COLUMBUS - In a stunning affirmation by opponents of State Issue 2, The Ohio Republican Party and Protect Your Vote Ohio agreed to stop using two statements Voters First has said are false. Facing disciplinary action by the Ohio Elections Commission, the Ohio Republican Party and Protect Your Vote Ohio agreed to a settlement whereby they agreed to stop using two statements.
The terms of the settlement, signed by both groups yesterday, states that the Ohio Republican Party will no longer use two demonstrably false statements it has used in the past.
The first statement, "[The Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission] will have a blank check, was determined to be factually inaccurate by the Ohio Supreme Court.
The second statement, "Some [Independent Citizens' Commission] members will be chosen in secret," was the subject of an Ohio Elections Commission hearing today.
As a result of the acknowledgement by Issue 2 opponents and their agreement to not repeat the false statements in the future, Voters First has agreed to drop their case in front of the Elections Commission.
"Our opponents have been forced to acknowledge that they were doing what politicians do when they are trying to protect their power." said Sandy Theis, spokeswoman for Voters First. "They will do and say anything to try and get their way."
"Voters cannot be provided a more compelling reason to Vote Yes on Issue 2 than this example of what happens when politicians are left to rig the system to protect themselves and special interest friends," Theis said.
