The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has granted a request from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for an en banc review in the case concerning the proposed amendment titled “Protecting Ohioans’ Constitutional Rights.”
Attorney General Dave Yost requested this full court review on May 30 after a divided three-member panel ruled that Ohio’s ballot initiative process likely violated the U.S. Constitution. The panel had ordered that the proposed amendment and its summary be sent to the Ballot Board.
Yost contended that the summary was not fair and truthful, which he argued would mislead Ohio voters. In his petition for an en banc review, Yost stated that the panel's opinion raised significant constitutional issues that warranted examination by all judges on the full court of appeals.
"The Attorney General's role is to ensure that what goes to the voters is an accurate representation of what is being presented," said Yost. "It is a safeguard to ensure voters fully understand what they are voting for."
For further information, media contact Hannah Hundley can be reached at 614-906-9113.