The five-member Ohio Ballot Board will meet Thursday to OK language for an August amendment that, if approved, would make it harder to change the state's constitution.
Thursday's meeting is the next step in the process after Republican lawmakers voted last week to put the issue on the August ballot. The proposed change would require any future amendment to the state constitution to get 60% of the vote instead of the current 50% plus one vote.
Republican legislators passed the measure last week, hoping to head off a potential amendment in November to enshrine abortion access in the state constitution. Other proponents hope to fend off a proposal to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour or stop future redistricting reform.
On Friday, opponents of the proposed change to make it harder to amend the Constitution filed a lawsuit with the Ohio Supreme Court. They argued that lawmakers broke the law by putting this issue on an Aug. 8 ballot, shortly after eliminating most August elections.
Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, contended that what the General Assembly approved would pass constitutional muster. Lawmakers intend to repay Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose the $15 million to $20 million it would cost to hold an August statewide election later.
It's not yet clear when the Ohio Supreme Court will resolve that dispute.
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