The following statement can be attributed to Brent Edwards, RuralOrganizing.org’s Ohio Organizing Manager:
Today on a one-party vote, Republicans in the Ohio Legislature voted to hold an August special election aimed at curbing the will of the voters through restricting the constitutional amendment processes. Republicans are placing on the August ballot a bill that would require citizen-led ballot initiatives to receive at least 60 percent of the vote to pass, one of the highest such thresholds in the nation.
This means that urgent progressive priorities such as protecting reproductive choice, common-sense gun safety, and raising the minimum wage would be stopped by 40 percent of the voting populace. This means one thing: the retrograde Republicans in the legislature are afraid of the will of the people, and they are relentlessly seeking new ways to curb the power of Ohio’s citizens.
RuralOrganizing.org isn’t missing a step when it comes to beating back these anti-democratic measures. In response to this new election, Rural Organizing has pledged funding to hire organizers who will inform voters about this crucial August election, and how voting no on the measure is essential for preserving our democratic rights.
As the premier organization dedicated to mobilizing voters in rural areas and small towns, Rural Organizing knows what it takes to win in tough environments. We will be utilizing our proven tactics of investing in local leaders to solve local problems once more, to fight against this flawed bill.
“The mission of RuralOrganizing.org is to rebuild a rural America that is empowered, thriving, and equitable. Follow us on Twitter @RuralOrganizing.”
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