Rep. Forhan Says State Supreme Court Failed by Permitting Biased, Misrepresentative Ballot Board Summary Language to Remain on the November Ballot

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Elliot Forhan (D-South Euclid) today expressed his displeasure with the Republican members of the Ohio Supreme Court who ruled that only one minor change is needed to the Ballot Board language approved for the abortion rights amendment facing voters this November. 

"Extreme Ohio Republicans continue to try to manipulate and mislead our state’s voters through government-sponsored propaganda, but Ohio voters are smarter than that,” said Rep. Forhan. “The Republican-controlled Ballot Board approved dishonest and deceitful ballot summary language that misrepresents the Issue 1 proposed amendment. The Ohio Supreme Court failed today to uphold its duty to correct those mistakes. Instead, the Court permitted the biased and misrepresentative language to remain in the summary. Regardless of the failings of the Court, Ohio voters should not be fooled. Voters should ignore the summary language and read the proposed amendment itself. It’s actually shorter than the summary."

Rep. Forhan and Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson are the only two Democrats on the Secretary of State chaired Ballot Board meant to accurately inform voters on proposed ballot issues.