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Frequently Asked Questions
Press and Organizational Endorsements
General Questions:
Issues 2-5:
Issue 2 - Makes it easier to vote by allowing all Ohioans to vote by mail.
Issue 3 - Helps stop the influence of big money in elections by greatly reducing campaign contributions.
Issue 4 - Stops the politicians from drawing their own legislative districts and puts an Independent Commission in charge of this process.
Issue 5 - Places a bi-partisan Board of Supervisors in charge of Ohio's elections instead of a partisan politician.
The Campaign:
General Questions:
What is Reform Ohio Now (RON)?
RON is a coalition of individuals and organizations that have come together to change Ohio and make it better. They will bring common sense to the Ohio electoral system by reducing reliance on big money in campaigns, removing the politicians from the process of drawing their own legislative districts, allowing early voting, and having a bi-partisan board of elections to oversee Ohio elections.
Who is RON?
Reform Ohio Now is comprised of a broad group of and individuals committed to improving Ohio's electoral process. Click here for a list of the organizations that make up our coalition. Individual endorsers include:
- Dr. Herb Asher - Professor Emeritus of Political Science at The Ohio State University
- Andy Douglas - former Republican State Supreme Court Justice
- Dennis Eckart- Former CEO of Greater Cleveland Growth Association
Click here to endorse the campaign.
What is Reform Ohio Now's purpose?
Reform Ohio Now's purpose is to improve accountability and reform Ohio's electoral system through a series of constitutional amendments:
- The creation of an independent Commission to approve state and federal legislative districts
- The reform of Ohio campaign finance laws to lessen the role of large campaign contributions and provide fuller disclosure about the source of contributions
- The creation of a bi-partisan State Board of Elections to oversee the conduct and administration of elections.
- Allowing voters to cast ballots by mail or in person at an appropriate county board of elections up to 35 days before an election without stating a reason for voting early.
How many amendments does Reform Ohio Now plan to place on the ballot?
There are four (4) election reform amendments. Each will be voted upon separately.
Why are these amendments needed?
Ohio is facing a crisis and the State is suffering. It is time for change. Big donors dictate policy priorities, politicians draw their own legislative districts, and state elections are run by partisan elected officials who are not neutral. As a result, the legislature is not responding to the needs of its citizens. Ohio Citizens deserve better! These amendments create a greater role for the average citizen in the electoral system and allow Ohioans to shape the future of their own electoral system.
What is required to place these amendments on the ballot?
The Ohio Attorney General approved and certified RON language and we must gather 322,899 signatures statewide. The signatures must include at least 5 percent of the vote cast in the last gubernatorial election in at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties. On August 9, Reform Ohio Now filed 520,000 signatures, qualifying 75 counties.
How will electoral reform help fix Ohio's economy?
Working people know how to hold on to good jobs. But politicians have to listen to them in order to enact policies that will keep jobs in the state and create new ones. Ohio loses jobs when politicians pay more attention to the concerns of rich donors than they do to working people. What's more, our state government is rife with pork-barrel spending and mismanagement of state funds. If our politicians weren't so swayed by campaign contributions, they wouldn't be squandering tax dollars and jobs.
How will electoral reform help stop the scandals like "Coingate" and corruption in state government?
Our legislators are spending their time courting big donors and giving them sweetheart deals, instead of addressing Ohio's loss of 270,000 jobs since 2001. Money talks, and our voices get lost in the shuffle. Reform Ohio Now's campaign finance reform package will help get big money out of Ohio and hold politicians accountable to voters, not donors - making sure the only people who bend the ear of politicians are their constituents.
What is "Coingate"?
"Coingate" refers to a scandal that has recently come to light in Columbus. Ohio's Bureau of Worker's Compensation invested $50 million with a Toledo-area rare coin dealer named Thomas Noe. It's no secret that Noe got his hands on the state's money because he's a top campaign contributor (he's given $140,000 since 1998 alone). Now up to $13 million of taxpayers' investment may have been lost-money that was supposed to go to injured workers. Politicians are scrambling to rid themselves of the cash he gave them and wash their hands of the scandal, but Ohioans know it's part of the "pay-to-play" system that has infected the halls of state government for years.
Issues 2-5(For more detail, see the full text of the amendments.)
Issue 2 - Makes it easier to vote by allowing all Ohioans to vote by mail.
Today's System: Requires voters to have a qualifying reason to vote early (i.e.- military service).
RON's Amendment: Would permit voters to cast ballots by mail or in person at an appropriate county board of elections up to 35 days before an election without stating a reason for voting early. This would increase voter turnout and simplify the voting process by?†allowing Ohioans to vote by mail if they choose.
Issue 3 - Helps stop the influence of big money in elections by greatly reducing campaign contributions.
Today's system: The Ohio legislature recently quadrupled campaign contribution limits, raising them from $2,500 to $10,000. This means an individual can contribute up to $20,000 a year to a candidate. This floods the electoral system with excessive amounts of special-interest money, squeezing out and limiting the influence of the average Ohio citizen.
Ron's Amendment: Would say NO to special interest money in politics. This amendment would create limits on individual campaign contributions to $2,000 for statewide candidates and $1,000 to legislative candidates, ban corporate contributions, and require full disclosure. It would help voters know who contributes and how much they contribute to specific candidates. It would significantly reduce the ability of special interests to dictate policy priorities.
Didn't the legislature just put some campaign finance reforms in the state budget? In response to the "Coingate" scandal, the Senate version of the state budget included a $1000 limit on campaign contributions from investment managers to candidates for governor or lieutenant governor. But that doesn't amount to real reform when the problems run as deep as they do. As the Cleveland Plain-Dealer said of the measures, "Only a fool would apply a Band Aid to a gaping wound and call it healing" ("The GOP Version of 'All Fixed,'" June 2, 2004).
Issue 4 - Stops the politicians from drawing their own legislative districts and puts an Independent Commission in charge of this process.
Today's system: Currently, politicians draw legislative districts to guarantee election results by packing as many voters from one Party into a given district. This process assures the incumbent of reelection without having to be responsive to the voters. This system empowers those that contribute to campaigns, not the voters in the district.
RON's Amendment: Would prevent politicians from creating their own legislative districts and prevent decisions from being made behind closed doors without input from citizens. It would create an independent board with an open process that allows citizens to submit plans for legislative districts. This would create greater competition among candidates and provide real choices for voters, not just contributors.
When would redistricting take effect?
Redistricting would take effect for the 2008 general elections.
Why should redistricting start in 2008 vs. 2012?
If the citizens of Ohio decide this amendment is important, than why should they wait for change? Ohioans should not be forced to wait for a more open, non-partisan system because it might be more convenient for political candidates. If the voters pass it, then it should take effect as soon as possible.
Who would create the five-member Independent Redistricting Commission to approve legislative districts and how would it operate?
- The first member would be appointed by the state appeals court judge with the longest continuous service. The second member would be appointed by the next senior appeals court judge from a different political party.
- The first two commission members then would appoint the other three, including one member not affiliated with a political party.
- Any person or group could submit a congressional and legislative redistricting plan, and the commission would choose the plans judged to create the most competitive districts without dividing up counties and cities.
- The first districts under the plan would be in effect in the 2008 elections. After that, new plans would be chosen in the year after each census, starting in 2011.
Issue 5 - Places a bi-partisan Board of Supervisors in charge of Ohio's elections instead of a partisan politician.
Today's system: In recent elections, in Ohio and elsewhere, partisan election officials have undermined public confidence in the fairness of the election process.
RON's Amendment: Would remove partisan public officials from the administration of state elections. This amendment would create a bipartisan board similar in responsibilities to the County Board of Elections. If a bipartisan system is good enough for all of our 88 counties, it should be good enough for Ohio as a whole. Also, any Ohioan could vote by mail, ensuring equal access for everyone.
Who would create the nine-member Independent State Board of Elections and how would it operate?
- Four members are appointed by the governor
- Four members are appointed by the members of the general assembly who comprise the largest group of such members affiliated with a political party that is not the same party with which the governor is affiliated.
- One member is appointed by a unanimous vote of the chief justice and justices of the Ohio Supreme Court.
- If the governor is not affiliated with a political party, then four members each would be appointed by the two largest groups of members of the general assembly affiliated with political parties. The member appointed by the Supreme Court may not be and may not have been during the previous ten years affiliated with a political party.
- The terms of members commence on January 1 and are for nine years, except for the initial appointments, which are staggered.
More Detail on the Campaign:
What are the legal challenges facing the campaign?
Check out our News and Updates page for the latest on the desperate attempts by powerful opponents to thwart our reforms. A group incorporated in Delaware, calling itself "Ohio First", has filed multiple lawsuits trying to attack out RON's amendments.
How can I help?
- If you haven't done so already, take action in the yellow box at reformohionow.org.
- Donate to help us fight legal challenges.
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Tell a friend about the campaign.
If I want to stay informed, what can I do?
Please sign up on our mailing list. We'll send you our e-updates every week or so.
Where can I go for more information?
To learn more, check out the news articles and campaign dispatches in News & Updates. You can also see the full text of the amendments.
What if I have a question that's not answered here?
Please email us at .
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