What is Ohio State Issue 1 on the 2012 ballot?

POSTED ON OCTOBER 16, 2012 BY Attorney George Wolfe

If you received an absentee ballot in Ohio, or plan to vote in November, you will get to vote on State Issue One.  Article XVI, Section 3 of the Ohio Constitution requires the ballot contain this issue every 20 years beginning in 1932.  2012 is the 20th year.  Put simply, if the issue passes, the Ohio General Assembly will have to call a “constitutional convention.”  At the convention, the delegates can determine if there are any reasons to amend the Ohio constitution.  If issues are found, these proposed amendments must be submitted to the voters in a later election for approval.

This is not the only way to amend the Ohio Constitution.  It has been amended many times by ballot initiatives and referenda.   For example, article 15, Section 6(C), legalizing casinos in 2010, was approved by voters after supporters submitted petitions to place the issue on the statewide ballot.

The constitutional convention could be called by voters this year to force debate on important issues of the times, such as repealing any current constitutional provisions or amendments, adding amendments, divisive issues such as same-sex marriage, legalizing marijuana, collective bargaining for public employees, or revisiting protections for people’s rights of privacy and freedom from intrusive searches and seizures.

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