Ohioans back abortion rights amendment, a test case for other states “Sweeping support for a proposed Ohio constitutional amendment enshrining abortion rights spotlights the potential power of the issue to drive voter turnout and affect races up and down the ballot, even in Republican-leaning states.” More proof that draconian abortion bans do not reflect voters’ wishes. Why do conservative state legislators keep trying to force these bans upon women?
I am big on the “baptists and bootleggers” perspective of politics, which basically states that all causes are supported by a set of ideologically pure proponents and those that have more selfish motives. In the case of prohibition, the two groups that came together in support were the baptists and the bootleggers. Here, I am sure that some politicians have a selfish motive for pushing restrictions on abortions, but many regular citizens also support them, so it can’t be that all the supporters are motivated by dark money. Many posters on this site have said that they view abortion as a kind of murder. Now I do not see it that way, but my differing view clearly doesn’t prove that they are lying. Many simply believe abortions are morally wrong.
Threw me off too, because I have been following the issue. I will say that I'm worried about relying on the polling because the other side is doing everything they can to suppress the vote.
58/32 in polling… I assume 50% is required in Ohio? Doesn’t Florida require 60% for amendments? Edit, actually, it looks like Ohio is 60% also, so this will be a close one.
Edit again… it was wrong, Ohio currently requires 50% but the are also voting on whether to change the law to 60% at the same time, but I assume 50% would pass this even if the 60% is also approved.
There is a special election in August (Issue 1) to vote on changing 50% to 60%. If that passes, then the November vote will require 60%.
After months of denial, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose admitted that the proposal to make the constitution harder to amend is “100%” due to efforts to legalize abortion. https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023...tution-harder-to-amend-is-100-about-abortion/
That is true. It’s also true that the people pushing vote no on Issue 1 (keeping it 50% not changing to 60%), are not concerned with the constitution in general, but want to make sure they can pass the abortion amendment in November. Both sides playing politics. Imagine that.
Both teams try to win, but only one is trying to change the rules mid-game. As a matter of political science, I do not view those two as equal. And it is one of numerous examples nationwide to try to remove the issue from consideration of pre-existing political mechanisms, or exactly the opposite of what Sam and Bret said they were doing.
No, one side is trying to CHANGE something to avoid the majority to have their way. They are the ones playing games.
True although based on one poll on the issue and the history of every vote on abortion rights as a stand-alone issue in recent years it's not unreasonable to assume that the amendment will pass with flying colors. Almost 60 percent of Ohio voters back abortion rights amendment: Poll
I think it's manifestly stupid for the voters to diminish their own power, regardless of what amendment is up for consideration.
This is classic public choice theory. A simple majority maximizes the number of people who could be dissatisfied with the change (50% - 1). A super majority demonstrates agreement for the change among higher percentages of people. Requiring 90% or even 100% is the highest level of agreement before making a change. Very few people would be dissatisfied with passing the issue. The flip side is requiring 90% or 100% means that a very small minority can hold the majority hostage against making a change. Requiring super majority holds the possibility of a majority the people being dissatisfied with the outcome if it doesn’t pass. Requiring a super majority is more likely to maintain the status quo. Society needs to decide whether changes should be brought about by the fewest number of people possible, for example a simple majority, or whether the standard needs to be higher agreement for significant changes. A super majority is required to change the US Constitution. There is no fundamental law of the universe which says which voting rules are correct. There is a certain irony regarding Ohio’s Issue 1. The vote to require 60% pass level to change the constitution itself only requires 50% to pass.
