot language is unfair. Earlier this year the issue of ballot language made it to the Ohio Supreme Court. The plaintiff, Citizens Not Politicians, argued that the ballot language was “misleading.” and “may be the most biased, inaccurate, deceptive, and unconstitutional” language the state has ever seen. On Sept. 16, in a 4-3 ruling the court decided the ballot language would stand.
Bowling Green State University recently conducted a statewide poll and asked Ohioans a variety of questions regarding Issue One. They found that 60% were in favor of Issue One. Their data also showed that it is a partisan issue as “82% of Democrats back the measure versus only 41% of Republicans.”
BGSU said that “3 out of 10 Ohio voters have heard nothing about Issue One” Brennan and other supporters of the amendment claim that these uninformed voters may be influenced by the supposed “misleading ballot language.”
Elijah Williams ’28 is voting in Ohio this election cycle and said that while he had “heard of Issue One” he had “no real clue” what it was about.
Brennan ended his email by saying “to end gerrymandering in Ohio, we should all vote YES on Issue One.” Yet while he continues to hammer home this hope for Issue One to pass, the answer to whether ballot language will prevent the amendment from being passed will remain a mystery until Nov. 5, 2024.
