To enact sections 3501.052, 3501.053, and 3501.054 of the Revised Code to prohibit the Secretary of State and candidates for the office of Secretary of State from engaging in partisan political activities regarding candidates for federal, state, or local office and ballot issues and questions, and to prohibit advertisements or communications from the office of the Secretary of State from containing the voice, image, or likeness of the Secretary of State.

Section 1. That sections 3501.052, 3501.053, and 3501.054 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 3501.052.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Authorized committee" and "principal campaign committee" have the same meanings as in the Federal Election Campaign Act.

(2) "Federal Election Campaign Act" has the same meaning as in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) Except for the secretary of state's own campaign and exercising the right to vote, the secretary of state shall not participate in any form of partisan political activity with regard to a candidate for any federal, state, or local office, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Serving as campaign treasurer or in any other official capacity or in any decision-making capacity for any campaign committee for any state or local office;

(2) Serving as campaign treasurer or in any other official capacity or in any decision-making capacity for any principal campaign committee or other authorized committee for any federal office;

(3) Soliciting or accepting a contribution in support of or opposition to a candidate for any federal, state, or local office;

(4) Making a contribution or expenditure, including an independent expenditure, in support of or opposition to a candidate for any federal, state, or local office;

(5) Conducting a fundraising activity in support of or opposition to a candidate for any federal, state, or local office;

(6) Making a speech at a political meeting or appearing in a campaign advertisement in support of or opposition to a candidate for any federal, state, or local office;

(7) Publicly endorsing or opposing a candidate for any federal, state, or local office.

(C) Except for the candidate's own campaign, a candidate for the office of secretary of state shall not do any of the following in support of or opposition to a candidate for any federal, state, or local office:

(1) Solicit or accept a contribution;

(2) Make a contribution or expenditure, including an independent expenditure;

(3) Conduct a fundraising activity.

Sec. 3501.053.  (A) Except for exercising the right to vote, the secretary of state shall not participate in any form of partisan political activity with regard to a ballot issue or question, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Serving on or in any official or decision-making capacity for any committee supporting or opposing a ballot issue or question;

(2) Soliciting or accepting a contribution in support of or opposition to a ballot issue or question;

(3) Making a contribution or expenditure, including an independent expenditure, in support of or opposition to a ballot issue or question;

(4) Conducting a fundraising activity in support of or opposition to a ballot issue or question;

(5) Making a speech at a political meeting or appearing in a campaign advertisement in support of or opposition to a ballot issue or question;

(6) Publicly endorsing or opposing a ballot issue or question.

(B) A candidate for the office of secretary of state shall not do any of the following in support of or opposition to a ballot issue or question:

(1) Solicit or accept a contribution;

(2) Make a contribution or expenditure, including an independent expenditure;

(3) Conduct a fundraising activity.

Sec. 3501.054.  No advertisement or communication from the office of the secretary of state in or via a newspaper, magazine, circular, billboard, direct mailing, sign, radio, television, telephone, internet, or other type of media shall contain the voice, image, or likeness of the secretary of state.