Ohio Sovereignty Amendment (2011)
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| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
The Ohio Sovereignty Amendment did not make the November 2011 ballot in the state of Ohio as an initiated constitutional amendment. The proposed initiative called for redefining the state constitution to clearly establish authority and the powers allocated to each department.[1]
Aside from "reining in government" the measure would have allowed juries to nullify laws; expand the right to bear arms and maintain militias; permit the recall of elected officials by petition signatures alone; ban federal enforcement of laws except through a county sheriff; and require that all public school operations through the 12th grade be regulated at the district level only.[2][3]
Originally supporters aimed to qualify the measure for the 2010 statewide ballot, however, on June 23, 2010 organizers announced that they were far short of the needed signatures and would instead aim for the November 2011 ballot. However, efforts fell short of that ballot as well.[4]
Support
The proposed measure was supported by The People's Constitution Coalition of Ohio which described itself as "a project to promote governmental compliance and accountability to our state and federal Constitutions."[5] According to reports, Sen. Tim Grendell supported a sovereignty amendment. "The coalition goes beyond my resolution. The coalition issues are very complex and the challenge is to explain all the elements and the complexity of the proposal. They did an excellent job of getting the issue this far and I was there in support of it before the Ballot Board. I support the effort for stronger state sovereignty to protect the rights of our state and people. But it’s all or nothing in one vote, and that will be a challenge," said Grendell.[6]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Ohio signature requirements
To qualify the proposed initiative for the November 2010 ballot, supporters were required to collect a minimum of 402,275 valid signatures across at least 44 of 88 counties by June 30.
Organizers announced on June 23, 2010 that they were far short of the needed signatures, and would then aim to get the amendment on the November 2011 ballot. Those efforts fell short as well, however.[4]
See also
External links
- Filed initiative petition
- Attorney General certification, May 3, 2010
- The People's Constitution Coalition of Ohio (supporters)
Additional reading
- Mount Vernon News, "Groups hope to put amendments on November ballot," June 21, 2010
- The Columbus Dispatch, "Ballot issues can influence races," June 1, 2010
- The News-Herald, "Residents may be putting one vote on many issues," May 21, 2010
Footnotes
- ↑ Ohio Attorney General, "Ohio Sovereignty Amendment," April 23, 2010
- ↑ The Columbus Dispatch, "Sovereignty bid moves ahead," May 14, 2010
- ↑ The Columbus Dispatch, "Ohio Sovereignty Amendment would curb government's power," May 13, 2010
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Columbus Dispatch, "Sovereignty amendment won't be on Nov. 2 ballot," June 24, 2010
- ↑ The People's Constitution Coalition of Ohio, "Main Page," accessed May 21, 2010
- ↑ The News-Herald, "Coalition proposing amendment to Ohio Constitution," May 21, 2010
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