Bill Text: OH HJR2 | 2013-2014 | 130th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Proposing to amend Sections 2 and 20 of Article I,

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-01-30 - To Policy and Legislative Oversight [HJR2 Detail]

Download: Ohio-2013-HJR2-Introduced.html

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As Introduced

130th General Assembly Regular Session 2013-2014

H. J. R. No. 2

Representative Stinziano 

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A JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing to amend Sections 2 and 20 of Article I,

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Section 1 of Article II, and Sections 1, 2, 4, and

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6 of Article V of the Constitution of the State of

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Ohio to set forth in the Constitution of the State

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of Ohio a specific right to vote and requirements

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attendant thereto.

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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altered, revoked, or repealed by the General Assembly.	21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 vote	71
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