“August special elections generate chronically low turnout because voters aren’t expecting an election to occur. This is bad news for the civic health of our state. Interest groups often manipulatively put issues on the ballot in August because they know fewer Ohioans are paying attention. As a result, the side that wins is typically the one that has a vested interest in the passage of the issue. Voters are just as capable of voting on these important issues during the standard primary and general elections.”
These are the words of our Secretary of State Frank LaRose.
Just months ago, LaRose eliminated August elections, a move many, including nearly all school boards, opposed.
However, when abortion supporters went through the process to place a Constitutional protection for abortion on the November ballot, LaRose began scrambling to get ahead of it. LaRose and the state legislature reinstated the August election for one time to create a Constitutional amendment making it more difficult to amend the state Constitution. If passed, the amendment would increase the vote threshold to pass a constitutional amendment from 50% to 60%. Interestingly, the vote would need just 50% to be approved.
Those who faithfully read this column know that I am fiercely pro-life. From conception to grave, I believe in the sanctity of life. As I have said here before, It is not just about being pro-life when it comes to abortion, I am also pro-life when it comes to immigrants, and widows, and orphans, and the poor and anyone unable to protect themselves.
I am also a fan of making it more difficult to change our state Constitution. I think the document is too big and is too easy to amend. At 67,000 words, the Ohio Constitution is nine times longer than the U.S. Constitution. It outlines things like the address for Ohio casinos, how parks are paid for and the creation of a commission to oversee the care of Lake Erie.
But here’s the deal, I do not understand how LaRose, or anyone really, can talk about how wonderful our system of democracy is, then work so hard to manipulate it.
His words and actions make it very clear that he has no political ideology or respect for democracy. He just wants what he wants. He wants to win.
He can’t retain his integrity when he says August elections are bad for our civic process because they let a small group with a vested interest manipulate the system then reinstate August elections for one time to allow a small group with a vested interest manipulate the system.
And while I believe increasing the voting threshold to 60% is the right thing to do, LaRose has made it clear, this is not about doing the right thing and protecting the constitution, but about getting his way.
“This is 100% about keeping a radical, pro-abortion amendment out of our constitution,” LaRose said in May.
For months LaRose lied and said it was not about abortion, so I at least appreciate this moment of honesty.
Make no mistake, if this legislation passes and the abortion protection passes, there will be quick action to reverse the 60% threshold so the they can go after the abortion protection.
Again, let me stress that I will vote against abortion protection and I am in favor of increasing the voting threshold. But I absolutely despise manipulating the system, especially by the Secretary of State, the position entrusted with protecting the election process.
–Mac Cordell is a reporter for the Journal-Tribune.