Ohio House Republicans approved for the August election for voters to decide whether or not it should require a 60 percent supermajority for passage of future state constitutional amendments instead of a simple majority decision.

The vote was taken up against the deadline in order to hold an August 8 special election, which was just voted out last year by Republicans, but recently passed to be able to hold again.

The vote passed by 63 to 37.

With Pro-choice groups are attempting to collect more than 422,000 signatures of registered voters by July 5 in order get an amendment for reproductive rights on the November 7 general election, any change of the Ohio Constitution that would require a supermajority would block the measure.

Now that measure will be decided during the special election.

Ohio AFL-CIO issued the following statement with the passage of HJ1/SJR2:

 “What this legislature has done today is a direct attack on our democratic rights. By intentionally placing this constitutional amendment on the ballot in what Republicans acknowledge is a low turnout election this summer, these extremists are attempting to go around the will of the people of Ohio. It is undemocratic, unpopular and unAmerican. The entire labor movement in Ohio stands in opposition to this attempt to circumvent voters. We will mobilize and defeat this attack and protect the sacred principle of one person, one vote and preserve majority rule in Ohio,” Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga said.

Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters released a statement after the legislature passed the bill:

“Today, Ohio Republicans sold out our Constitution to corrupt politicians and out-of-state billionaires. Despite opposition to this bill from Ohioans across the political spectrum, Republicans chose to pass it anyway, giving the middle finger to voters across our state. But make no mistake: the fight isn’t over. We’re ready to mobilize voters across the state to fight this Republican power grab and protect Ohioans’ fundamental rights at the ballot box.” 

"Speaker Jason Stephens, President Matt Huffman, and other members have done a tremendous job navigating this difficult issue, and I applaud their strong leadership," said Chairman Alex Triantafilou. "The Ohio Constitution is a foundational document that should absolutely have a higher threshold to amend, and I am confident Ohio voters will agree in August," Dan Lusheck, Communications Director for the Ohio Republican Party said.
 
Below is a statement from the Mahoning County Democratic Party:
 
“Even with the Republican Cartel that’s ran the statehouse for nearly 40 years putting this on the ballot, we’re confident that the people of Ohio will see through this tactic and defeat it at the ballot box. And when the voters of Mahoning County go to the ballot box in 2024 and 2026, they will not forget the shameful votes cast by Rep. Al Cutrona and Sen. Michael Rulli.” said Mahoning County Democratic Party Chair Chris Anderson. “In short: once again, during campaign season we saw candidates who promised to represent Mahoning County as an independent voice but what we got out of Republicans were two legislators who continue to baffle physicians with their ability to stand upright despite their lack of a backbone.”
 
The Youngstown-Warren Black Caucus also released a statement opposing the resolution:
 
"The Youngstown Warren Black Caucus is adamantly opposed to Senate Joint Resolution 2 which was passed in the Ohio legislature today. The resolution proposes to make it harder to amend the state constitution via a citizen’s initiative. Since 1912, the initiatives that have gone on the ballot were approved or rejected by a majority of those voting. The Republican led legislature wants to change that approval threshold to 60% of those voting in the election. That means that 41% of voters will win these elections against 59% of voters. In no other contest does 41 win anything over 59."
 
"It is not lost on us that the legislature wants to return to a 3/5 rule to control what happens with our state constitution. This nation’s history with a 3/5 rule is rooted deeply in slave history and any return to it in any form automatically sends warning signs to the black community."  
 
"We are offended that less than 6 months ago, the same Republican led legislature passed numerous changes to Ohio’s election laws including the elimination of
August special elections because in the then words of Oho Secretary of State Frank LaRose “This isn’t how democracy is supposed to work. More importantly, it doesn’t have to. Voters are just as capable of voting on these important issues during the standard primary and general elections.' Now, they want to put this resolution on the ballot in August 2023 for a special, 1 issue election, hoping that low voter turnout will help them advance their own political agenda. The
hypocrisy is blatant and wrong and will cost taxpayers $20 million. Sadly, some of our area legislators, Senators Rulli and O’Brien and Rep. Cutrona and Santucci, all Republicans, voted for the bill."
 
"Every former living Governor, Republican and Democrat, oppose this proposal. The same with former Secretaries of State. Additionally, over 200 nonpartisan
organizations oppose this Issue. We stand with all of them as well as dozens of other minority organizations committed to fighting this regressive proposal. Every
voter in our state, especially those of color, must come out and vote NO in August on this issue. Protect one person one vote. Before it is too late!"