Ohio House Speaker: August election making it harder to amend constitution 'a possibility'

A week after Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens shut down the idea of holding an August election to make it harder to amend the state constitution, the Republican legislative leader now says it's a "possibility."

"From an administrative standpoint, another August primary is not the easiest for local governments," Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, told reporters Wednesday. "I think, however, the Legislature does set the date and time and place of the election. So, you know, that is always a possibility."

The comments mark a shift in Stephens' tone from a week ago, when he dismissed holding an August election shortly after voting to eliminate most of them.

"Let me be abundantly clear. I am and have always been 100% Pro-Life," Stephens tweeted on Friday. "I will stand for life at every turn; however, I am not for changing the rules willy nilly at a whim when it comes to changing our constitution."

More:How proposed changes to Ohio Constitution could impact abortion issue

In the intervening week, Stephens has faced pressure from abortion opponents hoping to preempt a proposed amendment on the November ballot to enshrine abortion protections in the state constitution. Stephens also met with Senate President Matt Huffman to discuss the state's two-year budget and other legislation.

On Wednesday, a group of House Republicans, including former speaker candidate Derek Merrin, signed a petition to have the House vote on the constitutional change. They would need a majority of House legislators to sign the petition to bring it to the floor, even without Stephens' approval.

The proposals, House Joint Resolution 1 and Senate Joint Resolution 2, would require 60% of voters to enact constitutional amendments, instead of a simple majority. Three-fifths of both chambers need to approve the question to place it on the ballot, giving voters the final say in whether the rules should change.

More:Ohio secretary of state defends possible August election after pushing to limit them

Huffman, R-Lima, said the plan to hold an August election is not at an impasse. "I think there needs to be some general education," he said. "Certainly, there's a persuasion part in this."

Reporter Haley BeMiller contributed to this article.

Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.