As Introduced

125th General Assembly
Special Session
2003-2004
S. B. No. 3


Senator Fedor 



A BILL
To enact sections 3501.052, 3501.053, and 3501.054 of 1
the Revised Code to prohibit the Secretary of 2
State and candidates for the office of Secretary 3
of State from engaging in partisan political 4
activities regarding candidates for federal, 5
state, or local office and ballot issues and 6
questions, and to prohibit advertisements or 7
communications from the office of the Secretary of 8
State from containing the voice, image, or 9
likeness of the Secretary of State.10


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1. That sections 3501.052, 3501.053, and 3501.054 of 11
the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:12

       Sec. 3501.052.  (A) As used in this section:13

       (1) "Authorized committee" and "principal campaign committee" 14
have the same meanings as in the Federal Election Campaign Act.15

       (2) "Federal Election Campaign Act" has the same meaning as 16
in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code.17

       (B) Except for the secretary of state's own campaign and 18
exercising the right to vote, the secretary of state shall not 19
participate in any form ofpartisan political activity with regard 20
to a candidate for any federal, state, or local office, including, 21
but not limited to, the following:22

       (1) Serving as campaign treasurer or in any other official 23
capacity or in any decision-making capacity for any campaign 24
committee for any state or local office;25

       (2) Serving as campaign treasurer or in any other official 26
capacity or in any decision-making capacity for any principal 27
campaign committee or other authorized committee for any federal 28
office;29

       (3) Soliciting or accepting a contribution in support of or 30
opposition to a candidate for any federal, state, or local office;31

       (4) Making a contribution or expenditure, including an 32
independent expenditure, in support of or opposition to a 33
candidate for any federal, state, or local office;34

       (5) Conducting a fundraising activity in support of or 35
opposition to a candidate for any federal, state, or local office; 36

       (6) Making a speech at a political meeting or appearing in a 37
campaign advertisement in support of or opposition to a candidate 38
for any federal, state, or local office;39

       (7) Publicly endorsing or opposing a candidate for any 40
federal, state, or local office.41

       (C) Except for the candidate's own campaign, a candidate for 42
the office of secretary of state shall not do any of the following 43
in support of or opposition to a candidate for any federal, state, 44
or local office:45

       (1) Solicit or accept a contribution;46

       (2) Make a contribution or expenditure, including an 47
independent expenditure;48

       (3) Conduct a fundraising activity.49

       Sec. 3501.053.  (A) Except for exercising the right to vote, 50
the secretary of state shall not participate in any form of 51
partisan political activity with regard to a ballot issue or 52
question, including, but not limited to, the following:53

       (1) Serving on or in any official or decision-making capacity 54
for any committee supporting or opposing a ballot issue or 55
question;56

       (2) Soliciting or accepting a contribution in support of or 57
opposition to a ballot issue or question;58

       (3) Making a contribution or expenditure, including an 59
independent expenditure, in support of or opposition to a ballot 60
issue or question;61

       (4) Conducting a fundraising activity in support of or 62
opposition to a ballot issue or question;63

       (5) Making a speech at a political meeting or appearing in a 64
campaign advertisement in support of or opposition to a ballot 65
issue or question;66

       (6) Publicly endorsing or opposing a ballot issue or 67
question.68

       (B) A candidate for the office of secretary of state shall 69
not do any of the following in support of or opposition to a 70
ballot issue or question:71

       (1) Solicit or accept a contribution;72

       (2) Make a contribution or expenditure, including an 73
independent expenditure;74

       (3) Conduct a fundraising activity.75

       Sec. 3501.054.  No advertisement or communication from the 76
office of the secretary of state in or via a newspaper, magazine, 77
circular, billboard, direct mailing, sign, radio, television, 78
telephone, internet, or other type of media shall contain the 79
voice, image, or likeness of the secretary of state.80