As Introduced

130th General Assembly
Regular Session
2013-2014
H. J. R. No. 2


Representative Stinziano 


A JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing to amend Sections 2 and 20 of Article I, 1
Section 1 of Article II, and Sections 1, 2, 4, and 2
6 of Article V of the Constitution of the State of 3
Ohio to set forth in the Constitution of the State 4
of Ohio a specific right to vote and requirements 5
attendant thereto.6

       Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, 7
three-fifths of the members elected to each house concurring 8
herein, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the 9
state, in the manner prescribed by law at the general election to 10
be held on November 5, 2013, a proposal to amend Sections 2 and 20 11
of Article I, Section 1 of Article II, and Sections 1, 2, 4, and 6 12
of Article V of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to read as 13
follows:14

2.   All political power is inherent in the people. 15
Every elector has the right to vote in the exercise of political 16
power. Government is instituted for their equal protection and 17
benefit, and they have the right to alter, reform, or abolish the 18
same, whenever they may deem it necessary; and no special 19
privileges or immunities shall ever be granted, that may not be 20
altered, revoked, or repealed by the General Assembly.21

       Section 20.   This enumeration of rights shall not be 22
construed to impair or deny others retained by the people; and all 23
powers, not herein delegated, remain with the people. Nothing in 24
this constitution shall be deemed to deny, diminish, or impair the 25
rights of any elector qualified to vote in any election in this 26
state.27

       Section 1.   The legislative power of the state shall be 28
vested in a General Assembly consisting of a senate and house of 29
representatives but the people reserve to themselves the power to 30
propose to the General Assembly laws and amendments to the 31
constitution, and to adopt or reject the same at the polls on a 32
referendum vote as hereinafter provided. They also reserve the 33
power to adopt or reject any law passed by the general assembly, 34
any codified section of any law as contained in a law passed by 35
the general assembly, or any item in any law passed by the general 36
assembly, whether or not appropriating money passed by the General 37
Assembly, except as hereinafter providedin accordance with the 38
requirements of this constitution; and independent of the General 39
Assembly to propose amendments to the constitution and to adopt or 40
reject the same at the polls. The limitations expressed in the 41
constitution, on the power of the General Assembly to enact laws, 42
shall be deemed limitations on the power of the people to enact 43
laws.44

       Section 1.   Every citizen of the United States, of the age of 45
eighteen years, who has beenis a resident of thethis state, 46
county, township, or ward, such time as may be provided by law, 47
and has been registered to vote for thirty days, has the 48
qualifications of an elector, and is entitled to vote at all 49
elections. Any elector who fails to voteknowingly votes more than 50
once in at least oneany election during any period of four 51
consecutive years shall cease to be an elector unless he again 52
registers to votebe disenfranchised, subject to restoration by a 53
court of competent jurisdiction.54

        As used in this section, "election" means any federal, state, 55
district, or local election or any combination of them, whether a 56
general, primary, or special election.57

       Section 2.   All elections shall be by ballot, and the results 58
of an election shall be verified by audit if the margin of 59
difference between the number of votes received by the top two 60
candidates in any race or the number of votes in favor of or 61
against any ballot issue or question is less than one per cent.62

       Section 4.   The General Assembly shall have power to exclude 63
from the privilegeright of voting, or of being eligible to 64
office, any person convicted of a felony, except no such 65
individual shall be denied the franchise or be determined 66
ineligible unless incarcerated upon such felony conviction.67

       Section 6.   No idiot, or insane person,person who has been 68
adjudged incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction or who, 69
by virtue of benefits received, has been adjudged to have a mental 70
disability that prevents the person from being competent to vote71
shall be entitled to the privileges of an elector.72

EFFECTIVE DATE AND REPEAL
73

       If adopted by a majority of the electors voting on this 74
proposal, Sections 2 and 20 of Article I, Section 1 of Article II, 75
and Sections 1, 2, 4, and 6 of Article V as amended by this 76
proposal shall take effect immediately and existing Sections 2 and 77
20 of Article I, Section 1 of Article II, and Sections 1, 2, 4, 78
and 6 of Article V of the Constitution of the State of Ohio shall 79
be repealed effective immediately.80