COLUMBUS, Ohio — A coalition of civil rights organizations said they are suing Attorney General Dave Yost because they do not believe he has the right to reject their amendment based on the title.
In January, the group submitted their Ohio voter's bill of rights for the second time. In that amendment, they look to make changes to voting laws in Ohio. For example, they want to add more drop boxes in counties for ballots, allow other forms of ID besides Ohio-issued IDs for voting, allow same-day voter registration and extend voting hours.
According to the lawsuit, “the attorney general is tasked only with examining whether the summary is a fair and truthful statement of the proposed law or constitutional amendment.”
The lawsuit also said, “The attorney general does not have the authority to review the title of the proposed amendment.”
Deidra Reese, the voter engagement director for the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, said this is all about giving voters the opportunity to change our voting laws.
“We have seen in this state and other states laws and procedures being enacted and put into place that are creating unreasonable barriers and impediments for folks to participate,” said Reese.
She feels recent changes to the voting laws have set Ohio back.
“Some of these changes seem to be taking us backward, as opposed to forward,” said Reese.
Reese said they will wait for the Supreme Court to make a decision. The group has until July to submit an amendment for the ballot in November.
“We enshrine it in the constitution because if the people say that’s what they want then we believe that’s what they should do,” said Reese.
Attorney General Dave Yost posed on X about the lawsuit, saying "We’ve been sued over the decision. Good. The misleading title is the only matter of contention, so we will likely get a clear opinion up or down. The voters deserve a no-spin zone when asked to sign a petition and I aim to give it to them.”
Yost has until Monday at 4 p.m. to respond to the lawsuit.