We Stands in Solidarity Against Attack on Democracy
On Wednesday, May 10, 2023, the Ohio House of Representatives voted 62-37 to pass Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR2), which would make it more difficult for Ohioans to amend the state constitution. The amendment would require a 60% supermajority vote to pass, up from the current simple majority. It would also make it more difficult to gather signatures to put an amendment on the ballot.
May 10, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Protesters for and against the resolution convene inside the Ohio Statehouse prior to the deadline for the Ohio House to decide whether to create an August special election for a resolution that would increase the voter threshold to 60 percent for constitutional amendments. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch

The vote was met with protests outside the Ohio Statehouse, where hundreds of people gathered to voice their opposition to the resolution. We livestreamed the protest and prayer circle while entering the statehouse:
“This is just the latest attack on democracy and an attempt to silence the voices of Ohioans. We stand with Common Cause Ohio and other voting rights advocates in calling on Ohioans to vote NO on SJR2 in the August 8 special election”. – Philena Farley – Ohio Green Party Co-Chair
The Ohio League of Women Voters has already filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new law. The lawsuit argues that the law violates the Ohio Constitution’s guarantee of the right to vote. The lawsuit is still pending.
One Person, One Vote
Last week, the Ohio Green Party joined forces with other advocacy groups to protest against House Joint Resolution 1 (HJR1) at the statehouse. HJR1, along with Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR2)
At the both protests, the chant “One person, one vote” was the battle cry against this attack on our rights and the Ohio Constitution.
We stand with organizations like Rank the Vote Ohio, SPAN Ohio (Single-Payer Action Network), MoveToAmend Ohio, and other advocacy groups who have joined the Ohio Citizen Action campaign that need citizen-led ballot measures to put their issues on the ballot and let the people decide. These organizations are fighting for important issues like election integrity, legalize marijuana, healthcare reform, and campaign finance reform, and we support and endorse their efforts.
Many believe it was to prevent the Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment from being put on the November 2023 ballot.
As members of the Ohio Green Party, we believe in grassroots democracy, social justice, and nonviolence. We believe that every person has a right to participate in the decisions that affect their lives, and we will continue to fight for these values in the face of attacks on our democratic rights.
We urge all Ohioans to speak out against this legislation and vote NO on SJR2 in the August 8 special election.