Election 2005: Keep Ohio in hands of Ohioians, Vote No on Issues 2, 3, 4 and 5

There should be no doubt in any Ohio citizen's mind that state issues 2, 3, 4 and 5 should be defeated.

These issues are on the ballot Nov. 8 and require quite a bit of study to understand them.

Issue 2 is a good idea that allows no-fault absentee voting, but House Bill 3 has already been proposed to make this change.

The Ohio Assembly bill includes safeguards that the new Constitutional amendment leaves out. This law should be left to Ohio's elected legislature, as should all issues of election reform.

Issue 3 claims to reduce the cost of Ohio campaigns. While individual donations are restricted, virtually unlimited amounts can be paid from small donor political action committees.

The most serious effect of Issue 3 is that it allows nonprofit unincorporated membership organizations to not disclose the names of their members who donate.

This means that non-Ohio citizens could contribute to Ohio campaigns anonymously.

Issues 4 and 5 are catastrophic failures for free, open and bipartisan elections.

Issue 4 is a redistricting proposal that would replace the current elected apportionment board with an unelected board.

Two of the members will be selected by sitting judges. The judges who will select them is unclear.

The other three members will be selected by the two members who were selected by the unnamed judges, or by lot.

This unelected and unaccountable apportionment board would be responsible for enacting a ridiculous formula in order to redraw Ohio's voting districts in an attempt to make them more competitive and, according to the new amendment, "expend funds as it, in its discretion, deems necessary." This sounds suspiciously like a blank check.

Issue 5 is an attempt to replace Ohio's chief elections officer. It would replace the Secretary of State with a nine-member elections board.

This group would have a nine-year term with no accountability to the citizens of Ohio and could ask for whatever funds they want.

The people elect the Secretary of State, and each Ohio County has an election board made up of two Republicans and two Democrats.

The current system is fair and bipartisan. Issue 5 is just not needed.

Issues 2, 3, 4 and 5 create a multi-layered bureaucracy that's unaccountable to Ohio's voters and hands them a blank check of Ohio tax dollars. Issues of election reform should be legislated so that adjustments can be made over time.

Any changes to these amendments to Ohio's already lengthy Constitution would require another state vote.