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Rachael Belz statement on Issue 1 victory

For more than 100 years, Ohioans from across the political spectrum have utilized the right to amend our state Constitution via the petition process. This tool of direct democracy equips us with the ability to check the power of our state government. It should never be taken for granted or seen as a tactic that can be modified on a whim. Yet that is exactly what supporters of Issue 1 aimed to do.

Issue 1 was a blatant attempt by its supporters to control both the policy agenda and the process of direct democracy. But it was met with a groundswell of opposition at every turn. Since May 11th, the Ohio Citizen Action canvassing team knocked on more than 74,000 doors across Ohio. We were just one piece of a statewide, coordinated effort to take our message directly to voters at their doors, where they live.

Every day, we had conversations with Ohioans who were angry about this desperate attempt by the legislature and Secretary of State LaRose to change the rules to push forward an unpopular political agenda. They were angry that Issue 1 supporters thought they could sneak this power grab right past voters in a low-turnout, off-year August special election. But these supporters underestimated the people of Ohio. When they forced Issue 1 onto the ballot, they awakened a sleeping giant and unleashed a movement. And that movement isn’t going away tomorrow. It will continue to build and grow and to carry us through to victories in November and beyond.

We thank Ohio voters for doing their homework and for going out to vote No on Issue 1.

Rachael Belz, Ohio Citizen Action CEO

Win for reproductive rights as Ohio voters reject effort to make it harder to amend state constitution

Ohio special election results: Issue 1 fails

Hamilton County was the only Tri-State county to vote against the issue.

CINCINNATI -- "Meanwhile, One Person, One Vote — the group campaigning against Issue 1 — listed groups like The League of Women Voters of Ohio, Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights and the Ohio Education Association as its supporters. Former governors and attorneys general from both parties also came out against it.

'We could really tell people were on our side and were angry about it, and frankly even having to vote on this,' said Rachael Belz, CEO of Ohio Citizen Action. 'Our side was so passionate, I think in part because of everything that has been happening in Ohio for the past few years.'"

-- Taylor Weiter, WCPO CINCINNATI 

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The election that could determine the future of democracy in Ohio

Ohio will be voting on a measure that makes it harder to amend the constitution in a high-stakes election – and the Republican proposal is ‘minority rule’, experts say

WESTLAKE -- "One hot evening in July, Sarah Strinka, a 26-year-old canvasser with Ohio Citizen Action, one of the main groups opposing Issue 1, crisscrossed lawns in Westlake, a Cleveland suburb, in tie-dye sandals, making sure that people knew the election was happening on 8 August and trying to persuade them to vote against it. Nearly all of the voters who came to their doors that evening said they planned to vote against the change.

'It seems like a very dirty trick to try and not get a major issue like this pushed through in an August election,' said Matt Jackson-McCabe, one of the voters who Strinka talked to. 'I was like, "This is bullshit."'

'It’s like pulling the wool over the people’s eyes,' said Daniel Hayden, 76, another voter in Westlake. 'Republicans – they want to take away the control, to control everything. They want to take control away from the people.'

Not everyone Strinka spoke with was entirely convinced. “It’s my understanding, because I’m Republican, that this is a Democratic-led issue. Correct?” one man said in his driveway. Strinka pointed out that there was actually bipartisan opposition to the amendment. “It impacts every single issue moving forward. I know a lot of people are talking about issues for November, but this could impact everything,” she said.

The man said he would do more research."

-- Sam Levine, The Guardian

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How Ohio’s Issue 1 could affect the rest of the country

What Ohio voters decide on Aug. 8 is likely to shape whether similar efforts to restrict ballot measures are brought in other states

WESTLAKE-- "As he went door-to-door on a recent afternoon in Westlake, a Cleveland suburb, Mike Todd found plenty of potential voters who didn’t know about the election.

'It’s kind of voter education,' said Todd, the field director for OCA. 'Making sure folks are aware that there’s even an election going on in August.'

States Newsroom and News 5 followed as Todd went door-to-door on a recent afternoon in Westlake, a Cleveland suburb. Plenty of potential voters said they didn’t know much about the election.

At each door, Todd introduced himself and described the measure as a threat to majority rule that would take power away from regular Ohioans and give it to politicians. Most people promised to study the literature he left and consider the issue."

-- Morgan Trau and Zachary Roth, Ohio Capital Journal

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OCA Member: Ms. Ena

Before they were all claimed, we had No on Issue 1 signs at the Cincinnati Ohio Citizen Action office. I was responsible for ensuring people could pick them up and typically made appointments to distribute them to people between my zoom calls and other appointments.

Ms. Ena was different though. She got word we had signs and emailed a request that someone bring her one because, "at 96, I don't drive anymore". Having been raised to respect my elders, I knew I had to fulfill her request, so I grabbed a sign and hopped into my car.

When I knocked at her door, I could see her sitting at her kitchen table in front of a gorgeous painting of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She was delighted I took the time to bring her sign, because as she told me, "I've worked all my life for women's issues" and she recognized Issue 1 for the attack on both voter rights and women's rights that it is.

It was then her long experience as an activist really shone though. She asked me not to put the sign in her own yard, because her street saw little traffic. "Put it in the yard of the apartment building I own on Springfield Pike," she said and I nodded at her wise strategy. 

Probably the best part of my job is meeting OCA members. They never fail to energize and inspire me. Ms. Ena certainly did. - Melissa English, Deputy Director Ohio Citizen Action.

First ballots cast in Ohio special election as Akron voters choose sides in Issue 1 fight

AKRON - "Following the half-hour news conference, members of Ohio Citizen Action canvassed potential voters in nearby Wards 5 and 9.

Mike Todd, Cleveland field canvass director for the group, said its push to vote against the issue is about "protecting our democracy and making sure voters' voices are heard and respected."

He said the group already has knocked on thousands of doors to share its view.

'The majority requirement that Issue 1 is attempting to change has been in place for over a century,' Todd said, 'and to change that requirement in a year when reproductive rights are on the ballot is just a further attempt to undermine our democracy.'"

-- Anthony Thompson, Akron Beacon Journal

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Ohio Republicans’ Devious Plot to Stop Voters From Legalizing Abortion

The fight over reproductive rights in the Buckeye State begins with an August special election on an obscure ballot measure.

COLUMBUS -- "Kyle Marcum, the political director for Ohio Citizen Action, told me that the response from voters ahead of the election 'blew me away.' Marcum’s is one of dozens of organizations in the nonpartisan One Person, One Vote coalition, which opposes Issue One. Marcum said that, since May 11, groups in that campaign have knocked on 40,000 doors and spoken to more than 10,000 likely voters about the August election.

'When we’re out there talking to voters, knocking on doors, and making phone calls, nearly every single person has either heard of Issue One and is excited to vote against it, or once they hear about it, they understand that this is really an effort by the state legislature to take away their right to put up a citizen ballot initiative,' Marcum said. He added that his organization was also reminding Ohioans to bring their photo ID to their polling place, as a recently enacted law requires such identification for in-person voting.

-- Grace Segers, The New Republic

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Campaigns off and running ahead of early voting start on State Issue 1 — and abortion isn’t far behind

COLUMBUS -- "On Friday evening, Angie Greer knocked on doors in a leafy Columbus subdivision with spacious, 1980s-era homes. Greer, the Columbus field canvas director for Ohio Citizen Action, a left-leaning advocacy group, has been knocking on doors since May, convincing people at their doorstep with surprising ease to film short videos explaining their reasons for opposing Issue 1.

Although their ranks included some young families, residents there described their neighborhood as skewing older, and were surprised to learn that some who lived there supported abortion rights.

Greer said while it’s not the case for everyone, abortion definitely is on the minds of many people she encounters. 'I think most people realize the motivation for Issue 1,' Greer said. 'So it’s definitely a topic of conversation.'"

-- Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland.com

link to full article

Householder sentenced to twenty years

Nearly 1,100 days after the news broke of the House Bill 6 scandal orchestrated by former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, the maximum sentence has been handed down to hold him accountable for his actions and bring him to justice.

The 20 years that Householder has been sentenced to serve in federal prison are the direct result of the years-long empire-building scheme he designed to develop a sustainable structure to channel dark money for political purposes. Larry Householder and others involved believed they were above the law and that there would be no ramifications for their actions. Today, that belief comes to an end. 

The House Bill 6 scandal is a prime example of how special interests with deep pockets are empowered to drive the decisions of Ohio’s legislature. Ohioans deserve better, and as a result of this significant sentence, we will be expecting better from our elected officials moving forward. 

Democracy does not allow our leaders to wield power without the opportunity for the people to exercise a check on that power. We hope today’s sentencing will allow the state to move past the largest bribery and racketeering scheme in our history and move toward a system of transparency and accountability where the voice of the people is heard and valued by our decision makers.