A group in Ohio called Building Blocks for Liberty (they teach Constitution classes) put this in an email. Trump endorsed these Issues but these people say they aren't needed. From what I can see the Ohio Code resembles one of those Dr. Seuss villages where houses are built on top of houses on top of houses teetering over the streets. Like no one reads the code before introducing new, sound good, bills. For what it's worth:
Amending the Ohio Constitution
Issues 1 & 2
Whenever the State legislature puts forth amendments to the State Constitution on their own, I am immediately suspicious of their motives.
Let's take a look at each proposed amendment juxtaposed with what these amendments are supposed to "fix". I have color-coded the current wording with the proposed new wording in the amendment.
Comparing the current Ohio Constitution wording
with the proposed amendments
Issue 1
To amend Section 9 of Article I of the Constitution of the State of Ohio
The proposed amendment would:
Require Ohio courts, when setting the amount of bail
to consider public safety
including the seriousness of the offense
as well as a person's criminal record
the likelihood a person will return to court
and any other factor the Ohio General Assembly may prescribe
Remove the requirement that the procedures for establishing the amount and conditions of bail be determined by the Supreme Court of Ohio
Current Ohio Constitution
Article 1, Section 9
All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties
except for a person who is charged with a capital offense where the proof is evident or the presumption great
and except for a person who is charged with a felony where the proof is evident or the presumption great
and where the person poses a substantial risk of serious physical harm to any person or to the community
Where a person is charged with any offense for which the person may be incarcerated, the court may determine at any time the type, amount, and conditions of bail
Excessive bail shall not be required; nor excessive fines imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted
The General Assembly shall fix by law standards to determine whether a person who is charged with a felony where the proof is evident, or the presumption great poses a substantial risk of serious physical harm to any person or to the community
What is the big difference? I actually think the current Constitution is stronger and gives the Courts more latitude in what they may consider when setting bail.
The biggest difference is in this section of the proposed amendment:
and any other factor the Ohio General Assembly may prescribe
It's the "any other factor" the Ohio General Assembly may prescribe that is the difference.
Whereas in the current Constitution the General Assembly is restricted to considering only if a person "poses substantial risk of serious physical harm to any person or to the community" when setting standards for the setting of bail, in the proposed amendment it changes this:
The General Assembly shall fix by law standards to determine whether a person who is charged with a felony where the proof is evident, or the presumption great poses a substantial risk of serious physical harm to any person or to the community
to this:
and any other factor the Ohio General Assembly may prescribe
The general assembly may well follow the current trend and provide that courts must consider race or sexual orientation, or gender, or who knows what when determining the amount of bail.
Remember that right now, in woke States, arrests are made - or not made - based on race!
I say vote NO on Issue 1!
Issue 2
To amend Section 1 of Article V, Section 3 of Article X, and Section 3 of Article XVIII of the Constitution of the State of Ohio
Let's focus on Article V, Section 1, this is the crux of the changes.
The proposed amendment would:
Require that only a citizen of the United States
who is at least 18 years of age
and who has been a legal resident
and registered voter for at least 30 days
can vote at any state or local election held in this state
Prohibit local governments from allowing a person to vote in local elections if they are not legally qualified to vote in state elections
Current Ohio Constitution
Article 5, Section 1
Every citizen of the United States
of the age of eighteen years
who has been a resident of the state, county, township, or ward, such time as may be provided by law
and has been registered to vote for thirty days
has the qualifications of an elector and is entitled to vote in all elections
Any elector who fails to vote in at least one election during any period of four consecutive years shall cease to be an elector unless he again registers to vote.
The current Ohio Constitution clearly already states the only a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years of age, who has lived in Ohio for a time prescribed by the General Assembly and who has been registered to vote for 30 days can vote. That last line, "has the qualifications of an elector and is entitled to vote in all elections", the "all elections" means all elections held, at every level.
Again, what is the difference?
The existing Constitution already prohibits anyone who is not a Citizen, etc., from voting in the State.
Do the powers that be think by amending the Ohio Constitution they won't have to enforce the Amendment like they have to enforce the current Constitution?
I see no reason to amend the Ohio Constitution when it already says everything, and more, than the amendment.
A group in Ohio called Building Blocks for Liberty (they teach Constitution classes) put this in an email. Trump endorsed these Issues but these people say they aren't needed. From what I can see the Ohio Code resembles one of those Dr. Seuss villages where houses are built on top of houses on top of houses teetering over the streets. Like no one reads the code before introducing new, sound good, bills. For what it's worth:
Whenever the State legislature puts forth amendments to the State Constitution on their own, I am immediately suspicious of their motives.
Let's take a look at each proposed amendment juxtaposed with what these amendments are supposed to "fix". I have color-coded the current wording with the proposed new wording in the amendment.
Comparing the current Ohio Constitution wording
with the proposed amendments
Issue 1
To amend Section 9 of Article I of the Constitution of the State of Ohio
The proposed amendment would:
Require Ohio courts, when setting the amount of bail
to consider public safety
including the seriousness of the offense
as well as a person's criminal record
the likelihood a person will return to court
and any other factor the Ohio General Assembly may prescribe
Remove the requirement that the procedures for establishing the amount and conditions of bail be determined by the Supreme Court of Ohio
Current Ohio Constitution
Article 1, Section 9
All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties
except for a person who is charged with a capital offense where the proof is evident or the presumption great
and except for a person who is charged with a felony where the proof is evident or the presumption great
and where the person poses a substantial risk of serious physical harm to any person or to the community
Where a person is charged with any offense for which the person may be incarcerated, the court may determine at any time the type, amount, and conditions of bail
Excessive bail shall not be required; nor excessive fines imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted
The General Assembly shall fix by law standards to determine whether a person who is charged with a felony where the proof is evident, or the presumption great poses a substantial risk of serious physical harm to any person or to the community
What is the big difference? I actually think the current Constitution is stronger and gives the Courts more latitude in what they may consider when setting bail.
The biggest difference is in this section of the proposed amendment:
and any other factor the Ohio General Assembly may prescribe
It's the "any other factor" the Ohio General Assembly may prescribe that is the difference.
Whereas in the current Constitution the General Assembly is restricted to considering only if a person "poses substantial risk of serious physical harm to any person or to the community" when setting standards for the setting of bail, in the proposed amendment it changes this:
The General Assembly shall fix by law standards to determine whether a person who is charged with a felony where the proof is evident, or the presumption great poses a substantial risk of serious physical harm to any person or to the community
to this:
and any other factor the Ohio General Assembly may prescribe
The general assembly may well follow the current trend and provide that courts must consider race or sexual orientation, or gender, or who knows what when determining the amount of bail.
Remember that right now, in woke States, arrests are made - or not made - based on race!
I say vote NO on Issue 1!
Issue 2
To amend Section 1 of Article V, Section 3 of Article X, and Section 3 of Article XVIII of the Constitution of the State of Ohio
Let's focus on Article V, Section 1, this is the crux of the changes.
The proposed amendment would:
Require that only a citizen of the United States
who is at least 18 years of age
and who has been a legal resident
and registered voter for at least 30 days
can vote at any state or local election held in this state
Prohibit local governments from allowing a person to vote in local elections if they are not legally qualified to vote in state elections
Current Ohio Constitution
Article 5, Section 1
Every citizen of the United States
of the age of eighteen years
who has been a resident of the state, county, township, or ward, such time as may be provided by law
and has been registered to vote for thirty days
has the qualifications of an elector and is entitled to vote in all elections
Any elector who fails to vote in at least one election during any period of four consecutive years shall cease to be an elector unless he again registers to vote.
The current Ohio Constitution clearly already states the only a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years of age, who has lived in Ohio for a time prescribed by the General Assembly and who has been registered to vote for 30 days can vote. That last line, "has the qualifications of an elector and is entitled to vote in all elections", the "all elections" means all elections held, at every level.
Again, what is the difference?
The existing Constitution already prohibits anyone who is not a Citizen, etc., from voting in the State.
Do the powers that be think by amending the Ohio Constitution they won't have to enforce the Amendment like they have to enforce the current Constitution?
I see no reason to amend the Ohio Constitution when it already says everything, and more, than the amendment.
Vote NO on Issue 2!!
These are my opinions, nothing else.