As Reported by the Committee of Conference

126th General Assembly
Regular Session
2005-2006
Am. Sub. H. B. No. 3


Representatives DeWine, White, Law, Uecker, Aslanides, Carmichael, Collier, C. Evans, D. Evans, Faber, Flowers, Gibbs, Hagan, Kearns, McGregor, Peterson, Reidelbach, Schaffer, Schlichter, Seaver, Setzer, G. Smith, Widowfield, Willamowski, Wolpert 

Senators Jacobson, Harris, Spada, Hottinger, Coughlin 



A BILL
To amend sections 131.23, 145.38, 303.12, 306.70, 307.791, 322.021, 324.021, 503.162, 504.02, 504.03, 511.28, 511.34, 513.14, 519.12, 745.07, 747.11, 1901.07, 1901.10, 1901.31, 2961.01, 2967.17, 3311.21, 3311.50, 3311.73, 3349.29, 3354.12, 3355.09, 3375.03, 3501.01, 3501.05, 3501.10, 3501.11, 3501.13, 3501.17, 3501.26, 3501.30, 3501.33, 3501.35, 3501.38, 3501.39, 3503.02, 3503.06, 3503.11, 3503.13, 3503.14, 3503.16, 3503.19, 3503.21, 3503.23, 3503.24, 3505.062, 3505.063, 3505.16, 3505.18, 3505.19, 3505.20, 3505.21, 3505.22, 3505.25, 3505.26, 3505.27, 3505.32, 3506.01, 3506.05, 3506.12, 3506.13, 3506.18, 3509.02, 3509.03, 3509.031, 3509.04, 3509.05, 3509.06, 3509.08, 3509.09, 3511.02, 3511.09, 3511.13, 3513.04, 3513.041, 3513.05, 3513.052, 3513.07, 3513.09, 3513.19, 3513.20, 3513.22, 3513.257, 3513.259, 3513.261, 3513.30, 3515.03, 3515.04, 3515.07, 3515.08, 3515.13, 3517.01, 3517.081, 3517.092, 3517.10, 3517.106, 3517.1011, 3517.12, 3517.13, 3517.153, 3519.01, 3519.03, 3519.04, 3519.05, 3523.05, 3599.11, 3599.111, 3599.13, 3599.14, 3599.21, 3599.24, 3599.38, 4113.52, 4301.33, 4301.331, 4301.332, 4301.333, 4301.334, 4305.14, 4504.021, 5705.191, 5705.194, 5705.196, 5705.21, 5705.218, 5705.25, 5705.251, 5705.261, 5705.71, 5739.022, 5748.02, 5748.04, 5748.08, and 6119.18, to enact sections 109.95, 3501.052, 3501.19, 3501.382, 3501.90, 3503.15, 3503.28, 3503.29, 3505.181, 3505.182, 3505.183, 3506.20, 3506.21, 3506.22, 3506.23, 3515.041, 3515.072, 3519.051, and 3519.07, and to repeal section 3503.27 of the Revised Code to revise the Election Law and to terminate certain provisions of this act on January 1, 2009, by repealing section 3501.19 of the Revised Code on that date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 131.23, 145.38, 303.12, 306.70, 307.791, 322.021, 324.021, 503.162, 504.02, 504.03, 511.28, 511.34, 513.14, 519.12, 745.07, 747.11, 1901.07, 1901.10, 1901.31, 2961.01, 2967.17, 3311.21, 3311.50, 3311.73, 3349.29, 3354.12, 3355.09, 3375.03, 3501.01, 3501.05, 3501.10, 3501.11, 3501.13, 3501.17, 3501.26, 3501.30, 3501.33, 3501.35, 3501.38, 3501.39, 3503.02, 3503.06, 3503.11, 3503.13, 3503.14, 3503.16, 3503.19, 3503.21, 3503.23, 3503.24, 3505.062, 3505.063, 3505.16, 3505.18, 3505.19, 3505.20, 3505.21, 3505.22, 3505.25, 3505.26, 3505.27, 3505.32, 3506.01, 3506.05, 3506.12, 3506.13, 3506.18, 3509.02, 3509.03, 3509.031, 3509.04, 3509.05, 3509.06, 3509.08, 3509.09, 3511.02, 3511.09, 3511.13, 3513.04, 3513.041, 3513.05, 3513.052, 3513.07, 3513.09, 3513.19, 3513.20, 3513.22, 3513.257, 3513.259, 3513.261, 3513.30, 3515.03, 3515.04, 3515.07, 3515.08, 3515.13, 3517.01, 3517.081, 3517.092, 3517.10, 3517.106, 3517.1011, 3517.12, 3517.13, 3517.153, 3519.01, 3519.03, 3519.04, 3519.05, 3523.05, 3599.11, 3599.111, 3599.13, 3599.14, 3599.21, 3599.24, 3599.38, 4113.52, 4301.33, 4301.331, 4301.332, 4301.333, 4301.334, 4305.14, 4504.021, 5705.191, 5705.194, 5705.196, 5705.21, 5705.218, 5705.25, 5705.251, 5705.261, 5705.71, 5739.022, 5748.02, 5748.04, 5748.08, and 6119.18 be amended and sections 109.95, 3501.052, 3501.19, 3501.382, 3501.90, 3503.15, 3503.28, 3503.29, 3505.181, 3505.182, 3505.183, 3506.20, 3506.21, 3506.22, 3506.23, 3515.041, 3515.072, 3519.051, and 3519.07 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 109.95. Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the contrary pertaining to prosecutorial authority, the attorney general may initiate criminal proceedings for election fraud under section 3599.42 of the Revised Code which results from a violation of any provision of Title XXXV of the Revised Code, other than Chapter 3517. of the Revised Code, involving voting, an initiative or referendum petition process, or the conducting of an election, by presenting evidence of criminal violations in question to the prosecuting attorney of any county in which the violations may be prosecuted. If the prosecuting attorney does not prosecute the violations within a reasonable time or requests the attorney general to do so, the attorney general may proceed with the prosecution of the violations with all of the rights, privileges, and powers conferred by law on a prosecuting attorney, including, but not limited to, the power to appear before a grand jury and to interrogate witnesses before a grand jury.
Sec. 131.23.  The various political subdivisions of this state may issue bonds, and any indebtedness created by such that issuance shall not be subject to the limitations or included in the calculation of indebtedness prescribed by sections 133.05, 133.06, 133.07, and 133.09 of the Revised Code, but such the bonds may be issued only under the following conditions:
(A) The subdivision desiring to issue such the bonds shall obtain from the county auditor a certificate showing the total amount of delinquent taxes due and unpayable to such the subdivision at the last semiannual tax settlement.
(B) The fiscal officer of that subdivision shall prepare a statement, from the books of the subdivision, verified by the fiscal officer under oath, which shall contain the following facts of such the subdivision:
(1) The total bonded indebtedness;
(2) The aggregate amount of notes payable or outstanding accounts of the subdivision, incurred prior to the commencement of the current fiscal year, which shall include all evidences of indebtedness issued by the subdivision except notes issued in anticipation of bond issues and the indebtedness of any nontax-supported public utility;
(3) Except in the case of school districts, the aggregate current year's requirement for disability financial assistance and disability medical assistance provided under Chapter 5115. of the Revised Code that the subdivision is unable to finance except by the issue of bonds;
(4) The indebtedness outstanding through the issuance of any bonds or notes pledged or obligated to be paid by any delinquent taxes;
(5) The total of any other indebtedness;
(6) The net amount of delinquent taxes unpledged to pay any bonds, notes, or certificates, including delinquent assessments on improvements on which the bonds have been paid;
(7) The budget requirements for the fiscal year for bond and note retirement;
(8) The estimated revenue for the fiscal year.
(C) The certificate and statement provided for in divisions (A) and (B) of this section shall be forwarded to the tax commissioner together with a request for authority to issue bonds of such the subdivision in an amount not to exceed seventy per cent of the net unobligated delinquent taxes and assessments due and owing to such the subdivision, as set forth in division (B)(6) of this section.
(D) No subdivision may issue bonds under this section in excess of a sufficient amount to pay the indebtedness of the subdivision as shown by division (B)(2) of this section and, except in the case of school districts, to provide funds for disability financial assistance and disability medical assistance, as shown by division (B)(3) of this section.
(E) The tax commissioner shall grant to such the subdivision authority requested by such the subdivision as restricted by divisions (C) and (D) of this section and shall make a record of the certificate, statement, and grant in a record book devoted solely to such recording and which shall be open to inspection by the public.
(F) The commissioner shall immediately upon issuing the authority provided in division (E) of this section notify the proper authority having charge of the retirement of bonds of such the subdivision by forwarding a copy of such the grant of authority and of the statement provided for in division (B) of this section.
(G) Upon receipt of authority, the subdivision shall proceed according to law to issue the amount of bonds authorized by the commissioner, and authorized by the taxing authority, provided the taxing authority of that subdivision may submit, by resolution submit, to the electors of that subdivision the question of issuing such the bonds. Such The resolution shall make the declarations and statements required by section 133.18 of the Revised Code. The county auditor and taxing authority shall thereupon proceed as set forth in divisions (C) and (D) of such that section. The election on the question of issuing such the bonds shall be held under divisions (E), (F), and (G) of such that section, except that publication of the notice of such the election shall be made on four two separate days prior to such the election in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the subdivisions subdivision, and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, notice of the election also shall be posted on that web site for thirty days prior to the election. Such The bonds may be exchanged at their face value with creditors of the subdivision in liquidating the indebtedness described and enumerated in division (B)(2) of this section or may be sold as provided in Chapter 133. of the Revised Code, and in either event shall be uncontestable.
(H) The per cent of delinquent taxes and assessments collected for and to the credit of the subdivision after the exchange or sale of bonds as certified by the commissioner shall be paid to the authority having charge of the sinking fund of the subdivision, which money shall be placed in a separate fund for the purpose of retiring the bonds so issued. The proper authority of the subdivisions shall provide for the levying of a tax sufficient in amount to pay the debt charges on all such bonds issued under this section.
(I) This section is for the sole purpose of assisting the various subdivisions in paying their unsecured indebtedness, and providing funds for disability financial assistance and disability medical assistance. The bonds issued under authority of this section shall not be used for any other purpose, and any exchange for other purposes, or the use of the money derived from the sale of such the bonds by the subdivision for any other purpose, is misapplication of funds.
(J) The bonds authorized by this section shall be redeemable or payable in not to exceed ten years from date of issue and shall not be subject to or considered in calculating the net indebtedness of the subdivision. The budget commission of the county in which the subdivision is located shall annually allocate such portion of the then delinquent levy due such the subdivision which is unpledged for other purposes to the payment of debt charges on the bonds issued under authority of this section.
(K) The issue of bonds under this section shall be governed by Chapter 133. of the Revised Code, respecting the terms used, forms, manner of sale, and redemption except as otherwise provided in this section.
The board of county commissioners of any county may issue bonds authorized by this section and distribute the proceeds of such the bond issues to any or all of the cities and townships of such counties the county, according to their relative needs for disability financial assistance and disability medical assistance as determined by such the county.
All sections of the Revised Code inconsistent with or prohibiting the exercise of the authority conferred by this section are inoperative respecting bonds issued under this section.
Sec. 145.38.  (A) As used in this section and sections 145.381 and 145.384 of the Revised Code:
(1) "PERS retirant" means a former member of the public employees retirement system who is receiving one of the following:
(a) Age and service retirement benefits under section 145.32, 145.33, 145.331, 145.34, or 145.46 of the Revised Code;
(b) Age and service retirement benefits paid by the public employees retirement system under section 145.37 of the Revised Code;
(c) Any benefit paid under a PERS defined contribution plan.
(2) "Other system retirant" means both of the following:
(a) A member or former member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, state teachers retirement system, school employees retirement system, state highway patrol retirement system, or Cincinnati retirement system who is receiving age and service or commuted age and service retirement benefits or a disability benefit from a system of which the person is a member or former member;
(b) A member or former member of the public employees retirement system who is receiving age and service retirement benefits or a disability benefit under section 145.37 of the Revised Code paid by the school employees retirement system or the state teachers retirement system.
(B)(1) Subject to this section and section 145.381 of the Revised Code, a PERS retirant or other system retirant may be employed by a public employer. If so employed, the PERS retirant or other system retirant shall contribute to the public employees retirement system in accordance with section 145.47 of the Revised Code, and the employer shall make contributions in accordance with section 145.48 of the Revised Code.
(2) A public employer that employs a PERS retirant or other system retirant, or enters into a contract for services as an independent contractor with a PERS retirant, shall notify the retirement board of the employment or contract not later than the end of the month in which the employment or contract commences. Any overpayment of benefits to a PERS retirant by the retirement system resulting from delay or failure of the employer to give the notice shall be repaid to the retirement system by the employer.
(3) On receipt of notice from a public employer that a person who is an other system retirant has been employed, the retirement system shall notify the retirement system of which the other system retirant was a member of such employment.
(4)(a) A PERS retirant who has received a retirement allowance for less than two months when employment subject to this section commences shall forfeit the retirement allowance for any month the PERS retirant is employed prior to the expiration of the two-month period. Service and contributions for that period shall not be included in calculation of any benefits payable to the PERS retirant, and those contributions shall be refunded on the retirant's death or termination of the employment.
(b) An other system retirant who has received a retirement allowance or disability benefit for less than two months when employment subject to this section commences shall forfeit the retirement allowance or disability benefit for any month the other system retirant is employed prior to the expiration of the two-month period. Service and contributions for that period shall not be included in the calculation of any benefits payable to the other system retirant, and those contributions shall be refunded on the retirant's death or termination of the employment.
(c) Contributions made on compensation earned after the expiration of the two-month period shall be used in the calculation of the benefit or payment due under section 145.384 of the Revised Code.
(5) On receipt of notice from the Ohio police and fire pension fund, school employees retirement system, or state teachers retirement system of the re-employment of a PERS retirant, the public employees retirement system shall not pay, or if paid, shall recover, the amount to be forfeited by the PERS retirant in accordance with section 742.26, 3307.35, or 3309.341 of the Revised Code.
(6) A PERS retirant who enters into a contract to provide services as an independent contractor to the employer by which the retirant was employed at the time of retirement or, less than two months after the retirement allowance commences, begins providing services as an independent contractor pursuant to a contract with another public employer, shall forfeit the pension portion of the retirement benefit for the period beginning the first day of the month following the month in which the services begin and ending on the first day of the month following the month in which the services end. The annuity portion of the retirement allowance shall be suspended on the day services under the contract begin and shall accumulate to the credit of the retirant to be paid in a single payment after services provided under the contract terminate. A PERS retirant subject to division (B)(6) of this section shall not contribute to the retirement system and shall not become a member of the system.
(7) As used in this division, "employment" includes service for which a PERS retirant or other system retirant, the retirant's employer, or both, have waived any earnable salary for the service.
(C)(1) Except as provided in division (C)(3) of this section, this division applies to both of the following:
(a) A PERS retirant who, prior to September 14, 2000, was subject to division (C)(1)(b) of this section as that division existed immediately prior to September 14, 2000, and has not elected pursuant to Am. Sub. S.B. 144 of the 123rd general assembly to cease to be subject to that division;
(b) A PERS retirant to whom both of the following apply:
(i) The retirant held elective office in this state, or in any municipal corporation, county, or other political subdivision of this state at the time of retirement under this chapter.
(ii) The retirant was elected or appointed to the same office for the remainder of the term or the term immediately following the term during which the retirement occurred.
(2) A PERS retirant who is subject to this division is a member of the public employees retirement system with all the rights, privileges, and obligations of membership, except that the membership does not include survivor benefits provided pursuant to section 145.45 of the Revised Code or, beginning on the ninetieth day after September 14, 2000, any amount calculated under section 145.401 of the Revised Code. The pension portion of the PERS retirant's retirement allowance shall be forfeited until the first day of the first month following termination of the employment. The annuity portion of the retirement allowance shall accumulate to the credit of the PERS retirant to be paid in a single payment after termination of the employment. The retirement allowance shall resume on the first day of the first month following termination of the employment. On termination of the employment, the PERS retirant shall elect to receive either a refund of the retirant's contributions to the retirement system during the period of employment subject to this section or a supplemental retirement allowance based on the retirant's contributions and service credit for that period of employment.
(3) This division does not apply to any of the following:
(a) A PERS retirant elected to office who, at the time of the election for the retirant's current term, was not retired but, not less than ninety days prior to the primary election for the term or the date on which a primary for the term would have been held, filed a written declaration of intent to retire before the end of the term with the director of the board of elections of the county in which petitions for nomination or election to the office are filed;
(b) A PERS retirant elected to office who, at the time of the election for the retirant's current term, was a retirant and had been retired for not less than ninety days;
(c) A PERS retirant appointed to office who, at the time of appointment to the retirant's current term, notified the person or entity making the appointment that the retirant was already retired or intended to retire before the end of the term.
(D)(1) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, a PERS retirant or other system retirant subject to this section is not a member of the public employees retirement system, and, except as specified in this section does not have any of the rights, privileges, or obligations of membership. Except as specified in division (D)(2) of this section, the retirant is not eligible to receive health, medical, hospital, or surgical benefits under section 145.58 of the Revised Code for employment subject to this section.
(2) A PERS retirant subject to this section shall receive primary health, medical, hospital, or surgical insurance coverage from the retirant's employer, if the employer provides coverage to other employees performing comparable work. Neither the employer nor the PERS retirant may waive the employer's coverage, except that the PERS retirant may waive the employer's coverage if the retirant has coverage comparable to that provided by the employer from a source other than the employer or the public employees retirement system. If a claim is made, the employer's coverage shall be the primary coverage and shall pay first. The benefits provided under section 145.58 of the Revised Code shall pay only those medical expenses not paid through the employer's coverage or coverage the PERS retirant receives through a source other than the retirement system.
(E) If the disability benefit of an other system retirant employed under this section is terminated, the retirant shall become a member of the public employees retirement system, effective on the first day of the month next following the termination with all the rights, privileges, and obligations of membership. If such person, after the termination of the disability benefit, earns two years of service credit under this system or under the Ohio police and fire pension fund, state teachers retirement system, school employees retirement system, or state highway patrol retirement system, the person's prior contributions as an other system retirant under this section shall be included in the person's total service credit as a public employees retirement system member, and the person shall forfeit all rights and benefits of this section. Not more than one year of credit may be given for any period of twelve months.
(F) This section does not affect the receipt of benefits by or eligibility for benefits of any person who on August 20, 1976, was receiving a disability benefit or service retirement pension or allowance from a state or municipal retirement system in Ohio and was a member of any other state or municipal retirement system of this state.
(G) The public employees retirement board may adopt rules to carry out this section.
Sec. 303.12.  (A)(1) Amendments to the zoning resolution may be initiated by motion of the county rural zoning commission, by the passage of a resolution by the board of county commissioners, or by the filing of an application by one or more of the owners or lessees of property within the area proposed to be changed or affected by the proposed amendment with the county rural zoning commission. The board of county commissioners may require that the owner or lessee of property filing an application to amend the zoning resolution pay a fee to defray the cost of advertising, mailing, filing with the county recorder, and other expenses. If the board of county commissioners requires such a fee, it shall be required generally, for each application. The board of county commissioners shall, upon the passage of such a resolution, shall certify it to the county rural zoning commission.
(2) Upon the adoption of such a motion by the county rural zoning commission, the certification of such a resolution by the board of county commissioners to the commission, or the filing of such an application by property owners or lessees as described in division (A)(1) of this section with the commission, the county rural zoning commission shall set a date for a public hearing, which date shall not be less than twenty nor more than forty days from the date of adoption of such a motion, the date of the certification of such a resolution, or the date of the filing of such an application. Notice of such the hearing shall be given by the county rural zoning commission by one publication in one or more newspapers of general circulation in each township affected by such the proposed amendment at least ten days before the date of such the hearing.
(B) If the proposed amendment intends to rezone or redistrict ten or fewer parcels of land, as listed on the county auditor's current tax list, written notice of the hearing shall be mailed by the county rural zoning commission, by first class mail, at least ten days before the date of the public hearing to all owners of property within and contiguous to and directly across the street from such the area proposed to be rezoned or redistricted to the addresses of such those owners appearing on the county auditor's current tax list. The failure of delivery of such that notice shall not invalidate any such amendment.
(C) If the proposed amendment intends to rezone or redistrict ten or fewer parcels of land as listed on the county auditor's current tax list, the published and mailed notices shall set forth the time, date, and place of the public hearing, and shall include all of the following:
(1) The name of the county rural zoning commission that will be conducting the public hearing;
(2) A statement indicating that the motion, resolution, or application is an amendment to the zoning resolution;
(3) A list of the addresses of all properties to be rezoned or redistricted by the proposed amendment and of the names of owners of these properties, as they appear on the county auditor's current tax list;
(4) The present zoning classification of property named in the proposed amendment and the proposed zoning classification of such that property;
(5) The time and place where the motion, resolution, or application proposing to amend the zoning resolution will be available for examination for a period of at least ten days prior to the public hearing;
(6) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of the public hearing by publication or, by mail, or by both publication and mail;
(7) Any other information requested by the zoning commission;
(8) A statement that, after the conclusion of such the hearing, the matter will be submitted to the board of county commissioners for its action;
(8) Any other information requested by the commission.
(D) If the proposed amendment alters the text of the zoning resolution, or rezones or redistricts more than ten parcels of land, as listed on the county auditor's current tax list, the published notice shall set forth the time, date, and place of the public hearing, and shall include all of the following:
(1) The name of the county rural zoning commission that will be conducting the public hearing on the proposed amendment;
(2) A statement indicating that the motion, application, or resolution is an amendment to the zoning resolution;
(3) The time and place where the text and maps of the proposed amendment will be available for examination for a period of at least ten days prior to the public hearing;
(4) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of the public hearing by publication;
(5) A statement that, after the conclusion of such the hearing, the matter will be submitted to the board of county commissioners for its action;
(6) Any other information requested by the zoning commission.
Hearings shall be held in the county court house or in a public place designated by the zoning commission.
(E) Within five days after the adoption of such the motion described in division (A) of this section, the certification of such the resolution described in division (A) of this section, or the filing of such the application described in division (A) of this section, the county rural zoning commission shall transmit a copy of it together with text and map pertaining to it to the county or regional planning commission, if there is such a commission.
The county or regional planning commission shall recommend the approval or denial of the proposed amendment or the approval of some modification of it and shall submit such its recommendation to the county rural zoning commission. Such The recommendation shall be considered at the public hearing held by the county rural zoning commission on such the proposed amendment.
The county rural zoning commission, within thirty days after such the hearing, shall recommend the approval or denial of the proposed amendment, or the approval of some modification of it, and shall submit such that recommendation together with such the motion, application, or resolution involved, the text and map pertaining to it the proposed amendment, and the recommendation of the county or regional planning commission on it to the board of county commissioners.
The board of county commissioners, upon receipt of such that recommendation, shall set a time for a public hearing on such the proposed amendment, which date shall be not more than thirty days from the date of the receipt of such that recommendation from the county rural zoning commission. Notice of such public the hearing shall be given by the board by one publication in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the county, at least ten days before the date of such the hearing.
(F) If the proposed amendment intends to rezone or redistrict ten or fewer parcels of land as listed on the county auditor's current tax list, the published notice shall set forth the time, date, and place of the public hearing and shall include all of the following:
(1) The name of the board of county commissioners that will be conducting the public hearing;
(2) A statement indicating that the motion, application, or resolution is an amendment to the zoning resolution;
(3) A list of the addresses of all properties to be rezoned or redistricted by the proposed amendment and of the names of owners of these those properties, as they appear on the county auditor's current tax list;
(4) The present zoning classification of property named in the proposed amendment and the proposed zoning classification of such that property;
(5) The time and place where the motion, application, or resolution proposing to amend the zoning resolution will be available for examination for a period of at least ten days prior to the public hearing;
(6) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of the public hearing by publication or, by mail, or by both publication and mail;
(7) Any other information requested by the board.
(G) If the proposed amendment alters the text of the zoning resolution, or rezones or redistricts more than ten parcels of land as listed on the county auditor's current tax list, the published notice shall set forth the time, date, and place of the public hearing, and shall include all of the following:
(1) The name of the board of county commissioners that will be conducting the public hearing on the proposed amendment;
(2) A statement indicating that the motion, application, or resolution is an amendment to the zoning resolution;
(3) The time and place where the text and maps of the proposed amendment will be available for examination for a period of at least ten days prior to the public hearing;
(4) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of the public hearing by publication;
(5) Any other information requested by the board.
(H) Within twenty days after such its public hearing, the board of county commissioners shall either adopt or deny the recommendation of the county rural zoning commission or adopt some modification of it. If the board denies or modifies the commission's recommendation of the county rural zoning commission, the unanimous vote of the board shall be required.
Such The proposed amendment, if adopted by the board, shall become effective in thirty days after the date of such its adoption, unless, within thirty days after the adoption of the amendment, there is presented to the board of county commissioners a petition, signed by a number of qualified voters residing in the unincorporated area of the township or part of that unincorporated area included in the zoning plan equal to not less than eight per cent of the total vote cast for all candidates for governor in such that area at the most recent general election at which a governor was elected, requesting the board to submit the amendment to the electors of such that area, for approval or rejection, at a special election to be held on the day of the next primary or general election. Each part of this petition shall contain the number and the full and correct title, if any, of the zoning amendment resolution, motion, or application, furnishing the name by which the amendment proposal is known and a brief summary of its contents. In addition to meeting the requirements of this section, each petition shall be governed by the rules specified in section 3501.38 of the Revised Code.
The form of a petition calling for a zoning referendum and the statement of the circulator shall be substantially as follows:
"PETITION FOR ZONING REFERENDUM
(if the proposal is identified by a particular name or number, or both, these should be inserted here) ........................
A proposal to amend the zoning map of the unincorporated area of .............. Township, ................... County, Ohio, adopted ....... (date) .......... (followed by brief summary of the proposal).
To the Board of County Commissioners of .................. County, Ohio:
We, the undersigned, being electors residing in the unincorporated area of ............... Township, included within the ................. County Zoning Plan, equal to not less than eight per cent of the total vote cast for all candidates for governor in the area at the preceding general election at which a governor was elected, request the Board of County Commissioners to submit this amendment of the zoning resolution to the electors of ............. Township residing within the unincorporated area of the township included in the ............... County Zoning Resolution, for approval or rejection at a special election to be held on the day of the next primary or general election to be held on ........(date)......., pursuant to section 303.12 of the Revised Code.
Street Address Date of
Signature or R.F.D. Township Precinct County Signing

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STATEMENT OF CIRCULATOR
I, .....................(name of circulator)..................., declare under penalty of election falsification that I am an elector of the state of Ohio and reside at the address appearing below my signature; that I am the circulator of the foregoing part petition containing .....(number)....... signatures; that I have witnessed the affixing of every signature; that all signers were to the best of my knowledge and belief qualified to sign; and that every signature is to the best of my knowledge and belief the signature of the person whose signature it purports to be or of an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code.
................................
(Signature of circulator)
................................
(Address of circulator's permanent
residence in this state)
................................
(City, village, or township,
and zip code)

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE."
No amendment for which such a referendum vote has been requested shall be put into effect unless a majority of the vote cast on the issue is in favor of the amendment. Upon certification by the board of elections that the amendment has been approved by the voters, it shall take immediate effect.
Within five working days after an amendment's effective date, the board of county commissioners shall file the text and maps of the amendment in the office of the county recorder and with the regional or county planning commission, if one exists.
The board shall file all amendments, including text and maps, that are in effect on January 1, 1992, in the office of the county recorder within thirty working days after that date. The board shall also file duplicates of the same documents with the regional or county planning commission, if one exists, within the same period.
The failure to file any amendment, or any text and maps, or duplicates of any of these documents, with the office of the county recorder or the county or regional planning commission as required by this section does not invalidate the amendment and is not grounds for an appeal of any decision of the board of zoning appeals.
Sec. 306.70.  A tax proposed to be levied by a board of county commissioners or by the board of trustees of a regional transit authority pursuant to sections 5739.023 and 5741.022 of the Revised Code shall not become effective until it is submitted to the electors residing within the county or within the territorial boundaries of the regional transit authority and approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon on it. Such question shall be submitted at a general election or at a special election on a day specified in the resolution levying the tax and occurring not less than seventy-five days after such resolution is certified to the board of elections, in accordance with section 3505.071 of the Revised Code.
The board of elections of the county or of each county in which any territory of the regional transit authority is located shall make the necessary arrangements for the submission of such question to the electors of the county or regional transit authority, and the election shall be held, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections for the election of county officers. Notice of the election shall be published in one or more newspapers which in the aggregate are of general circulation in the territory of the county or of the regional transit authority once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election stating and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, notice of the election also shall be posted on that web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the type, rate, and purpose of the tax to be levied, the length of time during which the tax will be in effect, and the time and place of the election.
More than one such question may be submitted at the same election. The form of the ballots cast at such election shall be:
"Shall a(n) ................ (sales and use) ............. tax be levied for all transit purposes of the .................. (here insert name of the county or regional transit authority) at a rate not exceeding ................... (here insert percentage) per cent for ................ (here insert number of years the tax is to be in effect, or that it is to be in effect for a continuing period of time)?"
If the tax proposed to be levied is a continuation of an existing tax, whether at the same rate or at an increased or reduced rate, or an increase in the rate of an existing tax, the notice and ballot form shall so state.
The board of elections to which the resolution was certified shall certify the results of the election to the county auditor of the county or secretary-treasurer of the regional transit authority levying the tax and to the tax commissioner of the state.
Sec. 307.791.  The question of repeal of a county sediment control rule adopted under section 307.79 of the Revised Code may be initiated by filing with the board of elections of the county not less than seventy-five days before the general or primary election in any year a petition requesting that an election be held on such question. Such petition shall be signed by qualified electors residing in the county equal in number to ten per cent of those voting for governor at the most recent gubernatorial election in the county.
After determination by it that such petition is valid, the board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of the county at the next general or primary election. The election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections for county offices in the county. Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, stating and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, notice of the election also shall be posted on that web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the purpose, the time, the and place of the election, and the complete text of each rule sought to be repealed. The form of the ballot cast at such election shall be prescribed by the secretary of state. The question covered by such petition shall be submitted as a separate proposition, but it may be printed on the same ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election other than the election of officers. If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question of repeal approve the repeal, the result of the election shall be certified immediately after the canvass by the board of elections to the board of county commissioners, who shall thereupon rescind the rule.
Sec. 322.021.  The question of a repeal of a county permissive tax adopted as an emergency measure pursuant to division (B) of section 322.02 of the Revised Code may be initiated by filing with the board of elections of the county not less than seventy-five days before the general election in any year a petition requesting that an election be held on such question. Such petition shall be signed by qualified electors residing in the county equal in number to ten per cent of those voting for governor at the most recent gubernatorial election.
After determination by it that such petition is valid, the board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of the county at the next general election. The election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections for county offices in the county. Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the district once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, stating and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, notice of the election also shall be posted on that web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the purpose, time, and place of the election. The form of the ballot cast at such election shall be prescribed by the secretary of state. The question covered by such petition shall be submitted as a separate proposition, but it may be printed on the same ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election other than the election of officers. If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question of repeal approve the repeal, the result of the election shall be certified immediately after the canvass by the board of elections to the board of county commissioners, who shall thereupon, after the current year, cease to levy the tax.
Sec. 324.021.  The question of repeal of a county permissive tax adopted as an emergency measure pursuant to section 324.02 of the Revised Code may be initiated by filing with the board of elections of the county not less than seventy-five days before the general election in any year a petition requesting that an election be held on such question. Such petition shall be signed by qualified electors residing in the county equal in number to ten per cent of those voting for governor at the most recent gubernatorial election.
After determination by it that such petition is valid, the board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of the county at the next general election. The election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections for county offices in the county. Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the district once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, stating and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, notice of the election also shall be posted on that web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the purpose, the time, and the place of the election. The form of the ballot cast at such election shall be prescribed by the secretary of state. The question covered by such petition shall be submitted as a separate proposition, but it may be printed on the same ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election other than the election of officers. If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question of repeal approve the repeal, the result of the election shall be certified immediately after the canvass by the board of elections to the board of county commissioners, who shall thereupon, after the current year, cease to levy the tax.
Sec. 503.162.  (A) After certification of a resolution as provided in section 503.161 of the Revised Code, the board of elections shall submit the question of whether the township's name shall be changed to the electors of the unincorporated area of the township in accordance with division (C) of that section, and the ballot language shall be substantially as follows:
"Shall the township of .......... (name) change its name to ........ (proposed name)?
.......... For name change
.......... Against name change"
(B)(1) At least forty-five days before the election on this question, the board of township trustees shall provide notice of the election and an explanation of the proposed name change in a newspaper of general circulation in the township once a week for three two consecutive weeks and shall post the notice and explanation in five conspicuous places in the unincorporated area of the township.
(2) If the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, notice of the election and an explanation of the proposed name change shall be posted on that web site for at least thirty days before the election on this question.
(C) If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition of changing the township's name is in the affirmative, the name change is adopted and becomes effective ninety days after the board of elections certifies the election results to the fiscal officer of the township. Upon receipt of the certification of the election results from the board of elections, the fiscal officer of the township shall send a copy of that certification to the secretary of state.
(D) A change in the name of a township shall not alter the rights or liabilities of the township as previously named.
Sec. 504.02.  (A) After certification of a resolution as provided in division (A), (B), or (D) of section 504.01 of the Revised Code, the board of elections shall submit the question of whether to adopt a limited home rule government to the electors of the unincorporated area of the township, and the ballot language shall be substantially as follows:
"Shall the township of ........... (name) adopt a limited home rule government, under which government the board of township trustees, by resolution, may exercise limited powers of local self-government and limited police powers?
...... For adoption of a limited home rule government
...... Against adoption of a limited home rule government"

(B)(1) At least forty-five days before the election on this question, the board of township trustees shall have notice of the election and a description of the proposed limited home rule government published in a newspaper of general circulation in the township once a week for three two consecutive weeks and have the notice and description posted in five conspicuous places in the unincorporated area of the township.
(2) If a board of elections operates and maintains a web site, notice of the election and a description of the proposed limited home rule government shall be posted on that web site for at least thirty days before the election on this question.
(C) If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition of adopting a limited home rule government is in the affirmative, that government is adopted and becomes the government of the township on the first day of January immediately following the election.
Sec. 504.03.  (A)(1) If a limited home rule government is adopted pursuant to section 504.02 of the Revised Code, it shall remain in effect for at least three years except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section. At the end of that period, if the board of township trustees determines that that government is not in the best interests of the township, it may adopt a resolution causing the board of elections to submit to the electors of the unincorporated area of the township the question of whether the township should continue the limited home rule government. The question shall be voted upon at the next general election occurring at least seventy-five days after the certification of the resolution to the board of elections. After certification of the resolution, the board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of the unincorporated area of the township, and the ballot language shall be substantially as follows:
"Shall the township of ........... (name) continue the limited home rule government under which it is operating?
...... For continuation of the limited home rule government
...... Against continuation of the limited home rule government"

(2)(a) At least forty-five days before the election on the question of continuing the limited home rule government, the board of township trustees shall have notice of the election published in a newspaper of general circulation in the township once a week for three two consecutive weeks and have the notice posted in five conspicuous places in the unincorporated area of the township.
(b) If a board of elections operates and maintains a web site, notice of the election shall be posted on that web site for at least thirty days before the election on the question of continuing the limited home rule government.
(B) The electors of a township that has adopted a limited home rule government may propose at any time by initiative petition, in accordance with section 504.14 of the Revised Code, a resolution submitting to the electors in the unincorporated area of the township, in an election, the question set forth in division (A)(1) of this section.
(C) If a majority of the votes cast under division (A) or (B) of this section on the proposition of continuing the limited home rule government is in the negative, that government is terminated effective on the first day of January immediately following the election, and a limited home rule government shall not be adopted in the unincorporated area of the township pursuant to section 504.02 of the Revised Code for at least three years after that date.
(D) If a limited home rule government is terminated under this section, the board of township trustees immediately shall adopt a resolution repealing all resolutions adopted pursuant to this chapter that are not authorized by any other section of the Revised Code outside this chapter, effective on the first day of January immediately following the election described in division (A) or (B) of this section. However, no resolution adopted under this division shall affect or impair the obligations of the township under any security issued or contracts entered into by the township in connection with the financing of any water supply facility or sewer improvement under sections 504.18 to 504.20 of the Revised Code or the authority of the township to collect or enforce any assessments or other revenues constituting security for or source of payments of debt service charges of those securities.
(E) Upon the termination of a limited home rule government under this section, if the township had converted its board of township trustees to a five-member board before the effective date of this amendment September 26, 2003, the current board member who received the lowest number of votes of the current board members who were elected at the most recent election for township trustees, and the current board member who received the lowest number of votes of the current board members who were elected at the second most recent election for township trustees, shall cease to be township trustees on the date that the limited home rule government terminates. Their offices likewise shall cease to exist at that time, and the board shall continue as a three-member board as provided in section 505.01 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 511.28.  A copy of any resolution for a tax levy adopted by the township board of park commissioners as provided in section 511.27 of the Revised Code shall be certified by the clerk of the board of park commissioners to the board of elections of the proper county, together with a certified copy of the resolution approving the levy, passed by the board of township trustees if such a resolution is required by division (C) of section 511.27 of the Revised Code, not less than seventy-five days before a general or primary election in any year. The board of elections shall submit the proposal to the electors as provided in section 511.27 of the Revised Code at the succeeding general or primary election. A resolution to renew an existing levy may not be placed on the ballot unless the question is submitted at the general election held during the last year the tax to be renewed may be extended on the real and public utility property tax list and duplicate, or at any election held in the ensuing year. The board of park commissioners shall cause notice that the vote will be taken to be published once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election in a newspaper of general circulation in the county within which the park district is located. Additionally, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post that notice on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the purpose of the proposed levy, the annual rate proposed expressed in dollars and cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation as well as in mills for each one dollar of valuation, the number of consecutive years during which the levy shall be in effect, and the time and place of the election.
The form of the ballots cast at the election shall be: "An additional tax for the benefit of (name of township park district) .......... for the purpose of (purpose stated in the order of the board) .......... at a rate not exceeding .......... mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to (rate expressed in dollars and cents) .......... for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for (number of years the levy is to run) ..........
 
 FOR THE TAX LEVY
 AGAINST THE TAX LEVY  "

 
If the levy submitted is a proposal to renew, increase, or decrease an existing levy, the form of the ballot specified in this section may be changed by substituting for the words "An additional" at the beginning of the form, the words "A renewal of a" in the case of a proposal to renew an existing levy in the same amount; the words "A renewal of .......... mills and an increase of .......... mills to constitute a" in the case of an increase; or the words "A renewal of part of an existing levy, being a reduction of .......... mills, to constitute a" in the case of a decrease in the rate of the existing levy.
If the tax is to be placed on the current tax list, the form of the ballot shall be modified by adding, after the statement of the number of years the levy is to run, the phrase ", commencing in .......... (first year the tax is to be levied), first due in calendar year .......... (first calendar year in which the tax shall be due)."
The question covered by the order shall be submitted as a separate proposition, but may be printed on the same ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election, other than the election of officers. More than one such question may be submitted at the same election.
Sec. 511.34.  In townships composed of islands, and on one of which islands lands have been conveyed in trust for the benefit of the inhabitants of the island for use as a park, and a board of park trustees has been provided for the control of the park, the board of township trustees may create a tax district of the island to raise funds by taxation as provided under divisions (A) and (B) of this section.
(A) For the care and maintenance of parks on the island, the board of township trustees annually may levy a tax, not to exceed one mill, upon all the taxable property in the district. The tax shall be in addition to all other levies authorized by law, and subject to no limitation on tax rates except as provided in this division.
The proceeds of the tax levy shall be expended by the board of township trustees for the purpose of the care and maintenance of the parks, and shall be paid out of the township treasury upon the orders of the board of park trustees.
(B) For the purpose of acquiring additional land for use as a park, the board of township trustees may levy a tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation on all taxable property in the district. The tax shall be proposed by resolution adopted by two-thirds of the members of the board of township trustees. The resolution shall specify the purpose and rate of the tax and the number of years the tax will be levied, which shall not exceed five years, and which may include a levy on the current tax list and duplicate. The resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no publication of the resolution is necessary other than that provided for in the notice of election. The board of township trustees shall certify a copy of the resolution to the proper board of elections not later than seventy-five days before the primary or general election in the township, and the board of elections shall submit the question of the tax to the voters of the district at the succeeding primary or general election. The board of elections shall make the necessary arrangements for the submission of the question to the electors of the district, and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections in the township for the election of officers. Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the township once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, stating and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, notice of the election also shall be posted on that web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the purpose of the tax, the proposed rate of the tax, expressed in dollars and cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation and mills for each one dollar of valuation, the number of years the tax will be in effect and, the first year the tax will be levied, and the time and place of the election.
The form of the ballots cast at an election held under this division shall be as follows:
"An additional tax for the benefit of ......... (name of the township) for the purpose of acquiring additional park land at a rate of ......... mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to ........ (rate expressed in dollars and cents) for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for ......... (number of years the levy is to run) beginning in ........... (first year the tax will be levied).
 
 FOR THE TAX LEVY
 AGAINST THE TAX LEVY  "

 
The question shall be submitted as a separate proposition but may be printed on the same ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election other than the election of officers. More than one such question may be submitted at the same election.
If the levy is approved by a majority of electors voting on the question, the board of elections shall certify the result of the election to the tax commissioner. In the first year of the levy, the tax shall be extended on the tax lists after the February settlement following the election. If the tax is to be placed on the tax lists of the current year as specified in the resolution, the board of elections shall certify the result of the election immediately after the canvass to the board of township trustees, which shall forthwith make the necessary levy and certify the levy to the county auditor, who shall extend the levy on the tax lists for collection. After the first year of the levy, the levy shall be included in the annual tax budget that is certified to the county budget commission.
Sec. 513.14.  The board of elections shall advertise the proposed tax levy question mentioned in section 513.13 of the Revised Code, in two newspapers of opposite political faith, if two such newspapers are published in the joint township hospital district, or otherwise, in one newspaper, published or of general circulation in the proposed township hospital district, once a week for three two consecutive weeks immediately preceding such prior to the election and, if the board operates and maintains a web site, the board also shall advertise that proposed tax levy question on its web site for thirty days prior to the election.
Sec. 519.12.  (A)(1) Amendments to the zoning resolution may be initiated by motion of the township zoning commission, by the passage of a resolution by the board of township trustees, or by the filing of an application by one or more of the owners or lessees of property within the area proposed to be changed or affected by the proposed amendment with the township zoning commission. The board of township trustees may require that the owner or lessee of property filing an application to amend the zoning resolution pay a fee to defray the cost of advertising, mailing, filing with the county recorder, and other expenses. If the board of township trustees requires such a fee, it shall be required generally, for each application. The board of township trustees, upon the passage of such a resolution, shall certify it to the township zoning commission.
(2) Upon the adoption of a motion by the township zoning commission, the certification of a resolution by the board of township trustees to the commission, or the filing of an application by property owners or lessees as described in division (A)(1) of this section with the commission, the commission shall set a date for a public hearing, which date shall not be less than twenty nor more than forty days from the date of the certification of such a resolution, the date of adoption of such a motion, or the date of the filing of such an application. Notice of the hearing shall be given by the commission by one publication in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the township at least ten days before the date of the hearing.
(B) If the proposed amendment intends to rezone or redistrict ten or fewer parcels of land, as listed on the county auditor's current tax list, written notice of the hearing shall be mailed by the township zoning commission, by first class mail, at least ten days before the date of the public hearing to all owners of property within and contiguous to and directly across the street from the area proposed to be rezoned or redistricted to the addresses of those owners appearing on the county auditor's current tax list. The failure of delivery of that notice shall not invalidate any such amendment.
(C) If the proposed amendment intends to rezone or redistrict ten or fewer parcels of land as listed on the county auditor's current tax list, the published and mailed notices shall set forth the time, date, and place of the public hearing and include all of the following:
(1) The name of the township zoning commission that will be conducting the hearing;
(2) A statement indicating that the motion, resolution, or application is an amendment to the zoning resolution;
(3) A list of the addresses of all properties to be rezoned or redistricted by the proposed amendment and of the names of owners of those properties, as they appear on the county auditor's current tax list;
(4) The present zoning classification of property named in the proposed amendment and the proposed zoning classification of that property;
(5) The time and place where the motion, resolution, or application proposing to amend the zoning resolution will be available for examination for a period of at least ten days prior to the hearing;
(6) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of the hearing by publication, by mail, or by both publication and mail;
(7) Any other information requested by the commission;
(8) A statement that, after the conclusion of the hearing, the matter will be submitted to the board of township trustees for its action;
(8) Any other information requested by the commission.
(D) If the proposed amendment alters the text of the zoning resolution, or rezones or redistricts more than ten parcels of land as listed on the county auditor's current tax list, the published notice shall set forth the time, date, and place of the public hearing and include all of the following:
(1) The name of the township zoning commission that will be conducting the hearing on the proposed amendment;
(2) A statement indicating that the motion, application, or resolution is an amendment to the zoning resolution;
(3) The time and place where the text and maps of the proposed amendment will be available for examination for a period of at least ten days prior to the hearing;
(4) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of the hearing by publication;
(5) A statement that, after the conclusion of the hearing, the matter will be submitted to the board of township trustees for its action;
(6) Any other information requested by the commission.
(E) Within five days after the adoption of the motion described in division (A) of this section, the certification of the resolution described in division (A) of this section, or the filing of the application described in division (A) of this section, the township zoning commission shall transmit a copy of it together with text and map pertaining to it to the county or regional planning commission, if there is such a commission.
The county or regional planning commission shall recommend the approval or denial of the proposed amendment or the approval of some modification of it and shall submit its recommendation to the township zoning commission. The recommendation shall be considered at the public hearing held by the township zoning commission on the proposed amendment.
The township zoning commission, within thirty days after the hearing, shall recommend the approval or denial of the proposed amendment, or the approval of some modification of it, and submit that recommendation together with the motion, application, or resolution involved, the text and map pertaining to the proposed amendment, and the recommendation of the county or regional planning commission on it to the board of township trustees.
The board of township trustees, upon receipt of that recommendation, shall set a time for a public hearing on the proposed amendment, which date shall not be more than thirty days from the date of the receipt of that recommendation. Notice of the hearing shall be given by the board by one publication in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the township, at least ten days before the date of the hearing.
(F) If the proposed amendment intends to rezone or redistrict ten or fewer parcels of land as listed on the county auditor's current tax list, the published notice shall set forth the time, date, and place of the public hearing and include all of the following:
(1) The name of the board of township trustees that will be conducting the hearing;
(2) A statement indicating that the motion, application, or resolution is an amendment to the zoning resolution;
(3) A list of the addresses of all properties to be rezoned or redistricted by the proposed amendment and of the names of owners of those properties, as they appear on the county auditor's current tax list;
(4) The present zoning classification of property named in the proposed amendment and the proposed zoning classification of that property;
(5) The time and place where the motion, application, or resolution proposing to amend the zoning resolution will be available for examination for a period of at least ten days prior to the hearing;
(6) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of the hearing by publication, by mail, or by both publication and mail;
(7) Any other information requested by the board.
(G) If the proposed amendment alters the text of the zoning resolution, or rezones or redistricts more than ten parcels of land as listed on the county auditor's current tax list, the published notice shall set forth the time, date, and place of the public hearing and include all of the following:
(1) The name of the board of township trustees that will be conducting the hearing on the proposed amendment;
(2) A statement indicating that the motion, application, or resolution is an amendment to the zoning resolution;
(3) The time and place where the text and maps of the proposed amendment will be available for examination for a period of at least ten days prior to the hearing;
(4) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of the hearing by publication;
(5) Any other information requested by the board.
(H) Within twenty days after its public hearing, the board of township trustees shall either adopt or deny the recommendations of the township zoning commission or adopt some modification of them. If the board denies or modifies the commission's recommendations, the unanimous vote of the board shall be required.
The proposed amendment, if adopted by the board, shall become effective in thirty days after the date of its adoption, unless, within thirty days after the adoption, there is presented to the board of township trustees a petition, signed by a number of registered electors residing in the unincorporated area of the township or part of that unincorporated area included in the zoning plan equal to not less than eight per cent of the total vote cast for all candidates for governor in that area at the most recent general election at which a governor was elected, requesting the board of township trustees to submit the amendment to the electors of that area for approval or rejection at a special election to be held on the day of the next primary or general election that occurs at least seventy-five days after the petition is filed. Each part of this petition shall contain the number and the full and correct title, if any, of the zoning amendment resolution, motion, or application, furnishing the name by which the amendment is known and a brief summary of its contents. In addition to meeting the requirements of this section, each petition shall be governed by the rules specified in section 3501.38 of the Revised Code.
The form of a petition calling for a zoning referendum and the statement of the circulator shall be substantially as follows:
"PETITION FOR ZONING REFERENDUM
(if the proposal is identified by a particular name or number, or both, these should be inserted here) .......................
A proposal to amend the zoning map of the unincorporated area of ............. Township, ................. County, Ohio, adopted .....(date)..... (followed by brief summary of the proposal).
To the Board of Township Trustees of ..................... Township, ................. County, Ohio:
...................... County, Ohio:
We, the undersigned, being electors residing in the unincorporated area of ....................... Township, included within the ............. Township Zoning Plan, equal to not less than eight per cent of the total vote cast for all candidates for governor in the area at the preceding general election at which a governor was elected, request the Board of Township Trustees to submit this amendment of the zoning resolution to the electors of ........................ Township residing within the unincorporated area of the township included in the .................. Township Zoning Resolution, for approval or rejection at a special election to be held on the day of the primary or general election to be held on .....(date)....., pursuant to section 519.12 of the Revised Code.
Street Address Date of
Signature or R.F.D. Township Precinct County Signing

..............................................................
..............................................................
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATOR
I, .............(name of circulator).........., declare under penalty of election falsification that I am an elector of the state of Ohio and reside at the address appearing below my signature; that I am the circulator of the foregoing part petition containing .......(number)....... signatures; that I have witnessed the affixing of every signature; that all signers were to the best of my knowledge and belief qualified to sign; and that every signature is to the best of my knowledge and belief the signature of the person whose signature it purports to be or of an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code.
................................
(Signature of circulator)
................................
(Address of circulator's permanent
residence in this state)
................................
(City, village, or township,
and zip code)

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE."
The petition shall be filed with the board of township trustees and shall be accompanied by an appropriate map of the area affected by the zoning proposal. Within two weeks after receiving a petition filed under this section, the board of township trustees shall certify the petition to the board of elections. A petition filed under this section shall be certified to the board of elections not less than seventy-five days prior to the election at which the question is to be voted upon.
The board of elections shall determine the sufficiency and validity of each petition certified to it by a board of township trustees under this section. If the board of elections determines that a petition is sufficient and valid, the question shall be voted upon at a special election to be held on the day of the next primary or general election that occurs at least seventy-five days after the date the petition is filed with the board of township trustees, regardless of whether any election will be held to nominate or elect candidates on that day.
No amendment for which such a referendum vote has been requested shall be put into effect unless a majority of the vote cast on the issue is in favor of the amendment. Upon certification by the board of elections that the amendment has been approved by the voters, it shall take immediate effect.
Within five working days after an amendment's effective date, the board of township trustees shall file the text and maps of the amendment in the office of the county recorder and with the county or regional planning commission, if one exists.
The failure to file any amendment, or any text and maps, or duplicates of any of these documents, with the office of the county recorder or the county or regional planning commission as required by this section does not invalidate the amendment and is not grounds for an appeal of any decision of the board of zoning appeals.
Sec. 745.07.  An ordinance passed pursuant to section 745.06 of the Revised Code, shall not take effect until submitted to the electors of the municipal corporation, at a special or general election held therein in the municipal corporation at such time as the legislative authority thereof determines, and approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon on it. The ordinance shall be passed by an affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the members of the legislative authority, and shall be subject to the approval of the mayor as provided by law. The ordinance shall specify the form or phrasing of the question to be placed upon the ballot. Thirty days' notice of the election shall be given by publication once a week for four two consecutive weeks in two daily or weekly newspapers published or circulated in the municipal corporation, which and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, notice of the election also shall be posted on that web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall contain the full form or phrasing of the question to be submitted. The clerk of the legislative authority shall certify the passage of such the ordinance to the officers having control of elections in such the municipal corporation, who shall cause such the question to be voted on at the general or special election as specified in the ordinance.
Sec. 747.11.  The board of rapid transit commissioners may grant to any corporation organized for street or interurban railway purposes the right to operate, by lease or otherwise, the depots, terminals, and railways mentioned in section 747.08 of the Revised Code upon such terms as the board is authorized by ordinance to agree upon with such corporation, subject to the approval of a majority of the electors of the city voting thereon on the question.
The board of rapid transit commissioners shall certify such lease or agreement to the board of elections, which shall then submit the question of the approval of such lease or agreement to the qualified electors of the city at either a special or general election as the ordinance specifies. Thirty days' notice of the election shall be given by publication in one or more of the newspapers published in the city, once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the time of holding such the election, setting and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election for thirty days prior to the election on its web site. The notice shall set forth the terms of the lease or agreement and the time of holding the election. On the approval by a majority of the voters voting at such the election, the corporation may operate such depots, terminals, and railways as provided in the lease or agreement, and corporations organized under the laws of this state for street or interurban railway purposes may lease and operate such depots, terminals, and railways.
Sec. 1901.07.  (A) All municipal court judges shall be elected on the nonpartisan ballot for terms of six years. In a municipal court in which only one judge is to be elected in any one year, that judge's term commences on the first day of January after the election. In a municipal court in which two or more judges are to be elected in any one year, their terms commence on successive days beginning the first day of January, following the election, unless otherwise provided by section 1901.08 of the Revised Code.
(B) All candidates for municipal court judge may be nominated either by nominating petition or by primary election, except that if the jurisdiction of a municipal court extends only to the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which the court is located and that municipal corporation operates under a charter, all candidates shall be nominated in the same manner provided in the charter for the office of municipal court judge, or, if no specific provisions are made in the charter for the office of municipal court judge, in the same manner as the charter prescribes for the nomination and election of the legislative authority of the municipal corporation.
If a municipal corporation that has a municipal court has a charter that specifies a primary date other than the date specified in division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code, and if the jurisdiction of the a municipal court extends beyond the corporate limits of the municipal corporation, all candidates for the office of municipal judge of that court shall be nominated only by petition.
If in which it is located or if the jurisdiction of the court does not extend beyond the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which it is located and no charter provisions apply, all candidates for party nomination to the office of municipal court judge shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of the primary election, or if the primary election is a presidential primary election, not later than four p.m. of the sixtieth day before the day of the presidential primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 of the Revised Code. The petition shall conform to the requirements provided for such those petitions of candidacy contained in section 3513.05 of the Revised Code, except that the petition shall be signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court. If no valid declaration of candidacy is filed for nomination as a candidate of a political party for election to the office of municipal court judge, or if the number of persons filing the declarations of candidacy for nominations as candidates of one political party for election to the office does not exceed the number of candidates that that party is entitled to nominate as its candidates for election to the office, no primary election shall be held for the purpose of nominating candidates of that party for election to the office, and the candidates shall be issued certificates of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.
If the jurisdiction of a municipal court extends beyond the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which it is located or if the jurisdiction of the court does not extend beyond the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which it is located and no charter provisions apply, nonpartisan candidates filing for the office of municipal court judge shall file nominating petitions for the office of municipal judge shall file them not later than four p.m. of the day before the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The petition shall conform to the requirements provided for such those petitions of candidacy contained in section 3513.257 of the Revised Code, except that the petition shall be signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court.
The nominating petition or declaration of candidacy for a municipal court judge shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, the candidacies of the judges nominated shall be submitted to the electors of the territory on a nonpartisan, judicial ballot in the same manner as provided for judges of the court of common pleas, except that, in a municipal corporation operating under a charter, all candidates for municipal court judge shall be elected in conformity with the charter if provisions are made in the charter for the election of municipal court judges.
(C) Notwithstanding divisions (A) and (B) of this section, in the following municipal courts, the judges shall be nominated and elected as follows:
(1) In the Cleveland municipal court, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at least one thousand fifty electors of the territory of the court. It shall be in the statutory form and shall be filed in the manner and within the time prescribed by the charter of the city of Cleveland for filing petitions of candidates for municipal offices. Each elector shall have the right to sign petitions for as many candidates as are to be elected, but no more. The judges shall be elected by the electors of the territory of the court in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas.
(2) In the Toledo municipal court, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at least one thousand fifty electors of the territory of the court. It shall be in the statutory form and shall be filed in the manner and within the time prescribed by the charter of the city of Toledo for filing nominating petitions for city council. Each elector shall have the right to sign petitions for as many candidates as are to be elected, but no more. The judges shall be elected by the electors of the territory of the court in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas.
(3) In the Akron municipal court, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at least two hundred fifty electors of the territory of the court. It shall be in statutory form and shall be filed in the manner and within the time prescribed by the charter of the city of Akron for filing nominating petitions of candidates for municipal offices. Each elector shall have the right to sign petitions for as many candidates as are to be elected, but no more. The judges shall be elected by the electors of the territory of the court in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas.
(4) In the Hamilton county municipal court, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at least one thousand fifty electors of the territory of the court, which petitions shall be signed, verified, and filed in the manner and within the time required by law for nominating petitions for members of council of the city of Cincinnati. The judges shall be elected by the electors of the territory of the court at the regular municipal election and in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas.
(5) In the Franklin county municipal court, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at least one thousand fifty electors of the territory of the court. The petition shall be in the statutory form and shall be filed in the manner and within the time prescribed by the charter of the city of Columbus for filing petitions of candidates for municipal offices. The judges shall be elected by the electors of the territory of the court in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas.
(6) In the Auglaize, Brown, Clermont, Crawford, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Madison, Miami, Morrow, Portage, and Wayne county municipal courts, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petitions shall be signed by at least two hundred fifty electors of the territory of the court and shall conform to the provisions of this section.
(D) As used in this section, as to an election for either a full or an unexpired term, "the territory within the jurisdiction of the court" means such that territory as it will be on the first day of January after the election.
Sec. 1901.10.  (A)(1)(a) The judges of the municipal court and officers of the court shall take an oath of office, as provided in section 3.23 of the Revised Code. The office of judge of the municipal court is subject to forfeiture, and the judge may be removed from office, for the causes and by the procedure provided in sections 3.07 to 3.10 of the Revised Code. A vacancy in the office of judge exists upon the death, resignation, forfeiture, removal from office, or absence from official duties for a period of six consecutive months, as determined under this section, of the judge and also by reason of the expiration of the term of an incumbent when no successor has been elected or qualified. The chief justice of the supreme court may designate a judge of another municipal court to act until that vacancy is filled in accordance with section 107.08 of the Revised Code. A vacancy resulting from the absence of a municipal judge from official duties for a period of six consecutive months shall be determined and declared by the legislative authority.
(b) If a vacancy occurs in the office of judge or clerk of the municipal court after the one-hundredth day before the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May and prior to the fortieth day before the day of the general election, all candidates for election to such the unexpired term for the office of the judge or clerk of the municipal court shall file nominating petitions with the board of elections not later than four p.m. on the tenth day following the day on which the vacancy occurs, provided except that, when the vacancy occurs fewer than six days before the fortieth day before the general election, the deadline for filing shall be four p.m. on the thirty-sixth day before the day of the general election.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(d) of this section, each Each nominating petition referred to in division (A)(1)(b) of this section shall be in the form prescribed in section 3513.261 of the Revised Code and shall be signed by at least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the municipal court not less in number than one per cent of the number of electors who voted for governor at the most recent regular state election in the territory over which such court has jurisdiction, or twenty-five hundred electors, whichever is the lesser number.
(d) For any such vacancy occurring in the office of judge or clerk of a municipal court named in division (C)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6) of section 1901.07 of the Revised Code, each nominating petition shall be signed by qualified electors of the territory of the municipal court not less in number than one per cent of the number of electors who voted for governor at the most recent regular state election in the territory over which the court has jurisdiction, or the number of qualified electors required to sign a nominating petition in each of those divisions, as applicable to each particular court, whichever is the lesser number.
(e) No. No nominating petition shall be accepted for filing or filed if it appears on its face to contain signatures aggregating in number more than twice the minimum aggregate number of signatures required by this section.
(2) If a judge of a municipal court that has only one judge is temporarily absent, incapacitated, or otherwise unavailable, the judge may appoint a substitute who has the qualifications required by section 1901.06 of the Revised Code or a retired judge of a court of record who is a qualified elector and a resident of the territory of the court. If the judge is unable to make the appointment, the chief justice of the supreme court shall appoint a substitute. The appointee shall serve during the absence, incapacity, or unavailability of the incumbent, shall have the jurisdiction and powers conferred upon the judge of the municipal court, and shall be styled "acting judge." During that time of service, the acting judge shall sign all process and records and shall perform all acts pertaining to the office, except that of removal and appointment of officers of the court. All courts shall take judicial notice of the selection and powers of the acting judge. The incumbent judge shall establish the amount of compensation of an acting judge upon either a per diem, hourly, or other basis, but the rate of pay shall not exceed the per diem amount received by the incumbent judge.
(B) When the volume of cases pending in any municipal court necessitates an additional judge, the chief justice of the supreme court, upon the written request of the judge or presiding judge of that municipal court, may designate a judge of another municipal court or county court to serve for any period of time that the chief justice may prescribe. The compensation of a judge so designated shall be paid from the city treasury or, in the case of a county-operated municipal court, from the county treasury. In addition to the annual salary provided for in section 1901.11 of the Revised Code and in addition to any compensation under division (A)(5) or (6) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code to which the judge is entitled in connection with the judge's own court, a full-time or part-time judge while holding court outside the judge's territory on the designation of the chief justice shall receive actual and necessary expenses and compensation as follows:
(1) A full-time judge shall receive thirty dollars for each day of the assignment.
(2) A part-time judge shall receive for each day of the assignment the per diem compensation of the judges of the court to which the judge is assigned, less the per diem amount paid to those judges pursuant to section 141.04 of the Revised Code, calculated on the basis of two hundred fifty working days per year.
If a request is made by a judge or the presiding judge of a municipal court to designate a judge of another municipal court because of the volume of cases in the court for which the request is made and the chief justice reports, in writing, that no municipal or county court judge is available to serve by designation, the judges of the court requesting the designation may appoint a substitute as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, who may serve for any period of time that is prescribed by the chief justice. The substitute judge shall be paid in the same manner and at the same rate as the incumbent judges, except that, if the substitute judge is entitled to compensation under division (A)(5) or (6) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code, then section 1901.121 of the Revised Code shall govern its payment.
Sec. 1901.31.  The clerk and deputy clerks of a municipal court shall be selected, be compensated, give bond, and have powers and duties as follows:
(A) There shall be a clerk of the court who is appointed or elected as follows:
(1)(a) Except in the Akron, Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, Toledo, Hamilton county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, if the population of the territory equals or exceeds one hundred thousand at the regular municipal election immediately preceding the expiration of the term of the present clerk, the clerk shall be nominated and elected by the qualified electors of the territory in the manner that is provided for the nomination and election of judges in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code.
The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.
(b) In the Hamilton county municipal court, the clerk of courts of Hamilton county shall be the clerk of the municipal court and may appoint an assistant clerk who shall receive the compensation, payable out of the treasury of Hamilton county in semimonthly installments, that the board of county commissioners prescribes. The clerk of courts of Hamilton county, acting as the clerk of the Hamilton county municipal court and assuming the duties of that office, shall receive compensation at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. This compensation shall be paid from the county treasury in semimonthly installments and is in addition to the annual compensation that is received for the performance of the duties of the clerk of courts of Hamilton county, as provided in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.
(c) In the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts, the clerks of courts of Portage county and Wayne county shall be the clerks, respectively, of the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts and may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised Code and assistant clerks as the judges of the municipal court determine are necessary, all of whom shall receive the compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. The clerks of courts of Portage county and Wayne county, acting as the clerks of the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts and assuming the duties of these offices, shall receive compensation payable from the county treasury in semimonthly installments at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(d) of this section, in the Akron municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Akron for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Akron municipal court shall be signed by at least two hundred fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.
The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code.
If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Akron municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.
Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Akron municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.
(e) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(e) of this section, in the Barberton municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Barberton for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Barberton municipal court shall be signed by at least two hundred fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.
The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code.
If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Barberton municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.
Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Barberton municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.
(f) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(f) of this section, in the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Cuyahoga Falls for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall be signed by at least two hundred fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.
The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code.
If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.
Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.
(g) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(g) of this section, in the Toledo municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Toledo for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal court shall be signed by at least two hundred fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.
The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code.
If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.
Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.
(2)(a) Except for the Alliance, Auglaize county, Brown county, Columbiana county, Lorain, Massillon, and Youngstown municipal courts, in a municipal court for which the population of the territory is less than one hundred thousand, the clerk shall be appointed by the court, and the clerk shall hold office until the clerk's successor is appointed and qualified.
(b) In the Alliance, Lorain, Massillon, and Youngstown municipal courts, the clerk shall be elected for a term of office as described in division (A)(1)(a) of this section.
(c) In the Auglaize county and Brown county municipal courts, the clerks of courts of Auglaize county and Brown county shall be the clerks, respectively, of the Auglaize county and Brown county municipal courts and may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised Code, and assistant clerks as the judge of the court determines are necessary, all of whom shall receive the compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. The clerks of courts of Auglaize county and Brown county, acting as the clerks of the Auglaize county and Brown county municipal courts and assuming the duties of these offices, shall receive compensation payable from the county treasury in semimonthly installments at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.
(d) In the Columbiana county municipal court, the clerk of courts of Columbiana county shall be the clerk of the municipal court, may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch office that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised Code, and may appoint any assistant clerks that the judges of the court determine are necessary. All of the chief deputy clerks and assistant clerks shall receive the compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. The clerk of courts of Columbiana county, acting as the clerk of the Columbiana county municipal court and assuming the duties of that office, shall receive compensation payable from the county treasury in semimonthly installments at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.
(3) During the temporary absence of the clerk due to illness, vacation, or other proper cause, the court may appoint a temporary clerk, who shall be paid the same compensation, have the same authority, and perform the same duties as the clerk.
(B) Except in the Hamilton county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, if a vacancy occurs in the office of the clerk of the Alliance, Lorain, Massillon, or Youngstown municipal court or occurs in the office of the clerk of a municipal court for which the population of the territory equals or exceeds one hundred thousand because the clerk ceases to hold the office before the end of the clerk's term or because a clerk-elect fails to take office, the vacancy shall be filled, until a successor is elected and qualified, by a person chosen by the residents of the territory of the court who are members of the county central committee of the political party by which the last occupant of that office or the clerk-elect was nominated. Not less than five nor more than fifteen days after a vacancy occurs, those members of that county central committee shall meet to make an appointment to fill the vacancy. At least four days before the date of the meeting, the chairperson or a secretary of the county central committee shall notify each such member of that county central committee by first class mail of the date, time, and place of the meeting and its purpose. A majority of all such members of that county central committee constitutes a quorum, and a majority of the quorum is required to make the appointment. If the office so vacated was occupied or was to be occupied by a person not nominated at a primary election, or if the appointment was not made by the committee members in accordance with this division, the court shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy. A successor shall be elected to fill the office for the unexpired term at the first municipal election that is held more than one hundred twenty days after the vacancy occurred.
(C)(1) In a municipal court, other than the Auglaize county, the Brown county, the Columbiana county, and the Lorain municipal courts, for which the population of the territory is less than one hundred thousand, the clerk of the municipal court shall receive the annual compensation that the presiding judge of the court prescribes, if the revenue of the court for the preceding calendar year, as certified by the auditor or chief fiscal officer of the municipal corporation in which the court is located or, in the case of a county-operated municipal court, the county auditor, is equal to or greater than the expenditures, including any debt charges, for the operation of the court payable under this chapter from the city treasury or, in the case of a county-operated municipal court, the county treasury for that calendar year, as also certified by the auditor or chief fiscal officer. If the revenue of a municipal court, other than the Auglaize county, the Brown county, the Columbiana county, and the Lorain municipal courts, for which the population of the territory is less than one hundred thousand for the preceding calendar year as so certified is not equal to or greater than those expenditures for the operation of the court for that calendar year as so certified, the clerk of a municipal court shall receive the annual compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. As used in this division, "revenue" means the total of all costs and fees that are collected and paid to the city treasury or, in a county-operated municipal court, the county treasury by the clerk of the municipal court under division (F) of this section and all interest received and paid to the city treasury or, in a county-operated municipal court, the county treasury in relation to the costs and fees under division (G) of this section.
(2) In a municipal court, other than the Hamilton county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, for which the population of the territory is one hundred thousand or more, and in the Lorain municipal court, the clerk of the municipal court shall receive annual compensation in a sum equal to eighty-five per cent of the salary of a judge of the court.
(3) The compensation of a clerk described in division (C)(1) or (2) of this section is payable in semimonthly installments from the same sources and in the same manner as provided in section 1901.11 of the Revised Code.
(D) Before entering upon the duties of the clerk's office, the clerk of a municipal court shall give bond of not less than six thousand dollars to be determined by the judges of the court, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the clerk's duties.
(E) The clerk of a municipal court may do all of the following: administer oaths, take affidavits, and issue executions upon any judgment rendered in the court, including a judgment for unpaid costs; issue, sign, and attach the seal of the court to all writs, process, subpoenas, and papers issuing out of the court; and approve all bonds, sureties, recognizances, and undertakings fixed by any judge of the court or by law. The clerk may refuse to accept for filing any pleading or paper submitted for filing by a person who has been found to be a vexatious litigator under section 2323.52 of the Revised Code and who has failed to obtain leave to proceed under that section. The clerk shall do all of the following: file and safely keep all journals, records, books, and papers belonging or appertaining to the court; record the proceedings of the court; perform all other duties that the judges of the court may prescribe; and keep a book showing all receipts and disbursements, which book shall be open for public inspection at all times.
The clerk shall prepare and maintain a general index, a docket, and other records that the court, by rule, requires, all of which shall be the public records of the court. In the docket, the clerk shall enter, at the time of the commencement of an action, the names of the parties in full, the names of the counsel, and the nature of the proceedings. Under proper dates, the clerk shall note the filing of the complaint, issuing of summons or other process, returns, and any subsequent pleadings. The clerk also shall enter all reports, verdicts, orders, judgments, and proceedings of the court, clearly specifying the relief granted or orders made in each action. The court may order an extended record of any of the above to be made and entered, under the proper action heading, upon the docket at the request of any party to the case, the expense of which record may be taxed as costs in the case or may be required to be prepaid by the party demanding the record, upon order of the court.
(F) The clerk of a municipal court shall receive, collect, and issue receipts for all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other moneys payable to the office or to any officer of the court. The clerk shall each month disburse to the proper persons or officers, and take receipts for, all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other moneys that the clerk collects. Subject to sections 3375.50 and 4511.193 of the Revised Code and to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a specific manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a municipal court and except for the Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and Ottawa county municipal courts, the clerk shall pay all fines received for violation of municipal ordinances into the treasury of the municipal corporation the ordinance of which was violated and shall pay all fines received for violation of township resolutions adopted pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code into the treasury of the township the resolution of which was violated. Subject to sections 1901.024 and 4511.193 of the Revised Code, in the Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and Ottawa county municipal courts, the clerk shall pay fifty per cent of the fines received for violation of municipal ordinances and fifty per cent of the fines received for violation of township resolutions adopted pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code into the treasury of the county. Subject to sections 3375.50, 3375.53, 4511.19, and 5503.04 of the Revised Code and to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a specific manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a municipal court, the clerk shall pay all fines collected for the violation of state laws into the county treasury. Except in a county-operated municipal court, the clerk shall pay all costs and fees the disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for in the Revised Code into the city treasury. The clerk of a county-operated municipal court shall pay the costs and fees the disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for in the Revised Code into the county treasury. Moneys deposited as security for costs shall be retained pending the litigation. The clerk shall keep a separate account of all receipts and disbursements in civil and criminal cases, which shall be a permanent public record of the office. On the expiration of the term of the clerk, the clerk shall deliver the records to the clerk's successor. The clerk shall have other powers and duties as are prescribed by rule or order of the court.
(G) All moneys paid into a municipal court shall be noted on the record of the case in which they are paid and shall be deposited in a state or national bank, or a domestic savings and loan association, as defined in section 1151.01 of the Revised Code, that is selected by the clerk. Any interest received upon the deposits shall be paid into the city treasury, except that, in a county-operated municipal court, the interest shall be paid into the treasury of the county in which the court is located.
On the first Monday in January of each year, the clerk shall make a list of the titles of all cases in the court that were finally determined more than one year past in which there remains unclaimed in the possession of the clerk any funds, or any part of a deposit for security of costs not consumed by the costs in the case. The clerk shall give notice of the moneys to the parties who are entitled to the moneys or to their attorneys of record. All the moneys remaining unclaimed on the first day of April of each year shall be paid by the clerk to the city treasurer, except that, in a county-operated municipal court, the moneys shall be paid to the treasurer of the county in which the court is located. The treasurer shall pay any part of the moneys at any time to the person who has the right to the moneys upon proper certification of the clerk.
(H) Deputy clerks may be appointed by the clerk and shall receive the compensation, payable in semimonthly installments out of the city treasury, that the clerk may prescribe, except that the compensation of any deputy clerk of a county-operated municipal court shall be paid out of the treasury of the county in which the court is located. Each deputy clerk shall take an oath of office before entering upon the duties of the deputy clerk's office and, when so qualified, may perform the duties appertaining to the office of the clerk. The clerk may require any of the deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy clerk's duties.
(I) For the purposes of this section, whenever the population of the territory of a municipal court falls below one hundred thousand but not below ninety thousand, and the population of the territory prior to the most recent regular federal census exceeded one hundred thousand, the legislative authority of the municipal corporation may declare, by resolution, that the territory shall be considered to have a population of at least one hundred thousand.
(J) The clerk or a deputy clerk shall be in attendance at all sessions of the municipal court, although not necessarily in the courtroom, and may administer oaths to witnesses and jurors and receive verdicts.
Sec. 2961.01.  (A) A person convicted of a felony under the laws of this or any other state or the United States, unless the conviction is reversed or annulled, is incompetent to be an elector or juror or to hold an office of honor, trust, or profit. When any person convicted of a felony under any law of that type is granted parole, judicial release, or a conditional pardon or is released under a non-jail community control sanction or a post-release control sanction, the person is competent to be an elector during the period of community control, parole, post-release control, or release or until the conditions of the pardon have been performed or have transpired and is competent to be an elector thereafter following final discharge. The full pardon of a convict person convicted of a felony restores the rights and privileges so forfeited under this section division, but a pardon shall not release a convict the person convicted of a felony from the costs of the convict's a conviction in this state, unless so specified.
(B) A person convicted of a felony under laws of this state or any other state or the United States is incompetent to circulate or serve as a witness for the signing of any declaration of candidacy and petition, voter registration application, or nominating, initiative, referendum, or recall petition.
(C) As used in this section:
(1) "Community control sanction" has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.
(2) "Non-jail community control sanction" means a community control sanction that is neither a term in a community-based correctional facility nor a term in a jail.
(3) "Post-release control" and "post-release control sanction" have the same meanings as in section 2967.01 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 2967.17.  (A) The adult parole authority, in its discretion, may grant an administrative release to any of the following:
(1) A parole violator or release violator serving another felony sentence in a correctional institution within or without this state for the purpose of consolidation of the records or if justice would best be served;
(2) A parole violator at large or release violator at large whose case has been inactive for at least ten years following the date of declaration of the parole violation or the violation of a post-release control sanction;
(3) A parolee taken into custody by the immigration and naturalization service of the United States department of justice and deported from the United States.
(B) The adult parole authority shall not grant an administrative release except upon the concurrence of a majority of the parole board and approval of the chief of the adult parole authority. An administrative release does not restore for the person to whom it is granted the rights and privileges forfeited by conviction as provided in section 2961.01 of the Revised Code. Any person granted an administrative release under this section may subsequently apply for a commutation of sentence for the purpose of regaining the rights and privileges forfeited by conviction, except that the privilege of circulating or serving as a witness for the signing of any declaration of candidacy and petition, voter registration application, or nominating, initiative, referendum, or recall petition forfeited under section 2961.01 of the Revised Code may not be restored under this section.
Sec. 3311.21.  (A) In addition to the resolutions authorized by sections 5705.194, 5705.21, 5705.212, and 5705.213 of the Revised Code, the board of education of a joint vocational or cooperative education school district by a vote of two-thirds of its full membership may at any time adopt a resolution declaring the necessity to levy a tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation for a period not to exceed ten years to provide funds for any one or more of the following purposes, which may be stated in the following manner in such resolution, the ballot, and the notice of election: purchasing a site or enlargement thereof and for the erection and equipment of buildings; for the purpose of enlarging, improving, or rebuilding thereof; for the purpose of providing for the current expenses of the joint vocational or cooperative school district; or for a continuing period for the purpose of providing for the current expenses of the joint vocational or cooperative education school district. The resolution shall specify the amount of the proposed rate and, if a renewal, whether the levy is to renew all, or a portion of, the existing levy, and shall specify the first year in which the levy will be imposed. If the levy provides for but is not limited to current expenses, the resolution shall apportion the annual rate of the levy between current expenses and the other purpose or purposes. Such apportionment may but need not be the same for each year of the levy, but the respective portions of the rate actually levied each year for current expenses and the other purpose or purposes shall be limited by such apportionment. The portion of any such rate actually levied for current expenses of a joint vocational or cooperative education school district shall be used in applying division (A) of section 3317.01 of the Revised Code. The portion of any such rate not apportioned to the current expenses of a joint vocational or cooperative education school district shall be used in applying division (B) of this section. On the adoption of such resolution, the joint vocational or cooperative education school district board of education shall certify the resolution to the board of elections of the county containing the most populous portion of the district, which board shall receive resolutions for filing and send them to the boards of elections of each county in which territory of the district is located, furnish all ballots for the election as provided in section 3505.071 of the Revised Code, and prepare the election notice; and the board of elections of each county in which the territory of such district is located shall make the other necessary arrangements for the submission of the question to the electors of the joint vocational or cooperative education school district at the next primary or general election occurring not less than seventy-five days after the resolution was received from the joint vocational or cooperative education school district board of education, or at a special election to be held at a time designated by the district board of education consistent with the requirements of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code, which date shall not be earlier than seventy-five days after the adoption and certification of the resolution.
The board of elections of the county or counties in which territory of the joint vocational or cooperative education school district is located shall cause to be published in one or more newspapers of general circulation in such that district an advertisement of the proposed tax levy question together with a statement of the amount of the proposed levy once each a week for three two consecutive weeks, prior to the election at which the question is to appear on the ballot, and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board also shall post a similar advertisement on its web site for thirty days prior to that election.
If a majority of the electors voting on the question of levying such tax vote in favor of the levy, the joint vocational or cooperative education school district board of education shall annually make the levy within the district at the rate specified in the resolution and ballot or at any lesser rate, and the county auditor of each affected county shall annually place the levy on the tax list and duplicate of each school district in his the county having territory in the joint vocational or cooperative education school district. The taxes realized from the levy shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as other taxes on the duplicate, and the taxes, when collected, shall be paid to the treasurer of the joint vocational or cooperative education school district and deposited by him to a special fund, which shall be established by the joint vocational or cooperative education school district board of education for all revenue derived from any tax levied pursuant to this section and for the proceeds of anticipation notes which shall be deposited in such fund. After the approval of the levy, the joint vocational or cooperative education school district board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy and from time to time, during the life of the levy, but in any year prior to the time when the tax collection from the levy so anticipated can be made for that year, issue anticipation notes in an amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the estimated proceeds of the levy to be collected in each year up to a period of five years after the date of the issuance of the notes, less an amount equal to the proceeds of the levy obligated for each year by the issuance of anticipation notes, provided that the total amount maturing in any one year shall not exceed fifty per cent of the anticipated proceeds of the levy for that year. Each issue of notes shall be sold as provided in Chapter 133. of the Revised Code, and shall, except for such limitation that the total amount of such notes maturing in any one year shall not exceed fifty per cent of the anticipated proceeds of the levy for that year, mature serially in substantially equal installments, during each year over a period not to exceed five years after their issuance.
(B) Prior to the application of section 319.301 of the Revised Code, the rate of a levy that is limited to, or to the extent that it is apportioned to, purposes other than current expenses shall be reduced in the same proportion in which the district's total valuation increases during the life of the levy because of additions to such valuation that have resulted from improvements added to the tax list and duplicate.
(C) The form of ballot cast at an election under division (A) of this section shall be as prescribed by section 5705.25 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3311.50.  (A) As used in this section, "county school financing district" means a taxing district consisting of the following territory:
(1) The territory that constitutes the educational service center on the date that the governing board of that educational service center adopts a resolution under division (B) of this section declaring that the territory of the educational service center is a county school financing district, exclusive of any territory subsequently withdrawn from the district under division (D) of this section;
(2) Any territory that has been added to the county school financing district under this section.
A county school financing district may include the territory of a city, local, or exempted village school district whose territory also is included in the territory of one or more other county school financing districts.
(B) The governing board of any educational service center may, by resolution, declare that the territory of the educational service center is a county school financing district. The resolution shall state the purpose for which the county school financing district is created which may be for any one or more of the following purposes:
(1) To levy taxes for the provision of special education by the school districts that are a part of the district, including taxes for permanent improvements for special education;
(2) To levy taxes for the provision of specified educational programs and services by the school districts that are a part of the district, as identified in the resolution creating the district, including the levying of taxes for permanent improvements for those programs and services;
(3) To levy taxes for permanent improvements of school districts that are a part of the district.
The governing board of the educational service center that creates a county school financing district shall serve as the taxing authority of the district and may use educational service center governing board employees to perform any of the functions necessary in the performance of its duties as a taxing authority. A county school financing district shall not employ any personnel.
With the approval of a majority of the members of the board of education of each school district within the territory of the county school financing district, the taxing authority of the financing district may amend the resolution creating the district to broaden or narrow the purposes for which it was created.
A governing board of an educational service center may create more than one county school financing district. If a governing board of an educational service center creates more than one such district, it shall clearly distinguish among the districts it creates by including a designation of each district's purpose in the district's name.
(C) A majority of the members of a board of education of a city, local, or exempted village school district may adopt a resolution requesting that its territory be joined with the territory of any county school financing district. Copies of the resolution shall be filed with the state board of education and the taxing authority of the county school financing district. Within sixty days of its receipt of such a resolution, the county school financing district's taxing authority shall vote on the question of whether to accept the school district's territory as part of the county school financing district. If a majority of the members of the taxing authority vote to accept the territory, the school district's territory shall thereupon become a part of the county school financing district unless the county school financing district has in effect a tax imposed under section 5705.211 of the Revised Code. If the county school financing district has such a tax in effect, the taxing authority shall certify a copy of its resolution accepting the school district's territory to the school district's board of education, which may then adopt a resolution, with the affirmative vote of a majority of its members, proposing the submission to the electors of the question of whether the district's territory shall become a part of the county school financing district and subject to the taxes imposed by the financing district. The resolution shall set forth the date on which the question shall be submitted to the electors, which shall be at a special election held on a date specified in the resolution, which shall not be earlier than seventy-five days after the adoption and certification of the resolution. A copy of the resolution shall immediately be certified to the board of elections of the proper county, which shall make arrangements for the submission of the proposal to the electors of the school district. The board of the joining district shall publish notice of the election in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the county once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election. Additionally, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The question appearing on the ballot shall read:
"Shall the territory within .......... (name of the school district proposing to join the county school financing district) .......... be added to .......... (name) .......... county school financing district, and a property tax for the purposes of ......... (here insert purposes) .......... at a rate of taxation not exceeding .......... (here insert the outstanding tax rate) ........... be in effect for .......... (here insert the number of years the tax is to be in effect or "a continuing period of time," as applicable) ..........?"
If the proposal is approved by a majority of the electors voting on it, the joinder shall take effect on the first day of July following the date of the election, and the county board of elections shall notify the county auditor of each county in which the school district joining its territory to the county school financing district is located.
(D) The board of any city, local, or exempted village school district whose territory is part of a county school financing district may withdraw its territory from the county school financing district thirty days after submitting to the governing board that is the taxing authority of the district and the state board a resolution proclaiming such withdrawal, adopted by a majority vote of its members, but any county school financing district tax levied in such territory on the effective date of the withdrawal shall remain in effect in such territory until such tax expires or is renewed. No board may adopt a resolution withdrawing from a county school financing district that would take effect during the forty-five days preceding the date of an election at which a levy proposed under section 5705.215 of the Revised Code is to be voted upon.
(E) A city, local, or exempted village school district does not lose its separate identity or legal existence by reason of joining its territory to a county school financing district under this section and an educational service center does not lose its separate identity or legal existence by reason of creating a county school financing district that accepts or loses territory under this section.
Sec. 3311.73.  (A) No later than seventy-five days before the general election held in the first even-numbered year occurring at least four years after the date it assumed control of the municipal school district pursuant to division (B) of section 3311.71 of the Revised Code, the board of education appointed under that division shall notify the board of elections of each county containing territory of the municipal school district of the referendum election required by division (B) of this section.
(B) At the general election held in the first even-numbered year occurring at least four years after the date the new board assumed control of a municipal school district pursuant to division (B) of section 3311.71 of the Revised Code, the following question shall be submitted to the electors residing in the school district:
"Shall the mayor of ..... (here insert the name of the applicable municipal corporation)..... continue to appoint the members of the board of education of the ..... (here insert the name of the municipal school district).....?"
The board of elections of the county in which the majority of the school district's territory is located shall make all necessary arrangements for the submission of the question to the electors, and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections in the district for the election of county officers, provided that in any such election in which only part of the electors of a precinct are qualified to vote, the board of elections may assign voters in such part to an adjoining precinct. Such an assignment may be made to an adjoining precinct in another county with the consent and approval of the board of elections of such other county. Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district once a week for three two consecutive weeks prior to the election stating, and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the question on which the election is being held. The ballot shall be in the form prescribed by the secretary of state. Costs of submitting the question to the electors shall be charged to the municipal school district in accordance with section 3501.17 of the Revised Code.
(C) If a majority of electors voting on the issue proposed in division (B) of this section approve the question, the mayor shall appoint a new board on the immediately following first day of July pursuant to division (F) of section 3311.71 of the Revised Code.
(D) If a majority of electors voting on the issue proposed in division (B) of this section disapprove the question, a new seven-member board of education shall be elected at the next regular election occurring in November of an odd-numbered year. At such election, four members shall be elected for terms of four years and three members shall be elected for terms of two years. Thereafter, their successors shall be elected in the same manner and for the same terms as members of boards of education of a city school district. All members of the board of education of a municipal school district appointed pursuant to division (B) of section 3311.71 of the Revised Code shall continue to serve after the end of the terms to which they were appointed until their successors are qualified and assume office in accordance with section 3313.09 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3349.29.  An agreement made pursuant to sections 3349.27 and 3349.28 of the Revised Code is not effective unless it has been approved by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation with which the municipal university is identified, upon such legislative authority's determination that such agreement will be beneficial to the municipal corporation, and also approved by the Ohio board of regents, and, if required by any applicable appropriation measure, by the state controlling board, and any payment from state tax moneys provided for in the agreement will be subject to appropriations made by the general assembly. If provision is to be made under such agreement for the transfer of, or grant of the right to use, all or a substantial part of the assets of the municipal university to the state university and assumption by the state university of educational functions of the municipal university, such agreement shall not become effective, under sections 3349.27 to 3349.30, inclusive, of the Revised Code until the electors of the municipal corporation have approved such transfer or grant.
The legislative authority of the municipal corporation shall, by ordinance, submit the question to the electors at a general, primary, or a special election to be held on the date specified in said the ordinance. Such The ordinance shall be certified to the board of elections not later than on the forty-fifth day preceding the date of such the election. Notice of such the election shall be published in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the municipal corporation once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, notice of the election also shall be posted on that web site for thirty days prior to the election. The form of the ballot to be used at said the election shall be substantially as follows, with such variations as may be appropriate to reflect the general nature of the transfer or grant of use of assets and the transfer of educational functions contemplated:
"Shall assets of the municipal university known as .......................... be transferred to (make available for use by) a state university known as ........................... and the state university assume educational functions of the municipal university and provide higher education in (or in close proximity to) the city of .......................... to the residents of the city of ........................ and of the state of Ohio and such others as shall be admitted?"
The favorable vote of a majority of those voting on the proposition constitutes such approval as is required by this section.
Sec. 3354.12.  (A) Upon the request by resolution approved by the board of trustees of a community college district, and upon certification to the board of elections not less than seventy-five days prior to the election, the boards of elections of the county or counties comprising such district shall place upon the ballot in their respective counties the question of levying a tax on all the taxable property in the community college district outside the ten-mill limitation, for a specified period of years or for a continuing period of time, to provide funds for any one or more of the following purposes: the acquisition of sites, the erection, furnishing, and equipment of buildings, the acquisition, construction, or improvement of any property which the board of trustees of a community college district is authorized to acquire, construct, or improve and which has an estimated life of usefulness of five years or more as certified by the fiscal officer, and the payment of operating costs. Not more than two special elections shall be held in any one calendar year. Levies for a continuing period of time adopted under this section may be reduced in accordance with section 5705.261 of the Revised Code.
If such proposal is to be or include the renewal of an existing levy at the expiration thereof, the ballot for such election shall state whether it is a renewal of a tax; a renewal of a stated number of mills and an increase of a stated number of mills, or a renewal of a part of an existing levy with a reduction of a stated number of mills; the year of the tax duplicate on which such renewal will first be made; and if earlier, the year of the tax duplicate on which such additional levy will first be made, which may include the tax duplicate for the current year unless the election is to be held after the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of the current tax year. The ballot shall also state the period of years for such levy or that it is for a continuing period of time. If a levy for a continuing period of time provides for but is not limited to current expenses, the resolution of the board of trustees providing for the election on such levy shall apportion the annual rate of the levy between current expenses and the other purpose or purposes. Such apportionment need not be the same for each year of the levy, but the respective portions of the rate actually levied each year for current expenses and the other purpose or purposes shall be limited by such apportionment. The portion of the rate apportioned to the other purpose or purposes shall be reduced as provided in division (B) of this section.
If a majority of the electors in such district voting on such question approve thereof, the county auditor or auditors of the county or counties comprising such district shall annually, for the applicable years, place such levy on the tax duplicate in such district, in an amount determined by the board of trustees, but not to exceed the amount set forth in the proposition approved by the electors.
The boards of trustees of a community college district shall establish a special fund for all revenue derived from any tax levied pursuant to this section.
The boards of elections of the county or counties comprising the district shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in each such county, an advertisement of the proposed tax levy question, once each a week for three two consecutive weeks immediately preceding prior to the election at which the question is to appear on the ballot, and, if a board of elections operates and maintains a web site, that board also shall post a similar advertisement on its web site for thirty days prior to that election.
After the approval of such levy by vote, the board of trustees of a community college district may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such levy and from time to time issue anticipation notes having such maturity or maturities that the aggregate principal amount of all such notes maturing in any calendar year shall not exceed seventy-five per cent of the anticipated proceeds from such levy for such year, and that no note shall mature later than the thirty-first day of December of the tenth calendar year following the calendar year in which such note is issued. Each issue of notes shall be sold as provided in Chapter 133. of the Revised Code.
The amount of bonds or anticipatory notes authorized pursuant to Chapter 3354. of the Revised Code, may include sums to repay moneys previously borrowed, advanced, or granted and expended for the purposes of such bond or anticipatory note issues, whether such moneys were advanced from the available funds of the community college district or by other persons, and the community college district may restore and repay to such funds or persons from the proceeds of such issues the moneys so borrowed, advanced or granted.
All operating costs of such community college may be paid out of any gift or grant from the state, pursuant to division (K) of section 3354.09 of the Revised Code; out of student fees and tuition collected pursuant to division (G) of section 3354.09 of the Revised Code; or out of unencumbered funds from any other source of the community college income not prohibited by law.
(B) Prior to the application of section 319.301 of the Revised Code, the rate of a levy that is limited to, or to the extent that it is apportioned to, purposes other than current expenses shall be reduced in the same proportion in which the district's total valuation increases during the life of the levy because of additions to such valuation that have resulted from improvements added to the tax list and duplicate.
Sec. 3355.09.  Upon receipt of a request from the university branch district managing authority, the boards of elections of the county or counties comprising such district shall place upon the ballot in the district at the next primary or general election occurring not less than seventy-five days after submission of such request by such managing authority, the question of levying a tax outside the ten-mill limitation, for a specified period of years, to provide funds for any of the following purposes:
(A) Purchasing a site or enlargement thereof;
(B) The erection and equipment of buildings;
(C) Enlarging, improving, or rebuilding buildings;
(D) The acquisition, construction, or improvement of any property which the university branch district managing authority is authorized to acquire, construct, or improve and which has been certified by the fiscal officer to have an estimated useful life of five or more years.
If a majority of the electors in such district voting on such question approve, the county auditor of the county or counties comprising such district shall annually place such levy on the tax duplicate in such district, in the amount set forth in the proposition approved by the electors.
The managing authority of the university branch district shall establish a special fund pursuant to section 3355.07 of the Revised Code for all revenue derived from any tax levied pursuant to provisions of this section.
The boards of election of the county or counties comprising the district shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in each such county, an advertisement of the proposed tax levy question, once each a week for three two consecutive weeks immediately preceding prior to the election at which the question is to appear on the ballot, and, if a board of elections operates and maintains a web site, that board also shall post a similar advertisement on its web site for thirty days prior to the election.
After the approval of such levy by vote, the managing authority of the university branch district may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such levy and from time to time, during the life of such levy, issue anticipation notes in an amount not to exceed seventy-five per cent of the estimated proceeds of such levy to be collected in each year over a period of five years after the date of the issuance of such notes, less an amount equal to the proceeds of such levy previously obligated for such year by the issuance of anticipation notes, provided, that the total amount maturing in any one year shall not exceed seventy-five per cent of the anticipated proceeds of such levy for that year.
Each issue of notes shall be sold as provided in Chapter 133. of the Revised Code and shall mature serially in substantially equal amounts, during each remaining year of the levy, not to exceed five, after their issuance.
Sec. 3375.03.  Unless the transfer of certain library territory pursuant to division (G) of section 3375.01 of the Revised Code has been agreed to by the affected boards of library trustees, a referendum petition against the transfer of the territory to another library district, signed by qualified electors of the territory to be transferred and equal in number to at least ten per cent of such those electors who voted in the last gubernatorial election, may be filed with the library board of the territory's current library district within sixty days after certified copies of the boundary change order have been filed in final form with the secretary of state, and the order shall not become effective until after the outcome of the referendum procedure prescribed in this section.
Each part of a petition filed pursuant to this section shall contain a full and correct title of the petition, a brief summary of its purpose, and a statement by the person soliciting signatures for the petition, made under penalty of election falsification, certifying that, to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief, each signature contained in the petition is that of the person whose name it purports to be or of an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, that each person is an elector residing in the territory subject to transfer entitled to sign the petition, and that each person signed the petition with knowledge of its contents. The petition may contain additional information that shall fairly and accurately present the question to prospective petition signers.
The form of a petition calling for a referendum and the statement of the circulator shall be substantially as follows:
"PETITION FOR REFERENDUM ON LIBRARY
DISTRICT TRANSFER
A petition against the transfer of territory currently located in the ...................... library district and proposed for transfer by the state library board to the ..................... library district.
We, the undersigned, being electors residing in the area proposed to be transferred, equal in number to not less than ten per cent of the qualified electors in the area subject to transfer who voted at the last general election, request the ....................... library board to submit the question of the transfer of territory to the ......................... library district to the electors residing within the territory proposed to be transferred for approval or rejection at the next primary or general election.
Street Address Date of
Signature or R.F.D. Precinct Signing

..............................................................
..............................................................
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATOR
I, ..................... (name of circulator) ........... ..............., declare under penalty of election falsification that I am an elector of the state of Ohio and reside at the address appearing below my signature; that I am the circulator of the foregoing part petition containing .........(number)........... signatures; that I have witnessed the affixing of every signature; that all signers were to the best of my knowledge and belief qualified to sign; that every signature is to the best of my knowledge and belief the signature of the person whose signature it purports to be or of an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code; and that such person signed the petition with knowledge of its contents.
................................
(Signature of circulator)
................................
(Address of circulator's permanent
residence in this state)
................................
(City or village and zip code)

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE."
The person presenting a referendum petition under this section shall be given a receipt containing the time of day and the date on which the petition is filed with the library board and noting the purpose of and the number of signatures on the petition. The secretary of the library board shall cause the board of elections of the county or counties in which the territory to be transferred is located to check the sufficiency of signatures on such the petition, and, if these are found to be sufficient, the secretary shall present the petition to the library board at a meeting of the board, which shall occur not later than thirty days following the filing of the petition with the board. The board shall promptly certify the question to the board of elections of the county or counties in which the territory to be transferred is located for the purpose of having the proposal placed on the ballot within that territory at the next general or primary election occurring not less than sixty days after the certification.
The form of the ballot to be used at the election on the question of the transfer shall be as follows:
"Shall the territory ..................... (here insert its boundaries) which is currently within the ................ ........ (here insert the name of the current library district) library district be transferred to the ....................... (here insert the name of the library district to which the territory is proposed to be transferred) library district?
..... For the transfer
..... Against the transfer"

The persons qualified to vote on the question are the electors residing in the territory proposed to be transferred. The costs of an election held under this section shall be paid by the board of library trustees of the current library district of the territory to be transferred. The board of elections shall certify the result of the election to the state library board and to the library boards of the affected library district.
If a majority of electors voting on the question vote in favor of the transfer, the transfer shall take effect on the date of the certification of the election to the state library board. If a majority of the voters voting on the question do not vote for the transfer, the transfer shall not take place.
Sec. 3501.01.  As used in the sections of the Revised Code relating to elections and political communications:
(A) "General election" means the election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in each November.
(B) "Regular municipal election" means the election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each odd-numbered year.
(C) "Regular state election" means the election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year.
(D) "Special election" means any election other than those elections defined in other divisions of this section. A special election may be held only on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February, May, August, or November, or on the day authorized by a particular municipal or county charter for the holding of a primary election, except that in any year in which a presidential primary election is held, no special election shall be held in February or May, except as authorized by a municipal or county charter, but may be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March.
(E)(1) "Primary" or "primary election" means an election held for the purpose of nominating persons as candidates of political parties for election to offices, and for the purpose of electing persons as members of the controlling committees of political parties and as delegates and alternates to the conventions of political parties. Primary elections shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May of each year except in years in which a presidential primary election is held.
(2) "Presidential primary election" means a primary election as defined by division (E)(1) of this section at which an election is held for the purpose of choosing delegates and alternates to the national conventions of the major political parties pursuant to section 3513.12 of the Revised Code. Unless otherwise specified, presidential primary elections are included in references to primary elections. In years in which a presidential primary election is held, all primary elections shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March except as otherwise authorized by a municipal or county charter.
(F) "Political party" means any group of voters meeting the requirements set forth in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code for the formation and existence of a political party.
(1) "Major political party" means any political party organized under the laws of this state whose candidate for governor or nominees for presidential electors received no less than twenty per cent of the total vote cast for such office at the most recent regular state election.
(2) "Intermediate political party" means any political party organized under the laws of this state whose candidate for governor or nominees for presidential electors received less than twenty per cent but not less than ten per cent of the total vote cast for such office at the most recent regular state election.
(3) "Minor political party" means any political party organized under the laws of this state whose candidate for governor or nominees for presidential electors received less than ten per cent but not less than five per cent of the total vote cast for such office at the most recent regular state election or which has filed with the secretary of state, subsequent to any election in which it received less than five per cent of such vote, a petition signed by qualified electors equal in number to at least one per cent of the total vote cast for such office in the last preceding regular state election, except that a newly formed political party shall be known as a minor political party until the time of the first election for governor or president which occurs not less than twelve months subsequent to the formation of such party, after which election the status of such party shall be determined by the vote for the office of governor or president.
(G) "Dominant party in a precinct" or "dominant political party in a precinct" means that political party whose candidate for election to the office of governor at the most recent regular state election at which a governor was elected received more votes than any other person received for election to that office in such precinct at such election.
(H) "Candidate" means any qualified person certified in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Code for placement on the official ballot of a primary, general, or special election to be held in this state, or any qualified person who claims to be a write-in candidate, or who knowingly assents to being represented as a write-in candidate by another at either a primary, general, or special election to be held in this state.
(I) "Independent candidate" means any candidate who claims not to be affiliated with a political party, and whose name has been certified on the office-type ballot at a general or special election through the filing of a statement of candidacy and nominating petition, as prescribed in section 3513.257 of the Revised Code.
(J) "Nonpartisan candidate" means any candidate whose name is required, pursuant to section 3505.04 of the Revised Code, to be listed on the nonpartisan ballot, including all candidates for judicial office, for member of any board of education, for municipal or township offices in which primary elections are not held for nominating candidates by political parties, and for offices of municipal corporations having charters that provide for separate ballots for elections for these offices.
(K) "Party candidate" means any candidate who claims to be a member of a political party, whose name has been certified on the office-type ballot at a general or special election through the filing of a declaration of candidacy and petition of candidate, and who has won the primary election of the candidate's party for the public office the candidate seeks or is selected by party committee in accordance with section 3513.31 of the Revised Code.
(L) "Officer of a political party" includes, but is not limited to, any member, elected or appointed, of a controlling committee, whether representing the territory of the state, a district therein, a county, township, a city, a ward, a precinct, or other territory, of a major, intermediate, or minor political party.
(M) "Question or issue" means any question or issue certified in accordance with the Revised Code for placement on an official ballot at a general or special election to be held in this state.
(N) "Elector" or "qualified elector" means a person having the qualifications provided by law to be entitled to vote.
(O) "Voter" means an elector who votes at an election.
(P) "Voting residence" means that place of residence of an elector which shall determine the precinct in which the elector may vote.
(Q) "Precinct" means a district within a county established by the board of elections of such county within which all qualified electors having a voting residence therein may vote at the same polling place.
(R) "Polling place" means that place provided for each precinct at which the electors having a voting residence in such precinct may vote.
(S) "Board" or "board of elections" means the board of elections appointed in a county pursuant to section 3501.06 of the Revised Code.
(T) "Political subdivision" means a county, township, city, village, or school district.
(U) "Election officer" or "election official" means any of the following:
(1) Secretary of state;
(2) Employees of the secretary of state serving the division of elections in the capacity of attorney, administrative officer, administrative assistant, elections administrator, office manager, or clerical supervisor;
(3) Director of a board of elections;
(4) Deputy director of a board of elections;
(5) Member of a board of elections;
(6) Employees of a board of elections;
(7) Precinct polling place judges and clerks;
(8) Employees appointed by the boards of elections on a temporary or part-time basis.
(V) "Acknowledgment notice" means a notice sent by a board of elections, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, informing a voter registration applicant or an applicant who wishes to change the applicant's residence or name of the status of the application; the information necessary to complete or update the application, if any; and if the application is complete, the precinct in which the applicant is to vote.
(W) "Confirmation notice" means a notice sent by a board of elections, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, to a registered elector to confirm the registered elector's current address.
(X) "Designated agency" means an office or agency in the state that provides public assistance or that provides state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities and that is required by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to implement a program designed and administered by the secretary of state for registering voters, or any other public or government office or agency that implements a program designed and administered by the secretary of state for registering voters, including the department of job and family services, the program administered under section 3701.132 of the Revised Code by the department of health, the department of mental health, the department of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, the rehabilitation services commission, and any other agency the secretary of state designates. "Designated agency" does not include public high schools and vocational schools, public libraries, or the office of a county treasurer.
(Y) "National Voter Registration Act of 1993" means the "National Voter Registration Act of 1993," 107 Stat. 77, 42 U.S.C.A. 1973gg.
(Z) "Voting Rights Act of 1965" means the "Voting Rights Act of 1965," 79 Stat. 437, 42 U.S.C.A. 1973, as amended.
(AA) "Photo identification" means a document that meets each of the following requirements:
(1) It shows the name of the individual to whom it was issued, which shall conform to the name in the poll list or signature pollbook.
(2) It shows the current address of the individual to whom it was issued, which shall conform to the address in the poll list or signature pollbook, except for a driver's license or a state identification card issued under section 4507.50 of the Revised Code, which may show either the current or former address of the individual to whom it was issued, regardless of whether that address conforms to the address in the poll list or signature pollbook.
(3) It shows a photograph of the individual to whom it was issued.
(4) It includes an expiration date that has not passed.
(5) It was issued by the government of the United States or this state.
Sec. 3501.05.  The secretary of state shall do all of the following:
(A) Appoint all members of boards of elections;
(B) Issue instructions by directives and advisories to members of the boards as to the proper methods of conducting elections;. In addition to any other publication of those directives and advisories, the secretary of state shall publish those directives and advisories on a web site of the office of the secretary of state as soon as is practicable after they are issued, but not later than the close of business on the same day as a directive or advisory is issued. The secretary of state shall not remove from the web site any directives and advisories so posted. The secretary of state shall provide on that web site access to all directives and advisories currently in effect and to an archive of all directives and advisories previously published on that web site.
(C) Prepare rules and instructions for the conduct of elections;
(D) Publish and furnish to the boards from time to time a sufficient number of indexed copies of all election laws then in force;
(E) Edit and issue all pamphlets concerning proposed laws or amendments required by law to be submitted to the voters;
(F) Prescribe the form of registration cards, blanks, and records;
(G) Determine and prescribe the forms of ballots and the forms of all blanks, cards of instructions, pollbooks, tally sheets, certificates of election, and forms and blanks required by law for use by candidates, committees, and boards;
(H) Prepare the ballot title or statement to be placed on the ballot for any proposed law or amendment to the constitution to be submitted to the voters of the state;
(I) Certify to the several boards the forms of ballots and names of candidates for state offices, and the form and wording of state referendum questions and issues, as they shall appear on the ballot;
(J) Give final approval to ballot language for any local question or issue approved and transmitted by boards of elections under section 3501.11 of the Revised Code;
(K) Receive all initiative and referendum petitions on state questions and issues and determine and certify to the sufficiency of those petitions;
(L) Require such reports from the several boards as are provided by law, or as the secretary of state considers necessary;
(M) Compel the observance by election officers in the several counties of the requirements of the election laws;
(N)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (N)(2) of this section, investigate the administration of election laws, frauds, and irregularities in elections in any county, and report violations of election laws to the attorney general or prosecuting attorney, or both, for prosecution;
(2) On and after August 24, 1995, report a failure to comply with or a violation of a provision in sections 3517.08 to 3517.13, 3517.17, 3517.18, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03, or 3599.031 of the Revised Code, whenever the secretary of state has or should have knowledge of a failure to comply with or a violation of a provision in one of those sections, by filing a complaint with the Ohio elections commission under section 3517.153 of the Revised Code;
(O) Make an annual report to the governor containing the results of elections, the cost of elections in the various counties, a tabulation of the votes in the several political subdivisions, and other information and recommendations relative to elections the secretary of state considers desirable;
(P) Prescribe and distribute to boards of elections a list of instructions indicating all legal steps necessary to petition successfully for local option elections under sections 4301.32 to 4301.41, 4303.29, 4305.14, and 4305.15 of the Revised Code;
(Q) Prescribe a general program Adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to require each board of elections to remove ineligible voters from official registration lists by reason of change of the statewide voter registration database and, if already prepared for a particular election, from the poll list or signature pollbook used in each precinct, which rules shall provide for all of the following:
(1) A process for the removal of voters who have changed residence, which shall be uniform, nondiscriminatory, and in compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, including a program that uses the national change of address service provided by the United States postal system through its licensees;
(2) A process for the removal of ineligible voters under section 3503.21 of the Revised Code;
(3) A uniform system for marking or removing the name of an ineligible voter from the statewide voter registration database and, if already prepared for a particular election, from the poll list or signature pollbook used in each precinct and noting the reason for that mark or removal.
(R) Prescribe a general program for registering voters or updating voter registration information, such as name and residence changes, at designated agencies, the offices of deputy registrars of motor vehicles, public high schools and vocational schools, public libraries, and the offices of county treasurers, and prescribe a program of distribution of voter registration forms through those agencies, the offices of the registrar and deputy registrars of motor vehicles, public high schools and vocational schools, public libraries, and the offices of county treasurers;
(S) To the extent feasible, provide copies, at no cost and upon request, of the voter registration form in post offices in this state;
(T) Adopt rules pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code for the purpose of implementing the program for registering voters at designated agencies and the offices of the registrar and deputy registrars of motor vehicles consistent with this chapter;
(U) Specify, by a directive issued not later than thirty-five days prior to the date of an election, the date by which the boards shall complete the canvass of election returns under section 3505.32 or 3513.22 of the Revised Code;
(V) Establish the full-time position of Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator within the office of the secretary of state to do all of the following:
(1) Assist the secretary of state with ensuring that there is equal access to polling places for persons with disabilities;
(2) Assist the secretary of state with ensuring that each voter may cast the voter's ballot in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participation, including privacy and independence, as for other voters;
(3) Advise the secretary of state in the development of standards for the certification of voting machines, marking devices, and automatic tabulating equipment.
(W)(V) Establish a computerized statewide database of all legally registered voters under section 3503.15 of the Revised Code that complies with the requirements of the "Help America Vote Act of 2002," Pub. L. No. 107-252, 116 Stat. 1666, and provide training in the operation of that system;
(W) Ensure that all directives, advisories, other instructions, or decisions issued or made during or as a result of any conference or teleconference call with a board of elections to discuss the proper methods and procedures for conducting elections, to answer questions regarding elections, or to discuss the interpretation of directives, advisories, or other instructions issued by the secretary of state are posted on a web site of the office of the secretary of state as soon as is practicable after the completion of the conference or teleconference call, but not later than the close of business on the same day as the conference or teleconference call takes place.
(X) Publish a report on a web site of the office of the secretary of state not later than one month after the completion of the canvass of the election returns for each primary and general election, identifying, by county, the number of absent voter's ballots cast and the number of those ballots that were counted, and the number of provisional ballots cast and the number of those ballots that were counted, for that election. The secretary of state shall maintain the information on the web site in an archive format for each subsequent election.
(Y) Conduct voter education outlining voter identification requirements;
(Z) Establish a procedure by which a registered elector may update the elector's signature used in the poll list or signature pollbook produced by the board of elections of the county in which the elector resides;
(AA) Perform other duties required by law.
Whenever a primary election is held under section 3513.32 of the Revised Code or a special election is held under section 3521.03 of the Revised Code to fill a vacancy in the office of representative to congress, the secretary of state shall establish a deadline, notwithstanding any other deadline required under the Revised Code, by which any or all of the following shall occur: the filing of a declaration of candidacy and petitions or a statement of candidacy and nominating petition together with the applicable filing fee; the filing of protests against the candidacy of any person filing a declaration of candidacy or nominating petition; the filing of a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate; the filing of campaign finance reports; the preparation of, and the making of corrections or challenges to, precinct voter registration lists; the receipt of applications for absent voter's ballots or armed service absent voter's ballots; the supplying of election materials to precincts by boards of elections; the holding of hearings by boards of elections to consider challenges to the right of a person to appear on a voter registration list; and the scheduling of programs to instruct or reinstruct election officers.
In the performance of the secretary of state's duties as the chief election officer, the secretary of state may administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summon witnesses, compel the production of books, papers, records, and other evidence, and fix the time and place for hearing any matters relating to the administration and enforcement of the election laws.
In any controversy involving or arising out of the adoption of registration or the appropriation of funds for registration, the secretary of state may, through the attorney general, bring an action in the name of the state in the court of common pleas of the county where the cause of action arose or in an adjoining county, to adjudicate the question.
In any action involving the laws in Title XXXV of the Revised Code wherein the interpretation of those laws is in issue in such a manner that the result of the action will affect the lawful duties of the secretary of state or of any board of elections, the secretary of state may, on the secretary of state's motion, be made a party.
The secretary of state may apply to any court that is hearing a case in which the secretary of state is a party, for a change of venue as a substantive right, and the change of venue shall be allowed, and the case removed to the court of common pleas of an adjoining county named in the application or, if there are cases pending in more than one jurisdiction that involve the same or similar issues, the court of common pleas of Franklin county.
Public high schools and vocational schools, public libraries, and the office of a county treasurer shall implement voter registration programs as directed by the secretary of state pursuant to this section.
Sec. 3501.052. (A) The secretary of state shall not serve as campaign treasurer or in any other official capacity for any campaign committee for any state or local office other than an office to which the secretary of state is seeking election.
(B) The secretary of state shall not serve as campaign treasurer or in any other official capacity for any principal campaign committee or other authorized committee for any federal office other than an office to which the secretary of state is seeking election.
(C) The secretary of state shall not serve as a treasurer or in any other official capacity for any committee named in an initiative petition, any committee named in a referendum petition, any person making disbursements for the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications, or any other committee regulated under Chapter 3517. of the Revised Code.
(D) The attorney general shall not serve as a treasurer or in any other official capacity for any committee named in an initiative petition or any committee named in a referendum petition.
(E) As used in this section:
(1) "Authorized committee" and "principal campaign committee" have the same meanings as in the Federal Election Campaign Act.
(2) "Campaign committee," "campaign treasurer," and "Federal Election Campaign Act" have the same meanings as in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code.
(3) "Electioneering communication" has the same meaning as in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3501.10.  (A) The board of elections shall, as an expense of the board, provide suitable rooms for its offices and records and the necessary and proper furniture and supplies for those rooms. The board may lease such offices and rooms, necessary to its operation, for the length of time and upon the terms the board deems in the best interests of the public, provided that the term of any such lease shall not exceed fifteen years.
Thirty days prior to entering into such a lease, the board shall notify the board of county commissioners in writing of its intent to enter into the lease. The notice shall specify the terms and conditions of the lease. Prior to the thirtieth day after receiving that notice and before any lease is entered into, the board of county commissioners may reject the proposed lease by a majority vote. After receiving written notification of the rejection by the board of county commissioners, the board of elections shall not enter into the lease that was rejected, but may immediately enter into additional lease negotiations, subject to the requirements of this section.
The board of elections in any county may, by resolution, request that the board of county commissioners submit to the electors of the county, in accordance with section 133.18 of the Revised Code, the question of issuing bonds for the acquisition of real estate and the construction on it of a suitable building with necessary furniture and equipment for the proper administration of the duties of the board of elections. The resolution declaring the necessity for issuing such bonds shall relate only to the acquisition of real estate and to the construction, furnishing, and equipping of a building as provided in this division.
(B) The board of elections in each county shall keep its offices, or one or more of its branch registration offices, open for the performance of its duties until nine p.m. on the last day of registration before a general or primary election. At all other times during each week, the board shall keep its offices and rooms open for a period of time that the board considers necessary for the performance of its duties.
(C) The board of elections may maintain permanent or temporary branch offices at any place within the county, provided that, if the board of elections permits electors to vote at a branch office, electors shall not be permitted to vote at any other branch office or any other office of the board of elections.
Sec. 3501.11.  Each board of elections shall exercise by a majority vote all powers granted to the board by Title XXXV of the Revised Code, shall perform all the duties imposed by law, and shall do all of the following:
(A) Establish, define, provide, rearrange, and combine election precincts;
(B) Fix and provide the places for registration and for holding primaries and elections;
(C) Provide for the purchase, preservation, and maintenance of booths, ballot boxes, books, maps, flags, blanks, cards of instructions, and other forms, papers, and equipment used in registration, nominations, and elections;
(D) Appoint and remove its director, deputy director, and employees and all registrars, judges, and other officers of elections, fill vacancies, and designate the ward or district and precinct in which each shall serve;
(E) Make and issue rules and instructions, not inconsistent with law or the rules, directives, or advisories issued by the secretary of state, as it considers necessary for the guidance of election officers and voters;
(F) Advertise and contract for the printing of all ballots and other supplies used in registrations and elections;
(G) Provide for the issuance of all notices, advertisements, and publications concerning elections, except as otherwise provided in division (G) of section 3501.17 of the Revised Code;
(H) Provide for the delivery of ballots, pollbooks, and other required papers and material to the polling places;
(I) Cause the polling places to be suitably provided with voting machines, marking devices, automatic tabulating equipment, stalls, and other required supplies;. In fulfilling this duty, each board of a county that uses voting machines, marking devices, or automatic tabulating equipment shall conduct a full vote of the board during a public session of the board on the allocation and distribution of voting machines, marking devices, and automatic tabulating equipment for each precinct in the county.
(J) Investigate irregularities, nonperformance of duties, or violations of Title XXXV of the Revised Code by election officers and other persons; administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summon witnesses, and compel the production of books, papers, records, and other evidence in connection with any such investigation; and report the facts to the prosecuting attorney;
(K) Review, examine, and certify the sufficiency and validity of petitions and nomination papers, and, after certification, return to the secretary of state all petitions and nomination papers that the secretary of state forwarded to the board;
(L) Receive the returns of elections, canvass the returns, make abstracts of them, and transmit those abstracts to the proper authorities;
(M) Issue certificates of election on forms to be prescribed by the secretary of state;
(N) Make an annual report to the secretary of state, on the form prescribed by the secretary of state, containing a statement of the number of voters registered, elections held, votes cast, appropriations received, expenditures made, and other data required by the secretary of state;
(O) Prepare and submit to the proper appropriating officer a budget estimating the cost of elections for the ensuing fiscal year;
(P) Perform other duties as prescribed by law or the rules, directives, or advisories of the secretary of state;
(Q) Investigate and determine the residence qualifications of electors;
(R) Administer oaths in matters pertaining to the administration of the election laws;
(S) Prepare and submit to the secretary of state, whenever the secretary of state requires, a report containing the names and residence addresses of all incumbent county, municipal, township, and board of education officials serving in their respective counties;
(T) Establish and maintain a voter registration of all qualified electors in the county who offer to register;
(U) Maintain voter registration records, make reports concerning voter registration as required by the secretary of state, and remove ineligible electors from voter registration lists in accordance with law and directives of the secretary of state;
(V) At least annually, on a schedule and in a format prescribed by the secretary of state, submit to the secretary of state an accurate and current list of all registered voters in the county for the purpose of assisting the secretary of state to maintain a master list of registered voters pursuant to section 3503.27 of the Revised Code;
(W) Give approval to ballot language for any local question or issue and transmit the language to the secretary of state for the secretary of state's final approval;
(X)(W) Prepare and cause the following notice to be displayed in a prominent location in every polling place:
"NOTICE
Ohio law prohibits any person from voting or attempting to vote more than once at the same election.
Violators are guilty of a felony of the fourth degree and shall be imprisoned and additionally may be fined in accordance with law."
(X) In all cases of a tie vote or a disagreement in the board, if no decision can be arrived at, the director or chairperson shall submit the matter in controversy, not later than fourteen days after the tie vote or the disagreement, to the secretary of state, who shall summarily decide the question, and the secretary of state's decision shall be final.
(Y) Assist each designated agency, deputy registrar of motor vehicles, public high school and vocational school, public library, and office of a county treasurer in the implementation of a program for registering voters at all voter registration locations as prescribed by the secretary of state. Under this program, each board of elections shall direct to the appropriate board of elections any voter registration applications for persons residing outside the county where the board is located within five days after receiving the applications.
(Z) On any day on which an elector may vote in person at the office of the board or at another site designated by the board, consider the board or other designated site shall be considered a polling place for that day, and all. All requirements or prohibitions of law that apply to a polling place shall apply to the office of the board or other designated site on that day.
Sec. 3501.13.  (A) The director of the board of elections shall keep a full and true record of the proceedings of the board and of all moneys received and expended; file and preserve in its the board's office all orders and records pertaining to the administration of registrations, primaries, and elections; receive and have the custody of all books, papers, and property belonging to the board; and shall perform such other duties in connection with his the office of director and the proper conduct of elections as the board determines.
(B) Before entering upon the duties of his the office, the director shall subscribe to an oath that he the director will support the constitutions Constitution of the United States and of this state the Ohio Constitution, perform all the duties of the director office to the best of his the director's ability, enforce the election laws, and preserve all records, documents, and other property pertaining to the conduct of elections placed in his the director's custody.
(C) The director may administer oaths to such persons as are required by law to file certificates or other papers with the board, to judges and clerks of elections, to witnesses who are called to testify before the board, and to voters filling out blanks at the board's offices. Except as otherwise provided by state or federal law, the records of the board and papers and books filed in its office are public records and open to inspection under such reasonable regulations as shall be established by the board. The following notice shall be posted in a prominent place at each board office:
"Except as otherwise provided by state or federal law, records filed in this office of the board of elections are open to public inspection during normal office hours, pursuant to the following reasonable regulations: (the board shall here list its regulations). Whoever prohibits any person from inspecting the public records of this board is subject to the penalties of section 3599.161 of the Revised Code."
(D) Upon receipt of a written declaration of intent to retire as provided for in section 145.38 of the Revised Code, the director shall provide a copy to each member of the board of elections.
Sec. 3501.17.  (A) The expenses of the board of elections shall be paid from the county treasury, in pursuance of appropriations by the board of county commissioners, in the same manner as other county expenses are paid. If the board of county commissioners fails to appropriate an amount sufficient to provide for the necessary and proper expenses of the board of elections pertaining to the conduct of elections, the board of elections may apply to the court of common pleas within the county, which shall fix the amount necessary to be appropriated and the amount shall be appropriated. Payments shall be made upon vouchers of the board of elections certified to by its chairperson or acting chairperson and the director or deputy director, upon warrants of the county auditor.
The board of elections shall not incur any obligation involving the expenditure of money unless there are moneys sufficient in the funds appropriated therefor to meet the obligation as required in division (D) of section 5705.41 of the Revised Code. If the board of elections requests a transfer of funds from one of its appropriation items to another, the board of county commissioners shall adopt a resolution providing for the transfer except as otherwise provided in section 5705.40 of the Revised Code. The expenses of the board of elections shall be apportioned among the county and the various subdivisions as provided in this section, and the amount chargeable to each subdivision shall be withheld by the auditor from the moneys payable thereto at the time of the next tax settlement. At the time of submitting budget estimates in each year, the board of elections shall submit to the taxing authority of each subdivision, upon the request of the subdivision, an estimate of the amount to be withheld from the subdivision during the next fiscal year.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (F) of this section, the entire compensation of the members of the board of elections and of the director, deputy director, and other employees in the board's offices; the expenditures for the rental, furnishing, and equipping of the office of the board and for the necessary office supplies for the use of the board; the expenditures for the acquisition, repair, care, and custody of the polling places, booths, guardrails, and other equipment for polling places; the cost of pollbooks, tally sheets, maps, flags, ballot boxes, and all other permanent records and equipment; the cost of all elections held in and for the state and county; and all other expenses of the board which are not chargeable to a political subdivision in accordance with this section shall be paid in the same manner as other county expenses are paid.
(C) The compensation of judges and clerks of elections; the cost of renting, moving, heating, and lighting polling places and of placing and removing ballot boxes and other fixtures and equipment thereof; the cost of printing and delivering ballots, cards of instructions, and other election supplies; and all other expenses of conducting primaries and elections in the odd-numbered years shall be charged to the subdivisions in and for which such primaries or elections are held. The charge for each primary or general election in odd-numbered years for each subdivision shall be determined in the following manner: first, the total cost of all chargeable items used in conducting such elections shall be ascertained; second, the total charge shall be divided by the number of precincts participating in such election, in order to fix the cost per precinct; third, the cost per precinct shall be prorated by the board of elections to the subdivisions conducting elections for the nomination or election of offices in such precinct; fourth, the total cost for each subdivision shall be determined by adding the charges prorated to it in each precinct within the subdivision.
(D) The entire cost of special elections held on a day other than the day of a primary or general election, both in odd-numbered or in even-numbered years, shall be charged to the subdivision. Where a special election is held on the same day as a primary or general election in an even-numbered year, the subdivision submitting the special election shall be charged only for the cost of ballots and advertising. Where a special election is held on the same day as a primary or general election in an odd-numbered year, the subdivision submitting the special election shall be charged for the cost of ballots and advertising for such special election, in addition to the charges prorated to such subdivision for the election or nomination of candidates in each precinct within the subdivision, as set forth in the preceding paragraph.
(E) Where a special election is held on the day specified by division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code for the holding of a primary election, for the purpose of submitting to the voters of the state constitutional amendments proposed by the general assembly, and a subdivision conducts a special election on the same day, the entire cost of the special election shall be divided proportionally between the state and the subdivision based upon a ratio determined by the number of issues placed on the ballot by each, except as otherwise provided in division (G) of this section. Such proportional division of cost shall be made only to the extent funds are available for such purpose from amounts appropriated by the general assembly to the secretary of state. If a primary election is also being conducted in the subdivision, the costs shall be apportioned as otherwise provided in this section.
(F) When a precinct is open during a general, primary, or special election solely for the purpose of submitting to the voters a statewide ballot issue, the state shall bear the entire cost of the election in that precinct and shall reimburse the county for all expenses incurred in opening the precinct.
(G) The state shall bear the entire cost of advertising in newspapers statewide ballot issues, explanations of those issues, and arguments for or against those issues, as required by Section 1g of Article II and Section 1 of Article XVI, Ohio Constitution, and any other section of law and shall reimburse the counties for all expenses they incur for such advertising.
(H) The cost of renting, heating, and lighting registration places; the cost of the necessary books, forms, and supplies for the conduct of registration; and the cost of printing and posting precinct registration lists shall be charged to the subdivision in which such registration is held.
(I) As used in this section, "statewide ballot issue" means any ballot issue, whether proposed by the general assembly or by initiative or referendum, that is submitted to the voters throughout the state.
Sec. 3501.19.  (A) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this section, on each of the following dates, the board of elections shall send a notice by nonforwardable mail to each elector who is registered to vote in a precinct in which an election will be conducted:
(1) The sixtieth day before the day of any special election that may be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in August, 2006;
(2) The sixtieth day before the day of the 2006 general election;
(3) The sixtieth day before the day of the 2008 primary election;
(4) The sixtieth day before the day of the 2008 general election.
(B) The notice required under division (A) of this section shall include each of the following:
(1) The day of the election;
(2) The location of the polling place for the precinct in which the elector is registered to vote;
(3) A reminder, which shall be indicated in bold type, stating as follows:
"Voters must bring identification to the polls in order to verify identity. Identification may include a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than this reminder or a voter registration notification, that shows the voter's name and current address. Voters who do not provide one of these documents will still be able to vote by providing the last four digits of the voter's social security number and by casting a provisional ballot. Voters who do not have any of the above forms of identification, including a social security number, will still be able to vote by signing an affirmation swearing to the voter's identity under penalty of election falsification and by casting a provisional ballot."
(C) If the notice sent under division (A) of this section is returned undelivered to the board, the board shall cause the elector's name in the official registration list and in the poll list or signature pollbook for that elector's precinct to be marked to indicate that the notice was returned to the board.
At the first election at which an elector whose name has been so marked appears to vote, the elector shall be required to provide identification to the election officials.
If the elector provides to the election officials a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under division (A) of this section or a notice of voter registration notification mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, the voter shall be permitted to cast a ballot in accordance with division (B) of section 3505.18 of the Revised Code. The board shall correct that elector's registration, if needed, and shall remove the indication that the elector's notice was returned from that elector's name on the official registration list and on the poll list or signature pollbook.
If the elector provides to the election officials a photo identification that does not contain the elector's current address, if the elector provides the last four digits of the elector's social security number, if the elector is unable to provide any of the required forms of identification, if the elector refuses to provide any of the required forms of identification, or if the elector executes an affirmation under division (A)(4) of section 3505.18 of the Revised Code, the elector shall be permitted to vote by provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. If the provisional ballot is counted pursuant to division (B)(3) of section 3505.183 of the Revised Code, the board shall correct that elector's registration, if needed, and shall remove the indication that the elector's notice was returned from that elector's name on the official registration list and on the poll list or signature pollbook.
(D) No board of elections shall be required to mail a notice under division (A) of this section to any elector who registered to vote within thirty days prior to the date for mailing the notice under that division.
(E) A notice mailed to an elector under division (A) of this section shall not be considered a government document that contains the voter's name and current address for the purpose of providing identification under sections 3503.14, 3503.16, 3503.19, 3503.28, 3505.18, 3505.181, 3505.182, 3505.183, 3509.03, 3509.031, 3509.04, 3509.05, 3511.02, and 3511.09 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3501.26.  When the polls are closed after a primary, general, or special election, the receiving officials shall, in the presence of the counting officials and attending witnesses observers, proceed as follows:
(A) Count the number of electors who voted, as shown on the poll books.;
(B) Count the unused ballots without removing stubs.;
(C) Count the soiled and defaced ballots.;
(D) Insert the totals of divisions (A), (B), and (C) of this section on the report forms provided therefor in the poll books.;
(E) Count the voted ballots. If the number of voted ballots exceeds the number of voters whose names appear upon the poll books, the presiding judge shall enter on the poll books an explanation of such that discrepancy, and such that explanation, if agreed to, shall be subscribed to by all of the judges. Any judge having a different explanation shall enter it in the poll books and subscribe to it.
(F) Put the unused ballots with stubs attached, and soiled and defaced ballots with stubs attached, in the envelopes or containers provided therefor, and certify the number.
The receiving officials shall deliver to and place in the custody of the counting officials all the supplies provided for the conduct of such that election and the ballots which that are to be counted and tallied, and take a receipt for the same, which receipt shall appear in and be a part of the poll books of such precinct. Having performed their duties, the receiving officials shall immediately depart.
Having receipted for the ballots, the counting officials shall proceed to count and tally the vote as cast in the manner prescribed by section 3505.27 of the Revised Code and certify the result of the election to the board of elections.
Sec. 3501.30. (A) The board of elections shall provide for each polling place the necessary ballot boxes, official ballots, cards of instructions, registration forms, pollbooks or poll lists, tally sheets, forms on which to make summary statements, writing implements, paper, and all other supplies necessary for casting and counting the ballots and recording the results of the voting at the polling place. The pollbooks or poll lists shall have certificates appropriately printed on them for the signatures of all the precinct officials, by which they shall certify that, to the best of their knowledge and belief, the pollbooks or poll lists correctly show the names of all electors who voted in the polling place at the election indicated in the pollbook pollbooks or poll list lists.
All of the following shall be included among the supplies provided to each polling place:
(1) A large map of each appropriate precinct, which shall be displayed prominently to assist persons who desire to register or vote on election day. Each map shall show all streets within the precinct and contain identifying symbols of the precinct in bold print.
(2) Any materials, postings, or instructions required to comply with state or federal laws;
(3) A flag of the United States approximately two and one-half feet in length along the top, which shall be displayed outside the entrance to the polling place during the time it is open for voting;
(4) Two or more small flags of the United States approximately fifteen inches in length along the top, which shall be placed at a distance of one hundred feet from the polling place on the thoroughfares or walkways leading to the polling place, to mark the distance within which persons other than election officials, witnesses, challengers observers, police officers, and electors waiting to mark, marking, or casting their ballots shall not loiter, congregate, or engage in any kind of election campaigning. Where small flags cannot reasonably be placed one hundred feet from the polling place, the presiding election judge shall place the flags as near to one hundred feet from the entrance to the polling place as is physically possible. Police officers and all election officials shall see that this prohibition against loitering and congregating is enforced.
When the period of time during which the polling place is open for voting expires, all of the flags described in this division shall be taken into the polling place, and shall be returned to the board together with all other election supplies required to be delivered to the board.
(B) The board of elections shall follow the instructions and advisories of the secretary of state in the production and use of polling place supplies.
Sec. 3501.33.  All judges of election shall enforce peace and good order in and about the place of registration or election. They shall especially keep the place of access of the electors to the polling place open and unobstructed and prevent and stop any improper practices or attempts tending to obstruct, intimidate, or interfere with any elector in registering or voting. They shall protect challengers and witnesses observers against molestation and violence in the performance of their duties, and may eject from the polling place any such challenger or witness observer for violation of any provision of Title XXXV of the Revised Code. They shall prevent riots, violence, tumult, or the disorder. In the discharge of these duties, they may call upon the sheriff, police, or other peace officers to aid them in enforcing the law. They may order the arrest of any person violating such title Title XXXV of the Revised Code, but such an arrest shall not prevent such the person from registering or voting if he the person is entitled to do so. The sheriff, all constables, police officers, and other officers of the peace shall immediately obey and aid in the enforcement of any lawful order made by the precinct election officials in the enforcement of such title Title XXXV of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3501.35. (A) During an election and the counting of the ballots, no person shall loiter or do any of the following:
(1) Loiter, congregate, or engage in any kind of election campaigning within the area between the polling place and the small flags of the United States placed on the thoroughfares and walkways leading to the polling place, and if the line of electors waiting to vote extends beyond those small flags, within ten feet of any elector in that line; in
(2) In any manner hinder or delay an elector in reaching or leaving the place fixed for casting his the elector's ballot; within such distance give,
(3) Give, tender, or exhibit any ballot or ticket to any person other than his the elector's own ballot to the judge of election within the area between the polling place and the small flags of the United States placed on the thoroughfares and walkways leading to the polling place, and if the line of electors waiting to vote extends beyond those small flags, within ten feet of any elector in that line; exhibit
(4) Exhibit any ticket or ballot which he the elector intends to cast; or solicit
(5) Solicit or in any manner attempt to influence any elector in casting his the elector's vote. No
(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of section 3503.23 of the Revised Code, no person, who is not an election official, employee, witness, challenger observer, or police officer, shall be allowed to enter the polling place during the election, except for the purpose of voting or assisting another person to vote as provided in section 3505.24 of the Revised Code. No
(C) No more electors shall be allowed to approach the voting shelves at any time than there are voting shelves provided. The
(D) The judges of election and the police officer shall strictly enforce the observance of this section.
Sec. 3501.38.  All declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, or other petitions presented to or filed with the secretary of state or a board of elections or with any other public office for the purpose of becoming a candidate for any nomination or office or for the holding of an election on any issue shall, in addition to meeting the other specific requirements prescribed in the sections of the Revised Code relating to them, be governed by the following rules:
(A) Only electors qualified to vote on the candidacy or issue which is the subject of the petition shall sign a petition. Each signer shall be a registered elector pursuant to section 3503.11 of the Revised Code. The facts of qualification shall be determined as of the date when the petition is filed.
(B) Signatures shall be affixed in ink. Each signer may also print the signer's name, so as to clearly identify the signer's signature.
(C) Each signer shall place on the petition after the signer's name the date of signing and the location of the signer's voting residence, including the street and number if in a municipal corporation or the rural route number, post office address, or township if outside a municipal corporation. The voting address given on the petition shall be the address appearing in the registration records at the board of elections.
(D) No Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, no person shall write any name other than the person's own on any petition. No Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, no person may authorize another to sign for the person. If a petition contains the signature of an elector two or more times, only the first signature shall be counted.
(E)(1) On each petition paper, the circulator shall indicate the number of signatures contained on it, and shall sign a statement made under penalty of election falsification that the circulator witnessed the affixing of every signature, that all signers were to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief qualified to sign, and that every signature is to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief the signature of the person whose signature it purports to be or of an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code. On the circulator's statement for a declaration of candidacy, or nominating petition, or declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for a person seeking to become a statewide candidate or for a statewide initiative or a statewide referendum petition, the circulator shall identify the circulator's name, the address of the circulator's permanent resident, and the name and address of the person employing the circulator to circulate the petition, if any.
(2) As used in division (E) of this section, "statewide candidate" means the joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor or a candidate for the office of secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney general.
(F) If Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, if a circulator knowingly permits an unqualified person to sign a petition paper or permits a person to write a name other than the person's own on a petition paper, that petition paper is invalid; otherwise, the signature of a person not qualified to sign shall be rejected but shall not invalidate the other valid signatures on the paper.
(G) The circulator of a petition may, before filing it in a public office, strike from it any signature the circulator does not wish to present as a part of the petition.
(H) Any signer of a petition or an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code on behalf of a signer may remove the signer's signature from that petition at any time before the petition is filed in a public office by striking the signer's name from the petition; no signature may be removed after the petition is filed in any public office.
(I)(1) No alterations, corrections, or additions may be made to a petition after it is filed in a public office.
(2) No petition may be withdrawn after it is filed in a public office. Nothing in this division prohibits a person from withdrawing as a candidate as otherwise provided by law.
(J) All declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, or other petitions under this section shall be accompanied by the following statement in boldface capital letters: WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE.
(K) All separate petition papers shall be filed at the same time, as one instrument.
(L) If a board of elections distributes for use a petition form for a declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or any type of question or issue petition that does not satisfy the requirements of law as of the date of that distribution, the board shall not invalidate the petition on the basis that the petition form does not satisfy the requirements of law, if the petition otherwise is valid. Division (L) of this section applies only if the candidate received the petition from the board within ninety days of when the petition is required to be filed.
Sec. 3501.382. (A)(1) A registered voter who, by reason of disability, is unable to physically sign the voter's name as a candidate, signer, or circulator on a declaration of candidacy and petition, nominating petition, other petition, or other document under Title XXXV of the Revised Code may authorize a legally competent resident of this state who is eighteen years of age or older as an attorney in fact to sign that voter's name to the petition or other election document, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence, in accordance with either of the following procedures:
(a) The voter may file with the board of elections of the voter's county of residence a notarized form that includes or has attached all of the following:
(i) The name of the voter who is authorizing an attorney in fact to sign petitions or other election documents on that voter's behalf, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence;
(ii) An attestation of the voter that the voter, by reason of disability, is unable to sign physically petitions or other election documents and that the voter desires the attorney in fact to sign them on the voter's behalf, at the direction of the voter and in the voter's presence;
(iii) The name, residence address, date of birth, and, if applicable, Ohio supreme court registration number of the attorney in fact authorized to sign on the voter's behalf, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence. A photocopy of the attorney in fact's driver's license or state identification card issued under section 4507.50 of the Revised Code shall be attached to the notarized form.
(iv) The form of the signature that the attorney in fact will use in signing petitions or other election documents on the voter's behalf, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence.
(b) The voter may acknowledge, before an election official, and file with the board of elections of the voter's county of residence a form that includes or has attached all of the following:
(i) The name of the voter who is authorizing an attorney in fact to sign petitions or other election documents on that voter's behalf, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence;
(ii) An attestation of the voter that the voter, by reason of disability, is physically unable to sign petitions or other election documents and that the voter desires the attorney in fact to sign them on the voter's behalf, at the direction of the voter and in the voter's presence;
(iii) An attestation from a licensed physician that the voter is disabled and, by reason of that disability, is physically unable to sign petitions or other election documents;
(iv) The name, residence address, date of birth, and, if applicable, Ohio supreme court registration number of the attorney in fact authorized to sign on the voter's behalf, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence. A photocopy of the attorney in fact's driver's license or state identification card issued under section 4507.50 of the Revised Code shall be attached to the notarized form.
(v) The form of the signature that the attorney in fact will use in signing petitions or other election documents on the voter's behalf, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence.
(2) In addition to performing customary notarial acts with respect to the power of attorney form described in division (A)(1)(a) of this section, the notary public shall acknowledge that the voter in question affirmed in the presence of the notary public the information listed in divisions (A)(1)(a)(i), (ii), and (iii) of this section. A notary public shall not perform any notarial acts with respect to such a power of attorney form unless the voter first gives such an affirmation. Only a notary public satisfying the requirements of section 147.01 of the Revised Code may perform notarial acts with respect to such a power of attorney form.
(B) A board of elections that receives a form under division (A)(1) of this section from a voter shall do both of the following:
(1) Use the signature provided in accordance with division (A)(1)(a)(iv) or (A)(1)(b)(v) of this section for the purpose of verifying the voter's signature on all declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, other petitions, or other documents signed by that voter under Title XXXV of the Revised Code;
(2) Cause the poll list or signature pollbook for the relevant precinct to identify the voter in question as having authorized an attorney in fact to sign petitions or other election documents on the voter's behalf, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence.
(C) Notwithstanding division (D) of section 3501.38 or any other provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, an attorney in fact authorized to sign petitions or other election documents on a disabled voter's behalf, at the direction of and in the presence of that voter, in accordance with division (A) of this section may sign that voter's name to any petition or other election document under Title XXXV of the Revised Code after the power of attorney has been filed with the board of elections in accordance with division (A)(1) of this section. The signature shall be deemed to be that of the disabled voter, and the voter shall be deemed to be the signer.
(D)(1) Notwithstanding division (F) of section 3501.38 or any other provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, the circulator of a petition may knowingly permit an attorney in fact to sign the petition on a disabled voter's behalf, at the direction of and in the presence of that voter, in accordance with division (A)(1) of this section.
(2) Notwithstanding division (F) of section 3501.38 or any other provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, no petition paper shall be invalidated on the ground that the circulator knowingly permitted an attorney in fact to write a name other than the attorney in fact's own name on a petition paper, if that attorney in fact signed the petition on a disabled voter's behalf, at the direction of and in the presence of that voter, in accordance with division (C) of this section.
(E) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form and content of the form for the power of attorney prescribed under division (A)(1) of this section and also shall prescribe the form and content of a distinct form to revoke such a power of attorney.
(F) As used in this section, "unable to physically sign" means that the person with a disability cannot comply with the provisions of section 3501.011 of the Revised Code. A person is not "unable to physically sign" if the person is able to comply with section 3501.011 through reasonable accommodation, including the use of assistive technology or augmentative devices.
Sec. 3501.39.  (A) The secretary of state or a board of elections shall accept any petition described in section 3501.38 of the Revised Code unless one of the following occurs:
(1) A written protest against the petition or candidacy, naming specific objections, is filed, a hearing is held, and a determination is made by the election officials with whom the protest is filed that the petition is invalid, in accordance with any section of the Revised Code providing a protest procedure.
(2) A written protest against the petition or candidacy, naming specific objections, is filed, a hearing is held, and a determination is made by the election officials with whom the protest is filed that the petition violates any requirement established by law.
(3) The candidate's candidacy or the petition violates the requirements of this chapter, Chapter 3513. of the Revised Code, or any other requirements established by law.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this section or section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, a board of elections shall not invalidate any declaration of candidacy or nominating petition under division (A)(3) of this section after the fiftieth day prior to the election at which the candidate seeks nomination to office, if the candidate filed a declaration of candidacy, or election to office, if the candidate filed a nominating petition.
(C)(1) If a petition is filed for the nomination or election of a candidate in a charter municipal corporation with a filing deadline that occurs after the seventy-fifth day before the day of the election, a board of elections may invalidate the petition within fifteen days after the date of that filing deadline.
(2) If a petition for the nomination or election of a candidate is invalidated under division (C)(1) of this section, that person's name shall not appear on the ballots for any office for which the person's petition has been invalidated. If the ballots have already been prepared, the board of elections shall remove the name of that person from the ballots to the extent practicable in the time remaining before the election. If the name is not removed from the ballots before the day of the election, the votes for that person are void and shall not be counted.
Sec. 3501.90. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Harassment in violation of the election law" means either of the following:
(a) Any of the following types of conduct in or about a polling place or a place of registration or election: obstructing access of an elector to a polling place; another improper practice or attempt tending to obstruct, intimidate, or interfere with an elector in registering or voting at a place of registration or election; molesting or otherwise engaging in violence against observers in the performance of their duties at a place of registration or election; or participating in a riot, violence, tumult, or disorder in and about a place of registration or election;
(b) A violation of division (A)(1), (2), (3), or (5) or division (B) of section 3501.35 of the Revised Code.
(2) "Person" has the same meaning as in division (C) of section 1.59 of the Revised Code and also includes any organization that is not otherwise covered by that division.
(3) "Trier of fact" means the jury or, in a nonjury action, the court.
(B) An elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law has a cause of action against each person that committed the harassment in violation of the election law. In any civil action based on this cause of action, the elector may seek a declaratory judgment, an injunction, or other appropriate equitable relief. The civil action may be commenced by an elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law either alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23.
(C)(1) In addition to the equitable relief authorized by division (B) of this section, an elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law may be entitled to relief under division (C)(2) or (3) of this section.
(2) If the harassment in violation of the election law involved intentional or reckless threatening or causing of bodily harm to the elector while the elector was attempting to register to vote, to obtain an absent voter's ballot, or to vote, the elector may seek, in a civil action based on the cause of action created by division (B) of this section, monetary damages as prescribed in this division. The civil action may be commenced by the elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law either alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23. Upon proof by a preponderance of the evidence in the civil action that the harassment in violation of the election law involved intentional or reckless threatening or causing of bodily harm to the elector, the trier of fact shall award the elector the greater of three times of the amount of the elector's actual damages or one thousand dollars. The court also shall award a prevailing elector reasonable attorney's fees and court costs.
(3) Whether a civil action on the cause of action created by division (B) of this section is commenced by an elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23, if the defendant in the action is an organization that has previously been determined in a court of this state to have engaged in harassment in violation of the election law, the elector may seek an order of the court granting any of the following forms of relief upon proof by a preponderance of the evidence:
(a) Divestiture of the organization's interest in any enterprise or in any real property;
(b) Reasonable restrictions upon the future activities or investments of the organization, including, but not limited to, prohibiting the organization from engaging in any harassment in violation of the election law;
(c) The dissolution or reorganization of the organization;
(d) The suspension or revocation of any license, permit, or prior approval granted to the organization by any state agency;
(e) The revocation of the organization's authorization to do business in this state if the organization is a foreign corporation or other form of foreign entity.
(D) It shall not be a defense in a civil action based on the cause of action created by division (B) of this section, whether commenced by an elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23, that no criminal prosecution was commenced or conviction obtained in connection with the conduct alleged to be the basis of the civil action.
(E) In a civil action based on the cause of action created by division (B) of this section, whether commenced by an elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23, the elector may name as defendants each individual who engaged in conduct constituting harassment in violation of the election law as well as any person that employs, sponsors, or uses as an agent any such individual or that has organized a common scheme to cause harassment in violation of the election law.
Sec. 3503.02.  All registrars and judges of elections, in determining the residence of a person offering to register or vote, shall be governed by the following rules:
(A) That place shall be considered the residence of a person in which the person's habitation is fixed and to which, whenever the person is absent, the person has the intention of returning.
(B) A person shall not be considered to have lost the person's residence who leaves the person's home and goes into another state or county of this state, for temporary purposes only, with the intention of returning.
(C) A person shall not be considered to have gained a residence in any county of this state into which the person comes for temporary purposes only, without the intention of making such county the permanent place of abode.
(D) The place where the family of a married man or woman person resides shall be considered to be his or her the person's place of residence; except that when the husband and wife spouses have separated and live apart, the place where he or she such a spouse resides the length of time required to entitle a person to vote shall be considered to be his or her the spouse's place of residence.
(E) If a person removes to another state with the intention of making such state the person's residence, the person shall be considered to have lost the person's residence in this state.
(F) Except as otherwise provided in division (G) of this section, if a person removes from this state and continuously resides outside this state for a period of four years or more, the person shall be considered to have lost the person's residence in this state, notwithstanding the fact that the person may entertain an intention to return at some future period.
(G) If a person removes from this state to engage in the services of the United States government, the person shall not be considered to have lost the person's residence in this state during the period of such service, and likewise should the person enter the employment of the state, the place where such person resided at the time of the person's removal shall be considered to be the person's place of residence.
(H) If a person goes into another state and while there exercises the right of a citizen by voting, the person shall be considered to have lost the person's residence in this state.
(I) If a person does not have a fixed place of habitation, but has a shelter or other location at which the person has been a consistent or regular inhabitant and to which the person has the intention of returning, that shelter or other location shall be deemed the person's residence for the purpose of registering to vote.
Sec. 3503.06. (A) No person shall be entitled to vote at any election, or to sign or circulate any declaration of candidacy or any nominating, initiative, referendum, or recall petition, unless the person is registered as an elector and will have resided in the county and precinct where the person is registered for at least thirty days at the time of the next election.
(B)(1) No person shall be entitled to circulate any initiative or referendum petition unless the person is a resident of this state.
(2) All election officials, in determining the residence of a person circulating a petition under division (B)(1) of this section, shall be governed by the following rules:
(a) That place shall be considered the residence of a person in which the person's habitation is fixed and to which, whenever the person is absent, the person has the intention of returning.
(b) A person shall not be considered to have lost the person's residence who leaves the person's home and goes into another state for temporary purposes only, with the intention of returning.
(c) A person shall not be considered to have gained a residence in any county of this state into which the person comes for temporary purposes only, without the intention of making that county the permanent place of abode.
(d) If a person removes to another state with the intention of making that state the person's residence, the person shall be considered to have lost the person's residence in this state.
(e) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2)(f) of this section, if a person removes from this state and continuously resides outside this state for a period of four years or more, the person shall be considered to have lost the person's residence in this state, notwithstanding the fact that the person may entertain an intention to return at some future period.
(f) If a person removes from this state to engage in the services of the United States government, the person shall not be considered to have lost the person's residence in this state during the period of that service, and likewise should the person enter the employment of the state, the place where that person resided at the time of the person's removal shall be considered to be the person's place of residence.
(g) If a person goes into another state and, while there, exercises the right of a citizen by voting, the person shall be considered to have lost the person's residence in this state.
(C) No person shall be entitled to sign any initiative or referendum petition unless the person is registered as an elector and will have resided in the county and precinct where the person is registered for at least thirty days at the time of the next election.
Sec. 3503.11.  When any person applies for a driver's license, commercial driver's license, a state of Ohio identification card issued under section 4507.50 of the Revised Code, or motorcycle operator's license or endorsement, or the renewal or duplicate of any license or endorsement under Chapter 4506. or 4507. of the Revised Code, the registrar of motor vehicles or deputy registrar shall offer the applicant the opportunity to register to vote or to update his or her the applicant's voter registration. The registrar of motor vehicles or deputy registrar also shall make available to all other customers voter registration applications or and change of residence or and change of name applications, forms, but is not required to offer assistance to these customers in completing the a voter registration application or other form.
The registrar or deputy registrar shall send any completed registration application or any completed change of residence and or change of name notice form to the board of elections of the county in which the office of the registrar or deputy registrar is located, within five days after accepting the application or notice other form.
The registrar shall collect from each deputy registrar through the reports filed under division (J) of section 4503.03 of the Revised Code and transmit to the secretary of state information on the number of voter registration applications and change of residence or change of name notices forms completed or declined, and any additional information required by the secretary of state to comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. No information relating to an applicant's decision to decline to register or update his or her the applicant's voter registration at the office of the registrar or deputy registrar may be used for any purpose other than voter registration record-keeping required by the secretary of state, and all such information shall be kept confidential.
The secretary of state shall prescribe voter registration applications and change of residence and change of name notices forms for use by the bureau of motor vehicles. The bureau of motor vehicles shall supply all of its deputy registrars with a sufficient number of voter registration applications and change of residence and change of name notices forms.
Sec. 3503.13. (A) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, registration forms shall consist of original and duplicate cards or loose-leaf pages as prescribed by the secretary of state. When such registration forms have been filled out and filed in the office of the board of elections, the original forms shall be filed together in one file and the duplicate forms shall be filed together in another file. Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, the original forms shall be filed by precincts and shall constitute the precinct register for use in polling places on election day. The duplicate forms shall be filed alphabetically and shall constitute the permanent office record of the board. It shall not be removed from the office of the board except upon the order of a court.
(B) Except as otherwise provided by state or federal law, the registration records forms submitted by applicants and the statewide voter registration database established under section 3503.15 of the Revised Code shall be open to public inspection at all times when the office of the board of elections is open for business, under such regulations as the board adopts, provided that no person shall be permitted to inspect such records voter registration forms except in the presence of an employee of the board.
(C) The board of elections of a county that adopts or has adopted electronic data processing for the registration of qualified electors of the county may use a single registration form complying with the requirements of division (A) of this section. The information contained on the form may be duplicated on punch cards, magnetic tape, discs, diskettes, or such other media as are compatible with the data processing system adopted by the board and may constitute the permanent office record in lieu of the duplicate registration card.
(D) Instead of using the original registration forms as the precinct register in the polling places on election day as provided in division (A) of this section, a
(B) A board of elections that has adopted electronic data processing may use a legible digitized signature list of voter signatures, copied from the signatures on the registration forms in a form and manner prescribed by the secretary of state, provided that the board continues to record and maintain at the board office the information obtained from the form prescribed under section 3503.14 includes the required voter registration information in the statewide voter registration database established under section 3503.15 of the Revised Code, and provided that the precinct election officials have computer printouts at the polls containing any necessary information specified by the secretary of state that would otherwise be available to them on the registration forms prepared in the manner required under section 3503.23 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3503.14.  (A) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form and content of the registration and, change of residence, and change of name form forms used in this state. The form forms shall set forth the eligibility requirements needed to qualify as an elector and meet the requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and shall include spaces for all of the following:
(1) The voter's name;
(2) The voter's address;
(3) The current date;
(4) The voter's date of birth;
(5) The voter to provide one or more of the following:
(a) The voter's driver's license number, if any;
(b) The last four digits of the voter's social security number, if any;
(c) A copy of a current and valid photo identification, a copy of a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the voter's name and address.
(6) The voter's signature. The
The registration form shall include a space on which the person registering an applicant shall sign the person's name and provide the person's address and a space on which the person registering an applicant shall name the employer who is employing that person to register the applicant. No election official or employee of a designated agency who is
Except for forms prescribed by the secretary of state under section 3503.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall permit boards of elections to produce forms that have subdivided spaces for each individual alphanumeric character of the information provided by the voter so as to accommodate the electronic reading and conversion of the voter's information to data and the subsequent electronic transfer of that data to the statewide voter registration database established under section 3503.15 of the Revised Code.
(B) None of the following persons who are registering an applicant in the course of that official's or employee's normal duties shall be required to sign the election official's or employee's person's name, provide the person's address, or to name the employer who is employing the election official or employee person to register an applicant on a form prepared under this section:
(1) An election official;
(2) A county treasurer;
(3) A deputy registrar of motor vehicles;
(4) An employee of a designated agency;
(5) An employee of a public high school;
(6) An employee of a public vocational school;
(7) An employee of a public library;
(8) An employee of the office of a county treasurer;
(9) An employee of the bureau of motor vehicles;
(10) An employee of a deputy registrar of motor vehicles;
(11) An employee of an election official.
(B) Any (C) Except as provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, any applicant who is unable to sign the applicant's own name shall make an "X," if possible, which shall be certified by the signing of the name of the applicant by the person filling out the form, who shall add the person's own signature. If an applicant is unable to make an "X," the applicant shall indicate in some manner that the applicant desires to register to vote or to change the applicant's name or residence. The person registering the applicant shall sign the form and attest that the applicant indicated that the applicant desired to register to vote or to change the applicant's name or residence.
(C)(D) No registration and, change of residence and, or change of name form shall be rejected solely on the basis that a person registering an applicant failed to sign the person's name or failed to name the employer who is employing that person to register the applicant as required under division (A) of this section.
(D)(E) As used in this section, "registering an applicant" includes any effort, for compensation, to provide voter registration forms or to assist persons in completing or returning those forms or returning them to the board of elections, the office of the secretary of state, or another appropriate public office.
Sec. 3503.15.  (A) The secretary of state shall establish and maintain a statewide voter registration database that shall be continuously available to each board of elections and to other agencies as authorized by law.
(B) The statewide voter registration database established under this section shall be the official list of registered voters for all elections conducted in this state.
(C) The statewide voter registration database established under this section shall, at a minimum, include all of the following:
(1) An electronic network that connects all board of elections offices with the office of the secretary of state and with the offices of all other boards of elections;
(2) A computer program that harmonizes the records contained in the database with records maintained by each board of elections;
(3) An interactive computer program that allows access to the records contained in the database by each board of elections and by any persons authorized by the secretary of state to add, delete, modify, or print database records, and to conduct updates of the database;
(4) A search program capable of verifying registered voters and their registration information by name, driver's license number, birth date, social security number, or current address;
(5) Safeguards and components to ensure that the integrity, security, and confidentiality of the voter registration information is maintained.
(D) The secretary of state shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code doing all of the following:
(1) Specifying the manner in which existing voter registration records maintained by boards of elections shall be converted to electronic files for inclusion in the statewide voter registration database;
(2) Establishing a uniform method for entering voter registration records into the statewide voter registration database on an expedited basis, but not less than once per day, if new registration information is received;
(3) Establishing a uniform method for purging canceled voter registration records from the statewide voter registration database in accordance with section 3503.21 of the Revised Code;
(4) Specifying the persons authorized to add, delete, modify, or print records contained in the statewide voter registration database and to make updates of that database;
(5) Establishing a process for annually auditing the information contained in the statewide voter registration database.
(E) A board of elections promptly shall purge a voter's name and voter registration information from the statewide voter registration database in accordance with the rules adopted by the secretary of state under division (D)(3) of this section after the cancellation of a voter's registration under section 3503.21 of the Revised Code.
(F) The secretary of state shall provide training in the operation of the statewide voter registration database to each board of elections and to any persons authorized by the secretary of state to add, delete, modify, or print database records, and to conduct updates of the database.
(G)(1) The statewide voter registration database established under this section shall be made available on a web site of the office of the secretary of state as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (G)(1)(b) of this section, only the following information from the statewide voter registration database regarding a registered voter shall be made available on the web site:
(i) The voter's name;
(ii) The voter's address;
(iii) The voter's precinct number;
(iv) The voter's voting history.
(b) During the thirty days before the day of a primary or general election, the web site interface of the statewide voter registration database shall permit a voter to search for the polling location at which that voter may cast a ballot.
(2) The secretary of state shall establish, by rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, a process for boards of elections to notify the secretary of state of changes in the locations of precinct polling places for the purpose of updating the information made available on the secretary of state's web site under division (G)(1)(b) of this section. Those rules shall require a board of elections, during the thirty days before the day of a primary or general election, to notify the secretary of state within one business day of any change to the location of a precinct polling place within the county.
(3) During the thirty days before the day of a primary or general election, not later than one business day after receiving a notification from a county pursuant to division (G)(2) of this section that the location of a precinct polling place has changed, the secretary of state shall update that information on the secretary of state's web site for the purpose of division (G)(1)(b) of this section.
Sec. 3503.16.  (A) Whenever a registered elector changes the place of residence of that registered elector from one precinct to another within a county or from one county to another, or has a change of name, that registered elector shall report the change by delivering a change of residence or change of name form, whichever is appropriate, as prescribed by the secretary of state under section 3503.14 of the Revised Code to the state or local office of a designated agency, a public high school or vocational school, a public library, the office of the county treasurer, the office of the secretary of state, any office of the registrar or deputy registrar of motor vehicles, or any office of a board of elections in person or by a third person. Any voter registration, change of address, or change of name application, returned by mail, may be sent only to the secretary of state or the board of elections.
A registered elector also may update the registration of that registered elector by filing a change of residence or change of name form on the day of a special, primary, or general election at the polling place in the precinct in which that registered elector resides or at the board of elections or at another site designated by the board.
(B)(1)(a) Any registered elector who moves within a precinct or changes the name of that registered elector and remains within a precinct on or prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election and has not filed a notice of change of residence or change of name, whichever is appropriate, with the board of elections may vote in that election by going to that registered elector's assigned polling place, completing and signing a notice of change of residence or change of name, whichever is appropriate, showing identification in the form of a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the name and current address of the elector,and casting a ballot. If the elector provides either a driver's license or a state identification card issued under section 4507.50 of the Revised Code that does not contain the elector's current residence address, the elector shall provide the last four digits of the elector's driver's license number or state identification card number, and the precinct election official shall mark the poll list or signature pollbook to indicate that the elector has provided a driver's license or state identification card number with a former address and record the last four digits of the elector's driver's license number or state identification card number.
(b) Any registered elector who changes the name of that registered elector and remains within a precinct on or prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election and has not filed a notice of change of name with the board of elections may vote in that election by going to that registered elector's assigned polling place, completing and signing a notice of a change of name, and casting a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.
(2) Any registered elector who moves from one precinct to another within a county or moves from one precinct to another and changes the name of that registered elector on or prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election and has not filed a notice of change of residence or change of name, whichever is appropriate, with the board of elections may vote in that election if that registered elector complies with division (G) of this section or does all of the following:
(a) Appears at anytime during regular business hours on or after the twenty-eighth day prior to the election in which that registered elector wishes to vote, or, if the election is held on the day of a presidential primary election, the twenty-fifth day prior to the election, through noon of the Saturday prior to the election or at the office of the board of elections, appears at any time during regular business hours on the Monday prior to the election at the office of the board of elections, or appears on the day of the election at either of the following locations:
(i) The polling place in the precinct in which that registered elector resides;
(ii) The location designated by the board of elections, which shall be the office of the board or another appropriate site designated by the board in the county in which that registered elector resides of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections.
(b) Completes and signs, under penalty of election falsification, a notice of change of residence or change of name, whichever is appropriate, and files it with election officials at the polling place, at the office of the board of elections, or at the site designated by the board or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections, whichever is appropriate;
(c) Votes a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code at the polling place, at the office of the board of elections, or at the site designated by the board or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections, whichever is appropriate, by absent voter's ballots using the address to which that registered elector has moved or the name of that registered elector as changed, whichever is appropriate;
(d) Completes and signs, under penalty of election falsification, a statement attesting that that registered elector moved or had a change of name, whichever is appropriate, on or prior to the day of the election, has voted a provisional ballot at the polling place in the precinct in which that registered elector resides, at the office of the board of elections, or at the site designated by the board or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections, whichever is appropriate, and will not vote or attempt to vote at any other location for that particular election. The statement required under division (B)(2)(d) of this section shall be included on the notice of change of residence or change of name, whichever is appropriate, required under division (B)(2)(b) of this section.
(C) Any registered elector who moves from one county to another county within the state on or prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election and has not registered to vote in the county to which that registered elector moved may vote in that election if that registered elector complies with division (G) of this section or does all of the following:
(1) Appears at any time during regular business hours on or after the twenty-eighth day prior to the election in which that registered elector wishes to vote, or, if the election is held on the day of a presidential primary election, the twenty-fifth day prior to the election, through noon of the Saturday prior to the election or at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections, appears during regular business hours on the Monday prior to the election at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections, or appears on the day of the election at the location designated by the board of elections, which shall be either the office of the board or another appropriate site designated by the board in the county in which that registered elector resides of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections;
(2) Completes and signs, under penalty of election falsification, a notice of change of residence and files it with election officials at the board or at the site designated by the board, whichever is appropriate of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections;
(3) Votes a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code at the office of the board of elections or at a site designated by the board by absent voter's ballots or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections, using the address to which that registered elector has moved;
(4) Completes and signs, under penalty of election falsification, a statement attesting that that registered elector has moved from one county to another county within the state on or prior to the day of the election, has voted at the office of the board of elections or at the site designated by the board, whichever is appropriate or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections, and will not vote or attempt to vote at any other location for that particular election. The statement required under division (C)(4) of this section shall be included on the notice of change of residence required under division (C)(2) of this section.
(D) A person who votes by absent voter's ballots pursuant to division (B), (C), or (G) of this section shall not make written application for the ballots pursuant to Chapter 3509. of the Revised Code. Ballots cast pursuant to division (B), (C), or (G) of this section shall be set aside in a special envelope and counted during the official canvass of votes in the manner provided for in sections 3505.32 and 3509.06 of the Revised Code insofar as that manner is applicable. The board shall examine the pollbooks to verify that no ballot was cast at the polls or by absent voter's ballots under Chapter 3509. or 3511. of the Revised Code by an elector who has voted by absent voter's ballots pursuant to division (B), (C), or (G) of this section. Any ballot determined to be insufficient for any of the reasons stated above or stated in section 3509.07 of the Revised Code shall not be counted.
A Subject to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code, a board of elections may lease or otherwise acquire a site different from the office of the board at which registered electors may vote pursuant to division (B) or (C) of this section.
(E) Upon receiving a change of residence or change of name form, the board of elections shall immediately send the registrant an acknowledgment notice. If the change of residence or change of name form is valid, the board shall update the voter's registration as appropriate. If that form is incomplete, the board shall inform the registrant in the acknowledgment notice specified in this division of the information necessary to complete or update that registrant's registration.
(F) Change of residence and change of name forms shall be available at each polling place, and when these forms are completed, noting changes of residence or name, as appropriate, they shall be filed with election officials at the polling place. Election officials shall return completed forms, together with the pollbooks and tally sheets, to the board of elections.
The board of elections shall provide change of residence and change of name forms to the probate court and court of common pleas. The court shall provide the forms to any person eighteen years of age or older who has a change of name by order of the court or who applies for a marriage license. The court shall forward all completed forms to the board of elections within five days after receiving them.
(G) A registered elector who otherwise would qualify to vote under division (B) or (C) of this section but is unable to appear at the office of the board or other location designated by the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location, on account of personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity, may vote on the day of the election if that registered elector does all of the following:
(1) Makes a written application that includes all of the information required under section 3509.03 of the Revised Code to the appropriate board for an absent voter's ballot on or after the twenty-seventh day prior to the election in which the registered elector wishes to vote through noon of the Saturday prior to that election and requests that the absent voter's ballot be sent to the address to which the registered elector has moved if the registered elector has moved, or to the address of that registered elector who has not moved but has had a change of name;
(2) Declares that the registered elector has moved or had a change of name, whichever is appropriate, and otherwise is qualified to vote under the circumstances described in division (B) or (C) of this section, whichever is appropriate, but that the registered elector is unable to appear at the board or other location designated by the board of elections because of personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity;
(3) Completes and returns along with the completed absent voter's ballot a notice of change of residence indicating the address to which the registered elector has moved, or a notice of change of name, whichever is appropriate;
(4) Completes and signs, under penalty of election falsification, a statement attesting that the registered elector has moved or had a change of name on or prior to the day before the election, has voted by absent voter's ballot because of personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity that prevented the registered elector from appearing at the board or other location designated by the board of elections, and will not vote or attempt to vote at any other location or by absent voter's ballot mailed to any other location or address for that particular election.
Sec. 3503.19.  (A) Persons qualified to register or to change their registration because of a change of address or change of name may register or change their registration in person at any state or local office of a designated agency, at the office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, at a public high school or vocational school, at a public library, at the office of a county treasurer, or at a branch office established by the board of elections, or in person, through another person, or by mail at the office of the secretary of state or at the office of a board of elections. A registered elector may also change the elector's registration on election day at any polling place where the elector is eligible to vote, on election day in the manner provided under section 3503.16 of the Revised Code.
Any state or local office of a designated agency, the office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, a public high school or vocational school, a public library, or the office of a county treasurer shall transmit any voter registration application or change of registration form that it receives to the board of elections of the county in which the state or local office is located, within five days after receiving the voter registration application or change of registration form.
An otherwise valid voter registration application that is returned to the appropriate office other than by mail must be received by a state or local office of a designated agency, the office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, a public high school or vocational school, a public library, the office of a county treasurer, the office of the secretary of state, or the office of a board of elections no later than the thirtieth day preceding a primary, special, or general election for the person to qualify as an elector eligible to vote at that election. An otherwise valid registration application received after that day entitles the elector to vote at all subsequent elections.
Any state or local office of a designated agency, the office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, a public high school or vocational school, a public library, or the office of a county treasurer shall date stamp a registration application or change of name or change of address form it receives using a date stamp that does not disclose the identity of the state or local office that receives the registration.
Voter registration applications, if otherwise valid, that are returned by mail to the office of the secretary of state or to the office of a board of elections must be postmarked no later than the thirtieth day preceding a primary, special, or general election in order for the person to qualify as an elector eligible to vote at that election. If an otherwise valid voter registration application that is returned by mail does not bear a postmark or a legible postmark, the registration shall be valid for that election if received by the office of the secretary of state or the office of a board of elections no later than twenty-five days preceding any special, primary, or general election.
(B)(1) Any person may apply in person, by telephone, by mail, or through another person for voter registration forms to the office of the secretary of state or the office of a board of elections. Completed
(2)(a) An applicant may return the applicant's completed registration forms may be returned form in person or through another person or by mail to any state or local office of a designated agency, to a public high school or vocational school, to a public library, or to the office of a county treasurer, or in person, through another person, or by mail to the office of the secretary of state, or to the office of a board of elections.
(b) Subject to division (B)(2)(c) of this section, an applicant may return the applicant's completed registration form through another person to any board of elections or the office of the secretary of state.
(c) A person who receives compensation for registering a voter shall return any registration form entrusted to that person by an applicant to any board of elections or to the office of the secretary of state.
(d) If a board of elections or the office of the secretary of state receives a registration form under division (B)(2)(b) or (c) of this section before the thirtieth day before an election, the board or the office of the secretary of state, as applicable, shall forward the registration to the board of elections of the county in which the applicant is seeking to register to vote within ten days after receiving the application. If a board of elections or the office of the secretary of state receives a registration form under division (B)(2)(b) or (c) of this section on or after the thirtieth day before an election, the board or the office of the secretary of state, as applicable, shall forward the registration to the board of elections of the county in which the applicant is seeking to register to vote within thirty days after that election.
(C)(1) A board of elections that receives a voter registration application and is satisfied as to the truth of the statements made in the registration form shall register the applicant and not later than twenty business days after receiving the application, unless that application is received during the thirty days immediately preceding the day of an election. The board shall promptly notify the applicant in writing of each of the following:
(a) The applicant's registration and the;
(b) The precinct in which the applicant is to vote. The;
(c) In bold type as follows:
"Voters must bring identification to the polls in order to verify identity. Identification may include a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than this notification or a notification of an election mailed by a board of elections, that shows the voter's name and current address. Voters who do not provide one of these documents will still be able to vote by providing the last four digits of the voter's social security number and by casting a provisional ballot. Voters who do not have any of the above forms of identification, including a social security number, will still be able to vote by signing an affirmation swearing to the voter's identity under penalty of election falsification and by casting a provisional ballot."
The notification shall be by nonforwardable mail, and if. If the mail is returned to the board, it shall investigate and cause the notification to be delivered to the correct address; or if it determines that the voter is not eligible to vote for residency reasons it shall cancel the registration and notify the registrant, at the last known address, of a need to reregister. If the board does not accept the application for registration, it shall immediately notify the applicant of the reasons for rejecting the application and request the applicant to provide whatever information or verification is necessary to complete the application.
(2) If, after investigating as required under division (C)(1) of this section, the board is unable to verify the voter's correct address, it shall cause the voter's name in the official registration list and in the poll list or signature pollbook to be marked to indicate that the voter's notification was returned to the board.
At the first election at which a voter whose name has been so marked appears to vote, the voter shall be required to provide identification to the election officials and to vote by provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. If the provisional ballot is counted pursuant to division (B)(3) of section 3505.183 of the Revised Code, the board shall correct that voter's registration, if needed, and shall remove the indication that the voter's notification was returned from that voter's name on the official registration list and on the poll list or signature pollbook. If the provisional ballot is not counted pursuant to division (B)(4)(a)(i), (v), or (vi) of section 3505.183 of the Revised Code, the voter's registration shall be canceled. The board shall notify the voter by United States mail of the cancellation.
(3) If a notice of the disposition of an otherwise valid mail registration application is sent by nonforwardable mail and is returned undelivered, the person shall be registered as provided in division (C)(2) of this section and sent a confirmation notice by forwardable mail. If the person fails to respond to the confirmation notice, update the person's registration, or vote by provisional ballot as provided in division (C)(2) of this section in any election during the period of two federal elections subsequent to the mailing of the confirmation notice, the person's registration shall be canceled.
Sec. 3503.21.  (A) The registration of a registered elector shall be canceled upon the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) The filing by a registered elector of a written request with a board of elections, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state and signed by the elector, that his the registration be canceled. The filing of such a request does not prohibit an otherwise qualified elector from reregistering to vote at any time.
(2) The filing of a notice of the death of the registered elector as provided in section 3503.18 of the Revised Code;
(3) The conviction of the registered elector of a felony under the laws of this state, any other state, or the United States as provided in section 2961.01 of the Revised Code;
(4) The adjudication of incompetency of the registered elector for the purpose of voting as provided in section 5122.301 of the Revised Code;
(5) The change of residence of the registered elector to a location outside the county of registration in accordance with division (B) of this section;
(6) The failure of the registered elector, after he has having been mailed a confirmation notice, to do either of the following:
(a) Respond to such a notice and vote at least once during a period of four consecutive years, which period shall include two general federal elections;
(b) Update his the elector's registration and vote at least once during a period of four consecutive years, which period shall include two general federal elections.
(B)(1) The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures to identify and cancel the registration in a prior county of residence of any registrant who changes his the registrant's voting residence to a location outside his the registrant's current county of registration. Any procedures prescribed in this division shall be uniform and nondiscriminatory, and shall comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The secretary of state may prescribe procedures under this division that include the use of the national change of address service provided by the United States postal system through its licensees. Any program so prescribed shall be completed not later than ninety days prior to the date of any primary or general election for federal office.
(2) The registration of any elector identified as having changed his the elector's voting residence to a location outside his the elector's current county of registration shall not be canceled unless the registrant is sent a confirmation notice on a form prescribed by the secretary of state and the registrant fails to respond to the confirmation notice or otherwise update his the registration and fails to vote in any election during the period of two federal elections subsequent to the mailing of the confirmation notice.
(C) The registration of a registered elector shall not be canceled except as provided in this section, division (Q) of section 3501.05 of the Revised Code, division (C)(2) of section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, or division (C) of section 3503.24 of the Revised Code.
(D) Boards of elections shall send their voter registration lists information to the secretary of state semiannually as required under section 3503.15 of the Revised Code. In the first quarter of each odd-numbered year, the secretary of state shall send the information contained in these lists to the national change of address service described in division (B) of this section and request that service to provide the secretary of state with a list of any voters on the lists sent by the secretary of state who have moved within the last thirty-six months. The secretary of state shall transmit to each appropriate board of elections whatever lists he the secretary of state receives from that service. The board shall send a notice to each person on the list transmitted by the secretary of state requesting confirmation of the person's change of address, together with a postage prepaid, preaddressed return envelope containing a form on which the voter may verify or correct the change of address information.
(E) The registration of a registered elector described in division (A)(6) or (B)(2) of this section shall be canceled not later than one hundred twenty days after the date of the second general federal election in which the elector fails to vote or not later than one hundred twenty days after the expiration of the four-year period in which the elector fails to vote or respond to a confirmation notice, whichever is later.
Sec. 3503.23.  (A) At least fifteen Fourteen days before an election, the board of elections shall cause to be prepared from the registration cards statewide voter registration database established under section 3503.15 of the Revised Code a complete and official registration list for each precinct, containing the names, addresses, and political party whose ballot the elector voted in the most recent primary election within the current year and the immediately preceding two calendar years, of all qualified registered voters in the precinct. All the names, insofar as practicable, shall be arranged either in alphabetical order, or in geographical order according to streets in the precincts. All the The lists shall may be prepared either in sheet form and on one side of the paper or in electronic form, at the discretion of the board. Each precinct list shall be headed "Register of Voters," and under the heading shall be indicated the district or ward and precinct followed by the statement:
"Any voter of the county on or before the seventh day prior to the election may file with the board of elections at the board's offices located at ................. objections to the registration of any person on this list who, he has reason to believe, is not eligible to vote, or a request for the addition to the list of registered voters whose names have been omitted or who have been erroneously dropped from the registration list of the precinct.".
Appended to each precinct list shall be attached the names of the members of the board and the name of the director. A sufficient number of such lists may shall be provided for distribution to the candidates, political parties, or organized groups that apply for them. The board shall have each precinct list available at the board for viewing by the public during normal business hours. The board shall ensure that, by the opening of the polls on the day of a general or primary election, each precinct has a paper copy of the registration list of voters in that precinct.
(B) On the day of a general or primary election, precinct election officials shall do both of the following:
(1) By the time the polls open, conspicuously post and display at the polling place one copy of the registration list of voters in that precinct in an area of the polling place that is easily accessible;
(2) At 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. place a mark, on the official registration list posted at the polling place, before the name of those registered voters who have voted.
(C) Notwithstanding division (B) of section 3501.35 of the Revised Code, any person may enter the polling place for the sole purpose of reviewing the official registration list posted in accordance with division (B) of this section, provided that the person does not engage in conduct that would constitute harassment in violation of the election law, as defined in section 3501.90 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3503.24. (A) Application for the correction of any precinct registration list or a challenge of the right to vote of any registered elector may be made by any qualified elector of the county at the office of the board of elections not later than eleven twenty days prior to the election. The applications or challenges, with the reasons for the application or challenge, shall be filed with the board on a form prescribed by the secretary of state and shall be signed under penalty of election falsification.
(B) On receiving an application or challenge filed under this section, the board of elections promptly shall review the board's records. If the board is able to determine that an application or challenge should be granted or denied solely on the basis of the records maintained by the board, the board immediately shall vote to grant or deny that application or challenge.
If the board is not able to determine whether an application or challenge should be granted or denied solely on the basis of the records maintained by the board, the director shall promptly set a time and date for a hearing before the board. The Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, the hearing shall be held, and the application or challenge shall be decided, no later than two ten days prior to any election after the board receives the application or challenge. The director shall send written notice to any elector whose right to vote is challenged and to any person whose name is alleged to have been omitted from a registration list. The notice shall inform the person of the time and date of the hearing, and of the person's right to appear and testify, call witnesses, and be represented by counsel. The notice shall be sent by first class mail no later than three days before the day of any scheduled hearing. The director shall also provide the person who filed the application or challenge with such written notice of the date and time of the hearing.
At the request of either party or any member of the board, the board shall issue subpoenas to witnesses to appear and testify before the board at a hearing held under this section. All witnesses shall testify under oath. The board shall reach a decision on all applications and challenges immediately after hearing.
(C) If the board decides that any such person is not entitled to have the person's name on the registration list, the person's name shall be removed from the list and the person's registration forms canceled. If the board decides that the name of any such person should appear on such the registration list, it shall be added thereto to the list, and the person's registration forms placed in the proper registration files. All such corrections and additions shall be made on a copy of the precinct lists, which shall constitute the poll lists, to be furnished to the respective precincts with other election supplies on the day preceding the election, to be used by the clerks election officials in receiving the signatures of voters and in checking against the registration forms.
(D)(1) If an application or challenge for which a hearing is required to be conducted under division (B) of this section is filed after the thirtieth day before the day of an election, the board of elections, in its discretion, may postpone that hearing and any notifications of that hearing until after the day of the election. Any hearing postponed under this division shall be conducted not later than ten days after the day of the election.
(2) The board of elections shall cause the name of any registered elector whose registration is challenged and whose challenge hearing is postponed under division (D)(1) of this section to be marked in the official registration list and in the poll list or signature pollbook for that elector's precinct to indicate that the elector's registration is subject to challenge.
(3) Any elector who is the subject of an application or challenge hearing that is postponed under division (D)(1) of this section shall be permitted to vote a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The validity of a provisional ballot cast pursuant to this section shall be determined in accordance with section 3505.183 of the Revised Code, except that no such provisional ballot shall be counted unless the hearing conducted under division (B) of this section after the day of the election results in the elector's inclusion in the official registration list.
Sec. 3503.28.  (A) The secretary of state shall develop an information brochure regarding voter registration. The brochure shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following information:
(1) The applicable deadlines for registering to vote or for returning an applicant's completed registration form;
(2) The applicable deadline for returning an applicant's completed registration form if the person returning the form is being compensated for registering voters;
(3) The locations to which a person may return an applicant's completed registration form;
(4) The location to which a person who is compensated for registering voters may return an applicant's completed registration form;
(5) The registration and affirmation requirements applicable to persons who are compensated for registering voters under section 3503.29 of the Revised Code;
(6) A notice, which shall be written in bold type, stating as follows:
"Voters must bring identification to the polls in order to verify identity. Identification may include a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election or a voter registration notification sent by a board of elections, that shows the voter's name and current address. Voters who do not provide one of these documents will still be able to vote by providing the last four digits of the voter's social security number and by casting a provisional ballot. Voters who do not have any of the above forms of identification, including a social security number, will still be able to vote by signing an affirmation swearing to the voter's identity under penalty of election falsification and by casting a provisional ballot."
(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, a board of elections, designated agency, public high school, public vocational school, public library, office of a county treasurer, or deputy registrar of motor vehicles shall distribute a copy of the brochure developed under division (A) of this section to any person who requests more than two voter registration forms at one time.
(C)(1) The secretary of state shall provide the information required to be included in the brochure developed under division (A) of this section to any person who prints a voter registration form that is made available on a web site of the office of the secretary of state.
(2) If a board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board shall provide the information required to be included in the brochure developed under division (A) of this section to any person who prints a voter registration form that is made available on that web site.
(D) A board of elections shall not be required to distribute a copy of a brochure under division (B) of this section to any of the following officials or employees who are requesting more than two voter registration forms at one time in the course of the official's or employee's normal duties:
(1) An election official;
(2) A county treasurer;
(3) A deputy registrar of motor vehicles;
(4) An employee of a designated agency;
(5) An employee of a public high school;
(6) An employee of a public vocational school;
(7) An employee of a public library;
(8) An employee of the office of a county treasurer;
(9) An employee of the bureau of motor vehicles;
(10) An employee of a deputy registrar of motor vehicles;
(11) An employee of an election official.
(E) As used in this section, "registering voters" includes any effort, for compensation, to provide voter registration forms or to assist persons in completing or returning those forms.
Sec. 3503.29.  (A) The secretary of state shall develop and make available through a web site of the office of the secretary of state a training program for any person who receives or expects to receive compensation for registering a voter. The secretary of state shall specify, by rule adopted pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the information to be included in the online training program developed under this division.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (E) of this section, the secretary of state, by rules adopted pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall prescribe a program under which the secretary of state shall register any person who receives or expects to receive compensation for registering a voter in this state.
(C) Except as otherwise provided in division (E) of this section, in each year in which a person receives or expects to receive compensation for registering a voter, that person, prior to registering a voter, shall do all of the following:
(1) Register with the secretary of state in accordance with the program prescribed under division (B) of this section;
(2) Complete the training program established by the secretary of state under division (A) of this section.
(3) Sign an affirmation that includes all of the following:
(a) The person's name;
(b) The person's date of birth;
(c) The person's permanent address;
(d) The name of each county in which the person expects to register voters;
(e) A statement that the person has registered, as required under division (C)(1) of this section, with the secretary of state;
(f) A statement that the person has completed the training program required under division (C)(2) of this section;
(g) A statement that the person will follow all applicable laws of this state while registering voters.
(D) Except as otherwise provided in division (E) of this section, each time a person who receives or expects to receive compensation for registering a voter submits a completed registration form that has been entrusted to that person to a board of elections, the person also shall submit, with the voter registration form, a copy of the affirmation signed by the person under division (C)(3) of this section. A single copy of the signed affirmation may be submitted with all voter registration forms that are returned by that person at one time.
(E) None of the following officials or employees who are registering voters in the course of the official's or employee's normal duties shall be required to comply with divisions (C) and (D) of this section:
(1) An election official;
(2) A county treasurer;
(3) A deputy registrar of motor vehicles;
(4) An employee of a designated agency;
(5) An employee of a public high school;
(6) An employee of a public vocational school;
(7) An employee of a public library;
(8) An employee of the office of a county treasurer;
(9) An employee of the bureau of motor vehicles;
(10) An employee of a deputy registrar of motor vehicles;
(11) An employee of an election official.
(F) As used in this section, "registering a voter" and "registering voters" includes any effort, for compensation, to provide voter registration forms or to assist persons in completing or returning those forms.
Sec. 3505.062.  The Ohio ballot board shall do all of the following:
(A) Examine, within ten days after its receipt, each written initiative petition received from the attorney general under section 3519.01 of the Revised Code to determine whether it contains only one proposed law or constitutional amendment so as to enable the voters to vote on a proposal separately. If the board so determines, it shall certify its approval to the attorney general, who then shall file with the secretary of state in accordance with division (A) of section 3519.01 of the Revised Code a verified copy of the proposed law or constitutional amendment together with its summary and the attorney general's certification of it.
If the board determines that the initiative petition contains more than one proposed law or constitutional amendment, the board shall divide the initiative petition into individual petitions containing only one proposed law or constitutional amendment so as to enable the voters to vote on each proposal separately and certify its approval to the attorney general. If the board so divides an initiative petition and so certifies its approval to the attorney general, the petitioners shall resubmit to the attorney general appropriate summaries for each of the individual petitions arising from the board's division of the initiative petition, and the attorney general then shall review the resubmissions as provided in division (A) of section 3519.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) Prescribe the ballot language for constitutional amendments proposed by the general assembly to be printed on the questions and issues ballot, which language shall properly identify the substance of the proposal to be voted upon;
(B)(C) Prepare an explanation of each constitutional amendment proposed by the general assembly, which explanation may include the purpose and effects of the proposed amendment;
(C)(D) Certify the ballot language and explanation, if any, to the secretary of state no later than eighty seventy-five days before the election at which the proposed question or issue is to be submitted to the voters;
(D)(E) Prepare, or designate a group of persons to prepare, arguments in support of or in opposition to a constitutional amendment proposed by a resolution of the general assembly, a constitutional amendment or state law proposed by initiative petition, or a state law, or section or item of state law, subject to a referendum petition, if the persons otherwise responsible for the preparation of those arguments fail to timely prepare and file them;
(E)(F) Direct the means by which the secretary of state shall disseminate information concerning proposed constitutional amendments to the voters;
(F)(G) Direct the chairperson to reimburse county boards of elections for public notice costs associated with statewide ballot issues, to the extent that the general assembly appropriates money for that purpose.
Sec. 3505.063.  (A) When the general assembly adopts a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment, it may, by resolution, designate a group of members who voted in support of the resolution to prepare arguments for the proposed amendment, and a group of members who voted in opposition to the resolution to prepare arguments against the proposed amendment. If no members voted in opposition to the resolution, or if the general assembly chooses not to designate a group of members to prepare arguments for the proposed amendment or chooses not to designate a group of members to prepare arguments against the proposed amendment, the Ohio ballot board shall prepare or designate a group of persons to prepare the relevant arguments. All arguments prepared under this division shall be filed with the secretary of state no not later than seventy-five eighty days before the date of the election. No argument shall exceed three hundred words.
(B)(1) If the group of members of the general assembly or other group of persons designated under division (A) of this section fail to prepare and file their arguments in support of or in opposition to the proposed amendment by the seventy-fifth eightieth day before the date of the election, the secretary of state shall notify the Ohio ballot board that those arguments have not been so prepared and filed. The board then shall prepare the missing arguments or designate a group of persons to prepare those arguments. All arguments prepared under this division shall be filed with the secretary of state no not later than seventy seventy-five days before the date of the election. No argument shall exceed three hundred words.
(2) If the Ohio ballot board fails to provide for the preparation of missing arguments under division (B)(1) of this section after being notified by the secretary of state that one or more arguments have not been timely prepared and filed, the positions of the four appointed members of the board shall be considered vacant, and new members shall be appointed in the manner provided for original appointments.
(C) The secretary of state shall disseminate information, which may include part or all of the official explanation and arguments concerning proposed amendments, by means of direct mail or other written publication, broadcast, or other means or combination of means, as the Ohio ballot board may direct, in order to inform the voters as fully as possible concerning proposed amendments.
Sec. 3505.16.  Before the opening of the polls, the package of supplies and the ballot boxes shall be opened in the presence of the precinct officials. The ballot boxes, the package of ballots, registration forms, and other supplies shall at all times be in full sight of the challenger or witnesses observers, and no ballot box or unused ballots during the balloting or counting shall be removed or screened from their full sight until the counting has been closed and the final returns completed and the certificate signed by the judges and clerks.
Sec. 3505.18. (A)(1) When an elector appears in a polling place to vote he, the elector shall announce his to the precinct election officials the elector's full name and current address to the precinct election officials. He and provide proof of the elector's identity in the form of a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the name and current address of the elector. If the elector provides either a driver's license or a state identification card issued under section 4507.50 of the Revised Code that does not contain the elector's current residence address, the elector shall provide the last four digits of the elector's driver's license number or state identification card number, and the precinct election official shall mark the poll list or signature pollbook to indicate that the elector has provided a driver's license or state identification card number with a former address and record the last four digits of the elector's driver's license number or state identification card number.
(2) If an elector has but is unable to provide to the precinct election officials any of the forms of identification required under division (A)(1) of this section, but has a social security number, the elector may provide the last four digits of the elector's social security number. Upon providing the social security number information, the elector may cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code, the envelope of which ballot shall include that social security number information.
(3) If an elector has but is unable to provide to the precinct election officials any of the forms of identification required under division (A)(1) of this section and if the elector has a social security number but is unable to provide the last four digits of the elector's social security number, the elector may cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.
(4) If an elector does not have any of the forms of identification required under division (A)(1) of this section and cannot provide the last four digits of the elector's social security number because the elector does not have a social security number, the elector may execute an affirmation under penalty of election falsification that the elector cannot provide the identification required under that division or the last four digits of the elector's social security number for those reasons. Upon signing the affirmation, the elector may cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of the affirmation, which shall include spaces for all of the following:
(a) The elector's name;
(b) The elector's address;
(c) The current date;
(d) The elector's date of birth;
(e) The elector's signature.
(5) If an elector does not have any of the forms of identification required under division (A)(1) of this section and cannot provide the last four digits of the elector's social security number because the elector does not have a social security number, and if the elector declines to execute an affirmation under division (A)(4) of this section, the elector may cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code, the envelope of which ballot shall include the elector's name.
(6) If an elector has but declines to provide to the precinct election officials any of the forms of identification required under division (A)(1) of this section or the elector has a social security number but declines to provide to the precinct election officials the last four digits of the elector's social security number, the elector may cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.
(B) After the elector has announced the elector's full name and current address and provided any of the forms of identification required under division (A)(1) of this section, the elector shall then write his the elector's name and address at the proper place in the poll lists list or signature pollbooks pollbook provided therefor for the purpose, except that if, for any reason, an elector shall be is unable to write his the elector's name and current address in the poll list or signature pollbook, the elector may make his the elector's mark at the place intended for his the elector's name, and a precinct election official shall write the name of the elector at the proper place on the poll list or signature pollbook following the elector's mark, upon the presentation of proper identification. The making of such a mark shall be attested by the precinct election official, who shall evidence the same by signing his the precinct election official's name on the poll list or signature pollbook as a witness to such the mark. Alternatively, if applicable, an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code may sign the elector's signature in the poll list or signature pollbook in accordance with that section.
The elector's signature in the poll lists list or signature pollbooks shall pollbook then shall be compared with his the elector's signature on his the elector's registration form or a digitized signature list as provided for in section 3503.13 of the Revised Code, and if, in the opinion of a majority of the precinct election officials, the signatures are the signatures of the same person, the clerks election officials shall enter the date of the election on the registration form or shall record the date by such other means as may be prescribed by the secretary of state. If The validity of an attorney in fact's signature on behalf of an elector shall be determined in accordance with section 3501.382 of the Revised Code.
If the right of the elector to vote is not then challenged, or, if being challenged, he the elector establishes his the elector's right to vote, he the elector shall be allowed to proceed into to use the voting machine. If voting machines are not being used in that precinct, the judge in charge of ballots shall then detach the next ballots to be issued to the elector from Stub B attached to each ballot, leaving Stub A attached to each ballot, hand the ballots to the elector, and call his the elector's name and the stub number on each of the ballots. The clerk judge shall enter the stub numbers opposite the signature of the elector in the pollbook. The elector shall then retire to one of the voting compartments to mark his the elector's ballots. No mark shall be made on any ballot which would in any way enable any person to identify the person who voted the ballot.
Sec. 3505.181.  (A) All of the following individuals shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot at an election:
(1) An individual who declares that the individual is a registered voter in the jurisdiction in which the individual desires to vote and that the individual is eligible to vote in an election, but the name of the individual does not appear on the official list of eligible voters for the polling place or an election official asserts that the individual is not eligible to vote;
(2) An individual who has a social security number and provides to the election officials the last four digits of the individual's social security number as permitted by division (A)(2) of section 3505.18 of the Revised Code;
(3) An individual who has but is unable to provide to the election officials any of the forms of identification required under division (A)(1) of section 3505.18 of the Revised Code and who has a social security number but is unable to provide the last four digits of the individual's social security number as permitted under division (A)(2) of that section;
(4) An individual who does not have any of the forms of identification required under division (A)(1) of section 3505.18 of the Revised Code, who cannot provide the last four digits of the individual's social security number under division (A)(2) of that section because the individual does not have a social security number, and who has executed an affirmation as permitted under division (A)(4) of that section;
(5) An individual whose name in the poll list or signature pollbook has been marked under section 3509.09 or 3511.13 of the Revised Code as having requested an absent voter's ballot or an armed service absent voter's ballot for that election and who appears to vote at the polling place;
(6) An individual whose notification of registration has been returned undelivered to the board of elections and whose name in the official registration list and in the poll list or signature pollbook has been marked under division (C)(2) of section 3503.19 of the Revised Code;
(7) An individual who is challenged under section 3505.20 of the Revised Code and the election officials determine that the person is ineligible to vote or are unable to determine the person's eligibility to vote;
(8) An individual whose application or challenge hearing has been postponed until after the day of the election under division (D)(1) of section 3503.24 of the Revised Code;
(9) An individual who changes the individual's name and remains within the precinct, moves from one precinct to another within a county, moves from one precinct to another and changes the individual's name, or moves from one county to another within the state, and completes and signs the required forms and statements under division (B) or (C) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code;
(10) An individual whose signature, in the opinion of the precinct officers under section 3505.22 of the Revised Code, is not that of the person who signed that name in the registration forms;
(11) An individual who is challenged under section 3513.20 of the Revised Code who refuses to make the statement required under that section, who a majority of the precinct officials find lacks any of the qualifications to make the individual a qualified elector, or who a majority of the precinct officials find is not affiliated with or a member of the political party whose ballot the individual desires to vote;
(12) An individual who does not have any of the forms of identification required under division (A)(1) of section 3505.18 of the Revised Code, who cannot provide the last four digits of the individual's social security number under division (A)(2) of that section because the person does not have a social security number, and who declines to execute an affirmation as permitted under division (A)(4) of that section;
(13) An individual who has but declines to provide to the precinct election officials any of the forms of identification required under division (A)(1) of section 3501.18 of the Revised Code or who has a social security number but declines to provide to the precinct election officials the last four digits of the individual's social security number.
(B) An individual who is eligible to cast a provisional ballot under division (A) of this section shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot as follows:
(1) An election official at the polling place shall notify the individual that the individual may cast a provisional ballot in that election.
(2) The individual shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot at that polling place upon the execution of a written affirmation by the individual before an election official at the polling place stating that the individual is both of the following:
(a) A registered voter in the jurisdiction in which the individual desires to vote;
(b) Eligible to vote in that election.
(3) An election official at the polling place shall transmit the ballot cast by the individual, the voter information contained in the written affirmation executed by the individual under division (B)(2) of this section, or the individual's name if the individual declines to execute such an affirmation to an appropriate local election official for verification under division (B)(4) of this section.
(4) If the appropriate local election official to whom the ballot or voter or address information is transmitted under division (B)(3) of this section determines that the individual is eligible to vote, the individual's provisional ballot shall be counted as a vote in that election.
(5)(a) At the time that an individual casts a provisional ballot, the appropriate local election official shall give the individual written information that states that any individual who casts a provisional ballot will be able to ascertain under the system established under division (B)(5)(b) of this section whether the vote was counted, and, if the vote was not counted, the reason that the vote was not counted.
(b) The appropriate state or local election official shall establish a free access system, in the form of a toll-free telephone number, that any individual who casts a provisional ballot may access to discover whether the vote of that individual was counted, and, if the vote was not counted, the reason that the vote was not counted. The free access system established under this division also shall provide to an individual whose provisional ballot was not counted information explaining how that individual may contact the board of elections to register to vote or to resolve problems with the individual's voter registration.
The appropriate state or local election official shall establish and maintain reasonable procedures necessary to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of personal information collected, stored, or otherwise used by the free access system established under this division. Access to information about an individual ballot shall be restricted to the individual who cast the ballot.
(6) If, at the time that an individual casts a provisional ballot, the individual provides identification in the form of a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the individual's name and current address, or provides the last four digits of the individual's social security number, or executes an affirmation that the elector does not have any of those forms of identification or the last four digits of the individual's social security number because the individual does not have a social security number, or declines to execute such an affirmation, the appropriate local election official shall record the type of identification provided, the social security number information, the fact that the affirmation was executed, or the fact that the individual declined to execute such an affirmation and include that information with the transmission of the ballot or voter or address information under division (B)(3) of this section. If the individual declines to execute such an affirmation, the appropriate local election official shall record the individual's name and include that information with the transmission of the ballot under division (B)(3) of this section.
(7) If an individual casts a provisional ballot pursuant to division (A)(3), (7), (8), (12), or (13) of this section, the election official shall indicate, on the provisional ballot verification statement required under section 3505.182 of the Revised Code, that the individual is required to provide additional information to the board of elections or that an application or challenge hearing has been postponed with respect to the individual, such that additional information is required for the board of elections to determine the eligibility of the individual who cast the provisional ballot.
(8) During the ten days after the day of an election, an individual who casts a provisional ballot pursuant to division (A)(3), (7), (12), or (13) of this section shall appear at the office of the board of elections and provide to the board any additional information necessary to determine the eligibility of the individual who cast the provisional ballot.
(a) For a provisional ballot cast pursuant to division (A)(3), (12), or (13) of this section to be eligible to be counted, the individual who cast that ballot, within ten days after the day of the election, shall do any of the following:
(i) Provide to the board of elections proof of the individual's identity in the form of a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the individual's name and current address;
(ii) Provide to the board of elections the last four digits of the individual's social security number;
(iii) In the case of a provisional ballot executed pursuant to division (A)(12) of this section, execute an affirmation as permitted under division (A)(4) of section 3505.18 of the Revised Code.
(b) For a provisional ballot cast pursuant to division (A)(7) of this section to be eligible to be counted, the individual who cast that ballot, within ten days after the day of that election, shall provide to the board of elections any identification or other documentation required to be provided by the applicable challenge questions asked of that individual under section 3505.20 of the Revised Code.
(C)(1) If an individual declares that the individual is eligible to vote in a jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction in which the individual desires to vote, or if, upon review of the precinct voting location guide using the residential street address provided by the individual, an election official at the polling place at which the individual desires to vote determines that the individual is not eligible to vote in that jurisdiction, the election official shall direct the individual to the polling place for the jurisdiction in which the individual appears to be eligible to vote, explain that the individual may cast a provisional ballot at the current location but the ballot will not be counted if it is cast in the wrong precinct, and provide the telephone number of the board of elections in case the individual has additional questions.
(2) If the individual refuses to travel to the polling place for the correct jurisdiction or to the office of the board of elections to cast a ballot, the individual shall be permitted to vote a provisional ballot at that jurisdiction in accordance with division (B) of this section. If any of the following apply, the provisional ballot cast by that individual shall not be opened or counted:
(a) The individual is not properly registered in that jurisdiction.
(b) The individual is not eligible to vote in that election in that jurisdiction.
(c) The individual's eligibility to vote in that jurisdiction in that election cannot be established upon examination of the records on file with the board of elections.
(D) The appropriate local election official shall cause voting information to be publicly posted at each polling place on the day of each election.
(E) As used in this section and sections 3505.182 and 3505.183 of the Revised Code:
(1) "Jurisdiction" means the precinct in which a person is a legally qualified elector.
(2) "Precinct voting location guide" means either of the following:
(a) An electronic or paper record that lists the correct jurisdiction and polling place for either each specific residential street address in the county or the range of residential street addresses located in each neighborhood block in the county;
(b) Any other method that a board of elections creates that allows a precinct election official or any elector who is at a polling place in that county to determine the correct jurisdiction and polling place of any qualified elector who resides in the county.
(3) "Voting information" means all of the following:
(a) A sample version of the ballot that will be used for that election;
(b) Information regarding the date of the election and the hours during which polling places will be open;
(c) Instructions on how to vote, including how to cast a vote and how to cast a provisional ballot;
(d) Instructions for mail-in registrants and first-time voters under applicable federal and state laws;
(e) General information on voting rights under applicable federal and state laws, including information on the right of an individual to cast a provisional ballot and instructions on how to contact the appropriate officials if these rights are alleged to have been violated;
(f) General information on federal and state laws regarding prohibitions against acts of fraud and misrepresentation.
Sec. 3505.182.  Each individual who casts a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code shall execute a written affirmation. The form of the written affirmation shall be printed upon the face of the provisional ballot envelope and shall be substantially as follows:
"Provisional Ballot Affirmation
STATE OF OHIO
I, .................... (Name of provisional voter), solemnly swear or affirm that I am a registered voter in the jurisdiction in which I am voting this provisional ballot and that I am eligible to vote in the election in which I am voting this provisional ballot.
I understand that, if the above-provided information is not fully completed and correct, if the board of elections determines that I am not registered to vote, a resident of this precinct, or eligible to vote in this election, or if the board of elections determines that I have already voted in this election, my provisional ballot will not be counted. I further understand that knowingly providing false information is a violation of law and subjects me to possible criminal prosecution.
I hereby declare, under penalty of election falsification, that the above statements are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
(Signature of Voter)
(Voter's date of birth)

The last four digits of the voter's social security number
(To be provided if the voter is unable to provide a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the voter's name and current address but is able to provide these last four digits)

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE.
Additional Information For Determining Ballot Validity
(May be completed at voter's discretion)
Voter's current address:
Voter's former address if photo identification does not contain voter's current address
Voter's driver's license number or, if not provided above, the last four digits of voter's social security number
(Please circle number type)
(Voter may attach a copy of any of the following for identification purposes: a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the voter's name and current address.)
Reason for voting provisional ballot (Check one):
     ..... Requested, but did not receive, absent voter's ballot
     ..... Other

Verification Statement
(To be completed by election official)
The Provisional Ballot Affirmation printed above was subscribed and affirmed before me this .......... day of .......... (Month), .......... (Year).
(If applicable, the election official must check the following true statement concerning additional information needed to determine the eligibility of the provisional voter.)
...... The provisional voter is required to provide additional information to the board of elections.
...... An application or challenge hearing regarding this voter has been postponed until after the election.
(The election official must check the following true statement concerning identification provided by the provisional voter, if any.)
...... The provisional voter provided a current and valid photo identification.
...... The provisional voter provided a current valid photo identification, other than a driver's license or a state identification card, with the voter's former address instead of current address and has provided the election official both the current and former addresses.
...... The provisional voter provided a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, with the voter's name and current address.
...... The provisional voter provided the last four digits of the voter's social security number.
...... The provisional voter is not able to provide a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, with the voter's name and current address but does have one of these forms of identification. The provisional voter must provide one of the foregoing items of identification to the board of elections within ten days after the election.
..... The provisional voter is not able to provide a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, with the voter's name and current address but does have one of these forms of identification. Additionally, the provisional voter does have a social security number but is not able to provide the last four digits of the voter's social security number before voting. The provisional voter must provide one of the foregoing items of identification or the last four digits of the voter's social security number to the board of elections within ten days after the election.
..... The provisional voter does not have a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document with the voter's name and current address, or a social security number, but has executed an affirmation.
..... The provisional voter does not have a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document with the voter's name and current address, or a social security number, and has declined to execute an affirmation.
..... The provisional voter declined to provide a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document with the voter's name and current address, or the last four digits of the voter's social security number but does have one of these forms of identification or a social security number. The provisional voter must provide one of the foregoing items of identification or the last four digits of the voter's social security number to the board of elections within ten days after the election.
(Signature of Election Official)"

In addition to any information required to be included on the written affirmation, an individual casting a provisional ballot may provide additional information to the election official to assist the board of elections in determining the individual's eligibility to vote in that election, including the date and location at which the individual registered to vote, if known.
If the individual declines to execute the affirmation, an appropriate local election official shall comply with division (B)(6) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3505.183.  (A) When the ballot boxes are delivered to the board of elections from the precincts, the board shall separate the provisional ballot envelopes from the rest of the ballots. Teams of employees of the board consisting of one member of each major political party shall place the sealed provisional ballot envelopes in a secure location within the office of the board. The sealed provisional ballot envelopes shall remain in that secure location until the validity of those ballots is determined under division (B) of this section. While the provisional ballot is stored in that secure location, and prior to the counting of the provisional ballots, if the board receives information regarding the validity of a specific provisional ballot under division (B) of this section, the board may note, on the sealed provisional ballot envelope for that ballot, whether the ballot is valid and entitled to be counted.
(B)(1) To determine whether a provisional ballot is valid and entitled to be counted, the board shall examine its records and determine whether the individual who cast the provisional ballot is registered and eligible to vote in the applicable election. The board shall examine the information contained in the written affirmation executed by the individual who cast the provisional ballot under division (B)(2) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. If the individual declines to execute such an affirmation, the individual's name, written by either the individual or the election official at the direction of the individual, shall be included in a written affirmation in order for the provisional ballot to be eligible to be counted; otherwise, the following information shall be included in the written affirmation in order for the provisional ballot to be eligible to be counted:
(a) The individual's name and signature;
(b) A statement that the individual is a registered voter in the jurisdiction in which the provisional ballot is being voted;
(c) A statement that the individual is eligible to vote in the election in which the provisional ballot is being voted.
(2) In addition to the information required to be included in an affirmation under division (B)(1) of this section, in determining whether a provisional ballot is valid and entitled to be counted, the board also shall examine any additional information for determining ballot validity provided by the provisional voter on the affirmation, provided by the provisional voter to an election official under section 3505.182 of the Revised Code, or provided to the board of elections during the ten days after the day of the election under division (B)(8) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code, to assist the board in determining the individual's eligibility to vote.
(3) If, in examining a provisional ballot affirmation and additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section, the board determines that all of the following apply, the provisional ballot envelope shall be opened, and the ballot shall be placed in a ballot box to be counted:
(a) The individual named on the affirmation is properly registered to vote.
(b) The individual named on the affirmation is eligible to cast a ballot in the precinct and for the election in which the individual cast the provisional ballot.
(c) The individual provided all of the information required under division (B)(1) of this section in the affirmation that the individual executed at the time the individual cast the provisional ballot.
(d) If applicable, the individual provided any additional information required under division (B)(8) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code within ten days after the day of the election.
(e) If applicable, the hearing conducted under division (B) of section 3503.24 of the Revised Code after the day of the election resulted in the individual's inclusion in the official registration list.
(4)(a) If, in examining a provisional ballot affirmation and additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section, the board determines that any of the following applies, the provisional ballot envelope shall not be opened, and the ballot shall not be counted:
(i) The individual named on the affirmation is not qualified or is not properly registered to vote.
(ii) The individual named on the affirmation is not eligible to cast a ballot in the precinct or for the election in which the individual cast the provisional ballot.
(iii) The individual did not provide all of the information required under division (B)(1) of this section in the affirmation that the individual executed at the time the individual cast the provisional ballot.
(iv) The individual has already cast a ballot for the election in which the individual cast the provisional ballot.
(v) If applicable, the individual did not provide any additional information required under division (B)(8) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code within ten days after the day of the election.
(vi) If applicable, the hearing conducted under division (B) of section 3503.24 of the Revised Code after the day of the election did not result in the individual's inclusion in the official registration list.
(vii) The individual failed to provide a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, with the voter's name and current address, or the last four digits of the individual's social security number or to execute an affirmation under division (A) of section 3505.18 or division (B) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.
(b) If, in examining a provisional ballot affirmation and additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section, the board is unable to determine either of the following, the provisional ballot envelope shall not be opened, and the ballot shall not be counted:
(i) Whether the individual named on the affirmation is qualified or properly registered to vote;
(ii) Whether the individual named on the affirmation is eligible to cast a ballot in the precinct or for the election in which the individual cast the provisional ballot.
(C)(1) For each provisional ballot rejected under division (B)(4) of this section, the board shall record the name of the provisional voter who cast the ballot, the identification number of the provisional ballot envelope, the names of the election officials who determined the validity of that ballot, the date and time that the determination was made, and the reason that the ballot was not counted.
(2) Provisional ballots that are rejected under division (B)(4) of this section shall not be counted but shall be preserved in their provisional ballot envelopes unopened until the time provided by section 3505.31 of the Revised Code for the destruction of all other ballots used at the election for which ballots were provided, at which time they shall be destroyed.
(D) Provisional ballots that the board determines are eligible to be counted under division (B)(3) of this section shall be counted in the same manner as provided for other ballots under section 3505.27 of the Revised Code. No provisional ballots shall be counted in a particular county until the board determines the eligibility to be counted of all provisional ballots cast in that county under division (B) of this section for that election. Observers, as provided in section 3505.21 of the Revised Code, may be present at all times that the board is determining the eligibility of provisional ballots to be counted and counting those provisional ballots determined to be eligible. No person shall recklessly disclose the count or any portion of the count of provisional ballots in such a manner as to jeopardize the secrecy of any individual ballot.
(E)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (E)(2) of this section, nothing in this section shall prevent a board of elections from examining provisional ballot affirmations and additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section to determine the eligibility of provisional ballots to be counted during the ten days after the day of an election.
(2) A board of elections shall not examine the provisional ballot affirmation and additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section of any provisional ballot for which an election official has indicated under division (B)(7) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code that additional information is required for the board of elections to determine the eligibility of the individual who cast that provisional ballot until the individual provides any information required under division (B)(8) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code, until any hearing required to be conducted under section 3503.24 of the Revised Code with regard to the provisional voter is held, or until the eleventh day after the day of the election, whichever is earlier.
Sec. 3505.19.  Any person registered as an elector may be challenged by any qualified elector as to his the registered elector's right to vote at any prior to the nineteenth day before the day of an election. Such qualified elector may, at any time during the year, either by appearing in person at the office of the board of elections, or by letter addressed to the board, challenge the right of such registered elector to vote. Any such challenge must state the ground upon which the challenge is made, and must be signed by the challenger giving his the challenger's address and voting precinct. If, after public hearing, of which both the challenger and challenged shall be notified, the board is satisfied, in accordance with division (B) of section 3503.24 of the Revised Code, that the challenge is well taken, the director shall so indicate on the registration cards and he shall so notify in writing the judges and clerks of the precinct. If such challenged person offers to vote at such election he, the challenged person shall be examined as in the case of an original challenge. If such person establishes, to the satisfaction of the judges and clerks, that his the person's disabilities have been removed and that he the person has a right to vote, he the person shall be permitted to vote.
Sec. 3505.20.  Any person offering to vote may be challenged at the polling place by any challenger, any elector then lawfully in the polling place, or by any judge or clerk of elections. If the board of elections has ruled on the question presented by a challenge prior to election day, its finding and decision shall be final, and the presiding judge shall be notified in writing. If the board has not ruled, the question shall be determined as set forth in this section. If any person is so challenged as unqualified to vote, the presiding judge shall tender the person the following oath: "You do swear or affirm under penalty of election falsification that you will fully and truly answer all of the following questions put to you, touching your place of residence and concerning your qualifications as an elector at this election."
(A) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground that the person is not a citizen, the judges shall put the following questions:
(1) Are you a citizen of the United States?
(2) Are you a native or naturalized citizen?
(3) Where were you born?
(4) What official documentation do you possess to prove your citizenship? Please provide that documentation.
If the person offering to vote claims to be a naturalized citizen of the United States, the person shall, before the vote is received, either produce for inspection of the judges a certificate of naturalization and declare under oath that the person is the identical person named therein, or state under oath when and where the person was naturalized, that the person has had a certificate of the person's naturalization, and that it is lost, destroyed, or beyond the person's power to produce to the judges in the certificate. If the person states under oath that, by reason of the naturalization of the person's parents or one of them, the person has become a citizen of the United States, and when or where the person's parents were naturalized, the certificate of naturalization need not be produced. If the person is unable to provide a certificate of naturalization on the day of the election, the judges shall provide to the person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The provisional ballot shall not be counted unless it is properly completed and the board of elections determines that the voter is properly registered and eligible to vote in the election.
(B) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground that the person has not resided in this state for thirty days immediately preceding the election, the judges shall put the following questions:
(1) Have you resided in this state for thirty days immediately preceding this election? If so, where have you resided? Name two persons who know of your place of residence.
(2) Have you been absent from this state within the thirty days immediately preceding this election? If yes, then the following questions:
(a) Have you continuously resided outside this state for a period of four years or more?
(b) Did you, while absent, look upon and regard this state as your home?
(c) Did you, while absent, vote in any other state? Did you properly register to vote?
(3) Can you provide some form of identification containing your current mailing address in this precinct? Please provide that identification.
(4) Have you voted or attempted to vote at any other location in this or in any other state at this election?
(5) Have you applied for an absent voter's ballot in any state for this election?
If the judges are unable to verify the person's eligibility to cast a ballot in the election, the judges shall provide to the person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The provisional ballot shall not be counted unless it is properly completed and the board of elections determines that the voter is properly registered and eligible to vote in the election.
(C) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground that the person is not a resident of the county or precinct where he the person offers to vote, the judges shall put the following questions:
(1) Do you now reside in this county?
(2) Do you now reside in this precinct?
(2) When did you move into this precinct?
(3) When you came into this precinct, did you come for a temporary purpose merely or for the purpose of making it your home?
(4) What is your current mailing address?
(5) Do you have some official identification containing your current address in this precinct? Please provide that identification.
(6) Have you voted or attempted to vote at any other location in this or in any other state at this election?
(7) Have you applied for any absent voter's ballot in any state for this election?
The judges shall direct an individual who is not in the appropriate polling place to the appropriate polling place. If the individual refuses to go to the appropriate polling place, or if the judges are unable to verify the person's eligibility to cast a ballot in the election, the judges shall provide to the person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The provisional ballot shall not be counted unless it is properly completed and the board of elections determines that the voter is properly registered and eligible to vote in the election.
(D) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground that the person is not of legal voting age, the judges shall put the following question questions:
(1) Are you eighteen years of age or more to the best of your knowledge and belief?
(2) What is your date of birth?
(3) Do you have some official identification verifying your age? Please provide that identification.
If the judges are unable to verify the person's age and eligibility to cast a ballot in the election, the judges shall provide to the person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The provisional ballot shall not be counted unless it is properly completed and the board of elections determines that the voter is properly registered and eligible to vote in the election.
The presiding judge shall put such other questions to the person challenged under respective heads designated by this section, as are necessary to test determine the person's qualifications as an elector at the election. If a person challenged refuses to answer fully any question put to the person, is unable to answer the questions as they were answered on the registration form by the person under whose name the person offers to vote, or refuses to sign the person's name or make the person's mark, or if for any other reason a majority of the judges believes the person is not entitled to vote, the judges shall refuse the person a ballot. If a person is disqualified under division (C) of this section because the person does not now reside in the county or precinct, the presiding judge shall inform the person of the person's right to vote in the person's proper county or precinct of residence and instruct the person to contact the appropriate board of elections for information concerning the location of the person's voting precinct provide to the person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The provisional ballot shall not be counted unless it is properly completed and the board of elections determines that the voter is properly registered and eligible to vote in the election.
A qualified citizen who has certified the citizen's intention to vote for president and vice-president as provided by Chapter 3504. of the Revised Code shall be eligible to receive only the ballot containing presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
The decision of said judges shall be final as to the right of the person challenged to vote at such election.
However, prior to the nineteenth day before the day of an election and in accordance with section 3503.24 of the Revised Code, any person qualified to vote may challenge the right of any other person to be registered as a voter, or the right to cast an absent voter's ballot, or to make application for such ballot. Such challenge shall be made in accordance with section 3503.24 of the Revised Code, and the board of elections of the county in which the voting residence of the challenged voter is situated shall make a final determination relative to the legality of such registration or application.
Sec. 3505.21.  At any primary, special, or general election, any political party supporting candidates to be voted upon at such election and any group of five or more candidates may appoint to the board of elections or to any of the polling places precincts in the county or city one person, a qualified elector, who shall serve as challenger observer for such party or such candidates during the casting of the ballots, and one person, a qualified elector, who shall serve as witness during the counting of the ballots; provided that one such person separate observers may be appointed to serve as both challenger and witness during the casting and during the counting of the ballots. No candidate, no uniformed peace officer as defined by section 2935.01 of the Revised Code, no uniformed state highway patrol trooper, no uniformed member of any fire department, no uniformed member of the armed services, no uniformed member of the organized militia, no person wearing any other uniform, and no person carrying a firearm or other deadly weapon shall serve as a witness or challenger an observer, nor shall any candidate be represented by more than one challenger and one witness observer at any one polling place precinct except that a candidate who is a member of a party controlling committee, as defined in section 3517.03 of the Revised Code, may serve as a witness or challenger an observer. Any political party or group of candidates appointing witnesses or challengers observers shall notify the board of elections of the names and addresses of its appointees and the polling places precincts at which they shall serve. Notification shall take place not less than eleven days before the election on forms prescribed by the secretary of state and may be amended by filing an amendment with the board of elections at any time until four p.m. of the day before the election. The challenger and witness observer serving on behalf of a political party shall be appointed in writing by the chairman chairperson and secretary of the respective controlling party committees committee. Challengers and witnesses Observers serving for any five or more candidates shall have their certificates signed by such those candidates. Challengers and witnesses so Observers appointed to a precinct may file their certificates of appointment with the presiding judge of the precinct at the meeting on the evening prior to the election, or with the presiding judge of the precinct on the day of the election. Witnesses shall not be admitted to the booths before the closing of the polls except for the purpose of filing their certificates. Upon the filing of a certificate, the person named as challenger therein observer in the certificate shall be permitted to be in and about the polling place for the precinct during the casting of the ballots and shall be permitted to watch every proceeding of the judges and clerks of elections from the time of the opening until the closing of the polls. Any such witnesses so appointed The observer also may inspect the counting of the all ballots in the precinct polling place or board of elections from the time of the closing of the polls until the counting is completed and the final returns are certified and signed. Observers appointed to the board of elections under this section may observe at the board of elections and may observe at any precinct in the county. The judges of elections shall protect such challengers and witnesses observers in all of the rights and privileges granted to them by Title XXXV of the Revised Code.
No persons other than the judges and clerks of elections, the witnesses observers, a police officer, other persons who are detailed to any precinct on request of the board of elections, or the secretary of state or his the secretary of state's legal representative shall be admitted to the polling place, or any room in which a board of elections is counting ballots, after the closing of the polls until the counting, certifying, and signing of the final returns of each election have been completed.
Not later than eleven days four p.m. of the twentieth day prior to an election at which questions are to be submitted to a vote of the people, any committee which that in good faith advocates or opposes a measure may file a petition with the board of any county asking that such the petitioners be recognized as the committee entitled to appoint witnesses observers to the count at such the election. If more than one committee alleging themselves to advocate or oppose the same measure file such petitions a petition, the board shall decide and announce by registered mail to each committee not less than three twelve days immediately preceding the election which committee is recognized as being entitled to appoint such witnesses observers. Such The decision shall not be final, but any aggrieved party may institute mandamus proceedings in the court of common pleas of the county wherein such in which the board has jurisdiction to compel the judges of elections to accept the appointees of such aggrieved party. Any such recognized committee may appoint a challenger and a witness an observer to the count in each precinct. Committees appointing witnesses or challengers observers shall notify the board of elections of the names and addresses of its appointees and the polling places precincts at which they shall serve. Notification shall take place not less than eleven days before the election on forms prescribed by the secretary of state and may be amended by filing an amendment with the board of elections at any time until four p.m. on the day before the election. A person so appointed shall file his the person's certificate of appointment with the presiding judge in the precinct in which he the person has been appointed to serve. Witnesses Observers shall file their certificates before the polls are closed. In no case shall more than six such challengers and six witnesses observers be appointed for any one election in any one precinct. If more than three questions are to be voted on, the committees which have appointed challengers and witnesses observers may agree upon not to exceed six challengers and six witnesses observers, and the judges of elections shall appoint such challengers and witnesses observers. If such committees fail to agree, the judges of elections shall appoint six challengers and six witnesses observers from the appointees so certified, in such manner that each side of the several questions shall be represented.
No person shall serve as a witness or challenger an observer at any polling place precinct unless the board of elections of the county in which such witness or challenger observer is to serve has first been notified of the name, address, and polling place precinct at which such witness or challenger observer is to serve. Notification to the board of elections shall be given by the political party, group of candidates, or committee appointing such witness or challenger observer as prescribed in this section. No such challengers and witnesses observers shall receive any compensation from the county, municipal corporation, or township, and they shall take the following oath, to be administered by one of the judges of elections:
"You do solemnly swear that you will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties as an official challenger and witness observer, assigned by law; that you will not cause any delay to persons offering to vote, further than is necessary to procure satisfactory information of their qualification as electors; and that you will not disclose or communicate to any person how any elector has voted at such election."
Sec. 3505.22.  If any precinct officer, challenger, or other elector has reason to believe that a person is impersonating an elector, then such that person, before he is being given a ballot, shall be questioned as to his the person's right to vote, and shall be required to sign his the person's name or make his the person's mark in ink on a card to be provided therefor. If, in the opinion of a majority of the precinct officers, the signature is not that of the person who signed such the name in the registration forms, then such that person may shall be refused permitted to cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. Such person may appeal to the board of elections and if the board finds that he is eligible to vote, an order instructing the precinct officer to permit him to vote shall be given to such person. Such order shall be recognized by such precinct officers when presented and signed and such person shall be permitted to vote.
Sec. 3505.25.  No judge or clerk of elections, challenger observer, or police officer admitted into the polling rooms at the election, at any time while the polls are open, shall have in his the individual's possession, distribute, or give out any ballot or ticket to any person on any pretense during the receiving, counting, or certifying of the votes, or have any ballot or ticket in his the individual's possession or control, except in the proper discharge of his the individual's official duty in receiving, counting, or canvassing the votes. This section does not prevent the lawful exercise by a judge or clerk of elections, witness, or challenger observer of his the individual right to vote at such election.
Sec. 3505.26.  At the time for closing the polls, the presiding judge shall by proclamation announce that the polls are closed.
The judges and clerks shall then in the presence of witnesses observers proceed as follows:
(A) Count the number of electors who voted, as shown on the pollbooks.;
(B) Count the unused ballots without removing stubs.;
(C) Count the soiled and defaced ballots.;
(D) Insert the totals of (A), (B), and (C) on the report forms provided therefor in the pollbook.;
(E) Count the voted ballots. If the number of voted ballots exceeds the number of voters whose names appear upon the pollbooks, the presiding judge shall enter on the pollbooks an explanation of such that discrepancy, and such that explanation, if agreed to, shall be subscribed to by all of the judges and clerks. Any judge or clerk having a different explanation shall enter it in the pollbooks and subscribe to it.
(F) Put the unused ballots with stubs attached, and soiled and defaced ballots with stubs attached, in the envelopes or containers provided therefor, certify the number, and then proceed to count and tally the votes in the manner prescribed by section 3505.27 of the Revised Code and certify the result of the election to the board of elections.
Sec. 3505.27.  Unless otherwise ordered by the secretary of state or the board of elections, the counting and tallying of ballots shall be conducted according to procedures prescribed by the board of elections that assure an accurate count of all votes cast and that include all of the following:
(A) The counting and tallying of ballots at the appropriate office, as designated by the board, in the full view of members of the board and witnesses observers;
(B) The recording on a worksheet or other appropriate document of the number of votes cast for each candidate and the number of votes cast for and against each question or issue;
(C) The periodic reporting to the public and the office of the secretary of state of the number of votes cast for each candidate and the number of votes cast for and against each question or issue as tallied at the time of the report;
(D) An examination and verification by the appropriate authority, as designated by the board, of the votes so tallied and recorded in the pollbook under section 3505.26 of the Revised Code.
The board shall prescribe additional procedures as necessary to assure an accurate count of all votes cast. These procedures shall be followed until all of the ballots that are required to be counted on the day of the election after the close of the polls have been counted.
All work sheets that are prepared at the polling locations shall be preserved and placed inside the pollbook and returned to the board.
If there is any disagreement as to how a ballot should be counted, it shall be submitted to the members of the board for a decision on whether or to what extent the ballot should be counted. If three of the members do not agree as to how any part of the ballot shall be counted, only that part of such the ballot on which three of the members do agree shall be counted. A notation shall be made upon the ballot indicating what part has not been counted, and the ballot shall be placed in an envelope marked "Disputed Ballots."
Sec. 3505.32.  (A) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, not earlier than the eleventh day or later than the fifteenth day after a general or special election or, if a special election was held on the day of a presidential primary election, not earlier than the twenty-first day or later than the twenty-fifth day after the special election, the board of elections shall begin to canvass the election returns from the precincts in which electors were entitled to vote at that election. It shall continue the canvass daily until it is completed and the results of the voting in that election in each of the precincts are determined.
The board shall complete the canvass not later than the date set by the secretary of state under division (U) of section 3501.05 of the Revised Code twenty-first day after the day of the election, or if a special election was held on the day of a presidential primary election, not later than the thirty-first day after the day of the special election. Sixty Eighty-one days after the date set by day of the secretary of state for the completion of the canvass election, or ninety-one days after the day of a special election held on the day of the presidential primary election, the canvass of election returns shall be deemed final, and no amendments to the canvass may be made after that date. The secretary of state may specify an earlier date upon which the canvass of election returns shall be deemed final, and after which amendments to the final canvass may not be made, if so required by federal law.
(B) The county executive committee of each political party, each committee designated in a petition nominating an independent or nonpartisan candidate for election at an election, each committee designated in a petition to represent the petitioners pursuant to which a question or issue was submitted at an election, and any committee opposing a question or issue submitted at an election that was permitted by section 3505.21 of the Revised Code to have a qualified elector serve as a witness an observer during the counting of the ballots at each polling place at an election may designate a qualified elector who may be present and may witness observe the making of the official canvass.
(C) The board shall first open all envelopes containing uncounted ballots and shall count and tally them.
In connection with its investigation of any apparent or suspected error or defect in the election returns from a polling place, the board may cause subpoenas to be issued and served requiring the attendance before it of the election officials of that polling place, and it may examine them under oath regarding the manner in which the votes were cast and counted in that polling place, or the manner in which the returns were prepared and certified, or as to any other matters bearing upon the voting and the counting of the votes in that polling place at that election.
Finally, the board shall open the sealed container containing the ballots that were counted in the polling place at the election and count those ballots, during the official canvass, in the presence of all of the members of the board and any other persons who are entitled to witness the official canvass.
(D) Prior to the tenth day after a primary, general, or special election, the board may examine the pollbooks, poll lists, and tally sheets received from each polling place for its files and may compare the results of the voting in any polling place with the summary statement received from the polling place. If the board finds that any of these records or any portion of them is missing, or that they are incomplete, not properly certified, or ambiguous, or that the results of the voting in the polling place as shown on the summary statement from the polling place are different from the results of the voting in the polling place as shown by the pollbook, poll list, or tally sheet from the polling place, or that there is any other defect in the records, the board may make whatever changes to the pollbook, poll list, or tally sheet it determines to be proper in order to correct the errors or defects.
Sec. 3506.01.  As used in this chapter and Chapters 3501., 3503., 3505., 3509., 3511., 3513., 3515., 3517., 3519., 3521., 3523., and 3599. of the Revised Code:
(A) "Marking device" means an apparatus operated by a voter to record the voter's choices through the piercing or marking of ballots enabling them to be examined and counted by automatic tabulating equipment.
(B) "Ballot" means the official election presentation of offices and candidates, including write-in candidates, and of questions and issues, and the means by which votes are recorded.
(C) "Automatic tabulating equipment" means a machine or electronic device, or interconnected or interrelated machines or electronic devices, that will automatically examine and count votes recorded on ballots.
(D) "Central counting station" means a location, or one of a number of locations, designated by the board of elections for the automatic examining, sorting, or counting of ballots.
(E) "Voting machines" means mechanical or electronic equipment for the direct recording and tabulation of votes.
(F) "Direct recording electronic voting machine" means a voting machine that records votes by means of a ballot display provided with mechanical or electro-optical components that can be actuated by the voter, that processes the data by means of a computer program, and that records voting data and ballot images in internal or external memory components. A "direct recording electronic voting machine" produces a tabulation of the voting data stored in a removable memory component and in printed copy.
(G) "Help America Vote Act of 2002" means the "Help America Vote Act of 2002," Public Law Pub. L. No. 107-252, 116 Stat. 1666.
(H) "Voter verified paper audit trail" means a physical paper printout on which the voter's ballot choices, as registered by a direct recording electronic voting machine, are recorded. The voter shall be permitted to visually or audibly inspect the contents of the physical paper printout. The physical paper printout shall be securely retained at the polling place until the close of the polls on the day of the election; the secretary of state shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code specifying the manner of storing the physical paper printout at the polling place. After the physical paper printout is produced, but before the voter's ballot is recorded, the voter shall have an opportunity to accept or reject the contents of the printout as matching the voter's ballot choices. If a voter rejects the contents of the physical paper printout, the system that produces the voter verified paper audit trail shall invalidate the printout and permit the voter to recast the voter's ballot. On and after the first federal election that occurs after January 1, 2006, unless required sooner by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, any system that produces a voter verified paper audit trail shall be accessible to disabled voters, including visually impaired voters, in the same manner as the direct recording electronic voting machine that produces it.
Sec. 3506.05.  (A) As used in this section, except when used as part of the phrase "tabulating equipment" or "automatic tabulating equipment":
(1) "Equipment" means a voting machine, marking device, automatic tabulating equipment, or software.
(2) "Vendor" means the person that owns, manufactures, distributes, or has the legal right to control the use of equipment, or the person's agent.
(B) No voting machine, marking device, automatic tabulating equipment, or software for the purpose of casting or tabulating votes or for communications among systems involved in the tabulation, storage, or casting of votes shall be purchased, leased, put in use, or continued to be used, except for experimental use as provided in division (B) of section 3506.04 of the Revised Code, unless it, a manual of procedures governing its use, and training materials, service, and other support arrangements have been certified by the secretary of state and unless the board of elections of each county where the equipment will be used has assured that a demonstration of the use of the equipment has been made available to all interested electors. The secretary of state shall appoint a board of voting machine examiners to examine and approve equipment and its related manuals and support arrangements. The board shall consist of one competent and experienced election officer and two persons who are knowledgeable about the operation of such equipment, who shall serve during the secretary of state's term.
For the member's service, each member of the board shall receive three hundred dollars per day for each combination of marking device, tabulating equipment, and voting machine examined and reported, but in no event shall a member receive more than six hundred dollars to examine and report on any one marking device, item of tabulating equipment, or voting machine. Each member of the board shall be reimbursed for expenses the member incurs during an examination or during the performance of any related duties that may be required by the secretary of state. Reimbursement of these expenses shall be made in accordance with, and shall not exceed, the rates provided for under section 126.31 of the Revised Code.
Neither the secretary of state nor the board, nor any public officer who participates in the authorization, examination, testing, or purchase of equipment, shall have any pecuniary interest in the equipment or any affiliation with the vendor.
(C)(1) A vendor who desires to have the secretary of state certify equipment shall first submit the equipment, all current related procedural manuals, and a current description of all related support arrangements to the board of voting machine examiners for examination, testing, and approval. The submission shall be accompanied by a fee of eighteen hundred dollars and a detailed explanation of the construction and method of operation of the equipment, a full statement of its advantages, and a list of the patents and copyrights used in operations essential to the processes of vote recording and tabulating, vote storage, system security, and other crucial operations of the equipment as may be determined by the board. An additional fee, in an amount to be set by rules promulgated by the board, may be imposed to pay for the costs of alternative testing or testing by persons other than board members, record-keeping, and other extraordinary costs incurred in the examination process. Moneys not used shall be returned to the person or entity submitting the equipment for examination.
(2) Fees collected by the secretary of state under this section shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the board of voting machine examiners fund, which is hereby created. All moneys credited to this fund shall be used solely for the purpose of paying for the services and expenses of each member of the board or for other expenses incurred relating to the examination, testing, reporting, or certification of voting machine devices, the performance of any related duties as required by the secretary of state, or the reimbursement of any person submitting an examination fee as provided in this chapter.
(D) Within sixty days after the submission of the equipment and payment of the fee, or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, but in any event within not more than ninety days after the submission and payment, the board of voting machine examiners shall examine the equipment and file with the secretary of state a written report on the equipment with its recommendations and its determination or condition of approval regarding whether the equipment, manual, and other related materials or arrangements meet the criteria set forth in sections 3506.07 and 3506.10 of the Revised Code and can be safely used by the voters at elections under the conditions prescribed in Title XXXV of the Revised Code, or a written statement of reasons for which testing requires a longer period. The board may grant temporary approval for the purpose of allowing experimental use of equipment. If the board finds that the equipment meets the criteria set forth in sections 3506.06, 3506.07, and 3506.10 of the Revised Code, can be used safely and can be depended upon to record and count accurately and continuously the votes of electors, and has the capacity to be warranted, maintained, and serviced, it shall approve the equipment and recommend that the secretary of state certify the equipment. The secretary of state shall notify all boards of elections of any such certification. Equipment of the same model and make, if it provides for recording of voter intent, system security, voter privacy, retention of vote, and communication of voting records in an identical manner, may then be adopted for use at elections.
(E) The vendor shall notify the secretary of state, who shall then notify the board of voting machine examiners, of any enhancement and any significant adjustment to the hardware or software that could result in a patent or copyright change or that significantly alters the methods of recording voter intent, system security, voter privacy, retention of the vote, communication of voting records, and connections between the system and other systems. The vendor shall provide the secretary of state with an updated operations manual for the equipment, and the secretary of state shall forward the manual to the board. Upon receiving such a notification and manual, the board may require the vendor to submit the equipment to an examination and test in order for the equipment to remain certified. The board or the secretary of state shall periodically examine, test, and inspect certified equipment to determine continued compliance with the requirements of this chapter and the initial certification. Any examination, test, or inspection conducted for the purpose of continuing certification of any equipment in which a significant problem has been uncovered or in which a record of continuing problems exists shall be performed pursuant to divisions (C) and (D) of this section, in the same manner as the examination, test, or inspection is performed for initial approval and certification.
(F) If, at any time after the certification of equipment, the board of voting machine examiners or the secretary of state is notified by a board of elections of any significant problem with the equipment or determines that the equipment fails to meet the requirements necessary for approval or continued compliance with the requirements of this chapter, or if the board of voting machine examiners determines that there are significant enhancements or adjustments to the hardware or software, or if notice of such enhancements or adjustments has not been given as required by division (E) of this section, the secretary of state shall notify the users and vendors of that equipment that certification of the equipment may be withdrawn.
(G)(1) The notice given by the secretary of state under division (F) of this section shall be in writing and shall specify both of the following:
(a) The reasons why the certification may be withdrawn;
(b) The date on which certification will be withdrawn unless the vendor takes satisfactory corrective measures or explains why there are no problems with the equipment or why the enhancements or adjustments to the equipment are not significant.
(2) A vendor who receives a notice under division (F) of this section shall, within thirty days after receiving it, submit to the board of voting machine examiners in writing a description of the corrective measures taken and the date on which they were taken, or the explanation required under division (G)(1)(b) of this section.
(3) Not later than fifteen days after receiving a written description or explanation under division (G)(2) of this section from a vendor, the board shall determine whether the corrective measures taken or the explanation is satisfactory to allow continued certification of the equipment, and the secretary of state shall send the vendor a written notice of the board's determination, specifying the reasons for it. If the board has determined that the measures taken or the explanation given is unsatisfactory, the notice shall include the effective date of withdrawal of the certification. This date may be different from the date originally specified in division (G)(1)(b) of this section.
(4) A vendor who receives a notice under division (G)(3) of this section indicating a decision to withdraw certification may, within thirty days after receiving it, request in writing that the board hold a hearing to reconsider its decision. Any interested party shall be given the opportunity to submit testimony or documentation in support of or in opposition to the board's recommendation to withdraw certification. Failure of the vendor to take appropriate steps as described in division (G)(1)(b) or to comply with division (G)(2) of this section results in a waiver of the vendor's rights under division (G)(4) of this section.
(H)(1) The secretary of state, in consultation with the board of voting machine examiners, shall establish, by rule, guidelines for the approval, certification, and continued certification of the voting machines, marking devices, and tabulating equipment to be used under Title XXXV of the Revised Code. The guidelines shall establish procedures requiring vendors or computer software developers to place in escrow with an independent escrow agent approved by the secretary of state a copy of all source code and related documentation, together with periodic updates as they become known or available. The secretary of state shall require that the documentation include a system configuration and that the source code include all relevant program statements in low- or high-level languages. As used in this division, "source code" does not include variable codes created for specific elections.
(2) Nothing in any rule adopted under division (H) of this section shall be construed to limit the ability of the secretary of state to follow or adopt, or to preclude the secretary of state from following or adopting, any guidelines proposed by the federal election commission, any entity authorized by the federal election commission to propose guidelines, the election assistance commission, or any entity authorized by the election assistance commission to propose guidelines.
(3)(a) Before the initial certification of any direct recording electronic voting machine with a voter verified paper audit trail, and as a condition for the continued certification and use of those machines, the secretary of state shall establish, by rule, standards for the certification of those machines. Those standards shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(i) A definition of a voter verified paper audit trail as a paper record of the voter's choices that is verified by the voter prior to the casting of the voter's ballot and that is securely retained by the board of elections;
(ii) Requirements that the voter verified paper audit trail shall not be retained by any voter and shall not contain individual voter information;
(iii) A prohibition against the production by any direct recording electronic voting machine of anything that legally could be removed by the voter from the polling place, such as a receipt or voter confirmation;
(iv) A requirement that paper used in producing a voter verified paper audit trail be sturdy, clean, and resistant to degradation.;
(v) A requirement that the voter verified paper audit trail shall be capable of being optically scanned for the purpose of conducting a recount or other audit of the voting machine and shall be readable in a manner that makes the voter's ballot choices obvious to the voter without the use of computer or electronic codes;
(vi) A requirement, for office-type ballots, that the voter verified paper audit trail include the name of each candidate selected by the voter;
(vii) A requirement, for questions and issues ballots, that the voter verified paper audit trail include the title of the question or issue, the name of the entity that placed the question or issue on the ballot, and the voter's ballot selection on that question or issue, but not the entire text of the question or issue.
(b) The secretary of state, by rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, may waive the requirement under division (H)(3)(a)(v) of this section, if the secretary of state determines that the requirement is cost prohibitive.
Sec. 3506.12.  In counties where marking devices, automatic tabulating equipment, voting machines, or any combination of these are in use or are to be used, the board of elections:
(A) May combine, rearrange, and enlarge precincts; but the board shall arrange for a sufficient number of these devices to accommodate the number of electors in each precinct as determined by the number of votes cast in that precinct at the most recent election for the office of governor, taking into consideration the size and location of each selected polling place, available parking, handicap accessibility and other accessibility to the polling place, and the number of candidates and issues to be voted on. Notwithstanding section 3501.22 of the Revised Code, the board may appoint more than four precinct officers to each precinct if this is made necessary by the number of voting machines to be used in that precinct.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in this division, shall establish one or more counting stations to receive voted ballots and other precinct election supplies after the polling precincts are closed. Those stations shall be under the supervision and direction of the board of elections. Processing and counting of voted ballots, and the preparation of summary sheets, shall be done in the presence of witnesses observers approved by the board. A certified copy of the summary sheet for the precinct shall be posted at each counting station immediately after completion of the summary sheet.
In counties where punch card ballots are used, one or more counting stations, located at the board of elections, shall be established, at which location all punch card ballots shall be counted.
As used in this division, "punch card ballot" has the same meaning as in section 3506.16 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3506.13.  In precincts where marking devices, automatic tabulating equipment, voting machines, or any combination of these are used, challengers and witnesses observers may be appointed as prescribed in section 3505.21 of the Revised Code. The duties and privileges of challengers observers in such precincts during the hours the polls are open, shall be as provided in section 3505.21 of the Revised Code.
Challengers Observers shall be allowed to remain in the polling place after the polls close and may observe the processing of the ballots and the sealing and signing of the envelopes or containers or both containing the voted ballots.
Witnesses shall not be allowed in the polling place, but shall file their certificates of appointment at the proper counting station after the polls close, and may observe all functions there.
Sec. 3506.18.  (A) For any recount of an election in which ballots are cast using a direct recording electronic voting machine with a voter verified paper audit trail, the voter verified paper audit trail shall serve as the official ballot to be recounted.
(B) Voter verified paper audit trails shall be preserved in the same manner and for the same time period as paper ballots are preserved under section 3505.31 of the Revised Code.
(C) A voter verified paper audit trail shall be treated as are other ballots for purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code and shall be retained in accordance with the county records retention schedule established under section 149.38 of the Revised Code after the relevant time period prescribed for its preservation in section 3505.31 of the Revised Code, or as ordered by the secretary of state or a court of competent jurisdiction.
(D) If a voter verified paper audit trail is made available to the public, any information on that voter verified paper audit trail that identifies the particular direct recording electronic voting machine that produced it shall be redacted.
Sec. 3506.20.  (A) As used in this section, "ballots on demand voting system" means a system that utilizes ballots printed as needed by election officials at the board of elections for distribution to electors, either in person or by mail.
(B) No board of elections shall use a ballots on demand voting system unless each ballot printed by the system includes a tracking number.
Sec. 3506.21. (A) As used in this section, "optical scan ballot" means a ballot that is marked by using a specified writing instrument to fill in a designated position to record a voter's candidate, question, or issue choice and that can be scanned and electronically read in order to tabulate the vote.
(B)(1) In addition to marks that can be scanned and electronically read by automatic tabulating equipment, any of the following marks, if a majority of those marks are made in a consistent manner throughout an optical scan ballot, shall be counted as a valid vote:
(a) A candidate, question, or issue choice that has been circled by the voter;
(b) An oval beside the candidate, question, or issue choice that has been circled by the voter;
(c) An oval beside the candidate, question, or issue choice that has been marked by the voter with an "x," a check mark, or other recognizable mark;
(d) A candidate, question, or issue choice that has been marked with a writing instrument that cannot be recognized by automatic tabulating equipment.
(2) Marks made on an optical scan ballot in accordance with division (B)(1) of this section shall be counted as valid votes only if that optical scan ballot contains no marks that can be scanned and electronically read by automatic tabulating equipment.
(C) The secretary of state may adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to authorize additional types of optical scan ballots and to specify the types of marks on those ballots that shall be counted as a valid vote to ensure consistency in the counting of ballots throughout the state.
Sec. 3506.22. (A) Beginning in the year 2013 and thereafter, a county that selects direct recording electronic voting machines as the primary voting system to be used in the county and not only for accessibility for individuals with disabilities as required under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and section 3506.19 of the Revised Code shall acquire, if needed, sufficient direct recording electronic voting machines to meet the minimum number of direct recording electronic voting machines required to be established by the secretary of state under division (B) of this section.
(B) Beginning in the year 2013 and every eight years thereafter, the secretary of state shall establish, for each county, a minimum number of direct recording electronic voting machines that the county shall be required to have if it elects to use direct recording electronic voting machines as the primary voting system in the county. The minimum number for each county shall be calculated as follows:
(1) The total number of registered voters in the county as of the October deadline for voter registration for the last presidential election or the average of the total number of registered voters in the county as of the October deadline for voter registration for the last two presidential elections, whichever number is higher, shall be determined.
(2) The number resulting from the determination under division (B)(1) of this section shall be divided by one hundred seventy-five.
(3) Any fraction resulting from the calculation under division (B)(2) of this section shall be rounded up to the next whole number.
(C) A county that selects direct recording electronic voting machines as the primary voting system to be used in the county and not only for accessibility for individuals with disabilities as required under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and section 3506.19 of the Revised Code after the effective date of this section but before the year 2013 shall do so in accordance with the formula set forth in Section 514.03 of Am. Sub. H.B. 66 of the 126th general assembly.
Sec. 3506.23. A voting machine shall not be connected to the internet.
Sec. 3509.02.  (A) Any qualified elector may vote by absent voter's ballots at an election.
(B) Any qualified elector who is unable to appear at the office of the board of elections or other location designated by the board or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location on account of personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity, and who moves from one precinct to another within a county, changes the elector's name and moves from one precinct to another within a county, or moves from one county to another county within the state, on or prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election and has not filed a notice of change of residence or change of name may vote by absent voter's ballots in that election as specified in division (G) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code.
"Sec. 3509.03.  Except as provided in section 3509.031 or division (B) of section 3509.08 of the Revised Code, any qualified elector desiring to vote absent voter's ballots at an election shall make written application for those ballots to the director of elections of the county in which the elector's voting residence is located. The application need not be in any particular form but shall contain all of the following:
(A) The elector's name;
(B) The elector's signature;
(C) The address at which the elector is registered to vote;
(D) The elector's date of birth;
(E) One of the following:
(1) The elector's driver's license number;
(2) The last four digits of the elector's social security number;
(3) A copy of the elector's current and valid photo identification, a copy of a military identification that shows the elector's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the name and address of the elector.
(F) A statement identifying the election for which absent voter's ballots are requested;
(G) A statement that the person requesting the ballots is a qualified elector;
(H) If the request is for primary election ballots, the elector's party affiliation;
(I) If the elector desires ballots to be mailed to the elector, the address to which those ballots shall be mailed.
A voter who will be outside the United States on the day of any election during a calendar year may use a single federal post card application to apply for absent voter's ballots. Those ballots shall be sent to the voter for use at the primary and general elections in that year and any special election to be held on the day in that year specified by division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code for the holding of a primary election, designated by the general assembly for the purpose of submitting constitutional amendments proposed by the general assembly to the voters of the state unless the voter reports a change in the voter's voting status to the board of elections or the voter's intent to vote in any such election in the precinct in this state where the voter is registered to vote. A single federal postcard application shall be processed by the board of elections pursuant to section 3509.04 of the Revised Code the same as if the voter had applied separately for absent voter's ballots for each election. When mailing absent voter's ballots to a voter who applied for them by single federal post card application, the board shall enclose notification to the voter that the voter must report to the board subsequent changes in the voter's voting status or the voter's subsequent intent to vote in any such election in the precinct in this state where the voter is registered to vote. Such notification shall be in a form prescribed by the secretary of state. As used in this section, "voting status" means the voter's name at the time the voter applied for absent voter's ballots by single federal post card application and the voter's address outside the United States to which the voter requested that those ballots be sent.
Each application for absent voter's ballots shall be delivered to the director not earlier than the first day of January of the year of the elections for which the absent voter's ballots are requested or not earlier than ninety days before the day of the election at which the ballots are to be voted, whichever is earlier, and not later than twelve noon of the third day before the day of the election at which the ballots are to be voted, or not later than the close of regular business hours on the day before the day of the election at which the ballots are to be voted if the application is delivered in person to the office of the board.
Sec. 3509.031. (A) Any qualified elector who is a member of the organized militia called to active duty within the state and who will be unable to vote on election day on account of that active duty may make written application for absent voter's ballots to the director of elections for the county in which the elector's voting residence is located. The elector may personally deliver the application to the director or may mail it, send it by facsimile machine, or otherwise send it to the director. The application need not be in any particular form but shall contain all of the following:
(1) The elector's name;
(2) The elector's signature;
(3) The address at which the elector is registered to vote;
(4) The elector's date of birth;
(5) One of the following:
(a) The elector's driver's license number;
(b) The last four digits of the elector's social security number;
(c) A copy of the elector's current and valid photo identification, a copy of a military identification that shows the elector's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the name and address of the elector.
(6) A statement identifying the election for which absent voter's ballots are requested;
(7) A statement that the person requesting the ballots is a qualified elector;
(8) A statement that the elector is a member of the organized militia serving on active duty within the state;
(9) If the request is for primary election ballots, the elector's party affiliation;
(10) If the elector desires ballots to be mailed to the elector, the address to which those ballots shall be mailed;
(11) If the elector desires ballots to be sent to the elector by facsimile machine, the telephone number to which they shall be so sent.
(B) Application to have absent voter's ballots mailed or sent by facsimile machine to a qualified elector who is a member of the organized militia called to active duty within the state and who will be unable to vote on election day on account of that active duty may be made by the spouse of the militia member or the father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother or sister of the whole blood or half blood, son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of the militia member. The application shall be in writing upon a blank form furnished only by the director. The form of the application shall be prescribed by the secretary of state. The director shall furnish that blank form to any of the relatives specified in this division desiring to make the application, only upon the request of such a relative in person at the office of the board or upon the written request of such a relative mailed to the office of the board. The application, subscribed and sworn to by the applicant, shall contain all of the following:
(1) The full name of the elector for whom ballots are requested;
(2) A statement that such person is a qualified elector in the county;
(3) The address at which the elector is registered to vote;
(4) The elector's date of birth;
(5) One of the following:
(a) The elector's driver's license number;
(b) The last four digits of the elector's social security number;
(c) A copy of the elector's current and valid photo identification, a copy of a military identification that shows the elector's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the name and address of the elector.
(6) A statement identifying the election for which absent voter's ballots are requested;
(7) A statement that the elector is a member of the organized militia serving on active duty within the state;
(8) If the request is for primary election ballots, the elector's party affiliation;
(9) A statement that the applicant bears a relationship to the elector as specified in division (B) of this section;
(10) The address to which ballots shall be mailed or telephone number to which ballots shall be sent by facsimile machine;
(11) The signature and address of the person making the application.
(C) Applications to have absent voter's ballots mailed or sent by facsimile machine shall not be valid if dated, postmarked, or received by the director prior to the ninetieth day before the day of the election for which ballots are requested or if delivered to the director later than twelve noon of the third day preceding the day of such election. If, after the ninetieth day and before four p.m. of the day before the day of an election, a valid application for absent voter's ballots is delivered to the director of elections at the office of the board by a militia member making application in the militia member's own behalf, the director shall forthwith deliver to the militia member all absent voter's ballots then ready for use, together with an identification envelope. The militia member shall then vote the absent voter's ballots in the manner provided in section 3509.05 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3509.04. (A) If a director of a board of elections receives an application for absent voter's ballots that does not contain all of the required information, the director promptly shall notify the applicant of the additional information required to be provided by the applicant to complete that application.
(B) Upon receipt by the director of elections of an application for absent voter's ballots that contain all of the required information, as provided by sections 3509.03 and 3509.031 and division (G) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code, the director, if the director finds that the applicant is a qualified elector, shall deliver to the applicant in person or mail directly to the applicant by special delivery mail, air mail, or regular mail, postage prepaid, proper absent voter's ballots. The director shall deliver or mail with the ballots an unsealed identification envelope upon the face of which shall be printed a form substantially as follows:
"Identification Envelope Statement of Voter
I, ........................(Name of voter), declare under penalty of election falsification that the within ballot or ballots contained no voting marks of any kind when I received them, and I caused the ballot or ballots to be marked, enclosed in the identification envelope, and sealed in that envelope.
My voting residence in Ohio is
...................................................................
(Street and Number, if any, or Rural Route and Number)
of ................................ (City, Village, or Township) Ohio, which is in Ward ............... Precinct ................ in that city, village, or township.
The primary election ballots, if any, within this envelope are primary election ballots of the ............. Party.
Ballots contained within this envelope are to be voted at the .......... (general, special, or primary) election to be held on the .......................... day of ......................, ....
My date of birth is ............... (Month and Day), .......... (Year).
(Voter must provide one of the following:)
My driver's license number is ............... (Driver's license number).
The last four digits of my Social Security Number are ............... (Last four digits of Social Security Number).
...... In lieu of providing a driver's license number or the last four digits of my Social Security Number, I am enclosing a copy of one of the following in the return envelope in which this identification envelope will be mailed: a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows my name and current address, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections, that shows my name and address.
I hereby declare, under penalty of election falsification, that the statements above are true, as I verily believe.
....................................
(Signature of Voter)

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE."
The director shall mail with the ballots and the unsealed identification envelope an unsealed return envelope upon the face of which shall be printed the official title and post-office address of the director. In the upper left corner on the face of the return envelope, several blank lines shall be printed upon which the voter may write the voter's name and return address, and beneath these lines there shall be printed a box beside the words "check if out-of-country." The voter shall check this box if the voter will be outside the United States on the day of the election. The return envelope shall be of such size that the identification envelope can be conveniently placed within it for returning the identification envelope to the director.
Sec. 3509.05.  (A) When an elector receives an absent voter's ballot pursuant to the elector's application or request, the elector shall, before placing any marks on the ballot, note whether there are any voting marks on it. If there are any voting marks, the ballot shall be returned immediately to the board of elections; otherwise, the elector shall cause the ballot to be marked, folded in a manner that the stub on it and the indorsements and facsimile signatures of the members of the board of elections on the back of it are visible, and placed and sealed within the identification envelope received from the director of elections for that purpose. Then, the elector shall cause the statement of voter on the outside of the identification envelope to be completed and signed, under penalty of election falsification.
If the elector does not provide the elector's driver's license number or the last four digits of the elector's social security number on the statement of voter on the identification envelope, the elector also shall include in the return envelope with the identification envelope a copy of the elector's current valid photo identification, a copy of a military identification that shows the elector's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the name and address of the elector.
The elector shall mail the identification envelope to the director from whom it was received in the return envelope, postage prepaid, or the elector may personally deliver it to the director, or the spouse of the elector, the father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother, or sister of the whole or half blood, or the son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of the elector may deliver it to the director. The return envelope shall be transmitted to the director in no other manner, except as provided in section 3509.08 of the Revised Code.
Each elector who will be outside the United States on the day of the election shall check the box on the return envelope indicating this fact.
When absent voter's ballots are delivered to an elector at the office of the board, the elector may retire to a voting compartment provided by the board and there mark the ballots. Thereupon, the elector shall fold them, place them in the identification envelope provided, seal the envelope, fill in and sign the statement on the envelope under penalty of election falsification, and deliver the envelope to the director of the board.
Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B) and (C) of this section, all other envelopes containing marked absent voter's ballots shall be delivered to the director not later than the close of the polls on the day of an election. Absent voter's ballots delivered to the director later than the times specified shall not be counted, but shall be kept by the board in the sealed identification envelopes in which they are delivered to the director, until the time provided by section 3505.31 of the Revised Code for the destruction of all other ballots used at the election for which ballots were provided, at which time they shall be destroyed.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this section, any return envelope that indicates that the voter will be outside the United States on the day of the election shall be delivered to the director prior to the eleventh day after the election. Ballots delivered in such envelopes that are received after the close of the polls on election day through the tenth day thereafter shall be counted on the eleventh day at the board of elections in the manner provided in divisions (C) and (D) of section 3509.06 of the Revised Code. Any such ballots that are signed or postmarked after the close of the polls on the day of the election or that are received by the director later than the tenth day following the election shall not be counted, but shall be kept by the board in the sealed identification envelopes as provided in division (A) of this section.
(C) In any year in which a presidential primary election is held, any return envelope that indicates that the voter will be outside the United States on the day of the presidential primary election shall be delivered to the director prior to the twenty-first day after that election. Ballots delivered in such envelopes that are received after the close of the polls on election day through the twentieth day thereafter shall be counted on the twenty-first day at the board of elections in the manner provided in divisions (C) and (D) of section 3509.06 of the Revised Code. Any such ballots that are signed or postmarked after the close of the polls on the day of that election or that are received by the director later than the twentieth day following that election shall not be counted, but shall be kept by the board in the sealed identification envelopes as provided in division (A) of this section.
Sec. 3509.06.  (A) The board of elections shall determine whether absent voter's ballots shall be counted in each precinct, at the office of the board, or at some other location designated by the board, and shall proceed accordingly under division (B) or (C) of this section.
(B) When the board of elections determines that absent voter's ballots shall be counted in each precinct, the director shall deliver to the presiding judge of each precinct on election day identification envelopes purporting to contain absent voter's ballots of electors whose voting residence appears from the statement of voter on the outside of each of those envelopes, to be located in such presiding judge's precinct, and which were received by the director not later than the close of the polls on election day. The director shall deliver to such presiding judge a list containing the name and voting residence of each person whose voting residence is in such precinct to whom absent voter's ballots were mailed.
(C) When the board of elections determines that absent voter's ballots shall be counted at the office of the board of elections or at another location designated by the board, special election judges shall be appointed by the board for that purpose having the same authority as is exercised by precinct judges. The votes so cast shall be added to the vote totals by the board, and the absent voter's ballots shall be preserved separately by the board, in the same manner and for the same length of time as provided by section 3505.31 of the Revised Code.
(D) Each of the identification envelopes purporting to contain absent voter's ballots delivered to the presiding judge of the precinct or the special judge appointed by the board of elections shall be handled as follows: The election officials shall compare the signature of the elector on the outside of the identification envelope with the signature of that elector on the elector's registration form and verify that the absent voter's ballot is eligible to be counted under section 3509.07 of the Revised Code. Any of the precinct officials may challenge the right of the elector named on the identification envelope to vote the absent voter's ballots upon the ground that the signature on the envelope is not the same as the signature on the registration form, or upon any other of the grounds upon which the right of persons to vote may be lawfully challenged. If no such challenge is made, or if such a challenge is made and not sustained, the presiding judge shall open the envelope without defacing the statement of voter and without mutilating the ballots in it, and shall remove the ballots contained in it and proceed to count them.
The name of each person voting who is entitled to vote only an absent voter's presidential ballot shall be entered in a pollbook or poll list or signature pollbook followed by the words "Absentee Presidential Ballot." The name of each person voting an absent voter's ballot, other than such persons entitled to vote only a presidential ballot, shall be entered in the pollbook or poll list or signature pollbook and the person's registration card marked to indicate that the person has voted.
The date of such election shall also be entered on the elector's registration form. If any such challenge is made and sustained, the identification envelope of such elector shall not be opened, shall be endorsed "Not Counted" with the reasons the ballots were not counted, and shall be delivered to the board.
(E) Special election judges or, employees or members of the board of elections, or observers shall not disclose the count or any portion of the count of absent voter's ballots prior to the time of the closing of the polling places. No person shall recklessly disclose the count or any portion of the count of absent voter's ballots in such a manner as to jeopardize the secrecy of any individual ballot.
(F) Observers may be appointed under section 3505.21 of the Revised Code to witness the examination and opening of identification envelopes and the counting of absent voters' ballots under this section.
Sec. 3509.08.  (A) Any qualified elector, who, on account of the elector's own personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity, or on account of the elector's confinement in a jail or workhouse under sentence for a misdemeanor or awaiting trial on a felony or misdemeanor, will be unable to travel from the elector's home or place of confinement to the voting booth in the elector's precinct on the day of any general, special, or primary election may make application in writing for an absent voter's ballot to the director of the board of elections of the elector's county. The application shall include all of the information required under section 3509.03 of the Revised Code and shall state the nature of the elector's illness, physical disability, or infirmity, or the fact that the elector is confined in a jail or workhouse and the elector's resultant inability to travel to the election booth in the elector's precinct on election day. The application shall not be valid if it is delivered to the director before the ninetieth day or after twelve noon of the third day before the day of the election at which the ballot is to be voted.
The absent voter's ballot may be mailed directly to the applicant at the applicant's voting residence or place of confinement as stated in the applicant's application, or the board may designate two board employees belonging to the two major political parties for the purpose of delivering the ballot to the disabled or confined elector and returning it to the board, unless the applicant is confined to a public or private institution within the county, in which case the board shall designate two such board employees belonging to the two major political parties for the purpose of delivering the ballot to the disabled or confined elector and returning it to the board. In all other instances, the ballot shall be returned to the office of the board in the manner prescribed in section 3509.05 of the Revised Code.
Any disabled or confined elector who declares to the two board employees belonging to the two major political parties that the elector is unable to mark the elector's ballot by reason of physical infirmity that is apparent to the employees to be sufficient to incapacitate the voter from marking the elector's ballot properly, may receive, upon request, the assistance of the two employees in marking the elector's ballot, and they shall thereafter give no information in regard to this matter. Such assistance shall not be rendered for any other cause.
When two board employees belonging to the two major political parties deliver a ballot to a disabled or confined elector, each of the employees shall be present when the ballot is delivered, when assistance is given, and when the ballot is returned to the office of the board, and shall subscribe to the declaration on the identification envelope.
The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of application for absent voter's ballots under this division.
This chapter applies to disabled and confined absent voter's ballots except as otherwise provided in this section.
(B)(1) Any qualified elector who is unable to travel to the voting booth in the elector's precinct on the day of any general, special, or primary election because of being confined in a hospital as a result of an accident or unforeseeable medical emergency occurring before the election, may apply to the director of the board of elections of the county where the elector is a qualified elector to vote in the election by absent voter's ballot. This application shall be made in writing, shall include all of the information required under section 3509.03 of the Revised Code, and shall be delivered to the director not later than three p.m. on the day of the election. The application shall indicate the hospital where the applicant is confined, the date of the applicant's admission to the hospital, and the offices for which the applicant is qualified to vote. The applicant may also request that a member of the applicant's family, as listed in section 3509.05 of the Revised Code, deliver the absent voter's ballot to the applicant. The director, after establishing to the director's satisfaction the validity of the circumstances claimed by the applicant, shall supply an absent voter's ballot to be delivered to the applicant. When the applicant is in a hospital in the county where the applicant is a qualified elector and no request is made for a member of the family to deliver the ballot, the director shall arrange for the delivery of an absent voter's ballot to the applicant, and for its return to the office of the board, by two board employees belonging to the two major political parties according to the procedures prescribed in division (A) of this section. When the applicant is in a hospital outside the county where the applicant is a qualified elector and no request is made for a member of the family to deliver the ballot, the director shall arrange for the delivery of an absent voter's ballot to the applicant by mail, and the ballot shall be returned to the office of the board in the manner prescribed in section 3509.05 of the Revised Code.
(2) Any qualified elector who is eligible to vote under division (B) or (C) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code but is unable to do so because of the circumstances described in division (B)(1) of this section may vote in accordance with division (B)(1) of this section if that qualified elector states in the application for absent voter's ballots that that qualified elector moved or had a change of name under the circumstances described in division (B) or (C) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code and if that qualified elector complies with divisions (G)(1) to (4) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code.
(C) Any qualified elector described in division (A) or (B)(1) of this section who needs no assistance to vote or to return absent voter's ballots to the board of elections may apply for absent voter's ballots under section 3509.03 of the Revised Code instead of applying for them under this section.
Sec. 3509.09.  (A) The poll list or signature pollbook for each precinct shall identify each registered elector in that precinct who has requested an absent voter's ballot for that election.
(B)(1) If a registered elector appears to vote in that precinct and that elector has requested an absent voter's ballot for that election but the director has not received a sealed identification envelope purporting to contain that elector's voted absent voter's ballots for that election, the elector shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot, generally in the manner prescribed in division (B) of under section 3503.16 3505.181 of the Revised Code, in that precinct on the day of that election.
(2) If a registered elector appears to vote in that precinct and that elector has requested an absent voter's ballot for that election and the director has received a sealed identification envelope purporting to contain that elector's voted absent voter's ballots for that election, the elector shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot, generally in the manner prescribed in division (B) of under section 3503.16 3505.181 of the Revised Code, in that precinct on the day of that election.
(C)(1) In counting absent voter's ballots under section 3509.06 of the Revised Code, the board of elections or the precinct election officials shall compare the poll list or the signature pollbook for each precinct with the name of each elector in that precinct from whom the director has received a sealed identification envelope purporting to contain that elector's voted absent voter's ballots for that election to the signature on that elector's registration form. Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(2)(3) of this section, if the board of elections determines that an elector who cast a ballot, generally in the manner prescribed in division (B) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code, in the precinct on the day of the election also returned a sealed identification envelope for that election, the absent voter's ballot in the sealed identification envelope is valid, it shall be counted, and the ballot cast in the precinct on the day of the election shall not be counted. If the board of elections determines that the signature on the sealed identification envelope purporting to contain the elector's voted absent voter's ballot does not match the signature on the elector's registration form, the ballot shall be set aside and the board shall examine, during the time prior to the beginning of the official canvass, the poll list or signature pollbook from the precinct in which the elector is registered to vote to determine if the elector also cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code in that precinct on the day of the election.
(2) The board of elections shall count the provisional ballot cast in the precinct on the day of the election, instead of the absent voter's ballot in the returned sealed identification envelope of an elector, if both of the following apply:
(a) The board of elections determines that the signature of the elector on the outside of the identification envelope in which the absent voter's ballots are enclosed does not match the signature of the elector on the elector's registration form;
(b) The elector cast a provisional ballot, generally in the manner prescribed in division (B) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code, in the precinct on the day of the election.
(3) If the board of elections does not receive the sealed identification envelope purporting to contain the elector's voted absent voter's ballot by the applicable deadline established under section 3509.05 of the Revised Code, the provisional ballot cast under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code in that precinct on the day of the election shall be counted as valid, if that provisional ballot is otherwise determined to be valid pursuant to section 3505.183 of the Revised Code.
(D) If the board of elections counts the a provisional ballot cast in the precinct on the day of the election under this division (C)(2) or (3) of this section, the returned identification envelope of that elector shall not be opened, and the ballot within that envelope shall not be counted. The identification envelope shall be endorsed "Not Counted" with the reason the ballot was not counted.
Sec. 3511.02.  Notwithstanding any section of the Revised Code to the contrary, whenever any person applies for registration as a voter on a form adopted in accordance with federal regulations relating to the "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act," 100 Stat. 924, 42 U.S.C.A. 1973ff (1986), this application shall be sufficient for voter registration and as a request for an absent voter's ballot. Armed service absent voter's ballots may be obtained by any person meeting the requirements of section 3511.01 of the Revised Code by applying to the director of the board of elections of the county in which the person's voting residence is located, in one of the following ways:
(A) That person may make written application for those ballots. The person may personally deliver the application to the director or may mail it, send it by facsimile machine, or otherwise send it to the director. The application need not be in any particular form but shall contain all of the following information:
(1) The elector's name;
(2) The elector's signature;
(3) The address at which the elector is registered to vote;
(4) The elector's date of birth;
(5) One of the following:
(a) The elector's driver's license number;
(b) The last four digits of the elector's social security number;
(c) A copy of the elector's current and valid photo identification, a copy of a military identification that shows the elector's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the name and address of the elector.
(6) A statement identifying the election for which absent voter's ballots are requested;
(7) A statement that the person requesting the ballots is a qualified elector;
(8) A statement that the elector is an absent uniformed services voter as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1973ff-6;
(9) A statement of the elector's length of residence in the state immediately preceding the commencement of service or immediately preceding the date of leaving to be with or near the service member, whichever is applicable;
(10) If the request is for primary election ballots, the elector's party affiliation;
(11) If the elector desires ballots to be mailed to the elector, the address to which those ballots shall be mailed;
(12) If the elector desires ballots to be sent to the elector by facsimile machine, the telephone number to which they shall be so sent.
(B) A voter or any relative of a voter listed in division (C) of this section may use a single federal post card application to apply for armed service absent voter's ballots for use at the primary and general elections in a given year and any special election to be held on the day in that year specified by division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code for the holding of a primary election, designated by the general assembly for the purpose of submitting constitutional amendments proposed by the general assembly to the voters of the state. A single federal postcard application shall be processed by the board of elections pursuant to section 3511.04 of the Revised Code the same as if the voter had applied separately for armed service absent voter's ballots for each election.
(C) Application to have armed service absent voter's ballots mailed or sent by facsimile machine to such a person may be made by the spouse when the person is a service member, or by the father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother or sister of the whole blood or half blood, son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of such a person. The application shall be in writing upon a blank form furnished only by the director or on a single federal post card as provided in division (B) of this section. The form of the application shall be prescribed by the secretary of state. The director shall furnish that blank form to any of the relatives specified in this division desiring to make the application, only upon the request of such a relative made in person at the office of the board or upon the written request of such a relative mailed to the office of the board. The application, subscribed and sworn to by the applicant, shall contain all of the following:
(1) The full name of the elector for whom ballots are requested;
(2) A statement that the elector is an absent uniformed services voter as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1973ff-6;
(3) The address at which the elector is registered to vote;
(4) A statement identifying the elector's length of residence in the state immediately preceding the commencement of service, or immediately preceding the date of leaving to be with or near a service member, as the case may be;
(5) The elector's date of birth;
(6) One of the following:
(a) The elector's driver's license number;
(b) The last four digits of the elector's social security number;
(c) A copy of the elector's current and valid photo identification, a copy of a military identification that shows the elector's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the name and address of the elector.
(7) A statement identifying the election for which absent voter's ballots are requested;
(8) A statement that the person requesting the ballots is a qualified elector;
(9) If the request is for primary election ballots, the elector's party affiliation;
(10) A statement that the applicant bears a relationship to the elector as specified in division (C) of this section;
(11) The address to which ballots shall be mailed or the telephone number to which ballots shall be sent by facsimile machine;
(12) The signature and address of the person making the application.
Each application for armed service absent voter's ballots shall be delivered to the director not earlier than the first day of January of the year of the elections for which the armed service absent voter's ballots are requested or not earlier than ninety days before the day of the election at which the ballots are to be voted, whichever is earlier, and not later than twelve noon of the third day preceding the day of the election, or not later than the close of regular business hours on the day before the day of the election at which those ballots are to be voted if the application is delivered in person to the office of the board.
(D) If the voter for whom the application is made is entitled to vote for presidential and vice-presidential electors only, the applicant shall submit to the director in addition to the requirements of divisions (A), (B), and (C) of this section, a statement to the effect that the voter is qualified to vote for presidential and vice-presidential electors and for no other offices.
Sec. 3511.09.  Upon receiving armed service absent voter's ballots, the elector shall cause the questions on the face of the identification envelope to be answered, and, by writing the elector's usual signature in the proper place on the identification envelope, the elector shall declare under penalty of election falsification that the answers to those questions are true and correct to the best of the elector's knowledge and belief. Then, the elector shall note whether there are any voting marks on the ballot. If there are any voting marks, the ballot shall be returned immediately to the board of elections; otherwise, the elector shall cause the ballot to be marked, folded separately so as to conceal the markings on it, deposited in the identification envelope, and securely sealed in the identification envelope. The elector then shall cause the identification envelope to be placed within the return envelope, sealed in the return envelope, and mailed to the director of the board of elections to whom it is addressed. If the elector does not provide the elector's driver's license number or the last four digits of the elector's social security number on the statement of voter on the identification envelope, the elector also shall include in the return envelope with the identification envelope a copy of the elector's current valid photo identification, a copy of a military identification that shows the elector's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the name and address of the elector. Each elector who will be outside the United States on the day of the election shall check the box on the return envelope indicating this fact and shall mail the return envelope to the director prior to the close of the polls on election day.
Every armed services absent voter's ballot identification envelope shall be accompanied by the following statement in boldface capital letters: WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE.
Sec. 3511.13. (A) The poll list or signature pollbook for each precinct shall identify each registered elector in that precinct who has requested an armed services service absent voter's ballot for that election;.
(B)(1) If a registered elector appears to vote in that precinct and that elector has requested an armed service absent voter's ballot for that election but the director has not received a sealed identification envelope purporting to contain that elector's voted armed service absent voter's ballots for that election, the elector shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot, generally in the manner prescribed in division (B) of under section 3503.16 3505.181 of the Revised Code, in that precinct on the day of that election.
(2) If a registered elector appears to vote in that precinct and that elector has requested an armed service absent voter's ballot for that election and the director has received a sealed identification envelope purporting to contain that elector's voted armed service absent voter's ballots for that election, the elector shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot, generally in the manner prescribed in division (B) of under section 3503.16 3505.181 of the Revised Code, in that precinct on the day of that election.
(C)(1) In counting armed service absent voter's ballots under section 3511.11 of the Revised Code, the board of elections or the precinct election officials shall compare the poll list or the signature pollbook for each precinct with the name of each elector in that precinct from whom the director has received a sealed identification envelope purporting to contain that elector's voted armed service absent voter's ballots for that election to the signature on the elector's registration form. Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(2)(3) of this section, if the board of elections determines that an elector who cast a ballot, generally in the manner prescribed in division (B) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code, in the precinct on the day of the election also returned a sealed identification envelope for that election, the armed service absent voter's ballot in the sealed identification envelope is valid, it shall be counted, and the ballot cast in the precinct on the day of the election shall not be counted. If the board of elections determines that the signature on the sealed identification envelope purporting to contain the elector's voted armed service absent voter's ballot does not match the signature on the elector's registration form, the ballot shall be set aside and the board shall examine, during the time prior to the beginning of the official canvass, the poll list or signature pollbook from the precinct in which the elector is registered to vote to determine if the elector also cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code in that precinct on the day of the election.
(2) The board of elections shall count the provisional ballot cast in the precinct on the day of the election, instead of the armed service absent voter's ballot, of an elector from whom the director has received an identification envelope purporting to contain that elector's voted armed service absent voter's ballots, if both of the following apply:
(a) The board of elections determines that the signature of the elector on the outside of the identification envelope in which the armed service absent voter's ballots are enclosed does not match the signature of the elector on the elector's registration form;
(b) The elector cast a provisional ballot, generally in the manner prescribed in division (B) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code, in the precinct on the day of the election.
(3) If the board of elections does not receive the sealed identification envelope purporting to contain the elector's voted armed service absent voter's ballot by the applicable deadline established under section 3511.11 of the Revised Code, the provisional ballot cast under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code in that precinct on the day of the election shall be counted as valid, if that provisional ballot is otherwise determined to be valid pursuant to section 3505.183 of the Revised Code.
(D) If the board of elections counts the a provisional ballot cast in the precinct on the day of the election under this division (C)(2) or (3) of this section, the returned identification envelope of that elector shall not be opened, and the ballot within that envelope shall not be counted. The identification envelope shall be endorsed "Not Counted" with the reason the ballot was not counted.
Sec. 3513.04.  Candidates for party nominations to state, district, county, and municipal offices or positions, for which party nominations are provided by law, and for election as members of party controlling committees shall have their names printed on the official primary ballot by filing a declaration of candidacy and paying the fees specified for the office under divisions (A) and (B) of section 3513.10 of the Revised Code, except that the joint candidates for party nomination to the offices of governor and lieutenant governor shall, for the two of them, file one declaration of candidacy. The joint candidates also shall pay the fees specified for the joint candidates under divisions (A) and (B) of section 3513.10 of the Revised Code.
The secretary of state shall not accept for filing the declaration of candidacy of a candidate for party nomination to the office of governor unless the declaration of candidacy also shows a joint candidate for the same party's nomination to the office of lieutenant governor, shall not accept for filing the declaration of candidacy of a candidate for party nomination to the office of lieutenant governor unless the declaration of candidacy also shows a joint candidate for the same party's nomination to the office of governor, and shall not accept for filing a declaration of candidacy that shows a candidate for party nomination to the office of governor or lieutenant governor who, for the same election, has already filed a declaration of candidacy or a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or has become a candidate by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 of the Revised Code for any other state office or any federal or federal or county office.
No person who seeks party nomination for an office or position at a primary election by declaration of candidacy or by declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate and no person who is a first choice for president of candidates seeking election as delegates and alternates to the national conventions of the different major political parties who are chosen by direct vote of the electors as provided in this chapter shall be permitted to become a candidate by nominating petition or by declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate at the following general election for any office other than the office of member of the state board of education, office of member of a city, local, or exempted village board of education, office of member of a governing board of an educational service center, or office of township trustee.
Sec. 3513.041.  A write-in space shall be provided on the ballot for every office, except in an election for which the board of elections has received no valid declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate under this section. Write-in votes shall not be counted for any candidate who has not filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate pursuant to this section. A qualified person who has filed a declaration of intent may receive write-in votes at either a primary or general election. Any candidate shall file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate before four p.m. of the fiftieth sixty-second day preceding the election at which such candidacy is to be considered. If the election is to be determined by electors of a county or a district or subdivision within the county, such declaration shall be filed with the board of elections of that county. If the election is to be determined by electors of a subdivision located in more than one county, such declaration shall be filed with the board of elections of the county in which the major portion of the population of such subdivision is located. If the election is to be determined by electors of a district comprised of more than one county but less than all of the counties of the state, such declaration shall be filed with the board of elections of the most populous county in such district. Any candidate for an office to be voted upon by electors throughout the entire state shall file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate with the secretary of state before four p.m. of the fiftieth sixty-second day preceding the election at which such candidacy is to be considered. In addition, candidates for president and vice-president of the United States shall also file with the secretary of state by said fiftieth that sixty-second day a slate of presidential electors sufficient in number to satisfy the requirements of the United States constitution.
A board of elections shall not accept for filing the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate of a person seeking to become a candidate if that person, for the same election, has already filed a declaration of candidacy, a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating petition, or has become a candidate through party nomination at a primary election or by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code, for any federal, federal, state,, or county office, if the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate is for a state or county office, or for any municipal or township office, for member of a city, local, or exempted village board of education, or for member of a governing board of an educational service center, if the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate is for a municipal or township office, or for member of a city, local, or exempted village board of education, or for member of a governing board of an educational service center.
No person shall file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for the office of governor unless the declaration also shows the intent of another person to be a write-in candidate for the office of lieutenant governor. No person shall file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for the office of lieutenant governor unless the declaration also shows the intent of another person to be a write-in candidate for the office of governor. No person shall file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for the office of governor or lieutenant governor if the person has previously filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate to the office of governor or lieutenant governor at the same primary or general election. A write-in vote for the two candidates who file such a declaration shall be counted as a vote for them as joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor.
The secretary of state shall not accept for filing the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate of a person for the office of governor unless the declaration also shows the intent of another person to be a write-in candidate for the office of lieutenant governor, shall not accept for filing the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate of a person for the office of lieutenant governor unless the declaration also shows the intent of another person to be a write-in candidate for the office of governor, and shall not accept for filing the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate of a person to the office of governor or lieutenant governor if that person, for the same election, has already filed a declaration of candidacy, a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating petition, or has become a candidate through party nomination at a primary election or by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code, for any other state office or any federal or federal or county office.
Protests against the candidacy of any person filing a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate may be filed by any qualified elector who is eligible to vote in the election at which the candidacy is to be considered. The protest shall be in writing and shall be filed not later than four p.m. of the forty-fifth fifty-seventh day before the day of the election. The protest shall be filed with the board of elections with which the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate was filed. Upon the filing of the protest, the board with which it is filed shall promptly fix the time for hearing it and shall proceed in regard to the hearing in the same manner as for hearings set for protests filed under section 3513.05 of the Revised Code. At the time fixed, the board shall hear the protest and determine the validity or invalidity of the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate. If the board finds that the candidate is not an elector of the state, district, county, or political subdivision in which the candidate seeks election to office or has not fully complied with the requirements of Title XXXV of the Revised Code in regard to the candidate's candidacy, the candidate's declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate shall be determined to be invalid and shall be rejected; otherwise, it shall be determined to be valid. The determination of the board is final.
The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate.
Sec. 3513.05.  Each person desiring to become a candidate for a party nomination or for election to an office or position to be voted for at a primary election, except persons desiring to become joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor and except as otherwise provided in section 3513.051 of the Revised Code, shall, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of the primary election, or if the primary election is a presidential primary election, not later than four p.m. of the sixtieth day before the day of the presidential primary election, file a declaration of candidacy and petition and pay the fees required under divisions (A) and (B) of section 3513.10 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and all separate petition papers shall be filed at the same time as one instrument. When the offices are to be voted for at a primary election, persons desiring to become joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor shall, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of the primary election, comply with section 3513.04 of the Revised Code. The prospective joint candidates' declaration of candidacy and all separate petition papers of candidacies shall be filed at the same time as one instrument. The secretary of state or a board of elections shall not accept for filing a declaration of candidacy and petition of a person seeking to become a candidate if that person, for the same election, has already filed a declaration of candidacy or a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or has become a candidate by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 of the Revised Code for any federal, federal, state,, or county office, if the declaration of candidacy is for a state or county office, or for any municipal or township office, if the declaration of candidacy is for a municipal or township office.
If the declaration of candidacy declares a candidacy which is to be submitted to electors throughout the entire state, the petition, including a petition for joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, shall be signed by at least one thousand qualified electors who are members of the same political party as the candidate or joint candidates, and the declaration of candidacy and petition shall be filed with the secretary of state; provided that the secretary of state shall not accept or file any such petition appearing on its face to contain signatures of more than three thousand electors.
Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, if the declaration of candidacy is of one that is to be submitted only to electors within a district, political subdivision, or portion thereof, the petition shall be signed by not less than fifty qualified electors who are members of the same political party as the political party of which the candidate is a member. If the declaration of candidacy is for party nomination as a candidate for member of the legislative authority of a municipal corporation elected by ward, the petition shall be signed by not less than twenty-five qualified electors who are members of the political party of which the candidate is a member.
No such petition, except the petition for a candidacy that is to be submitted to electors throughout the entire state, shall be accepted for filing if it appears to contain on its face signatures of more than three times the minimum number of signatures. When a petition of a candidate has been accepted for filing by a board of elections, the petition shall not be deemed invalid if, upon verification of signatures contained in the petition, the board of elections finds the number of signatures accepted exceeds three times the minimum number of signatures required. A board of elections may discontinue verifying signatures on petitions when the number of verified signatures equals the minimum required number of qualified signatures.
If the declaration of candidacy declares a candidacy for party nomination or for election as a candidate of an intermediate or minor party, the minimum number of signatures on such petition is one-half the minimum number provided in this section, except that, when the candidacy is one for election as a member of the state central committee or the county central committee of a political party, the minimum number shall be the same for an intermediate or minor party as for a major party.
If a declaration of candidacy is one for election as a member of the state central committee or the county central committee of a political party, the petition shall be signed by five qualified electors of the district, county, ward, township, or precinct within which electors may vote for such candidate. The electors signing such petition shall be members of the same political party as the political party of which the candidate is a member.
For purposes of signing or circulating a petition of candidacy for party nomination or election, an elector is considered to be a member of a political party if the elector voted in that party's primary election within the preceding two calendar years, or if the elector did not vote in any other party's primary election within the preceding two calendar years.
If the declaration of candidacy is of one that is to be submitted only to electors within a county, or within a district or subdivision or part thereof smaller than a county, the petition shall be filed with the board of elections of the county. If the declaration of candidacy is of one that is to be submitted only to electors of a district or subdivision or part thereof that is situated in more than one county, the petition shall be filed with the board of elections of the county within which the major portion of the population thereof, as ascertained by the next preceding federal census, is located.
A petition shall consist of separate petition papers, each of which shall contain signatures of electors of only one county. Petitions or separate petition papers containing signatures of electors of more than one county shall not thereby be declared invalid. In case petitions or separate petition papers containing signatures of electors of more than one county are filed, the board shall determine the county from which the majority of signatures came, and only signatures from such county shall be counted. Signatures from any other county shall be invalid.
Each separate petition paper shall be circulated by one person only, who shall be the candidate or a joint candidate or a member of the same political party as the candidate or joint candidate or joint candidates, and each separate petition paper shall be governed by the rules set forth in section 3501.38 of the Revised Code.
The secretary of state shall promptly transmit to each board such separate petition papers of each petition accompanying a declaration of candidacy filed with the secretary of state as purport to contain signatures of electors of the county of such board. The board of the most populous county of a district shall promptly transmit to each board within such district such separate petition papers of each petition accompanying a declaration of candidacy filed with it as purport to contain signatures of electors of the county of each such board. The board of a county within which the major portion of the population of a subdivision, situated in more than one county, is located, shall promptly transmit to the board of each other county within which a portion of such subdivision is located such separate petition papers of each petition accompanying a declaration of candidacy filed with it as purport to contain signatures of electors of the portion of such subdivision in the county of each such board.
All petition papers so transmitted to a board and all petitions accompanying declarations of candidacy filed with a a board shall, under proper regulations, be open to public inspection until four p.m. of the seventieth day before the day of the next primary election, or if that next primary election is a presidential primary election, the fifty-fifth day before that presidential primary election. Each board shall, not later than the sixty-eighth day before the day of that that primary election, or if the primary election is a presidential primary election, not later than the fifty-third day before such presidential primary election, examine and determine the validity or invalidity of the signatures on the petition papers so transmitted to or filed with it and shall return to the secretary of state all petition papers transmitted to it by the secretary of state, together with its certification of its determination as to the validity or invalidity of signatures thereon, and shall return to each other board all petition papers transmitted to it by such board, together with its certification of its determination as to the validity or invalidity of the signatures thereon. All other matters affecting the validity or invalidity of such petition papers shall be determined by the secretary of state or the board with whom such petition papers were filed.
Protests against the candidacy of any person filing a declaration of candidacy for party nomination or for election to an office or position, as provided in this section, may be filed by any qualified elector who is a member of the same political party as the candidate and who is eligible to vote at the primary election for the candidate whose declaration of candidacy the elector objects to, or by the controlling committee of that political that political party. The The protest shall shall be in writing, and shall shall be filed not later than four p.m. of the sixty-fourth day before the day of the primary election, or if the primary election is a presidential primary election, not later than four p.m. of the forty-ninth day before the day of the presidential primary election. The The protest shall be filed with the election officials with whom the declaration of candidacy and petition was filed. Upon the filing of the the protest, the election officials with whom it is filed shall promptly fix the time for hearing it, and shall forthwith mail notice of the filing of the the protest and the time fixed for hearing to the person whose candidacy is so protested. They shall also forthwith mail notice of the time fixed for such hearing to the person who filed the protest. At the time fixed, such election officials shall hear the protest and determine the validity or invalidity of the declaration of candidacy and petition. If they find that such candidate is not an elector of the state, district, county, or political subdivision in which the candidate seeks a party nomination or election to an office or position, or has not fully complied with this chapter, the candidate's declaration of candidacy and petition shall be determined to be invalid and shall be rejected;; otherwise,, it shall be determined to be valid. That That determination shall be final.
A protest against the candidacy of any persons filing a declaration of candidacy for joint party nomination to the offices of governor and lieutenant governor shall be filed, heard, and determined in the same manner as a protest against the candidacy of any person filing a declaration of candidacy singly.
The secretary of state shall, on the sixtieth day before the day of a primary election, or if the primary election is a presidential primary election, on the forty-fifth day before the day of the presidential primary election, certify to each board in the state the forms of the official ballots to be used at the the primary election, together with the names of the candidates to be printed on the ballots on the ballots whose nomination or election is to be determined by electors throughout the entire state and who filed valid declarations of candidacy and petitions.
The board of the most populous county in a district comprised of more than one county but less than all of the counties of the state shall,, on the sixtieth day before the day of a primary election, or if the primary election is a presidential primary election, on the forty-fifth day before the day of a presidential primary election, certify to the board of each county in the district the names of the candidates to be printed on the official ballots to be used at the the primary election, whose nomination or election is to be determined only by electors within the the district and who filed valid declarations of candidacy and petitions.
The board of a county within which the major portion of the population of a subdivision smaller than the county and situated in more than one county is located shall, on the sixtieth day before the day of a primary election, or if the primary election is a presidential primary election, on the forty-fifth day before the day of a presidential primary election, certify to the board of each county in which a portion of that that subdivision is located the names of the candidates to be printed on the official ballots to be used at the the primary election, whose nomination or election is to be determined only by electors within that that subdivision and who filed valid declarations of candidacy and petitions.
Sec. 3513.052. (A) No person shall seek nomination or election to any of the following offices or positions at the same election by filing a declaration of candidacy and petition, a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating petition, or by becoming a candidate through party nomination in a primary election, or by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code:
(1) Two or more state offices;
(2) Two or more county offices;
(3) A state office and a county office;
(4) A federal office and a state or county office;
(5) A federal office and a state or county office;
(5) Any combination of two or more municipal or township offices, positions as a member of a city, local, or exempted village board of education, or positions as a member of a governing board of an educational service center.
(B) The secretary of state or a board of elections shall not accept for filing a declaration of candidacy and petition, a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating petition of a person seeking to become a candidate if that person, for the same election, has already filed a declaration of candidacy, a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating petition, or has become a candidate through party nomination at a primary election or by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code for:
(1) Any federal, federal, state,, or county office, if the declaration of candidacy, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or nominating petition is for a state or county office;
(2) Any municipal or township office, or for member of a city, local, or exempted village board of education, or for member of a governing board of an educational service center, if the declaration of candidacy, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or nominating petition is for a municipal or township office, or for member of a city, local, or exempted village board of education, or for member of a governing board of an educational service center.
(C)(1) If the secretary of state determines, before the day of the primary election, that a person is seeking nomination to more than one office at that election in violation of division (A) of this section, the secretary of state shall do one of the following:
(a) If each office or the district for each office for which the person is seeking nomination is wholly within a single county and none of those offices is a federal office and none of those offices is a federal office, the secretary of state shall notify the board of elections of that county. The board then shall determine the date on which the person first sought to become a candidate for each of those offices by filing a declaration of candidacy or a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate or by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 of the Revised Code. The board shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office for which the person sought to become a candidate after the date on which the person first sought to become a candidate for any of those offices. If the board determines that the person sought to become a candidate for more than one of those offices on the same date, the board shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that would be listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks nomination, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code.
(b) If one or more of the offices for which the person is seeking nomination is a state office or an office with a district larger than a single county and none of the offices for which the person is seeking nomination is a federal office and none of the offices for which the person is seeking nomination is a federal office, the secretary of state shall determine the date on which the person first sought to become a candidate for each of those offices by filing a declaration of candidacy or a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate or by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 of the Revised Code. The secretary of state shall order the board of elections of each county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office for which the person sought to become a candidate after the date on which the person first sought to become a candidate for any of those offices. If the secretary of state determines that the person sought to become a candidate for more than one of those offices on the same date, the secretary of state shall order the board of elections of each county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that would be listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks nomination, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code. Each board of elections so notified shall vote promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance with the order of the secretary of state.
(c) If each office or the district for each office for which the person is seeking nomination is wholly within a single county and any of those offices is a federal office, the secretary of state shall notify the board of elections of that county. The board then shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office.
(d) If one or more of the offices for which the person is seeking nomination is a state office and any of the offices for which the person is seeking nomination is a federal office, the secretary of state shall order the board of elections of each county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office. Each board of elections so notified shall vote promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance with the order of the secretary of state.
(c) If each office or the district for each office for which the person is seeking nomination is wholly within a single county and any of those offices is a federal office, the secretary of state shall notify the board of elections of that county. The board then shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office.
(d) If one or more of the offices for which the person is seeking nomination is a state office and any of the offices for which the person is seeking nomination is a federal office, the secretary of state shall order the board of elections of each county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office. Each board of elections so notified shall vote promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance with the order of the secretary of state.
(2) If a board of elections determines, before the day of the primary election, that a person is seeking nomination to more than one office at that election in violation of division (A) of this section, the board shall do one of the following:
(a) If each office or the district for each office for which the person is seeking nomination is wholly within that county and none of those offices is a federal office and none of those offices is a federal office, the board shall determine the date on which the person first sought to become a candidate for each of those offices by filing a declaration of candidacy or a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate or by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 of the Revised Code. The board shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office for which the person sought to become a candidate after the date on which the person first sought to become a candidate for any of those offices. If the board determines that the person sought to become a candidate for more than one of those offices on the same date, the board shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that would be listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks nomination, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code.
(b) If one or more of the offices for which the person is seeking nomination is a state office or an office with a district larger than a single county and none of the offices for which the person is seeking nomination is a federal office and none of the offices for which the person is seeking nomination is a federal office, the board shall notify the secretary of state. The secretary of state then shall determine the date on which the person first sought to become a candidate for each of those offices by filing a declaration of candidacy or a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate or by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 of the Revised Code. The secretary of state shall order the board of elections of each county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office for which the person sought to become a candidate after the date on which the person first sought to become a candidate for any of those offices. If the secretary of state determines that the person sought to become a candidate for more than one of those offices on the same date, the secretary of state shall order the board of elections of each county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that would be listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks nomination, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code. Each board of elections so notified shall vote promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance with the order of the secretary of state.
(c) If each office or the district for each office for which the person is seeking nomination is wholly within a single county and any of those offices is a federal office, the board shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office.
(d) If one or more of the offices for which the person is seeking nomination is a state office and any of the offices for which the person is seeking nomination is a federal office, the board shall notify the secretary of state. The secretary of state then shall order the board of elections of each county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office. Each board of elections so notified shall vote promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance with the order of the secretary of state.
(c) If each office or the district for each office for which the person is seeking nomination is wholly within a single county and any of those offices is a federal office, the board shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office.
(d) If one or more of the offices for which the person is seeking nomination is a state office and any of the offices for which the person is seeking nomination is a federal office, the board shall notify the secretary of state. The secretary of state then shall order the board of elections of each county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office. Each board of elections so notified shall vote promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance with the order of the secretary of state.
(D)(1) If the secretary of state determines, after the day of the primary election and before the day of the general election, that a person is seeking election to more than one office at that election in violation of division (A) of this section, the secretary of state shall do one of the following:
(a) If each office or the district for each office for which the person is seeking election is wholly within a single county and none of those offices is a federal office and none of those offices is a federal office, the secretary of state shall notify the board of elections of that county. The board then shall determine the offices for which the person seeks to appear as a candidate on the ballot. The board shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that would be listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks election, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code. If the person sought nomination at a primary election and has not yet been issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue that certificate for that person for any office that would be listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks election, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code.
(b) If one or more of the offices for which the person is seeking election is a state office or an office with a district larger than a single county and none of the offices for which the person is seeking election is a federal office and none of the offices for which the person is seeking election is a federal office, the secretary of state shall promptly investigate and determine the offices for which the person seeks to appear as a candidate on the ballot. The secretary of state shall order the board of elections of each county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that would be listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks election, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code. Each board of elections so notified shall vote promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance with the order of the secretary of state. If the person sought nomination at a primary election and has not yet been issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue that certificate for that person for any office that would be listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks election, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code.
(c) If each office or the district for each office for which the person is seeking election is wholly within a single county and any of those offices is a federal office, the secretary of state shall notify the board of elections of that county. The board then shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office. If the person sought nomination at a primary election and has not yet been issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue that certificate for that person for any office that is not a federal office.
(d) If one or more of the offices for which the person is seeking election is a state office and any of the offices for which the person is seeking election is a federal office, the secretary of state shall order the board of elections of each county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office. Each board of elections so notified shall vote promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance with the order of the secretary of state. If the person sought nomination at a primary election and has not yet been issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue that certificate for that person for any office that is not a federal office.
(c) If each office or the district for each office for which the person is seeking election is wholly within a single county and any of those offices is a federal office, the secretary of state shall notify the board of elections of that county. The board then shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office. If the person sought nomination at a primary election and has not yet been issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue that certificate for that person for any office that is not a federal office.
(d) If one or more of the offices for which the person is seeking election is a state office and any of the offices for which the person is seeking election is a federal office, the secretary of state shall order the board of elections of each county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office. Each board of elections so notified shall vote promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance with the order of the secretary of state. If the person sought nomination at a primary election and has not yet been issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue that certificate for that person for any office that is not a federal office.
(2) If a board of elections determines, after the day of the primary election and before the day of the general election, that a person is seeking election to more than one office at that election in violation of division (A) of this section, the board of elections shall do one of the following:
(a) If each office or the district for each office for which the person is seeking election is wholly within that county and none of those offices is a federal office and none of those offices is a federal office, the board shall determine the offices for which the person seeks to appear as a candidate on the ballot. The board shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that would be listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks election, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code. If the person sought nomination at a primary election and has not yet been issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue that certificate for that person for any office that would be listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks election, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code.
(b) If one or more of the offices for which the person is seeking election is a state office or an office with a district larger than a single county and none of the offices for which the person is seeking election is a federal office and none of the offices for which the person is seeking election is a federal office, the board shall notify the secretary of state. The secretary of state promptly shall investigate and determine the offices for which the person seeks to appear as a candidate on the ballot. The secretary of state shall order the board of elections of each county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that would be listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks election, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code. Each board of elections so notified shall vote promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance with the order of the secretary of state. If the person sought nomination at a primary election and has not yet been issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue that certificate for that person for any office that would be listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks election, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code.
(c) If each office or the district for each office for which the person is seeking election is wholly within that county and any of those offices is a federal office, the board shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office. If the person sought nomination at a primary election and has not yet been issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue that certificate for that person for any office that is not a federal office.
(d) If one or more of the offices for which the person is seeking election is a state office and any of the offices for which the person is seeking election is a federal office, the board shall notify the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall order the board of elections of each county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office. Each board of elections so notified shall vote promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance with the order of the secretary of state. If the person sought nomination at a primary election and has not yet been issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue that certificate for that person for any office that is not a federal office.
(c) If each office or the district for each office for which the person is seeking election is wholly within that county and any of those offices is a federal office, the board shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office. If the person sought nomination at a primary election and has not yet been issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue that certificate for that person for any office that is not a federal office.
(d) If one or more of the offices for which the person is seeking election is a state office and any of the offices for which the person is seeking election is a federal office, the board shall notify the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall order the board of elections of each county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal office. Each board of elections so notified shall vote promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance with the order of the secretary of state. If the person sought nomination at a primary election and has not yet been issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue that certificate for that person for any office that is not a federal office.
(E) When a person is disqualified as a candidate under division (C) or (D) of this section, that person's name shall not appear on the ballots on or before the sixtieth day before the day of the applicable election, or, if the election is a presidential primary election, on or before the forty-fifth day before the day of the presidential primary election, the board of elections shall remove the person's name from the ballot for any office for which that person has been disqualified as a candidate. If the ballots have already been prepared, the board of elections shall remove the name of the disqualified candidate from the ballots to the extent practicable in the time remaining before the election and according to the directions of the secretary of state. When a person is disqualified as a candidate under division (C) or (D) of this section after the sixtieth day before the day of the applicable election, or, if the election is a presidential primary election, after the forty-fifth day before the day of the presidential primary election, the board of elections shall not remove the person's name from the ballot for any office for which that person has been disqualified as a candidate. The board of elections shall post a notice at each polling location on the day of the applicable election, and shall enclose with each absent voter's ballot given or mailed after the candidate is disqualified, a notice that votes for the person for the office for which the person has been disqualified as a candidate will be void and will not be counted. If the name is not removed from the ballots before the day of the election, the votes for the disqualified candidate are void and shall not be counted.
(F) Any vacancy created by the disqualification of a person as a candidate under division (C) or (D) of this section may be filled in the manner provided for in sections 3513.30 and 3513.31 of the Revised Code.
(G) Nothing in this section or section 3513.04, 3513.041, 3513.05, 3513.251, 3513.253, 3513.254, 3513.255, 3513.257, 3513.259, or 3513.261 of the Revised Code prohibits, and the secretary of state or a board of elections shall not disqualify, a person from being a candidate for an office, if that person timely withdraws as a candidate for any offices specified in division (A) of this section for which that person first sought to become a candidate by filing a declaration of candidacy and petition, a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating petition, by party nomination in a primary election, or by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code.
(H) As used in this section:
(1) "State office" means the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, attorney general, member of the state board of education, member of the general assembly, chief justice of the supreme court, and justice of the supreme court.
(2) "Timely withdraws" means either of the following:
(a) Withdrawing as a candidate before the applicable deadline for filing a declaration of candidacy, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or nominating petition for the subsequent office for which the person is seeking to become a candidate at the same election;
(b) Withdrawing as a candidate before the applicable deadline for the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code, if the person is seeking to become a candidate for a subsequent office at the same election under either of those sections.
Sec. 3513.07.  The form of declaration of candidacy and petition of a person desiring to be a candidate for a party nomination or a candidate for election to an office or position to be voted for at a primary election shall be substantially as follows:
"DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY PARTY PRIMARY ELECTION
I, ........................... (Name of Candidate), the undersigned, hereby declare under penalty of election falsification that my voting residence is in ............... precinct of the ............................. (Township) or (Ward and City or Village) in the county of ................, Ohio; that my voting residence is ............... (Street and Number, if any, or Rural Route and Number) of the ............................. (City or Village) of ................., Ohio; and that I am a qualified elector in the precinct in which my voting residence is located. I am a member of the ........ Party. I hereby declare that I desire to be .................... (a candidate for nomination as a candidate of the Party for election to the office of .............) (a candidate for election to the office or position of ..............) for the ............ in the state, district, (Full term or unexpired term ending ...............) county, city, or village of ..................., at the primary election to be held on the ............. day of ........., ...., and I hereby request that my name be printed upon the official primary election ballot of the said .......... Party as a candidate for ......... (such nomination) or (such election) as provided by law.
I further declare that, if elected to said office or position, I will qualify therefor, and that I will support and abide by the principles enunciated by the ............ Party.
Dated this .......... day of ................., .........
.............................
(Signature of candidate)

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE.
PETITION OF CANDIDATE
We, the undersigned, qualified electors of the state of Ohio, whose voting residence is in the county, city, village, ward, township, or school district, and precinct set opposite our names, and members of the ....................................... Party, hereby certify that ............................ (Name of candidate) whose declaration of candidacy is filed herewith, is a member of the ............ Party, and is, in our opinion, well qualified to perform the duties of the office or position to which that candidate desires to be elected.
Street City,
and Village or
Signature Number Township Ward Precinct County Date

(Must use address on file with the board of elections)
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................... (Name of circulator of petition), declares under penalty of election falsification that the circulator of the petition is a qualified elector of the state of Ohio and resides at the address appearing below the signature of that circulator; that the circulator is a member of the ........... Party; that the circulator is the circulator of the foregoing petition paper containing ............. (Number) signatures; that the circulator witnessed the affixing of every signature; that all signers were to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief qualified to sign; and that every signature is to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief the signature of the person whose signature it purports to be or of an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code.
(Signature of circulator)
(Address of circulator's
permanent residence
in this state)
(If petition is for a statewide
candidate, the name and address
of person employing
circulator to circulate
petition, if any)

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE."
The secretary of state shall prescribe a form of declaration of candidacy and petition, and the form shall be substantially similar to the declaration of candidacy and petition set forth in this section, that will be suitable for joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor.
The petition provided for in this section shall be circulated only by a member of the same political party as the candidate.
Sec. 3513.09.  If the petition, required by section 3513.07 of the Revised Code to be filed with a declaration of candidacy, consists of more than one separate petition paper, the declaration of candidacy of the candidate named need be signed by the candidate, or of an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, on only one of such separate petition papers, but the declaration of candidacy so signed shall be copied on each other separate petition paper before the signature of electors are placed thereon on it.
Sec. 3513.19.  (A) It is the duty of any witness or challenger and of any judge of elections and the right of any elector, whenever any such person judge of elections doubts that another a person attempting to vote at a primary election is legally entitled to vote at such that election, to challenge the right of that other person to vote. The right of a person to vote at a primary election may be challenged upon the following grounds:
(1) That the person whose right to vote is challenged is not a legally qualified elector;
(2) That the person has received or has been promised some valuable reward or consideration for the person's vote;
(3) That the person is not affiliated with or is not a member of the political party whose ballot the person desires to vote. Such party affiliation shall be determined by examining the elector's voting record for the current year and the immediately preceding two calendar years as shown on the voter's registration card, using the standards of affiliation specified in the seventh paragraph of section 3513.05 of the Revised Code. Division (A)(3) of this section and the seventh paragraph of section 3513.05 of the Revised Code do not prohibit a person who holds an elective office for which candidates are nominated at a party primary election from doing any of the following:
(a) If the person voted as a member of a different political party at any primary election within the current year and the immediately preceding two calendar years, being a candidate for nomination at a party primary held during the times specified in division (C)(2) of section 3513.191 of the Revised Code provided that the person complies with the requirements of that section;
(b) Circulating the person's own petition of candidacy for party nomination in the primary election.
(B) When the right of a person to vote is challenged upon the ground set forth in division (A)(3) of this section, membership in or political affiliation with a political party shall be determined by the person's statement, made under penalty of election falsification, that the person desires to be affiliated with and supports the principles of the political party whose primary ballot the person desires to vote.
Sec. 3513.20.  Before any challenged person shall be allowed to vote at a primary election he, the person shall make a statement, under penalty of election falsification, before one of the precinct officials, blanks for which shall be furnished by the board of elections, giving name, age, residence, length of residence in the precinct, county, and state; stating that the person desires to be affiliated with and supports the principles of the political party whose ballot the person desires to vote; and giving all other facts necessary to determine whether he the person is entitled to vote in such that primary election. Such The statement shall be returned to the office of the board with the pollbooks and tally sheets.
If a person challenged refuses to make such that statement under penalty of election falsification, he the person shall be refused permitted to vote a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. If a majority of the precinct officials finds that the statements of a person challenged or his the person's voting record or other evidence shows that he the person lacks any of the qualifications required to make him the person a qualified elector at such the primary election or that he the person is not affiliated with or is not a member of the political party whose ballot he the person desires to vote, he the person shall be refused permitted to vote a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3513.22. (A) Not earlier than the eleventh day or later than the fifteenth day after a primary election, the board of elections shall begin to canvass the election returns from the precincts in which electors were entitled to vote at that election and shall continue the canvass daily until it is completed.
The board shall complete the canvass not later than the date set by the secretary of state under division (U) of section 3501.05 of the Revised Code twenty-first day after the day of the election. Sixty Eighty-one days after the date set by day of the secretary of state for the completion of the canvass election, the canvass of election returns shall be deemed final, and no amendments to the canvass may be made after that date. The secretary of state may specify an earlier date upon which the canvass of election returns shall be deemed final, and after which amendments to the final canvass may not be made, if so required by federal law.
(B) The county executive committee of each political party that participated in the election, and each committee designated in a petition to represent the petitioners pursuant to which a question or issue was submitted at the election, may designate a qualified elector who may be present at and may witness observe the making of the canvass. Each person for whom votes were cast in the election may also be present at and witness observe the making of the canvass.
(C) When the canvass of the election returns from all of the precincts in the county in which electors were entitled to vote at the election has been completed, the board shall determine and declare the results of the elections determined by the electors of the county or of a district or subdivision within the county. If more than the number of persons to be nominated for or elected to an office received the largest and an equal number of votes, the tie shall be resolved by lot by the chairperson of the board in the presence of a majority of the members of the board. The declaration shall be in writing and shall be signed by at least a majority of the members of the board. It shall bear the date of the day upon which it is made, and a copy of it shall be posted by the board in a conspicuous place in its office. The board shall keep the copy posted for a period of at least five days.
The board shall promptly certify abstracts of the results of the elections within its county upon forms the secretary of state prescribes. One certified copy of each abstract shall be kept in the office of the board, and one certified copy of each abstract shall promptly be sent to the secretary of state. The board shall also promptly send a certified copy of that part of an abstract that pertains to an election in which only electors of a district comprised of more than one county but less than all of the counties of the state voted to the board of the most populous county in the district. It shall also promptly send a certified copy of that part of an abstract that pertains to an election in which only electors of a subdivision located partly within the county voted to the board of the county in which the major portion of the population of the subdivision is located.
If, after certifying and sending abstracts and parts of abstracts, a board finds that any abstract or part of any abstract is incorrect, it shall promptly prepare, certify, and send a corrected abstract or part of an abstract to take the place of each incorrect abstract or part of an abstract previously certified and sent.
(D)(1) When certified copies of abstracts are received by the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall canvass those abstracts and determine and declare the results of all elections in which electors throughout the entire state voted. If more than the number of persons to be nominated for or elected to an office received the largest and an equal number of votes, the tie shall be resolved by lot by the secretary of state in the presence of the governor, the auditor of state, and the attorney general, who at the request of the secretary of state shall assemble to witness the drawing of the lot. The declaration of results by the secretary of state shall be in writing and shall be signed by the secretary of state. It shall bear the date of the day upon which it is made, and a copy of it shall be posted by the secretary of state in a conspicuous place in the secretary of state's office. The secretary of state shall keep the copy posted for a period of at least five days.
(2) When certified copies of parts of abstracts are received by the board of the most populous county in a district from the boards of all of the counties in the district, the board receiving those abstracts shall canvass them and determine and declare the results of the elections in which only electors of the district voted. If more than the number of persons to be nominated for or elected to an office received the largest and equal number of votes, the tie shall be resolved by lot by the chairperson of the board in the presence of a majority of the members of the board. The declaration of results by the board shall be in writing and shall be signed by at least a majority of the members of the board. It shall bear the date of the day upon which it is made, and a copy of it shall be posted by the board in a conspicuous place in its office. The board shall keep the copy posted for a period of at least five days.
(3) When certified copies of parts of abstracts are received by the board of a county in which the major portion of the population of a subdivision located in more than one county is located from the boards of each county in which other portions of that subdivision are located, the board receiving those abstracts shall canvass them and determine and declare the results of the elections in which only electors of that subdivision voted. If more than the number of persons to be nominated for or elected to an office received the largest and an equal number of votes, the tie shall be resolved by lot by the chairperson of the board in the presence of a majority of the members of the board. The declaration of results by the board shall be in writing and shall be signed by at least a majority of the members of the board. It shall bear the date of the day upon which it is made, and a copy of it shall be posted by the board in a conspicuous place in its office. The board shall keep the copy posted for a period of at least five days.
(E) Election officials, who are required to declare the results of primary elections, shall issue to each person declared nominated for or elected to an office, an appropriate certificate of nomination or election, provided that the boards required to determine and declare the results of the elections for candidates for nomination to the office of representative to congress from a congressional district shall, in lieu of issuing a certificate of nomination, certify to the secretary of state the names of the candidates nominated, and the secretary of state, upon receipt of that certification, shall issue a certificate of nomination to each person whose name is so certified. Certificates of nomination or election issued by boards to candidates and certifications to the secretary of state shall not be issued before the expiration of the time within which applications for recounts of votes may be filed or before recounts of votes, which have been applied for, are completed.
Sec. 3513.257.  Each person desiring to become an independent candidate for an office for which candidates may be nominated at a primary election, except persons desiring to become independent joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor and for the offices of president and vice-president of the United States, shall file no later than four p.m. of the day before the day of the primary election immediately preceding the general election at which such candidacy is to be voted for by the voters, a statement of candidacy and nominating petition as provided in section 3513.261 of the Revised Code. Persons desiring to become independent joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor shall file, not later than four p.m. of the day before the day of the primary election, one statement of candidacy and one nominating petition for the two of them. Persons desiring to become independent joint candidates for the offices of president and vice-president of the United States shall file, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of the general election at which the president and vice-president are to be elected, one statement of candidacy and one nominating petition for the two of them. The prospective independent joint candidates' statement of candidacy shall be filed with the nominating petition as one instrument.
The statement of candidacy and separate petition papers of each candidate or pair of joint candidates shall be filed at the same time as one instrument.
The nominating petition shall contain signatures of qualified electors of the district, political subdivision, or portion of a political subdivision in which the candidacy is to be voted on in an amount to be determined as follows:
(A) If the candidacy is to be voted on by electors throughout the entire state, the nominating petition, including the nominating petition of independent joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, shall be signed by no less than five thousand qualified electors, provided that no petition shall be accepted for filing if it purports to contain more than fifteen thousand signatures.
(B) If the candidacy is to be voted on by electors in any district, political subdivision, or part thereof in which less than five thousand electors voted for the office of governor at the most recent election for that office, the nominating petition shall contain signatures of not less than twenty-five qualified electors of the district, political subdivision, or part thereof, or a number of qualified signatures equal to at least five per cent of that vote, if this number is less than twenty-five.
(C) If the candidacy is to be voted on by electors in any district, political subdivision, or part thereof in which five thousand or more electors voted for the office of governor at the most recent election for that office, the nominating petition shall contain a number of signatures equal to at least one per cent of those electors.
All nominating petitions of candidates for offices to be voted on by electors throughout the entire state shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state. No nominating petition for the offices of president and vice-president of the United States shall be accepted for filing unless there is submitted to the secretary of state, at the time of filing the petition, a slate of presidential electors sufficient in number to satisfy the requirement of the United States Constitution. The secretary of state shall not accept for filing the statement of candidacy of a person who desires to be an independent candidate for the office of governor unless it also shows the joint candidacy of a person who desires to be an independent candidate for the office of lieutenant governor, shall not accept for filing the statement of candidacy of a person who desires to be an independent candidate for the office of lieutenant governor unless it also shows the joint candidacy of a person who desires to be an independent candidate for the office of governor, and shall not accept for filing the statement of candidacy of a person who desires to be an independent candidate to the office of governor or lieutenant governor who, for the same election, has already filed a declaration of candidacy, a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a statement of candidacy, or has become a candidate by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 of the Revised Code for any other state office or any federal or federal or county office.
Nominating petitions of candidates for offices to be voted on by electors within a district or political subdivision comprised of more than one county but less than all counties of the state shall be filed with the boards of elections of that county or part of a county within the district or political subdivision which had a population greater than that of any other county or part of a county within the district or political subdivision according to the last federal decennial census.
Nominating petitions for offices to be voted on by electors within a county or district smaller than a county shall be filed with the board of elections for such county.
No petition other than the petition of a candidate whose candidacy is to be considered by electors throughout the entire state shall be accepted for filing if it appears on its face to contain more than three times the minimum required number of signatures. A board of elections shall not accept for filing a nominating petition of a person seeking to become a candidate if that person, for the same election, has already filed a declaration of candidacy, a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating petition, or has become a candidate by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 of the Revised Code for any federal, federal, state,, or county office, if the nominating petition is for a state or county office, or for any municipal or township office, for member of a city, local, or exempted village board of education, or for member of a governing board of an educational service center, if the nominating petition is for a municipal or township office, or for member of a city, local, or exempted village board of education, or for member of a governing board of an educational service center. When a petition of a candidate has been accepted for filing by a board of elections, the petition shall not be deemed invalid if, upon verification of signatures contained in the petition, the board of elections finds the number of signatures accepted exceeds three times the minimum number of signatures required. A board of elections may discontinue verifying signatures when the number of verified signatures on a petition equals the minimum required number of qualified signatures.
Any nonjudicial candidate who files a nominating petition may request, at the time of filing, that the candidate be designated on the ballot as a nonparty candidate or as an other-party candidate, or may request that the candidate's name be placed on the ballot without any designation. Any such candidate who fails to request a designation either as a nonparty candidate or as an other-party candidate shall have the candidate's name placed on the ballot without any designation.
The purpose of establishing a filing deadline for independent candidates prior to the primary election immediately preceding the general election at which the candidacy is to be voted on by the voters is to recognize that the state has a substantial and compelling interest in protecting its electoral process by encouraging political stability, ensuring that the winner of the election will represent a majority of the community, providing the electorate with an understandable ballot, and enhancing voter education, thus fostering informed and educated expressions of the popular will in a general election. The filing deadline for independent candidates required in this section prevents splintered parties and unrestrained factionalism, avoids political fragmentation, and maintains the integrity of the ballot. The deadline, one day prior to the primary election, is the least drastic or restrictive means of protecting these state interests. The general assembly finds that the filing deadline for independent candidates in primary elections required in this section is reasonably related to the state's purpose of ensuring fair and honest elections while leaving unimpaired the political, voting, and associational rights secured by the first and fourteenth amendments to the United States Constitution.
Sec. 3513.259.  Nominations of candidates for the office of member of the state board of education shall be made only by nominating petition. The nominating petition of a candidate for the office of member of the state board of education shall be signed by not less than one hundred qualified electors.
No such nominating petition shall be accepted for filing if it appears on its face to contain signatures aggregating in number more than three times the minimum number of signatures required by this section. A board of elections shall not accept for filing a nominating petition of a person if that person, for the same election, has already filed a declaration of candidacy, a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating petition, or has become a candidate through party nomination at a primary election or by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code, to be a candidate for any other state office or any federal or federal or county office. When a petition of a candidate has been accepted for filing by a board of elections, the petition shall not be deemed invalid if, upon verification of signatures contained in the petition, the board of elections finds the number of signatures accepted exceeds three times the minimum number of signatures required. A board of elections may discontinue verifying signatures when the number of verified signatures equals the minimum required number of signatures. Such petition shall be filed with the board of elections of the most populous county in such district not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of the general election at which state board of education members are elected.
Each nominating petition shall be signed by qualified electors residing in the district in which the candidate designated therein would be a candidate for election to the office of member of the state board of education. Each candidate shall be a qualified elector residing in the district in which the candidate seeks election to such office.
As the word "district" is used in this section, it refers to a district created under section 3301.01 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3513.261.  A nominating petition may consist of one or more separate petition papers, each of which shall be substantially in the form prescribed in this section. If the petition consists of more than one separate petition paper, the statement of candidacy of the candidate or joint candidates named need be signed by the candidate or joint candidates on only one of such separate petition papers, but the statement of candidacy so signed shall be copied on each other separate petition paper before the signatures of electors are placed on it. Each nominating petition containing signatures of electors of more than one county shall consist of separate petition papers each of which shall contain signatures of electors of only one county; provided that petitions containing signatures of electors of more than one county shall not thereby be declared invalid. In case petitions containing signatures of electors of more than one county are filed, the board of elections shall determine the county from which the majority of the signatures came, and only signatures from this county shall be counted. Signatures from any other county shall be invalid.
All signatures on nominating petitions shall be written in ink or indelible pencil.
At the time of filing a nominating petition, the candidate designated in the nominating petition, and joint candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, shall pay to the election officials with whom it is filed the fees specified for the office under divisions (A) and (B) of section 3513.10 of the Revised Code. The fees shall be disposed of by those election officials in the manner that is provided in section 3513.10 of the Revised Code for the disposition of other fees, and in no case shall a fee required under that section be returned to a candidate.
Candidates or joint candidates whose names are written on the ballot, and who are elected, shall pay the same fees under section 3513.10 of the Revised Code that candidates who file nominating petitions pay. Payment of these fees shall be a condition precedent to the granting of their certificates of election.
Each nominating petition shall contain a statement of candidacy that shall be signed by the candidate or joint candidates named in it or by an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code. Such statement of candidacy shall contain a declaration made under penalty of election falsification that the candidate desires to be a candidate for the office named in it, and that the candidate is an elector qualified to vote for the office the candidate seeks.
The form of the nominating petition and statement of candidacy shall be substantially as follows:
"STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY
I, ................................... (Name of candidate), the undersigned, hereby declare under penalty of election falsification that my voting residence is in ................ .......... Precinct of the ......................... (Township) or (Ward and City, or Village) in the county of ............... Ohio; that my post-office address is ............................ (Street and Number, if any, or Rural Route and Number) of the ............................... (City, Village, or post office) of ...................., Ohio; and that I am a qualified elector in the precinct in which my voting residence is located. I hereby declare that I desire to be a candidate for election to the office of .............. in the ........................ (State, District, County, City, Village, Township, or School District) for the ...................................... (Full term or unexpired term ending ................) at the General Election to be held on the ........... day of ..............., ....
I further declare that I am an elector qualified to vote for the office I seek. Dated this ....... day of .............., ....
(Signature of candidate)

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE.
I, ................................., hereby constitute the persons named below a committee to represent me:
Name Residence

NOMINATING PETITION
We, the undersigned, qualified electors of the state of Ohio, whose voting residence is in the County, City, Village, Ward, Township or Precinct set opposite our names, hereby nominate .................... as a candidate for election to the office of ........................... in the ............................ (State, District, County, City, Village, Township, or School District) for the ................. (Full term or unexpired term ending ...................) to be voted for at the general election next hereafter to be held, and certify that this person is, in our opinion, well qualified to perform the duties of the office or position to which the person desires to be elected.
Street
Address
or R.F.D.
(Must use
address on City,
file with Village
the board of or Date of
Signature elections) Township Ward Precinct County Signing

..........................., declares under penalty of election falsification that such person is a qualified elector of the state of Ohio and resides at the address appearing below such person's signature hereto; that such person is the circulator of the foregoing petition paper containing ................ signatures; that such person witnessed the affixing of every signature; that all signers were to the best of such person's knowledge and belief qualified to sign; and that every signature is to the best of such person's knowledge and belief the signature of the person whose signature it purports to be or of an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code.
(Signature of circulator)
(Address of circulator's
permanent residence
in this state)
(If petition is for a statewide
candidate, the name and address
of person employing circulator
to circulate petition, if any)

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE."
The secretary of state shall prescribe a form of nominating petition for a group of candidates for the office of member of a board of education, township office, and offices of municipal corporations of under two thousand population.
The secretary of state shall prescribe a form of statement of candidacy and nominating petition, which shall be substantially similar to the form of statement of candidacy and nominating petition set forth in this section, that will be suitable for joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor.
If such petition nominates a candidate whose election is to be determined by the electors of a county or a district or subdivision within the county, it shall be filed with the board of such county. If the petition nominates a candidate whose election is to be determined by the voters of a subdivision located in more than one county, it shall be filed with the board of the county in which the major portion of the population of such subdivision is located.
If the petition nominates a candidate whose election is to be determined by the electors of a district comprised of more than one county but less than all of the counties of the state, it shall be filed with the board of elections of the most populous county in such district. If the petition nominates a candidate whose election is to be determined by the electors of the state at large, it shall be filed with the secretary of state.
The secretary of state or a board of elections shall not accept for filing a nominating petition of a person seeking to become a candidate if that person, for the same election, has already filed a declaration of candidacy, a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating petition, or has become a candidate through party nomination at a primary election or by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code for any federal, federal, state,, or county office, if the nominating petition is for a state or county office, or for any municipal or township office, for member of a city, local, or exempted village board of education, or for member of a governing board of an educational service center, if the nominating petition is for a municipal or township office, or for member of a city, local, or exempted village board of education, or for member of a governing board of an educational service center.
Sec. 3513.30.  (A)(1) Where If only one valid declaration of candidacy is filed for nomination as a candidate of a political party for an office and such that candidate dies prior to the tenth day before the primary election, both of the following may occur:
(a) The political party whose candidate died may fill the vacancy so created as provided in division (A)(2) of this section.
(b) Any major political party other than the one whose candidate died may select a candidate as provided in division (A)(2) of this section under either of the following circumstances:
(i) No person has filed a valid declaration of candidacy for nomination as that party's candidate at the primary election.
(ii) Only one person has filed a valid declaration of candidacy for nomination as that party's candidate at the primary election, that person has withdrawn, died, or been disqualified under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, and the vacancy so created has not been filled.
(2) A vacancy may be filled under division (A)(1)(a) and a selection may be made under division (A)(1)(b) of this section by the appropriate committee of the political party in the same manner as provided in divisions (A) to (E) of section 3513.31 of the Revised Code for the filling of similar vacancies created by withdrawals or disqualifications under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code after the primary election, except that the certification required under that section may not be filed with the secretary of state, or with a board of the most populous county of a district, or with the board of a county in which the major portion of the population of a subdivision is located, later than four p.m. of the tenth day before the day of such primary election, or with any other board later than four p.m. of the fifth day before the day of such primary election.
(3) If only one valid declaration of candidacy is filed for nomination as a candidate of a political party for an office and that candidate dies on or after the tenth day before the day of the primary election, that candidate is considered to have received the nomination of that candidate's political party at that primary election, and, for purposes of filling the vacancy so created, that candidate's death shall be treated as if that candidate died on the day after the day of the primary election.
(B) Any person filing a declaration of candidacy may withdraw as such candidate at any time prior to the primary election, or, if the primary election is a presidential primary election, at any time prior to the fiftieth day before the presidential primary election. The withdrawal shall be effected and the statement of withdrawal shall be filed in accordance with the procedures prescribed in division (D) of this section for the withdrawal of persons nominated in a primary election or by nominating petition.
(C) A person who is the first choice for president of the United States by a candidate for delegate or alternate to a national convention of a political party may withdraw consent for the selection of the person as such first choice no later than four p.m. of the thirtieth day before the day of the presidential primary election. Withdrawal of consent shall be for the entire slate of candidates for delegates and alternates who named such person as their presidential first choice and shall constitute withdrawal from the primary election by such delegates and alternates. The withdrawal shall be made in writing and delivered to the secretary of state. The If the withdrawal is delivered to the secretary of state on or before the sixtieth day before the day of the primary election, or, if the election is a presidential primary election, on or before the forty-fifth day before the day of the presidential primary election, the boards of elections shall remove both the name of the withdrawn first choice and the names of such withdrawn candidates from the ballots to the extent practicable in the time remaining before the election and according to the directions of the secretary of state. If the withdrawal is delivered to the secretary of state after the sixtieth day before the day of the primary election, or, if the election is a presidential primary election, after the forty-fifth day before the day of the presidential primary election, the board of elections shall not remove the name of the withdrawn first choice and the names of the withdrawn candidates from the ballots. The board of elections shall post a notice at each polling location on the day of the primary election, and shall enclose with each absent voter's ballot given or mailed after the candidate withdraws, a notice that votes for the withdrawn first choice or the withdrawn candidates will be void and will not be counted. If such names are not removed from all ballots before the day of the election, the votes for the withdrawn first choice or the withdrawn candidates are void and shall not be counted.
(D) Any person nominated in a primary election or by nominating petition as a candidate for election at the next general election may withdraw as such candidate at any time prior to the general election. Such withdrawal may be effected by the filing of a written statement by such candidate announcing the candidate's withdrawal and requesting that the candidate's name not be printed on the ballots. If such candidate's declaration of candidacy or nominating petition was filed with the secretary of state, the candidate's statement of withdrawal shall be addressed to and filed with the secretary of state. If such candidate's declaration of candidacy or nominating petition was filed with a board of elections, the candidate's statement of withdrawal shall be addressed to, and filed with such board.
(E) When a person withdraws under division (B) or (D) of this section on or before the sixtieth day before the day of the primary election, or, if the election is a presidential primary election, on or before the forty-fifth day before the day of the presidential primary election, the board of elections shall remove the name of the withdrawn candidate from the ballots to the extent practicable in the time remaining before the election and according to the directions of the secretary of state. When a person withdraws under division (B) or (D) of this section after the sixtieth day before the day of the primary election, or, if the election is a presidential primary election, after the forty-fifth day before the day of the presidential primary election, the board of elections shall not remove the name of the withdrawn candidate from the ballots. The board of elections shall post a notice at each polling place on the day of the primary election, and shall enclose with each absent voter's ballot given or mailed after the candidate withdraws, a notice that votes for the withdrawn candidate will be void and will not be counted. If the name is not removed from all ballots before the day of the election, the votes for the withdrawn candidate are void and shall not be counted.
Sec. 3515.03.  Each application for recount shall separately list each precinct as to which a recount of the votes therein is requested, and the person filing an the application shall, at the same time, deposit with the board of elections ten fifty dollars in currency, bank money order, bank cashier's check, or certified check for each precinct so listed in such application as security for the payment of charges for making the recount therein applied for, which charges shall be fixed by the board as provided in section 3515.07 of the Revised Code.
Upon the filing of an application, or upon declaration by the board or secretary of state that the number of votes cast in any election for the declared winning nominee, candidate, question, or issue does not exceed the number of votes cast for the defeated nominee, candidate, question, or issue, by the margins set forth in section 3515.011 of the Revised Code, the board shall promptly fix the time, method, and the place at which the recount will be made, which time shall be not later than ten days after the day upon which such application is filed or such declaration is made. If the recount involves a candidate for election to an office comprising more than one county, the director of the board shall promptly mail notice of the time and place for such recount to the board of the most populous county of the district. If the contest involves a state office, the director shall promptly notify the secretary of state of the filing for such recount.
The director of the board shall mail notice of the time and place so fixed to any applicant and to each person for whom votes were cast for such nomination or election. Such notice shall be mailed by certified mail not later than the fifth day before the day fixed for the commencement of the recount. Persons entitled to have such notice mailed to them may waive their right to have it mailed by filing with the director a written waiver to that effect. Each person entitled to receive such notice may attend and witness observe the recount and may have any person whom the candidate designates attend and witness observe the recount. At any time after a winning nominee or candidate is declared but before the time for a recount pursuant to section 3515.011 of the Revised Code commences, the declared losing nominee or candidate may file with the board a written request to stop the recount from commencing. In the case of more than one declared losing candidate or nominee, each of whom is entitled to a recount pursuant to section 3515.011 of the Revised Code, each such declared losing candidate or nominee must file with the board such written request to stop the recount from commencing. The board shall grant such request and shall not commence the recount.
In the case of a recount of votes cast upon a question or issue, any group of five or more qualified electors, who voted upon such question or issue and whose votes were in opposition to the votes of the members of the group of electors who applied for such the recount, or for whom such the recount was required by section 3515.011 of the Revised Code, may file with the board a written statement to that effect, shall designate therein in it one of their number as chairman chairperson of such group and, may appoint an attorney at law as their legal counsel, and may request that the persons so designated be permitted to attend and witness observe the recount. Thereupon, the persons so designated may attend and witness observe the recount.
Sec. 3515.04.  At the time and place fixed for making a recount, the board of elections, in the presence of all witnesses observers who may be in attendance, shall open the sealed containers containing the ballots to be recounted, and shall recount them. If a county used punch card ballots and if a chad is attached to a punch card ballot by three or four corners, the voter shall be deemed by the board not to have recorded a candidate, question, or issue choice at the particular position on the ballot, and a vote shall not be counted at that particular position on the ballot in the recount. Ballots shall be handled only by the members of the board or by the director or other employees of the board. Witnesses Observers shall be permitted to see the ballots, but they shall not be permitted to touch them, and the board shall not permit the counting or tabulation of votes shown on the ballots for any nomination, or for election to any office or position, or upon any question or issue, other than the votes shown on such ballots for the nomination, election, question, or issue concerning which a recount of ballots was applied for.
At any time before the ballots from all of the precincts listed in an application for the recount or involved in a recount pursuant to section 3515.011 of the Revised Code have been recounted, the applicant or declared losing candidate or nominee or each of the declared losing candidates or nominees entitled to file a request prior to the commencement of a recount, as provided in section 3515.03 of the Revised Code, may file with the board a written request to stop the recount and not recount the ballots from the precincts so listed that have not been recounted prior to the time of the request. If, upon the request, the board finds that results of the votes in the precincts recounted, if substituted for the results of the votes in those precincts as shown in the abstract of the votes in those precincts, would not cause the applicant, if a person for whom votes were cast for nomination or election, to be declared nominated or elected or if an election upon a question or issue would not cause a result contrary to the result as declared prior to such recount, it shall grant the request and shall not recount the ballots of the precincts listed in the application for recount that have not been recounted prior to that time. If the board finds otherwise, it shall deny the request and shall continue to recount ballots until the ballots from all of the precincts listed in the application for recount have been recounted; provided that, if the request is denied, it may be renewed from time to time. Upon any such renewal, the board shall consider and act upon the request in the same manner as provided in this section in connection with an original request.
As used in this section, "chad" and "punch card ballot" have the same meanings as in section 3506.16 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3515.041. As required by 3 U.S.C. 5, any recount of votes conducted under this chapter for the election of presidential electors shall be completed not later than six days before the time fixed under federal law for the meeting of those presidential electors.
Sec. 3515.07.  The charges for making a recount of votes of precincts listed in an application for a recount filed with the board of elections shall be fixed by the board and shall include all expenses incurred by such the board because of such the application other than the regular operating expenses which that the board would have incurred if the application had not been filed. The total amount of charges so fixed divided by the number of precincts listed in such the application, the votes of which were recounted, shall be the charge per precinct for the recount of the votes of the precincts listed in such the application, the votes of which were recounted; provided that the charges per precinct so fixed shall not be more than ten nor fifty or less than five dollars for each precinct the votes of which were recounted.
Such charge per precinct shall be deducted by the board from the money deposited with the board by the applicant for the recount at the time of filing his the application, and the balance of the money so deposited shall be returned to such the applicant; provided that no such charge per precinct shall be deducted by the board from the money deposited for a recount of votes cast for a nomination or for an election to an office or position in any precinct, if the total number of votes cast in such precinct for the applicant, as recorded by such the recount, is more than four per cent larger than the number of votes for such the applicant in such that precinct recorded in the original certified abstract thereof, nor shall any charge per precinct be deducted for a recount of votes cast in any precinct upon a question or issue if the total number of votes in such that precinct on the same side of such that question or issue as the side represented by the applicant, as recorded by such the recount, is more than four per cent larger than the number of votes in such that precinct on the same side of such that question or issue recorded in the original certified abstract thereof. No such charge per precinct shall be deducted if upon the completion of a recount concerning a nomination or election the applicant is declared nominated or elected, or if upon the completion of a recount concerning a question or issue the result of such that election is declared to be opposite to the original declaration of the result of such that election. All
All moneys deposited with a board by an applicant shall be deposited in a special depository fund with the county treasurer. The expenses of the recount and refunds shall be paid from said that fund upon order of the board of elections. Any balance remaining in such that fund shall be paid into the general fund of the county.
Sec. 3515.072.  (A) In January of each odd-numbered year, the secretary of state, in accordance with this division and division (B) of this section, shall adjust each amount specified in sections 3515.03 and 3515.07 of the Revised Code. The adjustment shall be based on the yearly average of the previous two years of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers or its successive equivalent, as determined by the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, or its successor in responsibility, for all items, Series A. Using the 2005 yearly average as the base year, the secretary of state shall compare the most current average consumer price index with that determined in the preceding odd-numbered year, and shall determine the percentage increase or decrease. The percentage increase or decrease shall be multiplied by each actual dollar figure specified in sections 3515.03 and 3515.07 of the Revised Code as determined in the previous odd-numbered year, and the product shall be added to or subtracted from its corresponding actual dollar figure, as necessary, for that previous odd-numbered year.
If the resulting amount is less than five dollars, the secretary of state shall retain a record of the resulting amount and the manner in which it was calculated, but shall not make an adjustment unless the resulting amount, when added to the resulting amount calculated in each prior odd-numbered year since the last adjustment was made, equals or exceeds five dollars.
(B)(1) The secretary of state shall calculate the adjustment under division (A) of this section and shall report the calculations and necessary materials to the auditor of state, on or before the thirty-first day of January of each odd-numbered year. The secretary of state shall base the adjustment on the most current consumer price index that is described in division (A) of this section and that is in effect as of the first day of January of each odd-numbered year.
(2) The calculations made by the secretary of state under divisions (A) and (B)(1) of this section shall be certified by the auditor of state on or before the fifteenth day of February of each odd-numbered year.
(3) On or before the twenty-fifth day of February of each odd-numbered year, the secretary of state shall prepare a report setting forth the amount required to be deposited with a board of elections at the time a recount application is filed for each precinct to be recounted under section 3515.03 of the Revised Code and the minimum and maximum per precinct charge for a recount under section 3515.07 of the Revised Code. The report and all documents relating to the calculations contained in the report are public records. The report shall contain an indication of the period in which the deposit amounts and the minimum and maximum per precinct charges apply, a summary of how the deposit amounts and the minimum and maximum per precinct charges were calculated, and a statement that the report and all related documents are available for inspection and copying at the office of the secretary of state.
(4) On or before the twenty-fifth day of February of each odd-numbered year, the secretary of state shall transmit the report to the general assembly and shall send the report by electronic mail or other form of electronic communication to the board of elections of each county.
Sec. 3515.08.  The (A) Except as otherwise provided in this division, the nomination or election of any person to any public office or party position or the approval or rejection of any issue or question, submitted to the voters, may be contested by qualified electors of the state or a political subdivision. The nomination or election of any person to any federal office, including the office of elector for president and vice president and the office of member of congress, shall not be subject to a contest of election conducted under this chapter. Contests of the nomination or election of any person to any federal office shall be conducted in accordance with the applicable provisions of federal law.
(B) In the case of an office to be filled or an issue to be determined by the voters of the entire state, or for the office of members of congress, or for judicial offices higher than that of court of common pleas, or for an office to be filled or an issue to be determined by the voters of a district larger than a county, said a contest shall be heard and determined by the chief justice of the supreme court or a justice of the supreme court assigned for that purpose by the chief justice; except that, in a contest for the office of chief justice of the supreme court, such the contest shall be heard by a justice of such the supreme court designated by the governor.
(C) In the case of all other offices or issues, except judicial offices, such contests shall be heard and determined by a judge of the court of common pleas of the county in which the contest arose. In the case of a contest for a judicial office within a county, such the contest shall be heard by the court of appeals of the district in which such that county is located. If any contestant alleges prejudice on the part of the judges of the court of appeals or the court of common pleas, assigned to hear such appeal a contest, then the chief justice of the supreme court, upon application of any such contestants contestant and for good cause shown, may assign judges from another court to hear such the contest.
Sec. 3515.13.  If any contest of election involves a recount of the ballots in any precincts, the court shall immediately order the ballots of the precincts in which the recount is demanded to be sent to the court in such manner as the court designates, and such court may appoint two master commissioners of opposite political parties to supervise the making of the recount. The attorneys representing the contestor and the prosecuting attorney of the county or the attorney general or one of his the attorney general's assistants representing the contestee shall be present at all hearings on such recount. Such commissioners shall receive ten dollars each per day and their actual traveling expenses when approved by the presiding judges. The compensation of such clerks as are deemed necessary by the court shall be determined by the court on the basis of similar compensation in other public offices for like work. Both the contestor and contestee may appoint one inspector observer who shall be allowed to see all ballots and tally sheets and witness observe the recount. If the court finds that the difference in the count from the original count by the election authorities was the result of fraud, gross negligence, or willfulness on the part of any election officer or other person, such the court shall forthwith transmit a copy of its decision and of the evidence to the prosecuting attorney of the county wherein such in which the fraud or gross negligence was found with directions to present the same to the next grand jury in the county or to the attorney general, in the case of state or federal offices, with directions to prosecute the cases on behalf of the state.
Sec. 3517.01.  (A)(1) A political party within the meaning of Title XXXV of the Revised Code is any group of voters that, at the most recent regular state election, polled for its candidate for governor in the state or nominees for presidential electors at least five per cent of the entire vote cast for that office or that filed with the secretary of state, subsequent to any election in which it received less than five per cent of that vote, a petition signed by qualified electors equal in number to at least one per cent of the total vote for governor or nominees for presidential electors at the most recent election, declaring their intention of organizing a political party, the name of which shall be stated in the declaration, and of participating in the succeeding primary election, held in even-numbered years, that occurs more than one hundred twenty days after the date of filing. No such group of electors shall assume a name or designation that is similar, in the opinion of the secretary of state, to that of an existing political party as to confuse or mislead the voters at an election. If any political party fails to cast five per cent of the total vote cast at an election for the office of governor or president, it shall cease to be a political party.
(2) A campaign committee shall be legally liable for any debts, contracts, or expenditures incurred or executed in its name.
(B) Notwithstanding the definitions found in section 3501.01 of the Revised Code, as used in this section and sections 3517.08 to 3517.14, 3517.99, and 3517.992 of the Revised Code:
(1) "Campaign committee" means an entity that is formed by a candidate or a combination of two or more persons authorized by a candidate under section 3517.081 of the Revised Code to receive contributions and make expenditures and that is legally liable for any debts, contracts, or expenditures incurred or executed in its name.
(2) "Campaign treasurer" means an individual appointed by a candidate under section 3517.081 of the Revised Code.
(3) "Candidate" has the same meaning as in division (H) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code and also includes any person who, at any time before or after an election, receives contributions or makes expenditures or other use of contributions, has given consent for another to receive contributions or make expenditures or other use of contributions, or appoints a campaign treasurer, for the purpose of bringing about the person's nomination or election to public office. When two persons jointly seek the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, "candidate" means the pair of candidates jointly. "Candidate" does not include candidates for election to the offices of member of a county or state central committee, presidential elector, and delegate to a national convention or conference of a political party.
(4) "Continuing association" means an association, other than a campaign committee, political party, legislative campaign fund, political contributing entity, or labor organization, that is intended to be a permanent organization that has a primary purpose other than supporting or opposing specific candidates, political parties, or ballot issues, and that functions on a regular basis throughout the year. "Continuing association" includes organizations that are determined to be not organized for profit under subsection 501 and that are described in subsection 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(5) "Contribution" means a loan, gift, deposit, forgiveness of indebtedness, donation, advance, payment, or transfer of funds or anything of value, including a transfer of funds from an inter vivos or testamentary trust or decedent's estate, and the payment by any person other than the person to whom the services are rendered for the personal services of another person, which contribution is made, received, or used for the purpose of influencing the results of an election. Any loan, gift, deposit, forgiveness of indebtedness, donation, advance, payment, or transfer of funds or of anything of value, including a transfer of funds from an inter vivos or testamentary trust or decedent's estate, and the payment by any campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, political contributing entity, or person other than the person to whom the services are rendered for the personal services of another person, that is made, received, or used by a state or county political party, other than moneys a state or county political party receives from the Ohio political party fund pursuant to section 3517.17 of the Revised Code and the moneys a state or county political party may receive under sections 3517.101, 3517.1012, and 3517.1013 of the Revised Code, shall be considered to be a "contribution" for the purpose of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code and shall be included on a statement of contributions filed under that section.
"Contribution" does not include any of the following:
(a) Services provided without compensation by individuals volunteering a portion or all of their time on behalf of a person;
(b) Ordinary home hospitality;
(c) The personal expenses of a volunteer paid for by that volunteer campaign worker;
(d) Any gift given to a state or county political party pursuant to section 3517.101 of the Revised Code. As used in division (B)(5)(d) of this section, "political party" means only a major political party;
(e) Any contribution as defined in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code that is made, received, or used to pay the direct costs of producing or airing an electioneering communication;
(f) Any gift given to a state or county political party for the party's restricted fund under division (A)(2) of section 3517.1012 of the Revised Code;
(g) Any gift given to a state political party for deposit in a Levin account pursuant to section 3517.1013 of the Revised Code. As used in this division, "Levin account" has the same meaning as in that section.
(6) "Expenditure" means the disbursement or use of a contribution for the purpose of influencing the results of an election or of making a charitable donation under division (G) of section 3517.08 of the Revised Code. Any disbursement or use of a contribution by a state or county political party is an expenditure and shall be considered either to be made for the purpose of influencing the results of an election or to be made as a charitable donation under division (G) of section 3517.08 of the Revised Code and shall be reported on a statement of expenditures filed under section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. During the thirty days preceding a primary or general election, any disbursement to pay the direct costs of producing or airing a broadcast, cable, or satellite communication that refers to a clearly identified candidate shall be considered to be made for the purpose of influencing the results of that election and shall be reported as an expenditure or as an independent expenditure under section 3517.10 or 3517.105 of the Revised Code, as applicable, except that the information required to be reported regarding contributors for those expenditures or independent expenditures shall be the same as the information required to be reported under divisions (D)(1) and (2) of section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code.
As used in this division, "broadcast, cable, or satellite communication" and "refers to a clearly identified candidate" have the same meanings as in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code.
(7) "Personal expenses" includes, but is not limited to, ordinary expenses for accommodations, clothing, food, personal motor vehicle or airplane, and home telephone.
(8) "Political action committee" means a combination of two or more persons, the primary or major purpose of which is to support or oppose any candidate, political party, or issue, or to influence the result of any election through express advocacy, and that is not a political party, a campaign committee, a political contributing entity, or a legislative campaign fund. "Political action committee" does not include a either of the following:
(a) A continuing association that makes disbursements for the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications and that does not engage in express advocacy;
(b) A political club that is formed primarily for social purposes and that consists of one hundred members or less, has officers and periodic meetings, has less than two thousand five hundred dollars in its treasury at all times, and makes an aggregate total contribution of one thousand dollars or less per calendar year.
(9) "Public office" means any state, county, municipal, township, or district office, except an office of a political party, that is filled by an election and the offices of United States senator and representative.
(10) "Anything of value" has the same meaning as in section 1.03 of the Revised Code.
(11) "Beneficiary of a campaign fund" means a candidate, a public official or employee for whose benefit a campaign fund exists, and any other person who has ever been a candidate or public official or employee and for whose benefit a campaign fund exists.
(12) "Campaign fund" means money or other property, including contributions.
(13) "Public official or employee" has the same meaning as in section 102.01 of the Revised Code.
(14) "Caucus" means all of the members of the house of representatives or all of the members of the senate of the general assembly who are members of the same political party.
(15) "Legislative campaign fund" means a fund that is established as an auxiliary of a state political party and associated with one of the houses of the general assembly.
(16) "In-kind contribution" means anything of value other than money that is used to influence the results of an election or is transferred to or used in support of or in opposition to a candidate, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, political action committee, or political contributing entity and that is made with the consent of, in coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, or at the request or suggestion of the benefited candidate, committee, fund, party, or entity. The financing of the dissemination, distribution, or republication, in whole or part, of any broadcast or of any written, graphic, or other form of campaign materials prepared by the candidate, the candidate's campaign committee, or their authorized agents is an in-kind contribution to the candidate and an expenditure by the candidate.
(17) "Independent expenditure" means an expenditure by a person advocating the election or defeat of an identified candidate or candidates, that is not made with the consent of, in coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, or at the request or suggestion of any candidate or candidates or of the campaign committee or agent of the candidate or candidates. As used in division (B)(17) of this section:
(a) "Person" means an individual, partnership, unincorporated business organization or association, political action committee, political contributing entity, separate segregated fund, association, or other organization or group of persons, but not a labor organization or a corporation unless the labor organization or corporation is a political contributing entity.
(b) "Advocating" means any communication containing a message advocating election or defeat.
(c) "Identified candidate" means that the name of the candidate appears, a photograph or drawing of the candidate appears, or the identity of the candidate is otherwise apparent by unambiguous reference.
(d) "Made in coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or the campaign committee or agent of the candidate" means made pursuant to any arrangement, coordination, or direction by the candidate, the candidate's campaign committee, or the candidate's agent prior to the publication, distribution, display, or broadcast of the communication. An expenditure is presumed to be so made when it is any of the following:
(i) Based on information about the candidate's plans, projects, or needs provided to the person making the expenditure by the candidate, or by the candidate's campaign committee or agent, with a view toward having an expenditure made;
(ii) Made by or through any person who is, or has been, authorized to raise or expend funds, who is, or has been, an officer of the candidate's campaign committee, or who is, or has been, receiving any form of compensation or reimbursement from the candidate or the candidate's campaign committee or agent;
(iii) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of section 3517.105 of the Revised Code, made by a political party in support of a candidate, unless the expenditure is made by a political party to conduct voter registration or voter education efforts.
(e) "Agent" means any person who has actual oral or written authority, either express or implied, to make or to authorize the making of expenditures on behalf of a candidate, or means any person who has been placed in a position with the candidate's campaign committee or organization such that it would reasonably appear that in the ordinary course of campaign-related activities the person may authorize expenditures.
(18) "Labor organization" means a labor union; an employee organization; a federation of labor unions, groups, locals, or other employee organizations; an auxiliary of a labor union, employee organization, or federation of labor unions, groups, locals, or other employee organizations; or any other bona fide organization in which employees participate and that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment.
(19) "Separate segregated fund" means a separate segregated fund established pursuant to the Federal Election Campaign Act.
(20) "Federal Election Campaign Act" means the "Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971," 86 Stat. 11, 2 U.S.C.A. 431, et seq., as amended.
(21) "Restricted fund" means the fund a state or county political party must establish under division (A)(1) of section 3517.1012 of the Revised Code.
(22) "Electioneering communication" has the same meaning as in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code.
(23) "Express advocacy" means a communication that contains express words advocating the nomination, election, or defeat of a candidate or that contains express words advocating the adoption or defeat of a question or issue, as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(24) "Political committee" has the same meaning as in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code.
(25) "Political contributing entity" means any entity, including a corporation or labor organization, that may lawfully make contributions and expenditures and that is not an individual or a political action committee, continuing association, campaign committee, political party, legislative campaign fund, designated state campaign committee, or state candidate fund. For purposes of this division, "lawfully" means not prohibited by any section of the Revised Code, or authorized by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
Sec. 3517.081.  (A) Each candidate shall have no more than one campaign committee for purposes of receiving contributions and making expenditures. No campaign committee shall receive any contribution or make any expenditure other than through the campaign treasurer. The campaign treasurer shall file all statements required of a candidate or campaign committee under section 3517.10 of the Revised Code.
The candidate shall designate himself the candidate or a member of his the candidate's campaign committee as his the candidate's campaign treasurer as required by division (D) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. The campaign treasurer may appoint deputy campaign treasurers as required. Deputy campaign treasurers may exercise any of the powers and duties of a campaign treasurer when specifically authorized to do so by the campaign treasurer or the candidate.
Each candidate shall file a written statement, as required by division (D) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code, setting forth the full name and address of the campaign treasurer and also of each deputy treasurer. Each candidate shall file supplemental statements giving the full name and address of each deputy treasurer at the time of appointment.
A candidate may remove the campaign treasurer or any deputy campaign treasurer at any time. In the case of death, resignation, or removal of the treasurer or deputy treasurer before compliance with all obligations of a campaign treasurer, the candidate shall fill the vacancy thus created in the same manner as provided in the case of an original appointment.
(B)(1) Two or more candidates may be the beneficiaries of a single campaign committee if all of the following apply:
(a) Each candidate is seeking nomination or election to the same office at the same election.
(b) The office for which each candidate is seeking nomination or election is the office of member of a board, commission, or other similar body of elected officials to which multiple members are nominated or elected at the same election.
(c) The number of candidates who will be the beneficiaries of the campaign committee does not exceed the number of open positions on the board, commission, or other similar body of elected officials to which the candidates are seeking nomination or election.
(d) The candidates jointly designate one of the candidates or one member of the campaign committee as the treasurer of that campaign committee as required under division (A) of this section.
(e) The candidates jointly file the written statements required under division (A) of this section.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this division, any penalty that may be imposed on a candidate under section 3517.992 of the Revised Code for a violation of this chapter shall be imposed jointly and severally on each beneficiary of a multi-beneficiary campaign committee. If the Ohio elections commission or the appropriate prosecutor is able to determine that a specific beneficiary of a multi-beneficiary campaign committee violated this chapter, the applicable penalty under section 3517.992 of the Revised Code shall be imposed only on that candidate and not on the other beneficiaries of that multi-beneficiary campaign committee.
(3)(a) If any of the following occur after a multi-beneficiary campaign committee is established, that campaign committee shall be terminated:
(i) The beneficiaries of the campaign committee disagree as to the designation or removal of a campaign treasurer.
(ii) Any beneficiary of the campaign committee desires to end the beneficiary's candidacy for the office for which the beneficiaries are seeking nomination or election.
(iii) Any beneficiary of the campaign committee desires to form an individual campaign committee.
(b) Prior to the termination of a multi-beneficiary campaign committee in accordance with division (B)(3)(a) of this section, any contributions received by that campaign committee that have not been expended shall be disposed of in the manner provided in division (C) of section 3517.109 of the Revised Code. No contributions from the multi-beneficiary campaign committee shall be contributed or transferred into any candidate's individual campaign committee.
(4) No candidate who has a campaign committee for which that candidate is the sole beneficiary shall become the beneficiary of a campaign committee with multiple beneficiaries under division (B)(1) of this section unless the candidate first terminates the candidate's individual campaign committee. Prior to the termination of that individual campaign committee, any contributions received by that campaign committee that have not been expended shall be disposed of in the manner provided in division (C) of section 3517.109 of the Revised Code. No contributions from the candidate's individual campaign committee shall be contributed or transferred into the multi-beneficiary campaign committee.
Sec. 3517.092.  (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Appointing authority" has the same meaning as in section 124.01 of the Revised Code.
(2) "State elected officer" means any person appointed or elected to a state elective office.
(3) "State elective office" means any of the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, attorney general, member of the state board of education, member of the general assembly, and justice and chief justice of the supreme court.
(4) "County elected officer" means any person appointed or elected to a county elective office.
(5) "County elective office" means any of the offices of county auditor, county treasurer, clerk of the court of common pleas, sheriff, county recorder, county engineer, county commissioner, prosecuting attorney, and coroner.
(6)(4) "Contribution" includes a contribution to any political party, campaign committee, political action committee, political contributing entity, or legislative campaign fund.
(B)(1) No state elected officer, no campaign committee of such an officer, no employee of the state elected officer's office, and no other person or entity shall knowingly solicit or accept a contribution on behalf of that to a state elected officer or that to such an officer's campaign committee, and no state elected officer and no campaign committee of such an officer shall accept a contribution, from any of the following:
(1)(a) A state employee whose appointing authority is the state elected officer;
(2)(b) A state employee whose appointing authority is authorized or required by law to be appointed by the state elected officer;
(3)(c) A state employee who functions in or is employed in or by the same public agency, department, division, or office as the state elected officer.
(C)(2) No candidate for a state elective office, no campaign committee of such a candidate, no employee of the candidate's office if the candidate is a state elected officer or an elected officer of a political subdivision of the state, and no other person or entity shall knowingly solicit or accept a contribution on behalf of that to a candidate for a state elective office or that to such a candidate's campaign committee, and no candidate for a state elective office and no campaign committee of such a candidate shall accept a contribution, from any of the following:
(1)(a) A state employee at the time of the solicitation, whose appointing authority will be the candidate, if elected;
(2)(b) A state employee at the time of the solicitation, whose appointing authority will be appointed by the candidate, if elected, as authorized or required by law;
(3)(c) A state employee at the time of the solicitation, who will function in or be employed in or by the same public agency, department, division, or office as the candidate, if elected.
(D)(C)(1) No county elected officer of a political subdivision of the state, no campaign committee of such an officer, no employee of such an officer's office, and no other person or entity shall knowingly solicit a contribution on behalf of that to an elected officer of a political subdivision of the state or that to such an officer's campaign committee from any of the following:
(1) A county (a) An employee of that political subdivision whose appointing authority is the county that elected officer;
(2) A county (b) An employee of that political subdivision whose appointing authority is authorized or required by law to be appointed by the county that elected officer;
(3) A county (c) An employee of that political subdivision who functions in or is employed in or by the same public agency, department, division, or office as the county that elected officer.
(E)(2) No candidate for a county an elective office of a political subdivision of the state, no campaign committee of such a candidate, no employee of the candidate's office if the candidate is a state elected officer or elected officer of a political subdivision of the state, and no other person or entity shall knowingly solicit a contribution on behalf of that to a candidate for an elective office of a political subdivision of the state or that to such a candidate's campaign committee from any of the following:
(1) A county (a) An employee of that political subdivision at the time of the solicitation, whose appointing authority will be the candidate, if elected;
(2) A county (b) An employee of that political subdivision at the time of the solicitation, whose appointing authority will be appointed by the candidate, if elected, as authorized or required by law;
(3) A county (c) An employee of that political subdivision at the time of the solicitation, who will function in or be employed in or by the same public agency, department, division, or office as the candidate, if elected.
(F)(D)(1) No public employee shall solicit a contribution from any person while the public employee is performing the public employee's official duties or in those areas of a public building where official business is transacted or conducted.
(2) No person shall solicit a contribution from any public employee while the public employee is performing the public employee's official duties or is in those areas of a public building where official business is transacted or conducted.
(3) As used in division (F)(D) of this section, "public employee" does not include any person holding an elective office.
(G)(E) The prohibitions in divisions (B), (C), and (D), (E), and (F) of this section are in addition to the prohibitions in sections 124.57, 3304.22, and 4503.032 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3517.10.  (A) Except as otherwise provided in this division, every campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, and political contributing entity that made or received a contribution or made an expenditure in connection with the nomination or election of any candidate or in connection with any ballot issue or question at any election held or to be held in this state shall file, on a form prescribed under this section or by electronic means of transmission as provided in this section and section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, a full, true, and itemized statement, made under penalty of election falsification, setting forth in detail the contributions and expenditures, not later than four p.m. of the following dates:
(1) The twelfth day before the election to reflect contributions received and expenditures made from the close of business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed statement, if any, to the close of business on the twentieth day before the election;
(2) The thirty-eighth day after the election to reflect the contributions received and expenditures made from the close of business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed statement, if any, to the close of business on the seventh day before the filing of the statement;
(3) The last business day of January of every year to reflect the contributions received and expenditures made from the close of business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed statement, if any, to the close of business on the last day of December of the previous year;
(4) The last business day of July of every year to reflect the contributions received and expenditures made from the close of business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed statement, if any, to the close of business on the last day of June of that year.
A campaign committee shall only be required to file the statements prescribed under divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section in connection with the nomination or election of the committee's candidate.
The statement required under division (A)(1) of this section shall not be required of any campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity that has received contributions of less than one thousand dollars and has made expenditures of less than one thousand dollars at the close of business on the twentieth day before the election. Those contributions and expenditures shall be reported in the statement required under division (A)(2) of this section.
If an election to select candidates to appear on the general election ballot is held within sixty days before a general election, the campaign committee of a successful candidate in the earlier election may file the statement required by division (A)(1) of this section for the general election instead of the statement required by division (A)(2) of this section for the earlier election if the pregeneral election statement reflects the status of contributions and expenditures for the period twenty days before the earlier election to twenty days before the general election.
If a person becomes a candidate less than twenty days before an election, the candidate's campaign committee is not required to file the statement required by division (A)(1) of this section.
No statement under division (A)(3) or (4) of this section shall be required for any year in which a campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity is required to file a postgeneral election statement under division (A)(2) of this section. However, such a statement under division (A)(3) of this section may be filed, at the option of the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity.
No campaign committee of a candidate for the office of chief justice or justice of the supreme court, and no campaign committee of a candidate for the office of judge of any court in this state, shall be required to file a statement under division (A)(4) of this section.
Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph and in the next paragraph of this section, the only campaign committees required to file a statement under division (A)(4) of this section are the campaign committee of a statewide candidate and the campaign committee of a candidate for county office. The campaign committee of a candidate for any other nonjudicial office is required to file a statement under division (A)(4) of this section if that campaign committee receives, during that period, contributions exceeding ten thousand dollars.
No statement under division (A)(4) of this section shall be required of a campaign committee, a political action committee, a legislative campaign fund, a political party, or a political contributing entity for any year in which the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity is required to file a postprimary election statement under division (A)(2) of this section. However, a statement under division (A)(4) of this section may be filed at the option of the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity.
No statement under division (A)(3) or (4) of this section shall be required if the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity has no contributions that it has received and no expenditures that it has made since the last date reflected in its last previously filed statement. However, the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity shall file a statement to that effect, on a form prescribed under this section and made under penalty of election falsification, on the date required in division (A)(3) or (4) of this section, as applicable.
The campaign committee of a statewide candidate shall file a monthly statement of contributions received during each of the months of July, August, and September in the year of the general election in which the candidate seeks office. The campaign committee of a statewide candidate shall file the monthly statement not later than three business days after the last day of the month covered by the statement. During the period beginning on the nineteenth day before the general election in which a statewide candidate seeks election to office and extending through the day of that general election, each time the campaign committee of the joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor or of a candidate for the office of secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney general receives a contribution from a contributor that causes the aggregate amount of contributions received from that contributor during that period to equal or exceed ten thousand dollars and each time the campaign committee of a candidate for the office of chief justice or justice of the supreme court receives a contribution from a contributor that causes the aggregate amount of contributions received from that contributor during that period to exceed ten thousand dollars, the campaign committee shall file a two-business-day statement reflecting that contribution. During the period beginning on the nineteenth day before a primary election in which a candidate for statewide office seeks nomination to office and extending through the day of that primary election, each time either the campaign committee of a statewide candidate in that primary election that files a notice under division (C)(1) of section 3517.103 of the Revised Code or the campaign committee of a statewide candidate in that primary election to which, in accordance with division (D) of section 3517.103 of the Revised Code, the contribution limitations prescribed in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code no longer apply receives a contribution from a contributor that causes the aggregate amount of contributions received from that contributor during that period to exceed ten thousand dollars, the campaign committee shall file a two-business-day statement reflecting that contribution. Contributions reported on a two-business-day statement required to be filed by a campaign committee of a statewide candidate in a primary election shall also be included in the postprimary election statement required to be filed by that campaign committee under division (A)(2) of this section. A two-business-day statement required by this paragraph shall be filed not later than two business days after receipt of the contribution. The statements required by this paragraph shall be filed in addition to any other statements required by this section.
Subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of this section and division (H)(1) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission, a campaign committee of a statewide candidate shall file a two-business-day statement under the preceding paragraph by electronic means of transmission if the campaign committee is required to file a pre-election, postelection, or monthly statement of contributions and expenditures by electronic means of transmission under this section or section 3517.106 of the Revised Code.
If a campaign committee or political action committee has no balance on hand and no outstanding obligations and desires to terminate itself, it shall file a statement to that effect, on a form prescribed under this section and made under penalty of election falsification, with the official with whom it files a statement under division (A) of this section after filing a final statement of contributions and a final statement of expenditures, if contributions have been received or expenditures made since the period reflected in its last previously filed statement.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(7) of this section, each statement required by division (A) of this section shall contain the following information:
(1) The full name and address of each campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity, including any treasurer of the committee, fund, party, or entity, filing a contribution and expenditure statement;
(2)(a) In the case of a campaign committee, the candidate's full name and address;
(b) In the case of a political action committee, the registration number assigned to the committee under division (D)(1) of this section.
(3) The date of the election and whether it was or will be a general, primary, or special election;
(4) A statement of contributions received, which shall include the following information:
(a) The month, day, and year of the contribution;
(b)(i) The full name and address of each person, political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, or political contributing entity from whom contributions are received and the registration number assigned to the political action committee under division (D)(1) of this section. The requirement of filing the full address does not apply to any statement filed by a state or local committee of a political party, to a finance committee of such committee, or to a committee recognized by a state or local committee as its fund-raising auxiliary. Notwithstanding division (F) of this section, the requirement of filing the full address shall be considered as being met if the address filed is the same address the contributor provided under division (E)(1) of this section.
(ii) If a political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or political party that is required to file campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission under section 3517.106 of the Revised Code or a campaign committee of a statewide candidate or candidate for the office of member of the general assembly receives a contribution from an individual that exceeds one hundred dollars, the name of the individual's current employer, if any, or, if the individual is self-employed, the individual's occupation and the name of the individual's business, if any;
(iii) If a campaign committee of a statewide candidate or candidate for the office of member of the general assembly receives a contribution transmitted pursuant to section 3599.031 of the Revised Code from amounts deducted from the wages and salaries of two or more employees that exceeds in the aggregate one hundred dollars during any one filing period under division (A)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of this section, the full name of the employees' employer and the full name of the labor organization of which the employees are members, if any.
(c) A description of the contribution received, if other than money;
(d) The value in dollars and cents of the contribution;
(e) A separately itemized account of all contributions and expenditures regardless of the amount, except a receipt of a contribution from a person in the sum of twenty-five dollars or less at one social or fund-raising activity and a receipt of a contribution transmitted pursuant to section 3599.031 of the Revised Code from amounts deducted from the wages and salaries of employees if the contribution from the amount deducted from the wages and salary of any one employee is twenty-five dollars or less aggregated in a calendar year. An account of the total contributions from each social or fund-raising activity shall include a description of and the value of each in-kind contribution received at that activity from any person who made one or more such contributions whose aggregate value exceeded two hundred fifty dollars and shall be listed separately, together with the expenses incurred and paid in connection with that activity. A campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity shall keep records of contributions from each person in the amount of twenty-five dollars or less at one social or fund-raising activity and contributions from amounts deducted under section 3599.031 of the Revised Code from the wages and salary of each employee in the amount of twenty-five dollars or less aggregated in a calendar year. No continuing association that is recognized by a state or local committee of a political party as an auxiliary of the party and that makes a contribution from funds derived solely from regular dues paid by members of the auxiliary shall be required to list the name or address of any members who paid those dues.
Contributions that are other income shall be itemized separately from all other contributions. The information required under division (B)(4) of this section shall be provided for all other income itemized. As used in this paragraph, "other income" means a loan, investment income, or interest income.
(f) In the case of a campaign committee of a state elected officer, if a person doing business with the state elected officer in the officer's official capacity makes a contribution to the campaign committee of that officer, the information required under division (B)(4) of this section in regard to that contribution, which shall be filed together with and considered a part of the committee's statement of contributions as required under division (A) of this section but shall be filed on a separate form provided by the secretary of state. As used in this division:
(i) "State elected officer" has the same meaning as in section 3517.092 of the Revised Code.
(ii) "Person doing business" means a person or an officer of an entity who enters into one or more contracts with a state elected officer or anyone authorized to enter into contracts on behalf of that officer to receive payments for goods or services, if the payments total, in the aggregate, more than five thousand dollars during a calendar year.
(5) A statement of expenditures which shall include the following information:
(a) The month, day, and year of the expenditure;
(b) The full name and address of each person, political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, or political contributing entity to whom the expenditure was made and the registration number assigned to the political action committee under division (D)(1) of this section;
(c) The object or purpose for which the expenditure was made;
(d) The amount of each expenditure.
(C)(1) The statement of contributions and expenditures shall be signed by the person completing the form. If a statement of contributions and expenditures is filed by electronic means of transmission pursuant to this section or section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, the electronic signature of the person who executes the statement and transmits the statement by electronic means of transmission, as provided in division (H) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, shall be attached to or associated with the statement and shall be binding on all persons and for all purposes under the campaign finance reporting law as if the signature had been handwritten in ink on a printed form.
(2) The person filing the statement, under penalty of election falsification, shall include with it a list of each anonymous contribution, the circumstances under which it was received, and the reason it cannot be attributed to a specific donor.
(3) Each statement of a campaign committee of a candidate who holds public office shall contain a designation of each contributor who is an employee in any unit or department under the candidate's direct supervision and control. In a space provided in the statement, the person filing the statement shall affirm that each such contribution was voluntarily made.
(4) A campaign committee that did not receive contributions or make expenditures in connection with the nomination or election of its candidate shall file a statement to that effect, on a form prescribed under this section and made under penalty of election falsification, on the date required in division (A)(2) of this section.
(5) The campaign committee of any person who attempts to become a candidate and who, for any reason, does not become certified in accordance with Title XXXV of the Revised Code for placement on the official ballot of a primary, general, or special election to be held in this state, and who, at any time prior to or after an election, receives contributions or makes expenditures, or has given consent for another to receive contributions or make expenditures, for the purpose of bringing about the person's nomination or election to public office, shall file the statement or statements prescribed by this section and a termination statement, if applicable. Division (C)(5) of this section does not apply to any person with respect to an election to the offices of member of a county or state central committee, presidential elector, or delegate to a national convention or conference of a political party.
(6)(a) The statements required to be filed under this section shall specify the balance in the hands of the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity and the disposition intended to be made of that balance.
(b) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form for all statements required to be filed under this section and shall furnish the forms to the boards of elections in the several counties. The boards of elections shall supply printed copies of those forms without charge. The secretary of state shall prescribe the appropriate methodology, protocol, and data file structure for statements required or permitted to be filed by electronic means of transmission under division (A) of this section, divisions (E), (F), and (G) of section 3517.106, division (D) of section 3517.1011, division (B) of section 3517.1012, and division (C) of section 3517.1013 of the Revised Code. Subject to division (A) of this section, divisions (E), (F), and (G) of section 3517.106, division (D) of section 3517.1011, division (B) of section 3517.1012, and division (C) of section 3517.1013 of the Revised Code, the statements required to be stored on computer by the secretary of state under division (B) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code shall be filed in whatever format the secretary of state considers necessary to enable the secretary of state to store the information contained in the statements on computer. Any such format shall be of a type and nature that is readily available to whoever is required to file the statements in that format.
(c) The secretary of state shall assess the need for training regarding the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission and regarding associated technologies for candidates, campaign committees, political action committees, legislative campaign funds, political parties, or political contributing entities, for individuals, partnerships, or other entities, or for persons making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications, required or permitted to file statements by electronic means of transmission under this section or section 3517.105, 3517.106, 3517.1011, 3517.1012, or 3517.1013 of the Revised Code. If, in the opinion of the secretary of state, training in these areas is necessary, the secretary of state shall arrange for the provision of voluntary training programs for candidates, campaign committees, political action committees, legislative campaign funds, political parties, or political contributing entities, for individuals, partnerships, and other entities, or for persons making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications, as appropriate.
(7) Each monthly statement and each two-business-day statement required by division (A) of this section shall contain the information required by divisions (B)(1) to (4), (C)(2), and, if appropriate, (C)(3) of this section. Each statement shall be signed as required by division (C)(1) of this section.
(D)(1) Prior to receiving a contribution or making an expenditure, every campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity shall appoint a treasurer and shall file, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, a designation of that appointment, including the full name and address of the treasurer and of the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity. That designation shall be filed with the official with whom the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity is required to file statements under section 3517.11 of the Revised Code. The name of a campaign committee shall include at least the last name of the campaign committee's candidate. If two or more candidates are the beneficiaries of a single campaign committee under division (B) of section 3517.081 of the Revised Code, the name of the campaign committee shall include at least the last name of each candidate who is a beneficiary of that campaign committee. The secretary of state shall assign a registration number to each political action committee that files a designation of the appointment of a treasurer under this division if the political action committee is required by division (A)(1) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code to file the statements prescribed by this section with the secretary of state.
(2) The treasurer appointed under division (D)(1) of this section shall keep a strict account of all contributions, from whom received and the purpose for which they were disbursed.
(3)(a) Except as otherwise provided in section 3517.108 of the Revised Code, a campaign committee shall deposit all monetary contributions received by the committee into an account separate from a personal or business account of the candidate or campaign committee.
(b) A political action committee shall deposit all monetary contributions received by the committee into an account separate from all other funds.
(c) A state or county political party may establish a state candidate fund that is separate from an account that contains the public moneys received from the Ohio political party fund under section 3517.17 of the Revised Code and from all other funds. A state or county political party may deposit into its state candidate fund any amounts of monetary contributions that are made to or accepted by the political party subject to the applicable limitations, if any, prescribed in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code. A state or county political party shall deposit all other monetary contributions received by the party into one or more accounts that are separate from its state candidate fund and from its account that contains the public moneys received from the Ohio political party fund under section 3517.17 of the Revised Code.
(d) Each state political party shall have only one legislative campaign fund for each house of the general assembly. Each such fund shall be separate from any other funds or accounts of that state party. A legislative campaign fund is authorized to receive contributions and make expenditures for the primary purpose of furthering the election of candidates who are members of that political party to the house of the general assembly with which that legislative campaign fund is associated. Each legislative campaign fund shall be administered and controlled in a manner designated by the caucus. As used in this division, "caucus" has the same meaning as in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code and includes, as an ex officio member, the chairperson of the state political party with which the caucus is associated or that chairperson's designee.
(4) Every expenditure in excess of twenty-five dollars shall be vouched for by a receipted bill, stating the purpose of the expenditure, that shall be filed with the statement of expenditures. A canceled check with a notation of the purpose of the expenditure is a receipted bill for purposes of division (D)(4) of this section.
(5) The secretary of state or the board of elections, as the case may be, shall issue a receipt for each statement filed under this section and shall preserve a copy of the receipt for a period of at least six years. All statements filed under this section shall be open to public inspection in the office where they are filed and shall be carefully preserved for a period of at least six years after the year in which they are filed.
(6) The secretary of state, by rule adopted pursuant to section 3517.23 of the Revised Code, shall prescribe both of the following:
(a) The manner of immediately acknowledging, with date and time received, and preserving the receipt of statements that are transmitted by electronic means of transmission to the secretary of state pursuant to this section or section 3517.106, 3517.1011, 3517.1012, or 3517.1013 of the Revised Code;
(b) The manner of preserving the contribution and expenditure, contribution and disbursement, deposit and disbursement, or gift and disbursement information in the statements described in division (D)(6)(a) of this section. The secretary of state shall preserve the contribution and expenditure, contribution and disbursement, deposit and disbursement, or gift and disbursement information in those statements for at least ten years after the year in which they are filed by electronic means of transmission.
(7) The secretary of state, pursuant to division (I) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, shall make available online to the public through the internet the contribution and expenditure, contribution and disbursement, deposit and disbursement, or gift and disbursement information in all statements, all addenda, amendments, or other corrections to statements, and all amended statements filed with the secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission under this section, division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105, or section 3517.106, 3517.1011, 3517.1012, 3517.1013, or 3517.11 of the Revised Code. The secretary of state may remove the information from the internet after a reasonable period of time.
(E)(1) Any person, political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, or political contributing entity that makes a contribution in connection with the nomination or election of any candidate or in connection with any ballot issue or question at any election held or to be held in this state shall provide its full name and address to the recipient of the contribution at the time the contribution is made. The political action committee also shall provide the registration number assigned to the committee under division (D)(1) of this section to the recipient of the contribution at the time the contribution is made.
(2) Any individual who makes a contribution that exceeds one hundred dollars to a political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or political party or to a campaign committee of a statewide candidate or candidate for the office of member of the general assembly shall provide the name of the individual's current employer, if any, or, if the individual is self-employed, the individual's occupation and the name of the individual's business, if any, to the recipient of the contribution at the time the contribution is made. Sections 3599.39 and 3599.40 of the Revised Code do not apply to division (E)(2) of this section.
(3) If a campaign committee shows that it has exercised its best efforts to obtain, maintain, and submit the information required under divisions (B)(4)(b)(ii) and (iii) of this section, that committee is considered to have met the requirements of those divisions. A campaign committee shall not be considered to have exercised its best efforts unless, in connection with written solicitations, it regularly includes a written request for the information required under division (B)(4)(b)(ii) of this section from the contributor or the information required under division (B)(4)(b)(iii) of this section from whoever transmits the contribution.
(4) Any check that a political action committee uses to make a contribution or an expenditure shall contain the full name and address of the committee and the registration number assigned to the committee under division (D)(1) of this section.
(F) As used in this section:
(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (F)(1) of this section, "address" means all of the following if they exist: apartment number, street, road, or highway name and number, rural delivery route number, city or village, state, and zip code as used in a person's post-office address, but not post-office box.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in division (F)(1) of this section, if an address is required in this section, a post-office box and office, room, or suite number may be included in addition to, but not in lieu of, an apartment, street, road, or highway name and number.
(c) If an address is required in this section, a campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity may use the business or residence address of its treasurer or deputy treasurer. The post-office box number of the campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity may be used in addition to that address.
(d) For the sole purpose of a campaign committee's reporting of contributions on a statement of contributions received under division (B)(4) of this section, "address" has one of the following meanings at the option of the campaign committee:
(i) The same meaning as in division (F)(1)(a) of this section;
(ii) All of the following, if they exist: the contributor's post-office box number and city or village, state, and zip code as used in the contributor's post-office address.
(e) As used with regard to the reporting under this section of any expenditure, "address" means all of the following if they exist: apartment number, street, road, or highway name and number, rural delivery route number, city or village, state, and zip code as used in a person's post-office address, or post-office box. If an address concerning any expenditure is required in this section, a campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political contributing entity may use the business or residence address of its treasurer or deputy treasurer or its post-office box number.
(2) "Statewide candidate" means the joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor or a candidate for the office of secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, attorney general, member of the state board of education, chief justice of the supreme court, or justice of the supreme court.
(3) "Candidate for county office" means a candidate for the office of county auditor, county treasurer, clerk of the court of common pleas, judge of the court of common pleas, sheriff, county recorder, county engineer, county commissioner, prosecuting attorney, or coroner.
(G) An independent expenditure shall be reported whenever and in the same manner that an expenditure is required to be reported under this section and shall be reported pursuant to division (B)(2)(a) or (C)(2)(a) of section 3517.105 of the Revised Code.
(H)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (H)(2) of this section, if, during the combined pre-election and postelection reporting periods for an election, a campaign committee has received contributions of five hundred dollars or less and has made expenditures in the total amount of five hundred dollars or less, it may file a statement to that effect, under penalty of election falsification, in lieu of the statement required by division (A)(2) of this section. The statement shall indicate the total amount of contributions received and the total amount of expenditures made during those combined reporting periods.
(2) In the case of a successful candidate at a primary election, if either the total contributions received by or the total expenditures made by the candidate's campaign committee during the preprimary, postprimary, pregeneral, and postgeneral election periods combined equal more than five hundred dollars, the campaign committee may file the statement under division (H)(1) of this section only for the primary election. The first statement that the campaign committee files in regard to the general election shall reflect all contributions received and all expenditures made during the preprimary and postprimary election periods.
(3) Divisions (H)(1) and (2) of this section do not apply if a campaign committee receives contributions or makes expenditures prior to the first day of January of the year of the election at which the candidate seeks nomination or election to office or if the campaign committee does not file a termination statement with its postprimary election statement in the case of an unsuccessful primary election candidate or with its postgeneral election statement in the case of other candidates.
(I) In the case of a contribution made by a partner of a partnership or an owner or a member of another unincorporated business from any funds of the partnership or other unincorporated business, all of the following apply:
(1) The recipient of the contribution shall report the contribution by listing both the partnership or other unincorporated business and the name of the partner, owner, or member making the contribution.
(2) In reporting the contribution, the recipient of the contribution shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon the information provided by the partnership or other unincorporated business, provided that the information includes one of the following:
(a) The name of each partner, owner, or member as of the date of the contribution or contributions, and a statement that the total contributions are to be allocated equally among all of the partners, owners, or members; or
(b) The name of each partner, owner, or member as of the date of the contribution or contributions who is participating in the contribution or contributions, and a statement that the contribution or contributions are to be allocated to those individuals in accordance with the information provided by the partnership or other unincorporated business to the recipient of the contribution.
(3) For purposes of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, the contribution shall be considered to have been made by the partner, owner, or member reported under division (I)(1) of this section.
(3)(4) No contribution from a partner of a partnership or an owner or a member of another unincorporated business shall be accepted from any funds of the partnership or other unincorporated business unless the recipient reports the contribution under division (I)(1) of this section together with the information provided under division (I)(2) of this section.
(4)(5) No partnership or other unincorporated business shall make a contribution or contributions solely in the name of the partnership or other unincorporated business.
(5)(6) As used in division (I) of this section, "partnership or other unincorporated business" includes, but is not limited to, a cooperative, a sole proprietorship, a general partnership, a limited partnership, a limited partnership association, a limited liability partnership, and a limited liability company.
(J) A candidate shall have only one campaign committee at any given time for all of the offices for which the person is a candidate or holds office.
(K)(1) In addition to filing a designation of appointment of a treasurer under division (D)(1) of this section, the campaign committee of any candidate for an elected municipal office that pays an annual amount of compensation of five thousand dollars or less, the campaign committee of any candidate for member of a board of education except member of the state board of education, or the campaign committee of any candidate for township trustee or township fiscal officer may sign, under penalty of election falsification, a certificate attesting that the committee will not accept contributions during an election period that exceed in the aggregate two thousand dollars from all contributors and one hundred dollars from any one individual, and that the campaign committee will not make expenditures during an election period that exceed in the aggregate two thousand dollars.
The certificate shall be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state and shall be filed not later than ten days after the candidate files a declaration of candidacy and petition, a nominating petition, or a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (K)(3) of this section, a campaign committee that files a certificate under division (K)(1) of this section is not required to file the statements required by division (A) of this section.
(3) If, after filing a certificate under division (K)(1) of this section, a campaign committee exceeds any of the limitations described in that division during an election period, the certificate is void and thereafter the campaign committee shall file the statements required by division (A) of this section. If the campaign committee has not previously filed a statement, then on the first statement the campaign committee is required to file under division (A) of this section after the committee's certificate is void, the committee shall report all contributions received and expenditures made from the time the candidate filed the candidate's declaration of candidacy and petition, nominating petition, or declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate.
(4) As used in division (K) of this section, "election period" means the period of time beginning on the day a person files a declaration of candidacy and petition, nominating petition, or declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate through the day of the election at which the person seeks nomination to office if the person is not elected to office, or, if the candidate was nominated in a primary election, the day of the election at which the candidate seeks office.
(L) A political contributing entity that receives contributions from the dues, membership fees, or other assessments of its members or from its officers, shareholders, and employees may report the aggregate amount of contributions received from those contributors and the number of individuals making those contributions, for each filing period under divisions (A)(1), (2), (3), and (4) of this section, rather than reporting information as required under division (B)(4) of this section, including, when applicable, the name of the current employer, if any, of a contributor whose contribution exceeds one hundred dollars or, if such a contributor is self-employed, the contributor's occupation and the name of the contributor's business, if any. Division (B)(4) of this section applies to a political contributing entity with regard to contributions it receives from all other contributors.
Sec. 3517.106.  (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Statewide office" means any of the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, attorney general, chief justice of the supreme court, and justice of the supreme court.
(2) "Addendum to a statement" includes an amendment or other correction to that statement.
(B)(1) The secretary of state shall store on computer the information contained in statements of contributions and expenditures and monthly statements required to be filed under section 3517.10 of the Revised Code and in statements of independent expenditures required to be filed under section 3517.105 of the Revised Code by any of the following:
(a) The campaign committees of candidates for statewide office;
(b) The political action committees and political contributing entities described in division (A)(1) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code;
(c) Legislative campaign funds;
(d) State political parties;
(e) Individuals, partnerships, corporations, labor organizations, or other entities that make independent expenditures in support of or opposition to a statewide candidate or a statewide ballot issue or question;
(f) The campaign committees of candidates for the office of member of the general assembly;
(g) County political parties, with respect to their state candidate funds.
(2) The secretary of state shall store on computer the information contained in disclosure of electioneering communications statements required to be filed under section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code.
(3) The secretary of state shall store on computer the information contained in deposit and disbursement statements required to be filed with the office of the secretary of state under section 3517.1012 of the Revised Code.
(4) The secretary of state shall store on computer the gift and disbursement information contained in statements required to be filed with the office of the secretary of state under section 3517.1013 of the Revised Code.
(C)(1) The secretary of state shall make available to the campaign committees, political action committees, political contributing entities, legislative campaign funds, political parties, individuals, partnerships, corporations, labor organizations, and other entities described in division (B) of this section, and to members of the news media and other interested persons, for a reasonable fee, computer programs that are compatible with the secretary of state's method of storing the information contained in the statements.
(2) The secretary of state shall make the information required to be stored under division (B) of this section available on computer at the secretary of state's office so that, to the maximum extent feasible, individuals may obtain at the secretary of state's office any part or all of that information for any given year, subject to the limitation expressed in division (D) of this section.
(D) The secretary of state shall keep the information stored on computer under division (B) of this section for at least six years.
(E)(1) Subject to division (L) of this section and subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission, the campaign committee of each candidate for statewide office may file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code by electronic means of transmission or, if the total amount of the contributions received or the total amount of the expenditures made by the campaign committee for the applicable reporting period as specified in division (A) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code exceeds ten thousand dollars, shall file those statements by electronic means of transmission.
Except as otherwise provided in this division, within five business days after a statement filed by a campaign committee of a candidate for statewide office is received by the secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission, the secretary of state shall make available online to the public through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, the contribution and expenditure information in that statement. The secretary of state shall not make available online to the public through the internet any contribution or expenditure information contained in a statement for any candidate until the secretary of state is able to make available online to the public through the internet the contribution and expenditure information for all candidates for a particular office, or until the applicable filing deadline for that statement has passed, whichever is sooner. As soon as the secretary of state has available all of the contribution and expenditure information for all candidates for a particular office, or as soon as the applicable filing deadline for a statement has passed, whichever is sooner, the secretary of state shall simultaneously make available online to the public through the internet the information for all candidates for that office.
If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the campaign committee shall file by electronic means of transmission any addendum to the statement that provides the information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended statement.
Within five business days after the secretary of state receives from a campaign committee of a candidate for statewide office an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic or other means of transmission under this division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall make the contribution and expenditure information in the addendum or amended statement available online to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section.
(2) Subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission, a political action committee and a political contributing entity described in division (B)(1)(b) of this section, a legislative campaign fund, and a state political party may file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code by electronic means of transmission or, if the total amount of the contributions received or the total amount of the expenditures made by the political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or state political party for the applicable reporting period as specified in division (A) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code exceeds ten thousand dollars, shall file those statements by electronic means of transmission.
Within five business days after a statement filed by a political action committee or a political contributing entity described in division (B)(1)(b) of this section, a legislative campaign fund, or a state political party is received by the secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission, the secretary of state shall make available online to the public through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, the contribution and expenditure information in that statement.
If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or state political party shall file by electronic means of transmission any addendum to the statement that provides the information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended statement.
Within five business days after the secretary of state receives from a political action committee or a political contributing entity described in division (B)(1)(b) of this section, a legislative campaign fund, or a state political party an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic or other means of transmission under this division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall make the contribution and expenditure information in the addendum or amended statement available online to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section.
(3) Subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission, a county political party shall file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code with respect to its state candidate fund by electronic means of transmission to the office of the secretary of state.
Within five business days after a statement filed by a county political party with respect to its state candidate fund is received by the secretary of state by electronic means of transmission, the secretary of state shall make available online to the public through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, the contribution and expenditure information in that statement.
If a statement is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, a county political party shall file by electronic means of transmission any addendum to the statement that provides the information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended statement.
Within five business days after the secretary of state receives from a county political party an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic means of transmission under this division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall make the contribution and expenditure information in the addendum or amended statement available online to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section.
(F)(1) Subject to division (L) of this section and subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission, a campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly or a campaign committee of a candidate for the office of judge of a court of appeals may file the statements prescribed by section 3517.10 of the Revised Code in accordance with division (A)(2) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code or by electronic means of transmission to the office of the secretary of state or, if the total amount of the contributions received by the campaign committee for the applicable reporting period as specified in division (A) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code exceeds ten thousand dollars, shall file those statements by electronic means of transmission to the office of the secretary of state.
Except as otherwise provided in this division, within five business days after a statement filed by a campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly or a campaign committee of a candidate for the office of judge of a court of appeals is received by the secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission, the secretary of state shall make available online to the public through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, the contribution and expenditure information in that statement. The secretary of state shall not make available online to the public through the internet any contribution or expenditure information contained in a statement for any candidate until the secretary of state is able to make available online to the public through the internet the contribution and expenditure information for all candidates for a particular office, or until the applicable filing deadline for that statement has passed, whichever is sooner. As soon as the secretary of state has available all of the contribution and expenditure information for all candidates for a particular office, or as soon as the applicable filing deadline for a statement has passed, whichever is sooner, the secretary of state shall simultaneously make available online to the public through the internet the information for all candidates for that office.
If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the campaign committee shall file by electronic means of transmission to the office of the secretary of state any addendum to the statement that provides the information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended statement.
Within five business days after the secretary of state receives from a campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly or a campaign committee of a candidate for the office of judge of a court of appeals an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic or other means of transmission under this division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall make the contribution and expenditure information in the addendum or amended statement available online to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section.
(2) If a statement, addendum, or amended statement is not filed by electronic means of transmission to the office of the secretary of state but is filed by printed version only under division (A)(2) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code with the appropriate board of elections, the campaign committee of a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly or a campaign committee of a candidate for the office of judge of a court of appeals shall file two copies of the printed version of the statement, addendum, or amended statement with the board of elections. The board of elections shall send one of those copies by overnight delivery service to the secretary of state before the close of business on the day the board of elections receives the statement, addendum, or amended statement.
(G) Subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission, any individual, partnership, or other entity that makes independent expenditures in support of or opposition to a statewide candidate or a statewide ballot issue or question as provided in division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105 of the Revised Code may file the statement specified in that division by electronic means of transmission or, if the total amount of independent expenditures made during the reporting period under that division exceeds ten thousand dollars, shall file the statement specified in that division by electronic means of transmission.
Within five business days after a statement filed by an individual, partnership, or other entity is received by the secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission, the secretary of state shall make available online to the public through the internet, as provided in division (I) of this section, the expenditure information in that statement.
If a statement filed by electronic means of transmission is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after the examination of the statement for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the individual, partnership, or other entity shall file by electronic means of transmission any addendum to the statement that provides the information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended statement.
Within five business days after the secretary of state receives from an individual, partnership, or other entity described in division (B)(2)(b) or (C)(2)(b) of section 3517.105 of the Revised Code an addendum to the statement or an amended statement by electronic or other means of transmission under this division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall make the expenditure information in the addendum or amended statement available online to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of this section.
(H)(1) The secretary of state, by rule adopted pursuant to section 3517.23 of the Revised Code, shall prescribe one or more techniques by which a person who executes and transmits by electronic means a statement of contributions and expenditures, a statement of independent expenditures, a disclosure of electioneering communications statement, a deposit and disbursement statement, or a gift and disbursement statement, an addendum to any of those statements, an amended statement of contributions and expenditures, an amended statement of independent expenditures, an amended disclosure of electioneering communications statement, an amended deposit and disbursement statement, or an amended gift and disbursement statement, under this section or section 3517.10, 3517.105, 3517.1011, 3517.1012, or 3517.1013 of the Revised Code shall electronically sign the statement, addendum, or amended statement. Any technique prescribed by the secretary of state pursuant to this division shall create an electronic signature that satisfies all of the following:
(a) It is unique to the signer.
(b) It objectively identifies the signer.
(c) It involves the use of a signature device or other means or method that is under the sole control of the signer and that cannot be readily duplicated or compromised.
(d) It is created and linked to the electronic record to which it relates in a manner that, if the record or signature is intentionally or unintentionally changed after signing, the electronic signature is invalidated.
(2) An electronic signature prescribed by the secretary of state under division (H)(1) of this section shall be attached to or associated with the statement of contributions and expenditures, the statement of independent expenditures, the disclosure of electioneering communications statement, the deposit and disbursement statement, or the gift and disbursement statement, the addendum to any of those statements, the amended statement of contributions and expenditures, the amended statement of independent expenditures, the amended disclosure of electioneering communications statement, the amended deposit and disbursement statement, or the amended gift and disbursement statement that is executed and transmitted by electronic means by the person to whom the electronic signature is attributed. The electronic signature that is attached to or associated with the statement, addendum, or amended statement under this division shall be binding on all persons and for all purposes under the campaign finance reporting law as if the signature had been handwritten in ink on a printed form.
(I) The secretary of state shall make the contribution and expenditure, the contribution and disbursement, the deposit and disbursement, or the gift and disbursement information in all statements, all addenda to the statements, and all amended statements that are filed with the secretary of state by electronic or other means of transmission under this section or section 3517.10, 3517.105, 3517.1011, 3517.1012, 3517.1013, or 3517.11 of the Revised Code available online to the public by any means that are searchable, viewable, and accessible through the internet.
(J)(1) As used in this division, "library" means a library that is open to the public and that is one of the following:
(a) A library that is maintained and regulated under section 715.13 of the Revised Code;
(b) A library that is created, maintained, and regulated under Chapter 3375. of the Revised Code.
(2) The secretary of state shall notify all libraries of the location on the internet at which the contribution and expenditure, contribution and disbursement, deposit and disbursement, or gift and disbursement information in campaign finance statements required to be made available online to the public through the internet pursuant to division (I) of this section may be accessed.
If that location is part of the world wide web and if the secretary of state has notified a library of that world wide web location as required by this division, the library shall include a link to that world wide web location on each internet-connected computer it maintains that is accessible to the public.
(3) If the system the secretary of state prescribes for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section and divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code includes filing those statements through the internet via the world wide web, the secretary of state shall notify all libraries of the world wide web location at which those statements may be filed.
If those statements may be filed through the internet via the world wide web and if the secretary of state has notified a library of that world wide web location as required by this division, the library shall include a link to that world wide web location on each internet-connected computer it maintains that is accessible to the public.
(K) It is an affirmative defense to a complaint or charge brought against any campaign committee, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or political party, any individual, partnership, or other entity, or any person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications, for the failure to file by electronic means of transmission a campaign finance statement as required by this section or section 3517.10, 3517.105, 3517.1011, 3517.1012, or 3517.1013 of the Revised Code that all of the following apply to the campaign committee, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or political party, the individual, partnership, or other entity, or the person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications, that failed to so file:
(1) The campaign committee, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or political party, the individual, partnership, or other entity, or the person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications attempted to file by electronic means of transmission the required statement prior to the deadline set forth in the applicable section.
(2) The campaign committee, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or political party, the individual, partnership, or other entity, or the person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications was unable to file by electronic means of transmission due to an expected or unexpected shutdown of the whole or part of the electronic campaign finance statement-filing system, such as for maintenance or because of hardware, software, or network connection failure.
(3) The campaign committee, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or political party, the individual, partnership, or other entity, or the person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications filed by electronic means of transmission the required statement within a reasonable period of time after being unable to so file it under the circumstance described in division (K)(2) of this section.
(L)(1) The secretary of state shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to permit a campaign committee of a candidate for statewide office that makes expenditures of less than twenty-five thousand dollars during the filing period or a campaign committee for the office of member of the general assembly or the office of judge of a court of appeals that would otherwise be required to file campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission under division (E) or (F) of this section to file those statements by paper with the office of the secretary of state. Those rules shall provide for all of the following:
(a) An eligible campaign committee that wishes to file a campaign finance statement by paper instead of by electronic means of transmission shall file the statement on paper with the office of the secretary of state not sooner than twenty-four hours after the end of the filing period set forth in section 3517.10 of the Revised Code that is covered by the applicable statement.
(b) The statement shall be accompanied by a fee, the amount of which the secretary of state shall determine by rule. The amount of the fee established under this division shall not exceed the data entry and data verification costs the secretary of state will incur to convert the information on the statement to an electronic format as required under division (I) of this section.
(c) The secretary of state shall arrange for the information in campaign finance statements filed pursuant to division (L) of this section to be made available online to the public through the internet in the same manner, and at the same times, as information is made available under divisions (E), (F), and (I) of this section for candidates whose campaign committees file those statements by electronic means of transmission.
(d) The candidate of an eligible campaign committee that intends to file a campaign finance statement pursuant to division (L) of this section shall file an affidavit a notice indicating that the candidate's campaign committee intends to so file and stating that filing the statement by electronic means of transmission would constitute a hardship for the candidate or for the eligible campaign committee.
(e) An eligible campaign committee that files a campaign finance statement on paper pursuant to division (L) of this section shall review the contribution and information made available online by the secretary of state with respect to that paper filing and shall notify the secretary of state of any errors with respect to that filing that appear in the data made available on that web site.
(f) If an eligible campaign committee whose candidate has filed an affidavit a notice in accordance with rules adopted under division (L)(1)(d) of this section subsequently fails to file that statement on paper by the applicable deadline established in rules adopted under division (L)(1)(a) of this section, penalties for the late filing of the campaign finance statement shall apply to that campaign committee for each day after that paper filing deadline, as if the campaign committee had filed the statement after the applicable deadline set forth in division (A) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code.
(2) The process for permitting campaign committees that would otherwise be required to file campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission to file those statements on paper with the office of the secretary of state that is required to be developed under division (L)(1) of this section shall be in effect and available for use by eligible campaign committees for all campaign finance statements that are required to be filed on or after June 30, 2005. Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, if the process the secretary of state is required to develop under division (L)(1) of this section is not in effect and available for use on and after June 30, 2005, all penalties for the failure of campaign committees to file campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission shall be suspended until such time as that process is in effect and available for use.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, any eligible campaign committee that files campaign finance statements on paper with the office of the secretary of state pursuant to division (L)(1) of this section shall be deemed to have filed those campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission to the office of the secretary of state.
Sec. 3517.1011.  (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Address" has the same meaning as in section 3517.10 of the Revised Code.
(2) "Broadcast, cable, or satellite communication" means a communication that is publicly distributed by a television station, radio station, cable television system, or satellite system.
(3) "Candidate" has the same meaning as in section 3501.01 of the Revised Code;
(4) "Contribution" means any loan, gift, deposit, forgiveness of indebtedness, donation, advance, payment, or transfer of funds or of anything of value, including a transfer of funds from an inter vivos or testamentary trust or decedent's estate, and the payment by any person other than the person to whom the services are rendered for the personal services of another person, that is made, received, or used to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications.
(4)(5)(a) "Coordinated electioneering communication" means any electioneering communication that is made pursuant to any arrangement, coordination, or direction by a candidate or a candidate's campaign committee, by an officer, agent, employee, or consultant of a candidate or a candidate's campaign committee, or by a former officer, former agent, former employee, or former consultant of a candidate or a candidate's campaign committee prior to the airing, broadcasting, or cablecasting of the communication. An electioneering communication is presumed to be a "coordinated electioneering communication" when it is either of the following:
(i) Based on information about a candidate's plans, projects, or needs provided to the person making the disbursement by the candidate or the candidate's campaign committee, by an officer, agent, employee, or consultant of the candidate or the candidate's campaign committee, or by a former officer, former agent, former employee, or former consultant of the candidate or the candidate's campaign committee, with a view toward having the communication made;
(ii) Made by or through any person who is, or has been, authorized to raise or expend funds on behalf of a candidate or the candidate's campaign committee, who is, or has been, an officer, agent, employee, or consultant of the candidate or of the candidate's campaign committee, or who is, or has been, receiving any form of compensation or reimbursement from the candidate or the candidate's campaign committee or from an officer, agent, employee, or consultant of the candidate or of the candidate's campaign committee.
(b) An electioneering communication shall not be presumed to be a "coordinated electioneering communication" under division (A)(4)(5)(a)(ii) of this section if the communication is made through any person who provides a service that does not affect the content of the communication, such as communications placed through the efforts of a media buyer, unless that person also affects the content of the communication.
(5)(6) "Disclosure date" means both of the following:
(a) The first date during any calendar year by which a person makes disbursements for the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications aggregating in excess of ten thousand dollars;
(b) The same day of the week of each remaining week in the same calendar year as the day of the week of the initial disclosure date established under division (A)(5)(6)(a) of this section, if, during that remaining week, the person makes disbursements for the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications aggregating in excess of one dollar.
(6)(7)(a) "Electioneering communication" means any broadcast, cable, or satellite communication that refers to a clearly identified candidate and that is made during either of the following periods of time:
(i) If the person becomes a candidate before the day of the primary election at which candidates will be nominated for election to that office, between the date that the person becomes a candidate and the thirtieth day prior to that primary election, and between the date of the primary election and the thirtieth day prior to the general election at which a candidate will be elected to that office;
(ii) If the person becomes a candidate after the day of the primary election at which candidates were nominated for election to that office, between the date of the primary election and the thirtieth day prior to the general election at which a candidate will be elected to that office.
(b) "Electioneering communication" does not include any of the following:
(i) A communication that is publicly disseminated through a means of communication other than a broadcast, cable, or satellite television or radio station. For example, "electioneering communication" does not include communications appearing in print media, including a newspaper or magazine, handbill, brochure, bumper sticker, yard sign, poster, billboard, and other written materials, including mailings; communications over the internet, including electronic mail; or telephone communications.
(ii) A communication that appears in a news story, commentary, public service announcement, bona fide news programming, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcast, cable, or satellite television or radio station, unless those facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political committee, or candidate;
(iii) A communication that constitutes an expenditure or an independent expenditure under section 3517.01 of the Revised Code;
(iv) A communication that constitutes a candidate debate or forum or that solely promotes a candidate debate or forum and is made by or on behalf of the person sponsoring the debate or forum.
(7)(8) "Filing date" has the same meaning as in section 3517.109 of the Revised Code.
(8)(9) "Immigration and Nationality Act" means the Immigration and Nationality Act, 110 Stat. 309 (1996), 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq., as amended.
(9)(10) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the Revised Code and includes any political organization considered exempt from income taxation under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(10)(11) "Political committee" means any of the following:
(a) Any committee, club, association, or other group of persons that receives contributions aggregating in excess of one thousand dollars during a calendar year or that makes expenditures aggregating in excess of one thousand dollars during a calendar year;
(b) Any separate segregated fund;
(c) Any state, county, or local committee of a political party that does any of the following:
(i) Receives contributions aggregating in excess of five thousand dollars during a calendar year;
(ii) Makes payments that do not constitute contributions or expenditures aggregating in excess of five thousand dollars during a calendar year;
(iii) Makes contributions or expenditures aggregating in excess of one thousand dollars during a calendar year.
(11)(12) "Publicly distributed" means aired, broadcast, cablecast, or otherwise disseminated for a fee.
(12)(13) "Refers to a clearly identified candidate" means that the candidate's name, nickname, photograph, or drawing appears, or the identity of the candidate is otherwise apparent through an unambiguous reference to the person such as "the chief justice," "the governor," "member of the Ohio senate," "member of the Ohio house of representatives," "county auditor," "mayor," or "township trustee" or through an unambiguous reference to the person's status as a candidate.
(B) For the purposes of this section, a person shall be considered to have made a disbursement if the person has entered into a contract to make the disbursement.
(C) Any person intending to make a disbursement or disbursements for the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications, prior to making the first disbursement for the direct costs of producing or airing an electioneering communication, shall file a notice with the office of the secretary of state that the person is intending to make such disbursements.
(D)(1) Every person that makes a disbursement or disbursements for the direct costs of producing and airing electioneering communications aggregating in excess of ten thousand dollars during any calendar year shall file, within twenty-four hours of each disclosure date, a disclosure of electioneering communications statement containing the following information:
(a) The full name and address of the person making the disbursement, of any person sharing or exercising direction or control over the activities of the person making the disbursement, and of the custodian of the books and accounts of the person making the disbursement;
(b) The principal place of business of the person making the disbursement, if not an individual;
(c) The amount of each disbursement of more than one dollar during the period covered by the statement and the identity of the person to whom the disbursement was made;
(d) The nominations or elections to which the electioneering communications pertain and the names, if known, of the candidates identified or to be identified;
(e) If the disbursements were paid out of a segregated bank account that consists of funds contributed solely by individuals who are United States citizens or nationals or lawfully admitted for permanent residence as defined in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act directly to the account for electioneering communications, the information specified in division (D)(2) of this section for all contributors who contributed an aggregate amount of two hundred dollars or more to the segregated bank account and whose contributions were used for making the disbursement or disbursements required to be reported under division (D) of this section during the period covered by the statement. Nothing in this division prohibits or shall be construed to prohibit the use of funds in such a segregated bank account for a purpose other than electioneering communications.
(f) If the disbursements were paid out of funds not described in division (D)(1)(e) of this section, the information specified in division (D)(2) of this section for all contributors who contributed an aggregate amount of two hundred dollars or more to the person making the disbursement and whose contributions were used for making the disbursement or disbursements required to be reported under division (D) of this section during the period covered by the statement.
(2) For each contributor for which information is required to be reported under division (D)(1)(e) or (f) of this section, all of the following shall be reported:
(a) The month, day, and year that the contributor made the contribution or contributions aggregating two hundred dollars or more;
(b)(i) The full name and address of the contributor, and, if the contributor is a political action committee, the registration number assigned to the political action committee under division (D)(1) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code;
(ii) If the contributor is an individual, the name of the individual's current employer, if any, or, if the individual is self-employed, the individual's occupation and the name of the individual's business, if any;
(iii) If the contribution is transmitted pursuant to section 3599.031 of the Revised Code from amounts deducted from the wages and salaries of two or more employees that exceed in the aggregate one hundred dollars during the period specified in division (D)(1)(e) or (f) of this section, as applicable, the full name of the employees' employer and the full name of the labor organization of which the employees are members, if any.
(c) A description of the contribution, if other than money;
(d) The value in dollars and cents of the contribution.
(3) Subject to the secretary of state having implemented, tested, and verified the successful operation of any system the secretary of state prescribes pursuant to divisions (C)(6)(b) and (D)(6) of section 3517.10 and division (H)(1) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code for the filing of campaign finance statements by electronic means of transmission, a person shall file the disclosure of electioneering communications statement prescribed under divisions (D)(1) and (2) of this section by electronic means of transmission to the office of the secretary of state.
Within five business days after the secretary of state receives a disclosure of electioneering communications statement under this division, the secretary of state shall make available online to the public through the internet, as provided in division (I) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code, the contribution and disbursement information in that statement.
If a filed disclosure of electioneering communications statement is found to be incomplete or inaccurate after its examination for completeness and accuracy pursuant to division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the person shall file by electronic means of transmission to the office of the secretary of state any addendum, amendment, or other correction to the statement that provides the information necessary to complete or correct the statement or, if required by the secretary of state under that division, an amended statement.
Within five business days after the secretary of state receives an addendum, amendment, or other correction to a disclosure of electioneering communications statement or an amended statement by electronic means of transmission under this division or division (B)(3)(a) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall make the contribution and disbursement information in the addendum, amendment, or other correction to the statement or amended statement available online to the public through the internet as provided in division (I) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code.
(E)(1) Any person who makes a contribution for the purpose of funding the direct costs of producing or airing an electioneering communication under this section shall provide the person's full name and address to the recipient of the contribution at the time the contribution is made.
(2) Any individual who makes a contribution or contributions aggregating two hundred dollars or more for the purpose of funding the direct costs of producing or airing an electioneering communication under this section shall provide the name of the individual's current employer, if any, or, if the individual is self-employed, the individual's occupation and the name of the individual's business, if any, to the recipient of the contribution at the time the contribution is made.
(F) In each electioneering communication, a statement shall appear or be presented in a clear and conspicuous manner that does both of the following:
(1) Clearly indicates that the electioneering communication is not authorized by the candidate or the candidate's campaign committee;
(2) Clearly identifies the person making the disbursement for the electioneering communication in accordance with section 3517.20 of the Revised Code.
(G) Any coordinated electioneering communication is an in-kind contribution, subject to the applicable contribution limits prescribed in section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, to the candidate by the person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing the communication.
(H) No person shall make, during the thirty days preceding a primary election or during the thirty days preceding a general election, any broadcast, cable, or satellite communication that refers to a clearly identified candidate using any contributions received from a corporation or labor organization.
Sec. 3517.12. (A) Prior to receiving a contribution or making an expenditure, the circulator or committee in charge of an initiative or referendum petition, or supplementary petition for additional signatures, for the submission of a constitutional amendment, proposed law, section, or item of any law shall appoint a treasurer and shall file with the secretary of state, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, a designation of that appointment, including the full name and address of the treasurer and of the circulator or committee.
(B) The circulator or the committee in charge of an initiative or referendum petition, or supplementary petition for additional signatures, for the submission of a constitutional amendment, proposed law, section, or item of any law shall, within thirty days after such those petition papers are filed, file with the secretary of state, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, an itemized statement, made under penalty of election falsification, showing in detail the following:
(A)(1) All money or things of value paid, given, or promised, or received for circulating such the petitions;
(B)(2) All appointments, promotions, or increases in salary, in positions which were given or, promised, or received, or to obtain which assistance was given or, promised, or received as a consideration for work done in circulating petitions;
(C)(3) Full names and addresses, including street, city, and state, of all persons to whom such payments or promises were made and of all persons from whom such payments or promises were received;
(D)(4) Full names and addresses, including street, city, and state, of all persons who contributed anything of value to be used in circulating such the petitions, and the amounts of those contributions;
(E)(5) Time spent and salaries earned while soliciting signatures to petitions by persons who were regular salaried employees of some person or whom said that employer authorized to solicit as part of their regular duties.
If no money or things of value were paid or received or if no promises were made or received as a consideration for work done in circulating such a petition, the statement shall contain words to that effect.
(C) The treasurer designated under division (A) of this section shall file statements of contributions and expenditures in accordance with section 3517.10 of the Revised Code regarding all contributions made or received and all expenditures made by that treasurer or the circulator or committee in connection with the initiative or referendum petition, or supplementary petition for additional signatures, for the submission of a constitutional amendment, proposed law, section, or item of any law.
Sec. 3517.13.  (A)(1) No campaign committee of a statewide candidate shall fail to file a complete and accurate statement required under division (A)(1) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code.
(2) No campaign committee of a statewide candidate shall fail to file a complete and accurate monthly statement, and no campaign committee of a statewide candidate or a candidate for the office of chief justice or justice of the supreme court shall fail to file a complete and accurate two-business-day statement, as required under section 3517.10 of the Revised Code.
As used in this division, "statewide candidate" has the same meaning as in division (F)(2) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code.
(B) No campaign committee shall fail to file a complete and accurate statement required under division (A)(1) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code.
(C) No campaign committee shall fail to file a complete and accurate statement required under division (A)(2) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code.
(D) No campaign committee shall fail to file a complete and accurate statement required under division (A)(3) or (4) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code.
(E) No person other than a campaign committee shall knowingly fail to file a statement required under section 3517.10 or 3517.107 of the Revised Code.
(F) No person shall make cash contributions to any person totaling more than one hundred dollars in each primary, special, or general election.
(G)(1) No person shall knowingly conceal or misrepresent contributions given or received, expenditures made, or any other information required to be reported by a provision in sections 3517.08 to 3517.13 and 3517.17 of the Revised Code.
(2)(a) No person shall make a contribution to a campaign committee, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, political party, or person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications in the name of another person.
(b) A person does not make a contribution in the name of another when either of the following applies:
(i) An individual makes a contribution from a partnership or other unincorporated business account, if the contribution is reported by listing both the name of the partnership or other unincorporated business and the name of the partner or owner making the contribution as required under division (I) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code.
(ii) A person makes a contribution in that person's spouse's name or in both of their names.
(H) No person within this state, publishing a newspaper or other periodical, shall charge a campaign committee for political advertising a rate in excess of the rate such person would charge if the campaign committee were a general rate advertiser whose advertising was directed to promoting its business within the same area as that encompassed by the particular office that the candidate of the campaign committee is seeking. The rate shall take into account the amount of space used, as well as the type of advertising copy submitted by or on behalf of the campaign committee. All discount privileges otherwise offered by a newspaper or periodical to general rate advertisers shall be available upon equal terms to all campaign committees.
No person within this state, operating a radio or television station or network of stations in this state, shall charge a campaign committee for political broadcasts a rate that exceeds:
(1) During the forty-five days preceding the date of a primary election and during the sixty days preceding the date of a general or special election in which the candidate of the campaign committee is seeking office, the lowest unit charge of the station for the same class and amount of time for the same period;
(2) At any other time, the charges made for comparable use of that station by its other users.
(I) Subject to divisions (K), (L), (M), and (N) of this section, no agency or department of this state or any political subdivision shall award any contract, other than one let by competitive bidding or a contract incidental to such contract or which is by force account, for the purchase of goods costing more than five hundred dollars or services costing more than five hundred dollars to any individual, partnership, association, including, without limitation, a professional association organized under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code, estate, or trust if the individual has made or the individual's spouse has made, or any partner, shareholder, administrator, executor, or trustee or the spouse of any of them has made, as an individual, within the two previous calendar years, one or more contributions totaling in excess of one thousand dollars to the holder of the public office having ultimate responsibility for the award of the contract or to the public officer's campaign committee.
(J) Subject to divisions (K), (L), (M), and (N) of this section, no agency or department of this state or any political subdivision shall award any contract, other than one let by competitive bidding or a contract incidental to such contract or which is by force account, for the purchase of goods costing more than five hundred dollars or services costing more than five hundred dollars to a corporation or business trust, except a professional association organized under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code, if an owner of more than twenty per cent of the corporation or business trust or the spouse of that person has made, as an individual, within the two previous calendar years, taking into consideration only owners for all of that period, one or more contributions totaling in excess of one thousand dollars to the holder of a public office having ultimate responsibility for the award of the contract or to the public officer's campaign committee.
(K) For purposes of divisions (I) and (J) of this section, if a public officer who is responsible for the award of a contract is appointed by the governor, whether or not the appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the senate, excluding members of boards, commissions, committees, authorities, councils, boards of trustees, task forces, and other such entities appointed by the governor, the office of the governor is considered to have ultimate responsibility for the award of the contract.
(L) For purposes of divisions (I) and (J) of this section, if a public officer who is responsible for the award of a contract is appointed by the elected chief executive officer of a municipal corporation, or appointed by the elected chief executive officer of a county operating under an alternative form of county government or county charter, excluding members of boards, commissions, committees, authorities, councils, boards of trustees, task forces, and other such entities appointed by the chief executive officer, the office of the chief executive officer is considered to have ultimate responsibility for the award of the contract.
(M)(1) Divisions (I) and (J) of this section do not apply to contracts awarded by the board of commissioners of the sinking fund, municipal legislative authorities, boards of education, boards of county commissioners, boards of township trustees, or other boards, commissions, committees, authorities, councils, boards of trustees, task forces, and other such entities created by law, by the supreme court or courts of appeals, by county courts consisting of more than one judge, courts of common pleas consisting of more than one judge, or municipal courts consisting of more than one judge, or by a division of any court if the division consists of more than one judge. This division shall apply to the specified entity only if the members of the entity act collectively in the award of a contract for goods or services.
(2) Divisions (I) and (J) of this section do not apply to actions of the controlling board.
(N)(1) Divisions (I) and (J) of this section apply to contributions made to the holder of a public office having ultimate responsibility for the award of a contract, or to the public officer's campaign committee, during the time the person holds the office and during any time such person was a candidate for the office. Those divisions do not apply to contributions made to, or to the campaign committee of, a candidate for or holder of the office other than the holder of the office at the time of the award of the contract.
(2) Divisions (I) and (J) of this section do not apply to contributions of a partner, shareholder, administrator, executor, trustee, or owner of more than twenty per cent of a corporation or business trust made before the person held any of those positions or after the person ceased to hold any of those positions in the partnership, association, estate, trust, corporation, or business trust whose eligibility to be awarded a contract is being determined, nor to contributions of the person's spouse made before the person held any of those positions, after the person ceased to hold any of those positions, before the two were married, after the granting of a decree of divorce, dissolution of marriage, or annulment, or after the granting of an order in an action brought solely for legal separation. Those divisions do not apply to contributions of the spouse of an individual whose eligibility to be awarded a contract is being determined made before the two were married, after the granting of a decree of divorce, dissolution of marriage, or annulment, or after the granting of an order in an action brought solely for legal separation.
(O) No beneficiary of a campaign fund or other person shall convert for personal use, and no person shall knowingly give to a beneficiary of a campaign fund or any other person, for the beneficiary's or any other person's personal use, anything of value from the beneficiary's campaign fund, including, without limitation, payments to a beneficiary for services the beneficiary personally performs, except as reimbursement for any of the following:
(1) Legitimate and verifiable prior campaign expenses incurred by the beneficiary;
(2) Legitimate and verifiable ordinary and necessary prior expenses incurred by the beneficiary in connection with duties as the holder of a public office, including, without limitation, expenses incurred through participation in nonpartisan or bipartisan events if the participation of the holder of a public office would normally be expected;
(3) Legitimate and verifiable ordinary and necessary prior expenses incurred by the beneficiary while doing any of the following:
(a) Engaging in activities in support of or opposition to a candidate other than the beneficiary, political party, or ballot issue;
(b) Raising funds for a political party, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, campaign committee, or other candidate;
(c) Participating in the activities of a political party, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or campaign committee;
(d) Attending a political party convention or other political meeting.
For purposes of this division, an expense is incurred whenever a beneficiary has either made payment or is obligated to make payment, as by the use of a credit card or other credit procedure or by the use of goods or services received on account.
(P) No beneficiary of a campaign fund shall knowingly accept, and no person shall knowingly give to the beneficiary of a campaign fund, reimbursement for an expense under division (O) of this section to the extent that the expense previously was reimbursed or paid from another source of funds. If an expense is reimbursed under division (O) of this section and is later paid or reimbursed, wholly or in part, from another source of funds, the beneficiary shall repay the reimbursement received under division (O) of this section to the extent of the payment made or reimbursement received from the other source.
(Q) No candidate or public official or employee shall accept for personal or business use anything of value from a political party, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or campaign committee other than the candidate's or public official's or employee's own campaign committee, and no person shall knowingly give to a candidate or public official or employee anything of value from a political party, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or such a campaign committee, except for the following:
(1) Reimbursement for legitimate and verifiable ordinary and necessary prior expenses not otherwise prohibited by law incurred by the candidate or public official or employee while engaged in any legitimate activity of the political party, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or such campaign committee. Without limitation, reimbursable expenses under this division include those incurred while doing any of the following:
(a) Engaging in activities in support of or opposition to another candidate, political party, or ballot issue;
(b) Raising funds for a political party, legislative campaign fund, campaign committee, or another candidate;
(c) Attending a political party convention or other political meeting.
(2) Compensation not otherwise prohibited by law for actual and valuable personal services rendered under a written contract to the political party, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or such campaign committee for any legitimate activity of the political party, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or such campaign committee.
Reimbursable expenses under this division do not include, and it is a violation of this division for a candidate or public official or employee to accept, or for any person to knowingly give to a candidate or public official or employee from a political party, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, or campaign committee other than the candidate's or public official's or employee's own campaign committee, anything of value for activities primarily related to the candidate's or public official's or employee's own campaign for election, except for contributions to the candidate's or public official's or employee's campaign committee.
For purposes of this division, an expense is incurred whenever a candidate or public official or employee has either made payment or is obligated to make payment, as by the use of a credit card or other credit procedure, or by the use of goods or services on account.
(R)(1) Division (O) or (P) of this section does not prohibit a campaign committee from making direct advance or post payment from contributions to vendors for goods and services for which reimbursement is permitted under division (O) of this section, except that no campaign committee shall pay its candidate or other beneficiary for services personally performed by the candidate or other beneficiary.
(2) If any expense that may be reimbursed under division (O), (P), or (Q) of this section is part of other expenses that may not be paid or reimbursed, the separation of the two types of expenses for the purpose of allocating for payment or reimbursement those expenses that may be paid or reimbursed may be by any reasonable accounting method, considering all of the surrounding circumstances.
(3) For purposes of divisions (O), (P), and (Q) of this section, mileage allowance at a rate not greater than that allowed by the internal revenue service at the time the travel occurs may be paid instead of reimbursement for actual travel expenses allowable.
(S)(1) As used in division (S) of this section:
(a) "State elective office" has the same meaning as in section 3517.092 of the Revised Code.
(b) "Federal office" means a federal office as defined in the Federal Election Campaign Act.
(c) "Federal campaign committee" means a principal campaign committee or authorized committee as defined in the Federal Election Campaign Act.
(2) No person who is a candidate for state elective office and who previously sought nomination or election to a federal office shall transfer any funds or assets from that person's federal campaign committee for nomination or election to the federal office to that person's campaign committee as a candidate for state elective office.
(3) No campaign committee of a person who is a candidate for state elective office and who previously sought nomination or election to a federal office shall accept any funds or assets from that person's federal campaign committee for that person's nomination or election to the federal office.
(T)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(6)(c) of section 3517.102 of the Revised Code, a state or county political party shall not disburse moneys from any account other than a state candidate fund to make contributions to any of the following:
(a) A state candidate fund;
(b) A legislative campaign fund;
(c) A campaign committee of a candidate for the office of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, attorney general, member of the state board of education, or member of the general assembly.
(2) No state candidate fund, legislative campaign fund, or campaign committee of a candidate for any office described in division (T)(1)(c) of this section shall knowingly accept a contribution in violation of division (T)(1) of this section.
(U) No person shall fail to file the a statement required under section 3517.12 of the Revised Code.
(V) No campaign committee shall fail to file a statement required under division (K)(3) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code.
(W)(1) No foreign national shall, directly or indirectly through any other person or entity, make a contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure or promise, either expressly or implicitly, to make a contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure in support of or opposition to a candidate for any elective office in this state, including an office of a political party.
(2) No candidate, campaign committee, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, state candidate fund, political party, or separate segregated fund shall solicit or accept a contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure from a foreign national. The secretary of state may direct any candidate, committee, entity, fund, or party that accepts a contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure in violation of this division to return the contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure or, if it is not possible to return the contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure, then to return instead the value of it, to the contributor.
(3) As used in division (W) of this section, "foreign national" has the same meaning as in section 441e(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act.
(X)(1) No state or county political party shall transfer any moneys from its restricted fund to any account of the political party into which contributions may be made or from which contributions or expenditures may be made.
(2)(a) No state or county political party shall deposit a contribution or contributions that it receives into its restricted fund.
(b) No state or county political party shall make a contribution or an expenditure from its restricted fund.
(3)(a) No corporation or labor organization shall make a gift or gifts from the corporation's or labor organization's money or property aggregating more than ten thousand dollars to any one state or county political party for the party's restricted fund in a calendar year.
(b) No state or county political party shall accept a gift or gifts for the party's restricted fund aggregating more than ten thousand dollars from any one corporation or labor organization in a calendar year.
(4) No state or county political party shall transfer any moneys in the party's restricted fund to any other state or county political party.
(5) No state or county political party shall knowingly fail to file a statement required under section 3517.1012 of the Revised Code.
(Y) The administrator of workers' compensation and the employees of the bureau of workers' compensation shall not conduct any business with or award any contract, other than one awarded by competitive bidding, for the purchase of goods costing more than five hundred dollars or services costing more than five hundred dollars to any individual, partnership, association, including, without limitation, a professional association organized under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code, estate, or trust, if the individual has made, or the individual's spouse has made, or any partner, shareholder, administrator, executor, or trustee, or the spouses of any of those individuals has made, as an individual, within the two previous calendar years, one or more contributions totaling in excess of one thousand dollars to the campaign committee of the governor or lieutenant governor or to the campaign committee of any candidate for the office of governor or lieutenant governor.
(Z) The administrator of workers' compensation and the employees of the bureau of workers' compensation shall not conduct business with or award any contract, other than one awarded by competitive bidding, for the purchase of goods costing more than five hundred dollars or services costing more than five hundred dollars to a corporation or business trust, except a professional association organized under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code, if an owner of more than twenty per cent of the corporation or business trust, or the spouse of the owner, has made, as an individual, within the two previous calendar years, taking into consideration only owners for all of such period, one or more contributions totaling in excess of one thousand dollars to the campaign committee of the governor or lieutenant governor or to the campaign committee of any candidate for the office of governor or lieutenant governor.
Sec. 3517.153.  (A) Upon the filing of a complaint with the Ohio elections commission, which shall be made by affidavit of any person, on personal knowledge, and subject to the penalties for perjury, or upon the filing of a complaint made by the secretary of state or an official at the board of elections, setting forth a failure to comply with or a violation of any provision in sections 3517.08 to 3517.13, 3517.17, 3517.18, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03, or 3599.031 of the Revised Code, the commission shall proceed in accordance with sections 3517.154 to 3517.157 of the Revised Code.
(B) The commission shall prescribe the form for complaints made under division (A) of this section. The secretary of state and boards of elections shall furnish the information that the commission requests. The commission or a member of the commission may administer oaths, and the commission may issue subpoenas to any person in the state compelling the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant papers, books, accounts, and reports. Section 101.42 of the Revised Code governs the issuance of subpoenas insofar as applicable. Upon the refusal of any person to obey a subpoena or to be sworn or to answer as a witness, the commission may apply to the court of common pleas of Franklin county under section 2705.03 of the Revised Code. The court shall hold proceedings in accordance with Chapter 2705. of the Revised Code.
(C) No prosecution shall commence for a violation of a provision in sections 3517.08 to 3517.13, 3517.17, 3517.18, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03, or 3599.031 of the Revised Code unless a complaint has been filed with the commission under this section and all proceedings of the commission or a panel of the commission, as appropriate, under sections 3517.154 to 3517.157 of the Revised Code are completed.
(D) The commission may recommend legislation and render advisory opinions concerning sections 3517.08, 3517.082, 3517.092, 3517.102, 3517.103, 3517.105, 3517.13, 3517.18, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03, and 3599.031 of the Revised Code for persons over whose acts it has or may have jurisdiction. When the commission renders an advisory opinion relating to a specific set of circumstances involving any of those sections stating that there is no violation of a provision in those sections, the person to whom the opinion is directed or a person who is similarly situated may reasonably rely on the opinion and is immune from criminal prosecution and a civil action, including, without limitation, a civil action for removal from public office or employment, based on facts and circumstances covered by the opinion.
(E) The commission shall establish a web site on which it shall post, at a minimum, all decisions and advisory opinions issued by the commission and copies of each election law as it is amended by the general assembly. The commission shall update the web site regularly to reflect any changes to those decisions and advisory opinions and any new decisions and advisory opinions.
Sec. 3519.01.  (A) Whoever Only one proposal of law or constitutional amendment to be proposed by initiative petition shall be contained in an initiative petition to enable the voters to vote on that proposal separately. A petition shall include the text of any existing statute or constitutional provision that would be amended or repealed if the proposed law or constitutional amendment is adopted.
Whoever seeks to propose a law or constitutional amendment by initiative petition shall, by a written petition signed by one hundred thousand qualified electors, submit the proposed law or constitutional amendment and a summary of it to the attorney general for examination. Within ten days after the receipt of the written petition and the summary of it, the attorney general shall conduct an examination of the summary. If, in the opinion of the attorney general, the summary is a fair and truthful statement of the proposed law or constitutional amendment, he the attorney general shall so certify and then forward the submitted petition to the Ohio ballot board for its approval under division (A) of section 3505.062 of the Revised Code. A If the Ohio ballot board returns the submitted petition to the attorney general with its certification as described in that division, the attorney general shall then file with the secretary of state a verified copy of the proposed law or constitutional amendment, together with the its summary and the attorney general's certification, shall then be filed with the secretary of state.
Whenever the Ohio ballot board divides an initiative petition into individual petitions containing only proposed law or constitutional amendment under division (A) of section 3505.062 of the Revised Code resulting in the need for the petitioners to resubmit to the attorney general appropriate summaries for each of the individual petitions arising from the board's division of the initiative petition, the attorney general shall review the resubmitted summaries, within ten days after their receipt, to determine if they are a fair and truthful statement of the respective proposed laws or constitutional amendments and, if so, certify them. These resubmissions shall contain no new explanations or arguments. Then, the attorney general shall file with the secretary of state a verified copy of each of the proposed laws or constitutional amendments together with their respective summaries and the attorney general's certification of each.
(B)(1) Whoever seeks to file a referendum petition against any law, section, or item in any law shall, by a written petition signed by one hundred thousand qualified electors, submit the measure to be referred and a summary of it to the secretary of state and, on the same day or within one business day before or after that day, submit a copy of the petition, measure, and summary to the attorney general.
(2) Not later than ten business days after receiving the petition, measure, and summary, the secretary of state shall do both of the following:
(a) Have the validity of the signatures on the petition verified;
(b) After comparing the text of the measure to be referred with the copy of the enrolled bill act on file in his the secretary of state's office containing the law, section, or item of law, determine whether the text is correct and, if it is, so certify.
(3) Not later than ten business days after receiving a copy of the petition, measure, and summary, the attorney general shall examine the summary and, if in his the attorney general's opinion, the summary is a fair and truthful statement of the measure to be referred, so certify.
(C) Any person who is aggrieved by a certification decision under division (A) or (B) of this section may challenge the certification or failure to certify of the attorney general in the supreme court, which shall have exclusive, original jurisdiction in all challenges of those certification decisions.
Sec. 3519.03. (A) The committee named in a initiative petition may prepare the argument or explanation, or both, in favor of the measure proposed, and the committee named in a referendum petition may prepare the argument or explanation, or both, against any law or section or item of law. The persons who prepare the argument or explanation, or both, in opposition to the initiated proposal, or the argument or explanation, or both, in favor of the measure to be referred shall be named by the general assembly, if it is in session, or by the governor, if the general assembly is not in session. Such argument or explanation, or both, shall not exceed three hundred words and shall be filed with the secretary of state at least seventy-five eighty days prior to the date of the election at which the measure is to be voted upon.
(B)(1) If the committee named in an initiative petition, the committee named in a referendum petition, or other persons designated under division (A) of this section fail to prepare and file their arguments or explanations by the seventy-fifth eightieth day before the date of the election, the secretary of state shall notify the Ohio ballot board that those arguments or explanations have not been so prepared and filed. The board then shall prepare the missing arguments or explanations or designate a group of persons to prepare those arguments or explanations. All arguments or explanations prepared under this division shall be filed with the secretary of state no later than seventy seventy-five days before the date of the election. No argument or explanation shall exceed three hundred words.
(2) If the Ohio ballot board fails to provide for the preparation of missing arguments or explanations under division (B)(1) of this section after being notified by the secretary of state that one or more arguments or explanations have not been timely prepared and filed, the positions of the four appointed members of the board shall be considered vacant, and new members shall be appointed in the manner provided for original appointments.
Sec. 3519.04.  Upon Within two days after receipt, under division (A) of section 3519.01 of the Revised Code, of the verified copy of a proposed state law or constitutional amendment proposing the levy of any tax or involving a matter that will necessitate the expenditure of any funds of the state or any political subdivision of the state, the secretary of state shall request of the office of budget and management an estimate of any annual expenditure of public funds proposed and of the tax commissioner the annual yield of any proposed taxes. The office of budget and management, on receipt of a request for an estimate of the annual expenditure of public funds proposed, shall prepare the estimate and file it in the office of the secretary of state. The tax commissioner, on receipt of a request for an estimate of the annual yield of any proposed taxes, shall prepare the estimate and file it in the office of the secretary of state. The office of budget and management and the tax commissioner may issue a joint estimate if the proposed state law or constitutional amendment necessitates both the expenditure of public funds and a levy of any tax.
Upon receipt of an estimate of the annual expenditure of public funds proposed from the office of budget and management, an estimate of the annual yield of any proposed taxes from the tax commissioner, or a joint estimate of the annual expenditure of public funds proposed and the annual yield of any proposed taxes from the office of budget and management and the tax commissioner, the secretary of state shall post the estimate on a web site of the office of secretary of state for thirty days before the election at which the proposed state law or constitutional amendment will be voted upon.
Sec. 3519.05.  If the measure to be submitted proposes a constitutional amendment, the heading of each part of the petition shall be prepared in the following form, and printed in capital letters in type of the approximate size set forth:
"INITIATIVE PETITION
Number .......................................................
Issued to ....................................................
(Name of solicitor)
Date of issuance .............................................
..............................................................
Amendment to the Constitution
Proposed by Initiative Petition
To be submitted directly to the electors"
"Amendment" printed in fourteen-point boldface type shall precede the title, which shall be briefly expressed and printed in eight-point type. The summary shall then be set forth printed in ten-point type, and then shall follow the certification of the attorney general, under proper date, which shall also be printed in ten-point type. The petition shall then set forth the names and addresses of the committee of not less than three nor more than five to represent the petitioners in all matters relating to the petition or its circulation.
Immediately above the heading of the place for signatures on each part of the petition the following notice shall be printed in boldface type:
"NOTICE
Whoever knowingly signs this petition more than once; except as provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, signs a name other than one's own, on this petition; or signs this petition when not a qualified voter, is liable to prosecution.
In consideration for services in soliciting signatures to this petition, the solicitor has received or expects to
receive .......................................................
from ..........................................................
(Whose address is).............................................
..............................................................."
Before any elector signs the part-petition, the solicitor shall completely fill in the above blanks if the solicitor has received or will receive any consideration, and if the solicitor has not received and will not receive any consideration, the solicitor shall insert "nothing."
The heading of the place for signatures shall be substantially as follows:
"(Sign with ink or indelible pencil. Your name, residence, and date of signing must be given.)
____________ __________ ___________ _________________________ _________ _______ ________
Rural Route or
other Post-
Signature County Township office Address Month Day Year
____________ __________ ___________ ________________________ _________ _______ ________

(Voters who do not live in a municipal corporation should fill in the information called for by headings printed above.)
(Voters who reside in municipal corporations should fill in the information called for by headings printed below.)
__________ _______ _________ _________ ______________________________
City Street
or and
Signature County Village Number Ward Precinct Month Day Year"
___________ _______ _________ _________ ______________________________

The text of the proposed amendment shall be printed in full, immediately following the place for signatures, and shall be prefaced by "Be it resolved by the people of the State of Ohio." Immediately following the text of the proposed amendment must appear the following form:
"I, ........., declare under penalty of election falsification that I am the circulator of the foregoing petition paper containing the signatures of ......... electors, that the signatures appended hereto were made and appended in my presence on the date set opposite each respective name, and are the signatures of the persons whose names they purport to be or of attorneys in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, and that the electors signing this petition did so with knowledge of the contents of same. I am employed to circulate this petition by ................................ (Name and address of employer). (The preceding sentence shall be completed as required by section 3501.38 of the Revised Code if the circulator is being employed to circulate the petition.)
(Signed) ............... (Solicitor)
(Address of circulator's permanent residence in this state)
....................................

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE."
If the measure proposes a law, the heading of each part of the petition shall be prepared as follows:
"INITIATIVE PETITION
Number .........................................................
................................................................
Issued to ......................................................
................................................................
(Name of Solicitor)
Date of issuance ...............................................
................................................................
Law proposed by initiative petition first to be submitted to the General Assembly."
In all other respects, the form shall be as provided for the submission of a constitutional amendment, except that the text of the proposed law shall be prefaced by "Be it enacted by the people of the state of Ohio."
The form for a supplementary initiative petition shall be the same as that provided for an initiative petition, with the exception that "supplementary" shall precede "initiative" in the title thereof.
The general provisions set forth in this section relative to the form and order of an initiative petition shall be, so far as practical, applicable to a referendum petition, the heading of which shall be as follows:
"REFERENDUM PETITION
Number .........................................................
................................................................
Issued to ......................................................
................................................................
(Name of Solicitor)
Date of issuance ...............................................
................................................................
To be submitted to the electors for their approval or rejection"
The title, which follows the heading, shall contain a brief legislative history of the law, section, or item of law to be referred. The text of the law so referred shall be followed by the certification of the secretary of state, in accordance with division (B)(2)(b) of section 3519.01 of the Revised Code, that it has been compared with the copy of the enrolled act, on file in the secretary of state's office, containing such law, section, or item of law, and found to be correct.
Sec. 3519.051.  Each signature of a voter who signs an initiative or referendum petition shall be an original signature of that voter in ink. Only initiative and referendum petitions containing those original signatures in ink shall be filed with the office of the secretary of state or a board of elections.
Sec. 3519.07.  (A) The secretary of state shall post each of the following on the web site of the office of the secretary of state:
(1) The full text of each state law or constitutional amendment proposed by initiative petition that has been approved for the ballot;
(2) The certified summary of each state law or constitutional amendment proposed by initiative petition that has been approved for the ballot;
(3) The ballot language of each state law or constitutional amendment proposed by initiative petition;
(4) The arguments or explanations in favor of or against each state law or constitutional amendment proposed by initiative petition that has been approved for the ballot.
(B) When publishing or posting on the web site of the office of the secretary of state arguments or explanations in favor of or against any state law or constitutional amendment proposed by initiative petition that has been approved for the ballot, the secretary of state shall include the names of the persons who prepared the argument or explanation. The names of the persons shall not be considered part of the argument or explanation for purposes of the prohibition against arguments and explanations exceeding three hundred words under section 3519.03 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 3523.05.  The election provided for in section 3523.01 of the Revised Code shall be by ballot, which may be separate from any ballot to be used at the same election. Such ballot shall first state the substance of the proposed amendment to the constitution Constitution of the United States. This shall be followed by appropriate instructions to the voter. It shall then contain perpendicular columns of equal width, headed respectively in plain type, "for ratification," "against ratification," and "unpledged." In the column headed "for ratification" shall be placed the names of the nominees nominated as in favor of ratification. In the column headed "against ratification" shall be placed the names of the nominees nominated as against ratification. In the column headed "unpledged" shall be placed the names of the nominees nominated as unpledged. The voter shall indicate his the voter's choice by making one or more punches or marks in the appropriate spaces provided on the ballot. No ballot shall be held void because any such punch or mark is irregular in character. The ballot shall be so arranged that the voter may, by making a single punch or mark, vote for the entire group of nominees whose names are comprised in any column. The ballot shall be in substantially the following form:
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
Delegates to the convention to ratify the proposed amendment.
The congress has proposed an amendment to the constitution Constitution of the United States which provides (insert here the substance of the proposed amendment).
The congress has also proposed that the said amendment shall be ratified by conventions in the states.
INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS
Do not vote for more than fifty-two candidates.
To vote for all candidates in favor of ratification, or for all candidates against ratification, or for all candidates who intend to remain unpledged, make a mark in the CIRCLE. If you do this, make no other mark. To vote for an individual candidate make a mark in the SQUARE at the left of the name.
For Ratification Against Ratification Unpledged
O O O

[ ]  John Doe [ ]  Charles Coe [ ]  Daniel De Foe
[ ]  Richard Doe [ ]  Michael Moe [ ]  Louis St Loe

All rights on the part of lists of candidates to name challengers and witnesses observers in the polling places shall be the same as those under Title XXXV of the Revised Code.
The fifty-two nominees who receive the highest number of votes shall be delegates to the convention.
Sec. 3599.11.  (A) No person shall knowingly register or make application or attempt to register in a precinct in which the person is not a qualified voter; or knowingly aid or abet any person to so register; or attempt to register or knowingly induce or attempt to induce any person to so register; or knowingly impersonate another or write or assume the name of another, real or fictitious, in registering or attempting to register; or by false statement or other unlawful means procure, aid, or attempt to procure the erasure or striking out on the register or duplicate list of the name of a qualified elector therein; or knowingly induce or attempt to induce a registrar or other election authority to refuse registration in a precinct to an elector thereof; or knowingly swear or affirm falsely upon a lawful examination by or before any registering officer; or make, print, or issue any false or counterfeit certificate of registration or knowingly alter any certificate of registration.
No person shall knowingly register under more than one name or knowingly induce any person to so register.
No person shall knowingly make any false statement on any form for registration or change of registration or upon any application or return envelope for an absent voter's ballot.
Whoever violates this division is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.
(B)(1) No person who helps another person register outside an official voter registration place shall knowingly destroy, or knowingly help another person to destroy, any completed registration form, or.
Whoever violates this division is guilty of election falsification, a felony of the fifth degree.
(2)(a) No person who helps another person register outside an official voter registration place shall knowingly fail to return any registration form entrusted to that person to the any board of elections or the office of the secretary of state within ten days after that regsitration form is completed, or on or before the thirtieth day before the election, whichever day is earlier, unless the registration form is received by the person within twenty-four hours of the thirtieth day before the election, in which case the person shall return the registration form to any board of elections or the office of the secretary of state within ten days of its receipt.
Whoever violates this division is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree election falsification, a felony of the fifth degree, unless the person has not previously been convicted of a violation of division (B)(2)(a), (B)(2)(b), (C)(1), or (C)(2) of this section, the violation of this division does not cause any person to miss any voter registration deadline with regard to any election, and the number of voter registration forms that the violator has failed to properly return does not exceed forty-nine, in which case the violator is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(b) Subject to division (C)(2) of this section, no person who helps another person register outside an official registration place shall knowingly return any registration form entrusted to that person to any location other than any board of elections or the office of the secretary of state.
Whoever violates this division is guilty of election falsification, a felony of the fifth degree, unless the person has not previously been convicted of a violation of division (B)(2)(a), (B)(2)(b), (C)(1), or (C)(2) of this section, the violation of this division does not cause any person to miss any voter registration deadline with regard to any election, and the number of voter registration forms that the violator has failed to properly return does not exceed forty-nine, in which case the violator is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(C)(1) No person who receives compensation for registering a voter shall knowingly fail to return any registration form entrusted to that person to any board of elections or the office of the secretary of state within ten days after that voter registration form is completed, or on or before the thirtieth day before the election, whichever is earlier, unless the registration form is received by the person within twenty-four hours of the thirtieth day before the election, in which case the person shall return the registration form to any board of elections or the office of the secrtary of state within ten days of its receipt.
Whoever violates this division is guilty of election falsification, a felony of the fifth degree, unless the person has not previously been convicted of a violation of division (B)(2)(a), (B)(2)(b), (C)(1), or (C)(2) of this section, the violation of this division does not cause any person to miss any voter registration deadline with regard to any election, and the number of voter registration forms that the violator has failed to properly return does not exceed forty-nine, in which case the violator is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(2) No person who receives compensation for registering a voter shall knowingly return any registration form entrusted to that person to any location other than any board of elections or the office of the secretary of state.
Whoever violates this division is guilty of election falsification, a felony of the fifth degree, unless the person has not previously been convicted of a violation of division (B)(2)(a), (B)(2)(b), (C)(1), or (C)(2) of this section, the violation of this division does not cause any person to miss any voter registration deadline with regard to any election, and the number of voter registration forms that the violator has failed to properly return does not exceed forty-nine, in which case the violator is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(D) As used in division (C) of this section, "registering a voter" includes any effort, for compensation, to provide voter registration forms or to assist persons in completing or returning those forms.
Sec. 3599.111.  (A) As used in this section, "registering a voter" or "registering voters" includes any effort, for compensation, to provide voter registration forms or to assist persons in completing or returning those forms or returning them to the board of elections, the office of the secretary of state, or other appropriate public office.
(B) No person shall receive compensation on a fee per signature or fee per volume basis for circulating any declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, initiative petition, referendum petition, recall petition, or any other election-related petition that is filed with or transmitted to a board of elections, the office of the secretary of state, or other appropriate public office.
(C) No person shall receive compensation on a fee per registration or fee per volume basis for registering a voter.
(D) Compensation No person shall pay any other person for collecting signatures on election-related petitions and or for registering voters shall be paid solely except on the basis of time worked.
(E)(1) Whoever violates division (B) or (C) of this section is guilty of election falsification under section 3599.36 of the Revised Code receiving improper compensation for circulating a petition, a felony of the fifth degree.
(2) Whoever violates division (C) of this section is guilty of receiving improper compensation for registering a voter, a felony of the fifth degree.
(3) Whoever violates division (D) of this section is guilty of paying improper compensation for circulating a petition or registering a voter, a felony of the fifth degree.
Sec. 3599.13. (A) No person shall sign do any of the following:
(1) Sign an initiative, supplementary, referendum, recall, or nominating petition knowing that he the person is not at the time qualified to sign it; or knowingly
(2) Knowingly sign such a petition more than once; or sign
(3) Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, sign a name other than his the person's own on such a petition; or accept
(4) Accept anything of value for signing such a petition; or seek
(5) Seek by intimidation or threats to influence any person to sign or refrain from signing such a petition, or from circulating or abstaining from circulating such a petition; or sign
(6) Sign a nominating declaration of candidacy and petition for a candidate of a party with which he the person is not affiliated, as required by section 3513.05 of the Revised Code; or make
(7) Make a false affidavit or statement concerning the signatures on any such petition.
(B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section shall be fined not less than fifty nor or more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not less than three nor or more than six months, or both.
Sec. 3599.14.  (A) No person shall knowingly, directly or indirectly, do any of the following in connection with any declaration of candidacy and petition, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, nominating petition, or other petition presented to or filed with the secretary of state, a board or of elections, or any other public office for the purpose of becoming a candidate for any elective office, including the office of a political party, for the purpose of submitting a question or issue to the electors at an election, or for the purpose of forming a political party:
(1) Misrepresent the contents, purpose, or effect of the petition or declaration for the purpose of persuading a person to sign or refrain from signing the petition or declaration;
(2) Pay or offer to pay anything of value for signing or refraining from signing the petition or declaration;
(3) Promise to assist any person to obtain appointment to an office or position as a consideration for obtaining or preventing signatures to the petition or declaration;
(4) Obtain or prevent signatures to the petition or declaration as a consideration for the assistance or promise of assistance of a person in securing appointment to an office or position;
(5) Circulate or cause to be circulated the petition or declaration knowing it to contain false, forged, or fictitious names;
(6) Add Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, add signatures or names except the person's own name on the petition or declaration;
(7) Make a false certification or statement concerning the petition or declaration;
(8) File with the election authorities the petition or declaration knowing it to contain false, forged, or fictitious names;
(9) Fail to fill out truthfully and file all itemized statements required by law in connection with the petition or declaration.
(B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor felony of the first fifth degree.
Sec. 3599.21.  (A) No person shall knowingly do any of the following:
(1) Impersonate another, or make a false representation in order to obtain an absent voter's ballot;
(2) Aid or abet a person to vote an absent voter's ballot illegally;
(3) If the person is an election official, open, destroy, steal, mark, or mutilate any absent voter's ballot;
(4) Aid or abet another person to open, destroy, steal, mark, or mutilate any absent voter's ballot after the ballot has been voted;
(5) Delay the delivery of any such absent voter's ballot with a view to preventing its arrival in time to be counted;
(6) Hinder or attempt to hinder the delivery or counting of such absent voter's ballot;
(7) Fail to forward to the appropriate election official an absent voter's ballot application entrusted to that person to so forward;
(8) Fail to forward to the appropriate election official an absent voter's ballot application entrusted to that person to so forward within ten days after that application is completed or within such a time period that the failure to so forward the application disenfranchises the voter with respect to a particular election, whichever is earlier;
(9) Except as authorized under Chapters 3509. and 3511. of the Revised Code, possess the absent voter's ballot of another.
(B)(1) Subject to division (B)(2) of this section, no person who receives compensation for soliciting persons to apply to vote by absent voter's ballots shall fail to forward to the appropriate election official an absent voter's ballot application entrusted to that person to so forward within ten days after that application is completed.
(2) No person who receives compensation for soliciting persons to apply to vote by absent voter's ballots shall fail to forward to the appropriate election official an absent voter's ballot application entrusted to that person to so forward within such a time period that the failure to so forward the application disenfranchises the voter with respect to a particular election.
(C) Whoever violates division (A) or (B) of this section is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree.
(D) As used in this section, "person who receives compensation for soliciting persons to apply to vote by absent voter's ballots" includes any effort, for compensation, to provide absent voter's ballot applications or to assist persons in completing those applications or returning them to the director of the board of elections of the county in which the applicant's voting residence is located.
Sec. 3599.24.  (A) No person shall do any of the following:
(1) By force, fraud, or other improper means, obtain or attempt to obtain possession of the ballots, ballot boxes, or pollbooks;
(2) Recklessly destroy any property used in the conduct of elections;
(3) Attempt to intimidate an election officer, or prevent an election official from performing the official's duties;
(4) Knowingly tear down, remove, or destroy any of the registration lists or sample ballots furnished by the board of elections at the polling place;
(5) Loiter in or about a registration or polling place during registration or the casting and counting of ballots so as to hinder, delay, or interfere with the conduct of the registration or election;
(6) Remove from the voting place the pencils, cards of instruction, supplies, or other conveniences furnished to enable the voter to mark the voter's ballot.
(B) Whoever violates division (A)(1) or (2) of this section is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree. Whoever violates division (A)(3) or, (4), (5), or (6) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. Whoever violates division (A)(5) or (6) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
Sec. 3599.38.  (A) No election official, witness, challenger observer, deputy sheriff, special deputy sheriff, or police officer, while performing that person's duties related to the casting of votes, shall do either of the following:
(1) Wear any badge, sign, or other insignia or thing indicating that person's preference for any candidate or for any question submitted at an election;
(2) Influence or attempt to influence any voter to cast the voter's ballot for or against any candidate or issue submitted at an election.
(B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
"Sec. 4113.52.  (A)(1)(a) If an employee becomes aware in the course of the employee's employment of a violation of any state or federal statute or any ordinance or regulation of a political subdivision that the employee's employer has authority to correct, and the employee reasonably believes that the violation either is a criminal offense that is likely to cause an imminent risk of physical harm to persons or a hazard to public health or safety or is, a felony, or an improper solicitation for a contribution, the employee orally shall notify the employee's supervisor or other responsible officer of the employee's employer of the violation and subsequently shall file with that supervisor or officer a written report that provides sufficient detail to identify and describe the violation. If the employer does not correct the violation or make a reasonable and good faith effort to correct the violation within twenty-four hours after the oral notification or the receipt of the report, whichever is earlier, the employee may file a written report that provides sufficient detail to identify and describe the violation with the prosecuting authority of the county or municipal corporation where the violation occurred, with a peace officer, with the inspector general if the violation is within the inspector general's jurisdiction, or with any other appropriate public official or agency that has regulatory authority over the employer and the industry, trade, or business in which the employer is engaged.
(b) If an employee makes a report under division (A)(1)(a) of this section, the employer, within twenty-four hours after the oral notification was made or the report was received or by the close of business on the next regular business day following the day on which the oral notification was made or the report was received, whichever is later, shall notify the employee, in writing, of any effort of the employer to correct the alleged violation or hazard or of the absence of the alleged violation or hazard.
(2) If an employee becomes aware in the course of the employee's employment of a violation of chapter 3704., 3734., 6109., Or or 6111. Of of the revised code Revised Code that is a criminal offense, the employee directly may notify, either orally or in writing, any appropriate public official or agency that has regulatory authority over the employer and the industry, trade, or business in which the employer is engaged.
(3) If an employee becomes aware in the course of the employee's employment of a violation by a fellow employee of any state or federal statute, any ordinance or regulation of a political subdivision, or any work rule or company policy of the employee's employer and the employee reasonably believes that the violation either is a criminal offense that is likely to cause an imminent risk of physical harm to persons or a hazard to public health or safety or is, a felony, or an improper solicitation for a contribution, the employee orally shall notify the employee's supervisor or other responsible officer of the employee's employer of the violation and subsequently shall file with that supervisor or officer a written report that provides sufficient detail to identify and describe the violation.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this section, no employer shall take any disciplinary or retaliatory action against an employee for making any report authorized by division (A)(1) or (2) of this section, or as a result of the employee's having made any inquiry or taken any other action to ensure the accuracy of any information reported under either such division. No employer shall take any disciplinary or retaliatory action against an employee for making any report authorized by division (A)(3) of this section if the employee made a reasonable and good faith effort to determine the accuracy of any information so reported, or as a result of the employee's having made any inquiry or taken any other action to ensure the accuracy of any information reported under that division. For purposes of this division, disciplinary or retaliatory action by the employer includes, without limitation, doing any of the following:
(1) Removing or suspending the employee from employment;
(2) Withholding from the employee salary increases or employee benefits to which the employee is otherwise entitled;
(3) Transferring or reassigning the employee;
(4) Denying the employee a promotion that otherwise would have been received;
(5) Reducing the employee in pay or position.
(C) An employee shall make a reasonable and good faith effort to determine the accuracy of any information reported under division (A)(1) or (2) of this section. If the employee who makes a report under either division fails to make such an effort, the employee may be subject to disciplinary action by the employee's employer, including suspension or removal, for reporting information without a reasonable basis to do so under division (A)(1) or (2) of this section.
(D) If an employer takes any disciplinary or retaliatory action against an employee as a result of the employee's having filed a report under division (A) of this section, the employee may bring a civil action for appropriate injunctive relief or for the remedies set forth in division (E) of this section, or both, within one hundred eighty days after the date the disciplinary or retaliatory action was taken, in a court of common pleas in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure. A civil action under this division is not available to an employee as a remedy for any disciplinary or retaliatory action taken by an appointing authority against the employee as a result of the employee's having filed a report under division (A) of section 124.341 of the Revised Code.
(E) The court, in rendering a judgment for the employee in an action brought pursuant to division (D) of this section, may order, as it determines appropriate, reinstatement of the employee to the same position that the employee held at the time of the disciplinary or retaliatory action and at the same site of employment or to a comparable position at that site, the payment of back wages, full reinstatement of fringe benefits and seniority rights, or any combination of these remedies. The court also may award the prevailing party all or a portion of the costs of litigation and, if the employee who brought the action prevails in the action, may award the prevailing employee reasonable attorney's fees, witness fees, and fees for experts who testify at trial, in an amount the court determines appropriate. If the court determines that an employer deliberately has violated division (B) of this section, the court, in making an award of back pay, may include interest at the rate specified in section 1343.03 of the Revised Code.
(F) Any report filed with the inspector general under this section shall be filed as a complaint in accordance with section 121.46 of the Revised Code.
(G) As used in this section:
(1) "Contribution" has the same meaning as in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code.
(2) "Improper solicitation for a contribution" means a solicitation for a contribution that satisfies all of the following:
(a) The solicitation violates division (B), (C), or (D) of section 3517.092 of the Revised Code;
(b) The solicitation is made in person by a public official or by an employee who has a supervisory role within the public office;
(c) The public official or employee knowingly made the solicitation, and the solicitation violates division (B), (C), or (D) of section 3517.092 of the Revised Code;
(d) The employee reporting the solicitation is an employee of the same public office as the public official or the employee with the supervisory role who is making the solicitation.
Sec. 4301.33.  (A) The board of elections shall provide to a petitioner circulating a petition for an election for the submission of one or more of the questions specified in divisions (A) to (D) of section 4301.35 or section 4301.351 of the Revised Code, at the time of taking out the petition, the names of the streets and, if appropriate, the address numbers of residences and business establishments within the precinct in which the election is sought, and a form prescribed by the secretary of state for notifying affected permit holders and liquor agency stores of the circulation of a petition for an election for the submission of one or more of the questions specified in divisions (A) to (D) of section 4301.35 or section 4301.351 of the Revised Code. The petitioner shall, not less than forty-five days before the petition-filing deadline for the election, as provided in this section, file with the division of liquor control the information regarding names of streets and, if appropriate, address numbers of residences and business establishments provided by the board of elections, and specify to the division the precinct that is concerned and that would be affected by the results of the election and the filing deadline. The division shall, within a reasonable period of time and not later than fifteen days before the filing deadline, supply the petitioner with a list of the names and addresses of permit holders and liquor agency stores, if any, that would be affected by the election. The list shall contain a heading with the following words: "Liquor permit holders and liquor agency stores that would be affected by the question(s) set forth on petition for a local option election."
Within five days after a petitioner has received from the division the list of liquor permit holders and liquor agency stores, if any, that would be affected by the question or questions set forth on a petition for local option election, the petitioner shall, using the form provided by the board of elections, notify by certified mail each permit holder and liquor agency store whose name appears on that list. The form for notifying affected permit holders and liquor agency stores shall require the petitioner to state the petitioner's name and street address and shall contain a statement that a petition is being circulated for an election for the submission of the question or questions specified in divisions (A) to (D) of section 4301.35 or section 4301.351 of the Revised Code. The form shall require the petitioner to state the question or questions to be submitted as they appear on the petition.
The petitioner shall attach a copy of the list provided by the division to each petition paper. A part petition paper circulated at any time without the list of affected permit holders and liquor agency stores attached to it is invalid.
At the time the petitioner files the petition with the board of elections, the petitioner shall provide to the board the list supplied by the division and an affidavit certifying that the petitioner notified all affected permit holders and liquor agency stores, if any, on the list in the manner and within the time required in this section and that, at the time each signer of the petition affixed the signer's signature to the petition, the petition paper contained a copy of the list of affected permit holders and liquor agency stores.
Within five days after receiving a petition calling for an election for the submission of one or more of the questions specified in divisions (A) to (D) of section 4301.35 or section 4301.351 of the Revised Code, the board shall give notice by certified mail that it has received the petition to all liquor permit holders and liquor agency stores, if any, whose names appear on the list of affected permit holders and liquor agency stores filed by the petitioner. Failure of the petitioner to supply the affidavit required by this section and a complete and accurate list of liquor permit holders and liquor agency stores, if any, invalidates the entire petition. The board of elections shall provide to a permit holder or liquor agency store that would be affected by a proposed local option election, on the permit holder's or liquor agency store's request, the names of the streets, and, if appropriate, the address numbers of residences and business establishments within the precinct in which the election is sought that would be affected by the results of the election. The board may charge a reasonable fee for this information when provided to the petitioner and the permit holder or liquor agency store.
(B) Upon the presentation of a petition, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of a general or primary election, to the board of elections of the county where the precinct is located, designating whether it is a petition for an election for the submission of one or more of the questions specified in section 4301.35 of the Revised Code, or a petition for the submission of one or more of the questions specified in section 4301.351 of the Revised Code, designating the particular question or questions specified in section 4301.35 or 4301.351 of the Revised Code that are to be submitted, and signed by the qualified electors of the precinct concerned, equal in number to thirty-five per cent of the total number of votes cast in the precinct concerned for the office of governor at the preceding general election for that office, the board shall submit the question or questions specified in the petition to the electors of the precinct concerned, on the day of the next general or primary election, whichever occurs first and shall proceed as follows:
(1) Such board shall, not later than the sixty-sixth sixty-eighth day before the day of the election for which the question or questions on the petition would qualify for submission to the electors of the precinct, examine and determine the sufficiency of the signatures and review, examine, and determine the validity of the petition and, in case of overlapping precinct petitions presented within that period, determine which of the petitions shall govern the further proceedings of the board. In the case where the board determines that two or more overlapping petitions are valid, the earlier filed petition shall govern. The board shall certify the sufficiency and validity of any petition determined to be valid. The board shall determine the validity of the petition as of the time of certification as described in this division.
(2) If a petition is sufficient, and, in case of overlapping precinct petitions, after the board has determined the governing petition, the board to which the petition has been presented shall order the holding of a special election in the precinct for the submission of whichever of the questions specified in section 4301.35 or 4301.351 of the Revised Code are designated in the petition, on the day of the next general or primary election, whichever occurs first.
(3) All petitions filed with a board of elections under this section shall be open to public inspection under rules adopted by the board.
(4) Protest against local option petitions may be filed by any elector eligible to vote on the question or questions described in the petitions or by a permit holder or liquor agency store in the precinct as described in the petitions, not later than four p.m. of the sixty-fourth day before the day of the general or primary election for which the petition qualified. The protest shall be in writing and shall be filed with the election officials with whom the petition was filed. Upon filing of the protest, the election officials with whom it is filed shall promptly fix the time for hearing it, and shall mail notice of the filing of the protest and the time and place for hearing it to the person who filed the petition and to the person who filed the protest. At the time and place fixed, the election officials shall hear the protest and determine the validity of the petition.
Sec. 4301.331.  (A) The privilege of local option conferred by section 4301.321 of the Revised Code shall be exercised if a certified copy of the judgment issued pursuant to division (D) or (E) of section 3767.05 of the Revised Code that is the basis for the exercise of the local option privilege is filed pursuant to division (G) of section 3767.05 of the Revised Code indicating that a liquor permit premises has been adjudged a nuisance. The certified copy of the judgment shall be filed in accordance with this section by the person or public official who brought the action under section 3763.03 of the Revised Code.
(B) The certified copy of the judgment prescribed under division (A) of this section shall be filed with the board of elections of the county in which the nuisance was adjudged to exist pursuant to division (D) or (E) of section 3767.05 of the Revised Code not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of the next general or primary election.
(C) The statement prescribed under division (A) of this section shall contain both of the following:
(1) A notice that the statement is for the submission of the question set forth in section 4301.352 of the Revised Code;
(2) The name of a class C or D permit holder and the address of the permit holder's permit premises. If the business conducted by a class C or D permit holder at the permit premises has a name different from the permit holder's personal or corporate name, the name of the permit holder's business shall be stated along with the permit holder's personal or corporate name.
(D) Not later than five days after the certified copy of the judgment prescribed under division (A) of this section is filed, the board shall give notice by certified mail that it has received the certified copy of the judgment to the liquor permit holder whose permit would be affected by the results of the election required by the filing of the certified copy of the judgment. Failure of the petitioner to supply a complete and accurate address of the liquor permit holder to the board of elections invalidates the election.
For purposes of this section, "complete and accurate address" means all of the following:
(1) The address of the liquor permit premises;
(2) The address of the statutory agent of the liquor permit holder, if applicable;
(3) The address of the liquor permit holder if different from the liquor permit premises address.
(E) Not later than the sixty-sixth sixty-eighth day before the day of the next general or primary election, whichever occurs first, the board shall certify the sufficiency and validity of the certified copy of the judgment, make such determination as of the time of certification, and order the holding of an election in the precinct on the day of that general or primary election for the submission of the question set forth in section 4301.352 of the Revised Code.
(F) A certified copy of the judgment filed with the board of elections under division (A) of this section shall be open to public inspection under rules adopted by the board.
An elector who is eligible to vote on the question set forth in section 4301.352 of the Revised Code or the permit holder named on the certified copy of the judgment, not later than four p.m. of the sixty-fourth day before the day of the election at which the question will be submitted to the electors, may file a protest against a local option petition. The protest shall be in writing and shall be filed with the election officials with whom the certified copy of the judgment was filed. Upon the filing of the protest, the election officials with whom it is filed shall promptly fix a time and place for hearing the protest, and shall mail notice of the time and place for hearing it to the person who filed the certified copy of the judgment and to the person who filed the protest. At the time and place fixed, the election officials shall hear the protest and determine the validity of the certified copy of the judgment.
Sec. 4301.332.  (A) The board of elections shall provide to a petitioner circulating a petition for an election for the submission of one or more of the questions specified in section 4301.353 or 4301.354 of the Revised Code, at the time of taking out the petition, the names of the streets and, if appropriate, the address numbers of residences and business establishments within the precinct that would be affected by the results of the election, and a form prescribed by the secretary of state for notifying affected permit holders of the circulation of a petition for an election for the submission of one or more of the questions specified in section 4301.353 or 4301.354 of the Revised Code. The petitioner shall, not less than forty-five days before the petition-filing deadline for the election, as provided in this section, file with the division of liquor control the information regarding names of streets and, if appropriate, address numbers of residences and business establishments provided by the board of elections, and specify to the division the portion of the precinct that would be affected by the results of the election and the filing deadline. The division shall, within a reasonable period of time and not later than fifteen days before the filing deadline, supply the petitioner with a list of the names and addresses of permit holders, if any, who would be affected by the election. The list shall contain a heading with the following words: "Liquor permit holders who would be affected by the question(s) set forth on petition for a local option election."
Within five days after a petitioner has received from the division the list of liquor permit holders, if any, who would be affected by the question or questions set forth on a petition for local option election, the petitioner, using the form provided by the board of elections, shall notify by certified mail each permit holder whose name appears on that list. The form for notifying affected permit holders shall require the petitioner to state the petitioner's name and street address and shall contain a statement that a petition is being circulated for an election for the submission of the question or questions specified in section 4301.353 or 4301.354 of the Revised Code. The form shall require the petitioner to state the question or questions to be submitted as they appear on the petition.
The petitioner shall attach a copy of the list provided by the division to each petition paper. A part petition paper circulated at any time without the list of affected permit holders attached to it is invalid.
At the time the petitioner files the petition with the board of elections, the petitioner shall provide to the board the list supplied by the division and an affidavit certifying that the petitioner notified all affected permit holders, if any, on the list in the manner and within the time required in this section and that, at the time each signer of the petition affixed the signer's signature to the petition, the petition paper contained a copy of the list of affected permit holders.
Within five days after receiving a petition calling for an election for the submission of one or more of the questions specified in section 4301.353 or 4301.354 of the Revised Code, the board shall give notice by certified mail that it has received the petition to all liquor permit holders, if any, whose names appear on the list of affected permit holders filed by the petitioner as furnished by the division. Failure of the petitioner to supply the affidavit required by this section and a complete and accurate list of liquor permit holders as furnished by the division invalidates the entire petition. The board of elections shall provide to a permit holder who would be affected by a proposed local option election, on the permit holder's request, the names of the streets, and, if appropriate, the address numbers of residences and business establishments within the portion of the precinct that would be affected by the results of the election. The board may charge a reasonable fee for this information when provided to the petitioner and the permit holder.
This division does not apply to an election held under section 4301.353 or 4301.354 of the Revised Code if the results of the election would not affect any permit holder.
(B) Upon the presentation of a petition, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of a general or primary election, to the board of elections of the county where the precinct is located, designating whether it is a petition for an election for the submission of one or both of the questions specified in section 4301.353 of the Revised Code, or a petition for the submission of one or more of the questions specified in section 4301.354 of the Revised Code, designating the particular question or questions specified in section 4301.353 or 4301.354 of the Revised Code that are to be submitted, and signed by the qualified electors of the precinct concerned, equal in number to thirty-five per cent of the total number of votes cast in the precinct concerned for the office of governor at the preceding general election for that office, the board shall submit the question or questions specified in the petition to the electors of the precinct concerned, on the day of the next general or primary election, whichever occurs first and shall proceed as follows:
(1) Such board shall, not later than the sixty-sixth sixty-eighth day before the day of the election for which the question or questions on the petition would qualify for submission to the electors of the precinct, examine and determine the sufficiency of the signatures and review, examine, and determine the validity of the petition and, in case of overlapping precinct petitions presented within that period, determine which of the petitions shall govern the further proceedings of the board. In the case where the board determines that two or more overlapping petitions are valid, the earlier filed petition shall govern. The board shall certify the sufficiency and validity of any petition determined to be valid. The board shall determine the validity of the petition as of the time of certification as described in this division.
(2) If a petition is sufficient, and, in case of overlapping precinct petitions, after the board has determined the governing petition, the board to which the petition has been presented shall order the holding of a special election in the precinct for the submission of whichever of the questions specified in section 4301.353 or 4301.354 of the Revised Code are designated in the petition, on the day of the next general or primary election, whichever occurs first.
(C) All petitions filed with a board of elections under this section shall be open to public inspection under rules adopted by the board.
(D) Protest against local option petitions may be filed by any elector eligible to vote on the question or questions described in the petitions or by a permit holder in the precinct as described in the petitions, not later than four p.m. of the sixty-fourth day before the day of the general or primary election for which the petition qualified. The protest shall be in writing and shall be filed with the election officials with whom the petition was filed. Upon filing of the protest, the election officials with whom it is filed shall promptly fix the time for hearing it, and shall mail notice of the filing of the protest and the time and place for hearing it to the person who filed the petition and to the person who filed the protest. At the time and place fixed, the election officials shall hear the protest and determine the validity of the petition.
Sec. 4301.333.  (A) The privilege of local option conferred by section 4301.323 of the Revised Code may be exercised if, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of a general or primary election, a petition is presented to the board of elections of the county in which the precinct is situated by a petitioner who is one of the following:
(1) An applicant for the issuance or transfer of a liquor permit at, or to, a particular location within the precinct;
(2) The holder of a liquor permit at a particular location within the precinct;
(3) A person who operates or seeks to operate a liquor agency store at a particular location within the precinct;
(4) The designated agent for an applicant, liquor permit holder, or liquor agency store described in division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section.
(B) The petition shall be signed by the electors of the precinct equal in number to at least thirty-five per cent of the total number of votes cast in the precinct for the office of governor at the preceding general election for that office and shall contain all of the following:
(1) A notice that the petition is for the submission of the question or questions set forth in section 4301.355 of the Revised Code;
(2) The name of the applicant for the issuance or transfer, or the holder, of the liquor permit or, if applicable, the name of the liquor agency store, including any trade or fictitious names under which the applicant, holder, or liquor agency store either intends to do or does business at the particular location;
(3) The address and proposed use of the particular location within the election precinct to which the results of the question or questions specified in section 4301.355 of the Revised Code shall apply. For purposes of this division, "use" means all of the following:
(a) The type of each liquor permit applied for by the applicant or held by the liquor permit holder as described in sections 4303.11 to 4303.183 of the Revised Code, including a description of the type of beer or intoxicating liquor sales authorized by each permit as provided in those sections;
(b) If a liquor agency store, the fact that the business operated as a liquor agency store authorized to operate by this state;
(c) A description of the general nature of the business of the applicant, liquor permit holder, or liquor agency store.
(4) If the petition seeks approval of Sunday sales under question (B)(2) as set forth in section 4301.355 of the Revised Code, a statement indicating whether the hours of sale sought are between ten a.m. and midnight or between one p.m. and midnight.
(C)(1) At the time the petitioner files the petition with the board of elections, the petitioner shall provide to the board both of the following:
(a) An affidavit that is signed by the petitioner and that states the proposed use of the location following the election held to authorize the sale of beer or intoxicating liquor authorized by each permit as provided in sections 4303.11 to 4303.183 of the Revised Code;
(b) Written evidence of the designation of an agent by the applicant, liquor permit holder, or liquor agency store described in division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section for the purpose of petitioning for the local option election, if the petitioner is the designated agent of the applicant, liquor permit holder, or liquor agency store.
(2) Failure to supply the affidavit, or the written evidence of the designation of the agent if the petitioner for the local option election is the agent of the applicant, liquor permit holder, or liquor agency store described in division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section, at the time the petition is filed invalidates the entire petition.
(D) Not later than the sixty-sixth sixty-eighth day before the day of the next general or primary election, whichever occurs first, the board shall examine and determine the sufficiency of the signatures and the validity of the petition. If the board finds that the petition contains sufficient signatures and in other respects is valid, it shall order the holding of an election in the precinct on the day of the next general or primary election, whichever occurs first, for the submission of the question or questions set forth in section 4301.355 of the Revised Code.
(E) A petition filed with the board of elections under this section shall be open to public inspection under rules adopted by the board.
(F) An elector who is eligible to vote on the question or questions set forth in section 4301.355 of the Revised Code may file, not later than four p.m. of the sixty-fourth day before the day of the election at which the question or questions will be submitted to the electors, a protest against a local option petition circulated and filed pursuant to this section. The protest shall be in writing and shall be filed with the election officials with whom the petition was filed. Upon the filing of the protest, the election officials with whom it is filed shall promptly establish a time and place for hearing the protest and shall mail notice of the time and place for the hearing to the applicant for, or the holder of, the liquor permit who is specified in the petition and to the elector who filed the protest. At the time and place established in the notice, the election officials shall hear the protest and determine the validity of the petition.
Sec. 4301.334.  (A) The privilege of local option conferred by section 4301.324 of the Revised Code may be exercised if, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of a general or primary election, a petition and other information required by division (B) of this section are presented to the board of elections of the county in which the community facility named in the petition is located. The petition shall be signed by electors of the municipal corporation or unincorporated area of the township in which the community facility is located equal in number to at least ten per cent of the total number of votes cast in the municipal corporation or unincorporated area of the township in which the community facility is located for the office of governor at the most recent general election for that office and shall contain both of the following:
(1) A notice that the petition is for the submission of the question set forth in section 4301.356 of the Revised Code;
(2) The name and address of the community facility for which the local option election is sought and, if the community facility is a community entertainment district, the boundaries of the district.
(B) Upon the request of a petitioner, a board of elections of a county shall furnish to the petitioner a copy of the instructions prepared by the secretary of state under division (P) of section 3501.05 of the Revised Code and, within fifteen days after the request, a certificate indicating the number of valid signatures that will be required on a petition to hold an election in the municipal corporation or unincorporated area of the township in which the community facility is located on the question specified in section 4301.356 of the Revised Code.
The petitioner shall, not less than thirty days before the petition-filing deadline for an election on the question specified in section 4301.356 of the Revised Code, specify to the division of liquor control the name and address of the community facility for which the election is sought and, if the community facility is a community entertainment district, the boundaries of the district, the municipal corporation or unincorporated area of a township in which the election is sought, and the filing deadline. The division shall, within a reasonable period of time and not later than ten days before the filing deadline, supply the petitioner with the name and address of any permit holder for or within the community facility.
The petitioner shall file the name and address of any permit holder who would be affected by the election at the time the petitioner files the petition with the board of elections. Within five days after receiving the petition, the board shall give notice by certified mail to any permit holder within the community facility that it has received the petition. Failure of the petitioner to supply the name and address of any permit holder for or within the community facility as furnished to the petitioner by the division invalidates the petition.
(C) Not later than the sixty-sixth sixty-eighth day before the day of the next general or primary election, whichever occurs first, the board shall examine and determine the sufficiency of the signatures on the petition. If the board finds that the petition is valid, it shall order the holding of an election in the municipal corporation or unincorporated area of a township on the day of the next general or primary election, whichever occurs first, for the submission of the question set forth in section 4301.356 of the Revised Code.
(D) A petition filed with a board of elections under this section shall be open to public inspection under rules adopted by the board.
(E) An elector who is eligible to vote on the question set forth in section 4301.356 of the Revised Code or any permit holder for or within the community facility may, not later than four p.m. of the sixty-fourth day before the day of the election at which the question will be submitted to the electors, file a written protest against the local option petition with the board of elections with which the petition was filed. Upon the filing of the protest, the board shall promptly fix a time and place for hearing the protest and shall mail notice of the time and place to the person who filed the petition and to the person who filed the protest. At the time and place fixed, the board shall hear the protest and determine the validity of the petition.
Sec. 4305.14.  (A) The following questions regarding the sale of beer by holders of C or D permits may be presented to the qualified electors of an election precinct:
(1) "Shall the sale of beer as defined in section 4305.08 of the Revised Code under permits which authorize sale for off-premises consumption only be permitted within this precinct?"
(2) "Shall the sale of beer as defined in section 4305.08 of the Revised Code under permits which authorize sale for on-premises consumption only, and under permits which authorize sale for both on-premises and off-premises consumption, be permitted in this precinct?"
The exact wording of the question as submitted and form of ballot as printed shall be determined by the board of elections in the county wherein the election is held, subject to approval of the secretary of state.
Upon the request of an elector, a board of elections of a county that encompasses an election precinct shall furnish to the elector a copy of the instructions prepared by the secretary of state under division (P) of section 3501.05 of the Revised Code and, within fifteen days after the request, with a certificate indicating the number of valid signatures that will be required on a petition to hold a special election in that precinct on either or both of the questions specified in this section.
The board shall provide to a petitioner, at the time the petitioner takes out a petition, the names of the streets and, if appropriate, the address numbers of residences and business establishments within the precinct in which the election is sought, and a form prescribed by the secretary of state for notifying affected permit holders of the circulation of a petition for an election for the submission of one or more of the questions specified in division (A) of this section. The petitioner shall, not less than forty-five days before the petition-filing deadline for an election provided for in this section, file with the division of liquor control the information regarding names of streets and, if appropriate, address numbers of residences and business establishments provided by the board of elections, and specify to the division the precinct that is concerned or that would be affected by the results of the election and the filing deadline. The division shall, within a reasonable period of time and not later than fifteen days before the filing deadline, supply the petitioner with a list of the names and addresses of permit holders who would be affected by the election. The list shall contain a heading with the following words: "liquor permit holders who would be affected by the question(s) set forth on a petition for a local option election."
Within five days after receiving from the division the list of liquor permit holders who would be affected by the question or questions set forth on a petition for local option election, the petitioner shall, using the form provided by the board of elections, notify by certified mail each permit holder whose name appears on that list. The form for notifying affected permit holders shall require the petitioner to state the petitioner's name and street address and shall contain a statement that a petition is being circulated for an election for the submission of the question or questions specified in division (B) of this section. The form shall require the petitioner to state the question or questions to be submitted as they appear on the petition.
The petitioner shall attach a copy of the list provided by the division to each petition paper. A part petition paper circulated at any time without the list of affected permit holders attached to it is invalid.
At the time of filing the petition with the board of elections, the petitioner shall provide to the board of elections the list supplied by the division and an affidavit certifying that the petitioner notified all affected permit holders on the list in the manner and within the time required in this section and that, at the time each signer of the petition signed the petition, the petition paper contained a copy of the list of affected permit holders.
Within five days after receiving a petition calling for an election for the submission of the question or questions set forth in this section, the board of elections shall give notice by certified mail that it has received the petition to all liquor permit holders whose names appear on the list of affected permit holders filed by the petitioner. Failure of the petitioner to supply the affidavit required by this section and a complete and accurate list of liquor permit holders invalidates the entire petition. The board of elections shall provide to a permit holder who would be affected by a proposed local option election, on the permit holder's request, the names of the streets, and, if appropriate, the address numbers of residences and business establishments within the precinct in which the election is sought and that would be affected by the results of the election. The board may charge a reasonable fee for this information when provided to the petitioner and the permit holder.
Upon presentation not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of a general or primary election, of a petition to the board of elections of the county wherein such election is sought to be held, requesting the holding of such election on either or both of the questions specified in this section, signed by qualified electors of the precinct concerned equal in number to thirty-five per cent of the total number of votes cast in the precinct concerned for the office of governor at the preceding general election for that office, such board shall submit the question or questions specified in the petition to the electors of the precinct concerned, on the day of the next general or primary election, whichever occurs first.
(B) The board shall proceed as follows:
(1) Such board shall, upon the filing of a petition under this section, but not later than the sixty-sixth sixty-eighth day before the day of the election for which the question or questions on the petition would qualify for submission to the electors of the precinct, examine and determine the sufficiency of the signatures and review, examine, and determine the validity of such petition and, in case of overlapping precinct petitions presented within that period, determine which of the petitions shall govern the further proceedings of the board. In the case where the board determines that two or more overlapping petitions are valid, the earlier petition shall govern. The board shall certify the sufficiency of signatures contained in the petition as of the time of filing and the validity of the petition as of the time of certification as described in division (C)(1) of this section if the board finds the petition to be both sufficient and valid.
(2) If the petition contains sufficient signatures and is valid, and, in case of overlapping precinct petitions, after the board has determined the governing petition, the board shall order the holding of a special election in the precinct for the submission of the question or questions specified in the petition, on the day of the next general or primary election, whichever occurs first.
(3) All petitions filed with a board of elections under this section shall be open to public inspection under rules adopted by the board.
(C) Protest against a local option petition may be filed by any qualified elector eligible to vote on the question or questions specified in the petition or by a permit holder in the precinct as described in the petition, not later than four p.m. of the sixty-fourth day before the day of such general or primary election for which the petition qualified. Such protest shall be in writing and shall be filed with the election officials with whom the petition was filed. Upon filing of such protest the election officials with whom it is filed shall promptly fix the time for hearing it, and shall forthwith mail notice of the filing of the protest and the time for hearing it to the person who filed the petition which is protested and to the person who filed the protest. At the time and place fixed, the election officials shall hear the protest and determine the validity of the petition.
(D) If a majority of the electors voting on the question in the precinct vote "yes" on question (1) or (2) as set forth in division (A) of this section, the sale of beer as specified in that question shall be permitted in the precinct and no subsequent election shall be held in the precinct under this section on the same question for a period of at least four years from the date of the most recent election.
If a majority of the electors voting on the question in the precinct vote "no" on question (1) or (2) as set forth in division (A) of this section, no C or D permit holder shall sell beer as specified in that question within the precinct during the period the election is in effect and no subsequent election shall be held in the precinct under this section on the same question for a period of at least four years from the date of the most recent election.
Sec. 4504.021.  The question of repeal of a county permissive tax adopted as an emergency measure pursuant to section 4504.02, 4504.15, or 4504.16 of the Revised Code may be initiated by filing with the board of elections of the county not less than seventy-five days before the general election in any year a petition requesting that an election be held on such question. Such petition shall be signed by qualified electors residing in the county equal in number to ten per cent of those voting for governor at the most recent gubernatorial election.
After determination by it that such petition is valid, the board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of the county at the next general election. The election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections for county offices in the county. Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the district once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, stating and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, notice of the election also shall be posted on that web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the purpose, the time, and the place of the election. The form of the ballot cast at such election shall be prescribed by the secretary of state. The question covered by such petition shall be submitted as a separate proposition, but it may be printed on the same ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election other than the election of officers. If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question of repeal approve the repeal, the result of the election shall be certified immediately after the canvass by the board of elections to the county commissioners, who shall thereupon, after the current year, cease to levy the tax.
Sec. 5705.191.  The taxing authority of any subdivision, other than the board of education of a school district or the taxing authority of a county school financing district, by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that the amount of taxes that may be raised within the ten-mill limitation by levies on the current tax duplicate will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the necessary requirements of the subdivision, and that it is necessary to levy a tax in excess of such limitation for any of the purposes in section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, or to supplement the general fund for the purpose of making appropriations for one or more of the following purposes: public assistance, human or social services, relief, welfare, hospitalization, health, and support of general hospitals, and that the question of such additional tax levy shall be submitted to the electors of the subdivision at a general, primary, or special election to be held at a time therein specified. Such resolution shall not include a levy on the current tax list and duplicate unless such election is to be held at or prior to the general election day of the current tax year. Such resolution shall conform to the requirements of section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, except that a levy to supplement the general fund for the purposes of public assistance, human or social services, relief, welfare, hospitalization, health, or the support of general or tuberculosis hospitals may not be for a longer period than ten years. All other levies under this section may not be for a longer period than five years unless a longer period is permitted by section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, and the resolution shall specify the date of holding such election, which shall not be earlier than seventy-five days after the adoption and certification of such resolution. The resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its passage and no publication of the same is necessary other than that provided for in the notice of election. A copy of such resolution, immediately after its passage, shall be certified to the board of elections of the proper county or counties in the manner provided by section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, and such section shall govern the arrangements for the submission of such question and other matters with respect to such election, to which section 5705.25 of the Revised Code refers, excepting that such election shall be held on the date specified in the resolution, which shall be consistent with the requirements of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code, provided that only one special election for the submission of such question may be held in any one calendar year and provided that a special election may be held upon the same day a primary election is held. Publication of notice of such that election shall be made in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the county once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election.
If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote in favor thereof, the taxing authority of the subdivision may make the necessary levy within such subdivision at the additional rate or at any lesser rate outside the ten-mill limitation on the tax list and duplicate for the purpose stated in the resolution. Such tax levy shall be included in the next annual tax budget that is certified to the county budget commission.
After the approval of such a levy by the electors, the taxing authority of the subdivision may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such levy and issue anticipation notes. In the case of a continuing levy that is not levied for the purpose of current expenses, notes may be issued at any time after approval of the levy in an amount not more than fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the levy for the succeeding ten years, less an amount equal to the fraction of the proceeds of the levy previously anticipated by the issuance of anticipation notes. In the case of a levy for a fixed period that is not for the purpose of current expenses, notes may be issued at any time after approval of the levy in an amount not more than fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the levy throughout the remaining life of the levy, less an amount equal to the fraction of the proceeds of the levy previously anticipated by the issuance of anticipation notes. In the case of a levy for current expenses, notes may be issued after the approval of the levy by the electors and prior to the time when the first tax collection from the levy can be made. Such notes may be issued in an amount not more than fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the levy throughout the term of the levy in the case of a levy for a fixed period, or fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds for the first ten years of the levy in the case of a continuing levy.
No anticipation notes that increase the net indebtedness of a county may be issued without the prior consent of the board of county commissioners of that county. The notes shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code, shall have principal payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a period not exceeding the life of the levy anticipated, and may have a principal payment in the year of their issuance.
"Taxing authority" and "subdivision" have the same meanings as in section 5705.01 of the Revised Code.
"Human or social services" includes a county's contributions to a multicounty board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities of which the county is a member.
This section is supplemental to and not in derogation of sections 5705.20, 5705.21, and 5705.22 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 5705.194.  The board of education of any city, local, exempted village, cooperative education, or joint vocational school district at any time may declare by resolution that the revenue that will be raised by all tax levies which the district is authorized to impose, when combined with state and federal revenues, will be insufficient to provide for the emergency requirements of the school district or to avoid an operating deficit, and that it is therefore necessary to levy an additional tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation. The resolution shall be confined to a single purpose and shall specify that purpose. If the levy is proposed to renew all or a portion of the proceeds derived from one or more existing levies imposed pursuant to this section, it shall be called a renewal levy and shall be so designated on the ballot. If two or more existing levies are to be included in a single renewal levy but are not scheduled to expire in the same year, the resolution shall specify that the existing levies to be renewed shall not be levied after the year preceding the year in which the renewal levy is first imposed. Notwithstanding the original purpose of any one or more existing levies that are to be in any single renewal levy, the purpose of the renewal levy may be either to avoid an operating deficit or to provide for the emergency requirements of the school district. The resolution shall further specify the amount of money it is necessary to raise for the specified purpose for each calendar year the millage is to be imposed; if a renewal levy, whether the levy is to renew all, or a portion of, the proceeds derived from one or more existing levies; and the number of years in which the millage is to be in effect, which may include a levy upon the current year's tax list. The number of years may be any number not exceeding five.
The question shall be submitted at a special election on a date specified in the resolution. The date shall not be earlier than eighty days after the adoption and certification of the resolution to the county auditor and shall be consistent with the requirements of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code. A resolution for a renewal levy shall not be placed on the ballot unless the question is submitted on a date on which a special election may be held under division (D) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code, except for the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February and August, during the last year the levy to be renewed may be extended on the real and public utility property tax list and duplicate, or at any election held in the ensuing year, except that if the resolution proposes renewing two or more existing levies, the question shall be submitted on the date of the general or primary election held during the last year at least one of the levies to be renewed may be extended on that list and duplicate, or at any election held during the ensuing year. For purposes of this section, a levy shall be considered to be an "existing levy" through the year following the last year it can be placed on the real and public utility property tax list and duplicate.
The submission of questions to the electors under this section is subject to the limitation on the number of election dates established by section 5705.214 of the Revised Code.
The resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no publication of the resolution shall be necessary other than that provided for in the notice of election. A copy of the resolution shall immediately after its passing be certified to the county auditor of the proper county. Section 5705.195 of the Revised Code shall govern the arrangements for the submission of questions to the electors under this section and other matters concerning the election. Publication of notice of the election shall be made in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the county once a week for three two consecutive weeks prior to the election, and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. If a majority of the electors voting on the question submitted in an election vote in favor of the levy, the board of education of the school district may make the additional levy necessary to raise the amount specified in the resolution for the purpose stated in the resolution. The tax levy shall be included in the next tax budget that is certified to the county budget commission.
After the approval of the levy and prior to the time when the first tax collection from the levy can be made, the board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy and issue anticipation notes in an amount not exceeding the total estimated proceeds of the levy to be collected during the first year of the levy.
The notes shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code, shall have principal payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed five years, and may have principal payment in the year of their issuance.
Sec. 5705.196.  The election provided for in section 5705.194 of the Revised Code shall be held at the regular places for voting in the district, and shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections in the district for the election of county officers, provided that in any such election in which only part of the electors of a precinct are qualified to vote, the board of elections may assign voters in such part to an adjoining precinct. Such an assignment may be made to an adjoining precinct in another county with the consent and approval of the board of elections of such other county. Notice of the election shall be published in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the district once a week for three two consecutive weeks prior to the election, and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. Such notice shall state the annual proceeds of the proposed levy, the purpose for which such proceeds are to be used, the number of years during which the levy shall run, and the estimated average additional tax rate expressed in dollars and cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation as well as in mills for each one dollar of valuation, outside the limitation imposed by Section 2 of Article XII, Ohio Constitution, as certified by the county auditor.
Sec. 5705.21.  (A) At any time, the board of education of any city, local, exempted village, cooperative education, or joint vocational school district, by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that the amount of taxes which may be raised within the ten-mill limitation by levies on the current tax duplicate will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the necessary requirements of the school district, that it is necessary to levy a tax in excess of such limitation for one of the purposes specified in division (A), (D), (F), (H), or (DD) of section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, for general permanent improvements, for the purpose of operating a cultural center, or for the purpose of providing education technology, and that the question of such additional tax levy shall be submitted to the electors of the school district at a special election on a day to be specified in the resolution.
As used in this section, "cultural center" means a freestanding building, separate from a public school building, that is open to the public for educational, musical, artistic, and cultural purposes; "education technology" means, but is not limited to, computer hardware, equipment, materials, and accessories, equipment used for two-way audio or video, and software; and "general permanent improvements" means permanent improvements without regard to the limitation of division (F) of section 5705.19 of the Revised Code that the improvements be a specific improvement or a class of improvements that may be included in a single bond issue.
The submission of questions to the electors under this section is subject to the limitation on the number of election dates established by section 5705.214 of the Revised Code.
(B) Such resolution shall be confined to a single purpose and shall specify the amount of the increase in rate that it is necessary to levy, the purpose of the levy, and the number of years during which the increase in rate shall be in effect. The number of years may be any number not exceeding five or, if the levy is for current expenses of the district or for general permanent improvements, for a continuing period of time. The resolution shall specify the date of holding such election, which shall not be earlier than seventy-five days after the adoption and certification of the resolution and which shall be consistent with the requirements of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code.
The resolution may propose to renew one or more existing levies imposed under this section or to increase or decrease a single levy imposed under this section. If the board of education imposes one or more existing levies for the purpose specified in division (F) of section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, the resolution may propose to renew one or more of those existing levies, or to increase or decrease a single such existing levy, for the purpose of general permanent improvements. If the resolution proposes to renew two or more existing levies, the levies shall be levied for the same purpose. The resolution shall identify those levies and the rates at which they are levied. The resolution also shall specify that the existing levies shall not be extended on the tax lists after the year preceding the year in which the renewal levy is first imposed, regardless of the years for which those levies originally were authorized to be levied.
The resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no publication of the resolution shall be necessary other than that provided for in the notice of election. A copy of the resolution shall immediately after its passing be certified to the board of elections of the proper county in the manner provided by section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, and that section shall govern the arrangements for the submission of such question and other matters concerning such election, to which that section refers, except that such election shall be held on the date specified in the resolution. Publication of notice of such that election shall be made in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the county once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. If a majority of the electors voting on the question so submitted in an election vote in favor of the levy, the board of education may make the necessary levy within the school district at the additional rate, or at any lesser rate in excess of the ten-mill limitation on the tax list, for the purpose stated in the resolution. A levy for a continuing period of time may be reduced pursuant to section 5705.261 of the Revised Code. The tax levy shall be included in the next tax budget that is certified to the county budget commission.
(C)(1) After the approval of a levy on the current tax list and duplicate for current expenses, for recreational purposes, for community centers provided for in section 755.16 of the Revised Code, or for a public library of the district and prior to the time when the first tax collection from the levy can be made, the board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the levy to be collected during the first year of the levy.
(2) After the approval of a levy for general permanent improvements for a specified number of years, or for permanent improvements having the purpose specified in division (F) of section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, the board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the levy remaining to be collected in each year over a period of five years after the issuance of the notes.
The notes shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code, shall have principal payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed five years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their issuance.
(3) After approval of a levy for general permanent improvements for a continuing period of time, the board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the levy to be collected in each year over a specified period of years, not exceeding ten, after the issuance of the notes.
The notes shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code, shall have principal payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed ten years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their issuance.
Sec. 5705.218.  (A) The board of education of a city, local, or exempted village school district, at any time by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that it may be necessary for the school district to issue general obligation bonds for permanent improvements. The resolution shall state all of the following:
(1) The necessity and purpose of the bond issue;
(2) The date of the special election at which the question shall be submitted to the electors;
(3) The amount, approximate date, estimated rate of interest, and maximum number of years over which the principal of the bonds may be paid;
(4) The necessity of levying a tax outside the ten-mill limitation to pay debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities.
On adoption of the resolution, the board shall certify a copy of it to the county auditor. The county auditor promptly shall estimate and certify to the board the average annual property tax rate required throughout the stated maturity of the bonds to pay debt charges on the bonds, in the same manner as under division (C) of section 133.18 of the Revised Code.
(B) After receiving the county auditor's certification under division (A) of this section, the board of education of the city, local, or exempted village school district, by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that the amount of taxes that can be raised within the ten-mill limitation will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the present and future requirements of the school district; that it is necessary to issue general obligation bonds of the school district for permanent improvements and to levy an additional tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation to pay debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities; that it is necessary for a specified number of years or for a continuing period of time to levy additional taxes in excess of the ten-mill limitation to provide funds for the acquisition, construction, enlargement, renovation, and financing of permanent improvements or to pay for current operating expenses, or both; and that the question of the bonds and taxes shall be submitted to the electors of the school district at a special election, which shall not be earlier than seventy-five days after certification of the resolution to the board of elections, and the date of which shall be consistent with section 3501.01 of the Revised Code. The resolution shall specify all of the following:
(1) The county auditor's estimate of the average annual property tax rate required throughout the stated maturity of the bonds to pay debt charges on the bonds;
(2) The proposed rate of the tax, if any, for current operating expenses, the first year the tax will be levied, and the number of years it will be levied, or that it will be levied for a continuing period of time;
(3) The proposed rate of the tax, if any, for permanent improvements, the first year the tax will be levied, and the number of years it will be levied, or that it will be levied for a continuing period of time.
The resolution shall apportion the annual rate of the tax between current operating expenses and permanent improvements, if both taxes are proposed. The apportionment may but need not be the same for each year of the tax, but the respective portions of the rate actually levied each year for current operating expenses and permanent improvements shall be limited by the apportionment. The resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no publication of it is necessary other than that provided in the notice of election. The board of education shall certify a copy of the resolution, along with copies of the auditor's estimate and its resolution under division (A) of this section, to the board of elections immediately after its adoption.
(C) The board of elections shall make the arrangements for the submission of the question to the electors of the school district, and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections in the district for the election of county officers. The resolution shall be put before the electors as one ballot question, with a favorable vote indicating approval of the bond issue, the levy to pay debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities, the current operating expenses levy, and the permanent improvements levy, if either or both levies are proposed. The board of elections shall publish notice of the election in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the school district once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, and, if a board of elections operates and maintains a web site, that board also shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice of election shall state all of the following:
(1) The principal amount of the proposed bond issue;
(2) The permanent improvements for which the bonds are to be issued;
(3) The maximum number of years over which the principal of the bonds may be paid;
(4) The estimated additional average annual property tax rate to pay the debt charges on the bonds, as certified by the county auditor;
(5) The proposed rate of the additional tax, if any, for current operating expenses;
(6) The number of years the current operating expenses tax will be in effect, or that it will be in effect for a continuing period of time;
(7) The proposed rate of the additional tax, if any, for permanent improvements;
(8) The number of years the permanent improvements tax will be in effect, or that it will be in effect for a continuing period of time;
(9) The time and place of the special election.
(D) The form of the ballot for an election under this section is as follows:
"Shall the .......... school district be authorized to do the following:
(1) Issue bonds for the purpose of .......... in the principal amount of $......, to be repaid annually over a maximum period of ...... years, and levy a property tax outside the ten-mill limitation, estimated by the county auditor to average over the bond repayment period ...... mills for each one dollar of tax valuation, which amounts to ...... (rate expressed in cents or dollars and cents, such as "36 cents" or "$1.41") for each $100 of tax valuation, to pay the annual debt charges on the bonds, and to pay debt charges on any notes issued in anticipation of those bonds?"
If either a levy for permanent improvements or a levy for current operating expenses is proposed, or both are proposed, the ballot also shall contain the following language, as appropriate:
"(2) Levy an additional property tax to provide funds for the acquisition, construction, enlargement, renovation, and financing of permanent improvements at a rate not exceeding ....... mills for each one dollar of tax valuation, which amounts to ....... (rate expressed in cents or dollars and cents) for each $100 of tax valuation, for ...... (number of years of the levy, or a continuing period of time)?
(3) Levy an additional property tax to pay current operating expenses at a rate not exceeding ....... mills for each one dollar of tax valuation, which amounts to ....... (rate expressed in cents or dollars and cents) for each $100 of tax valuation, for ....... (number of years of the levy, or a continuing period of time)?
 
  FOR THE BOND ISSUE AND LEVY (OR LEVIES)
  AGAINST THE BOND ISSUE AND LEVY (OR LEVIES)   "

 
(E) The board of elections promptly shall certify the results of the election to the tax commissioner and the county auditor of the county in which the school district is located. If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote for it, the board of education may proceed with issuance of the bonds and with the levy and collection of the property tax or taxes at the additional rate or any lesser rate in excess of the ten-mill limitation. Any securities issued by the board of education under this section are Chapter 133. securities, as that term is defined in section 133.01 of the Revised Code.
(F)(1) After the approval of a tax for current operating expenses under this section and prior to the time the first collection and distribution from the levy can be made, the board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such levy and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the tax to be collected during the first year of the levy.
(2) After the approval of a tax under this section for permanent improvements having a specific purpose, the board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such tax and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the tax remaining to be collected in each year over a period of five years after issuance of the notes.
(3) After the approval of a tax for general, on-going permanent improvements under this section, the board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such tax and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the tax to be collected in each year over a specified period of years, not exceeding ten, after issuance of the notes.
Anticipation notes under this section shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code. Notes issued under division (F)(1) or (2) of this section shall have principal payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed five years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their issuance. Notes issued under division (F)(3) of this section shall have principal payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed ten years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their issuance.
(G) A tax for current operating expenses or for permanent improvements levied under this section for a specified number of years may be renewed or replaced in the same manner as a tax for current operating expenses or for permanent improvements levied under section 5705.21 of the Revised Code. A tax for current operating expenses or for permanent improvements levied under this section for a continuing period of time may be decreased in accordance with section 5705.261 of the Revised Code.
(H) The submission of a question to the electors under this section is subject to the limitation on the number of elections that can be held in a year under section 5705.214 of the Revised Code.
(I) A school district board of education proposing a ballot measure under this section to generate local resources for a project under the school building assistance expedited local partnership program under section 3318.36 of the Revised Code may combine the questions under division (D) of this section with a question for the levy of a property tax to generate moneys for maintenance of the classroom facilities acquired under that project as prescribed in section 3318.361 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 5705.25.  (A) A copy of any resolution adopted as provided in section 5705.19 of the Revised Code shall be certified by the taxing authority to the board of elections of the proper county not less than seventy-five days before the general election in any year, and the board shall submit the proposal to the electors of the subdivision at the succeeding November election. Except as otherwise provided in this division, a resolution to renew an existing levy, regardless of the section of the Revised Code under which the tax was imposed, shall not be placed on the ballot unless the question is submitted at the general election held during the last year the tax to be renewed or replaced may be extended on the real and public utility property tax list and duplicate, or at any election held in the ensuing year. The limitation of the foregoing sentence does not apply to a resolution to renew and increase or to renew part of an existing levy that was imposed under section 5705.191 of the Revised Code to supplement the general fund for the purpose of making appropriations for one or more of the following purposes: for public assistance, human or social services, relief, welfare, hospitalization, health, and support of general hospitals. The limitation of the second preceding sentence also does not apply to a resolution that proposes to renew two or more existing levies imposed under section 5705.21 of the Revised Code, in which case the question shall be submitted on the date of the general or primary election held during the last year at least one of the levies to be renewed may be extended on the real and public utility property tax list and duplicate, or at any election held during the ensuing year. For purposes of this section, a levy shall be considered to be an "existing levy" through the year following the last year it can be placed on that tax list and duplicate.
The board shall make the necessary arrangements for the submission of such questions to the electors of such subdivision, and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections in such subdivision for the election of county officers. Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the subdivision once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, stating and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the purpose, the proposed increase in rate, expressed in dollars and cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation as well as in mills for each one dollar of valuation, the number of years during which the increase will be in effect, the first month and year in which the tax will be levied, and the time and place of the election.
(B) The form of the ballots cast at an election held pursuant to division (A) of this section shall be as follows:
"An additional tax for the benefit of (name of subdivision or public library) .......... for the purpose of (purpose stated in the resolution) .......... at a rate not exceeding ...... mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to (rate expressed in dollars and cents) ............ for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for ...... (life of indebtedness or number of years the levy is to run).
 
 For the Tax Levy
 Against the Tax Levy  "

 
(C) If the levy is to be in effect for a continuing period of time, the notice of election and the form of ballot shall so state instead of setting forth a specified number of years for the levy.
If the tax is to be placed on the current tax list, the form of the ballot shall be modified by adding, after the statement of the number of years the levy is to run, the phrase ", commencing in .......... (first year the tax is to be levied), first due in calendar year .......... (first calendar year in which the tax shall be due)."
If the levy submitted is a proposal to renew, increase, or decrease an existing levy, the form of the ballot specified in division (B) of this section may be changed by substituting for the words "An additional" at the beginning of the form, the words "A renewal of a" in case of a proposal to renew an existing levy in the same amount; the words "A renewal of ........ mills and an increase of ...... mills to constitute a" in the case of an increase; or the words "A renewal of part of an existing levy, being a reduction of ...... mills, to constitute a" in the case of a decrease in the proposed levy.
If the levy submitted is a proposal to renew two or more existing levies imposed under section 5705.21 of the Revised Code, the form of the ballot specified in division (B) of this section shall be modified by substituting for the words "an additional tax" the words "a renewal of ....(insert the number of levies to be renewed) existing taxes."
The question covered by such resolution shall be submitted as a separate proposition but may be printed on the same ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election, other than the election of officers. More than one such question may be submitted at the same election.
(D) A levy voted in excess of the ten-mill limitation under this section shall be certified to the tax commissioner. In the first year of the levy, it shall be extended on the tax lists after the February settlement succeeding the election. If the additional tax is to be placed upon the tax list of the current year, as specified in the resolution providing for its submission, the result of the election shall be certified immediately after the canvass by the board of elections to the taxing authority, who shall make the necessary levy and certify it to the county auditor, who shall extend it on the tax lists for collection. After the first year, the tax levy shall be included in the annual tax budget that is certified to the county budget commission.
Sec. 5705.251.  (A) A copy of a resolution adopted under section 5705.212 or 5705.213 of the Revised Code shall be certified by the board of education to the board of elections of the proper county not less than seventy-five days before the date of the election specified in the resolution, and the board of elections shall submit the proposal to the electors of the school district at a special election to be held on that date. The board of elections shall make the necessary arrangements for the submission of the question or questions to the electors of the school district, and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections in the school district for the election of county officers. Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the subdivision once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election.
(1) In the case of a resolution adopted under section 5705.212 of the Revised Code, the notice shall state separately, for each tax being proposed, the purpose; the proposed increase in rate, expressed in dollars and cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation as well as in mills for each one dollar of valuation; the number of years during which the increase will be in effect; and the first calendar year in which the tax will be due. For an election on the question of a renewal levy, the notice shall state the purpose; the proposed rate, expressed in dollars and cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation as well as in mills for each one dollar of valuation; and the number of years the tax will be in effect.
(2) In the case of a resolution adopted under section 5705.213 of the Revised Code, the notice shall state the purpose; the amount proposed to be raised by the tax in the first year it is levied; the estimated average additional tax rate for the first year it is proposed to be levied, expressed in mills for each one dollar of valuation and in dollars and cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation; the number of years during which the increase will be in effect; and the first calendar year in which the tax will be due. The notice also shall state the amount by which the amount to be raised by the tax may be increased in each year after the first year. The amount of the allowable increase may be expressed in terms of a dollar increase over, or a percentage of, the amount raised by the tax in the immediately preceding year. For an election on the question of a renewal levy, the notice shall state the purpose; the amount proposed to be raised by the tax; the estimated tax rate, expressed in mills for each one dollar of valuation and in dollars and cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation; and the number of years the tax will be in effect.
In any case, the notice also shall state the time and place of the election.
(B) The form of the ballot in an election on taxes proposed under section 5705.212 of the Revised Code shall be as follows:
"Shall the .......... school district be authorized to levy taxes for current expenses, the aggregate rate of which may increase in ...... (number) increment(s) of not more than ...... mill(s) for each dollar of valuation, from an original rate of ...... mill(s) for each dollar of valuation, which amounts to ...... (rate expressed in dollars and cents) for each one hundred dollars of valuation, to a maximum rate of ...... mill(s) for each dollar of valuation, which amounts to ...... (rate expressed in dollars and cents) for each one hundred dollars of valuation? The original tax is first proposed to be levied in ...... (the first year of the tax), and the incremental tax in ...... (the first year of the increment) (if more than one incremental tax is proposed in the resolution, the first year that each incremental tax is proposed to be levied shall be stated in the preceding format, and the increments shall be referred to as the first, second, third, or fourth increment, depending on their number). The aggregate rate of tax so authorized will .......... (insert either, "expire with the original rate of tax which shall be in effect for ...... years" or "be in effect for a continuing period of time").
 
 FOR THE TAX LEVYS LEVIES
 AGAINST THE TAX LEVYS LEVIES  "

 
The form of the ballot in an election on the question of a renewal levy under section 5705.212 of the Revised Code shall be as follows:
"Shall the ......... school district be authorized to renew a tax for current expenses at a rate not exceeding ......... mills for each dollar of valuation, which amounts to ......... (rate expressed in dollars and cents) for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for .......... (number of years the levy shall be in effect, or a continuing period of time)?
 
 FOR THE TAX LEVY
 AGAINST THE TAX LEVY  "

 
If the tax is to be placed on the current tax list, the form of the ballot shall be modified by adding, after the statement of the number of years the levy is to be in effect, the phrase ", commencing in .......... (first year the tax is to be levied), first due in calendar year .......... (first calendar year in which the tax shall be due)."
(C) The form of the ballot in an election on a tax proposed under section 5705.213 of the Revised Code shall be as follows:
"Shall the ........ school district be authorized to levy the following tax for current expenses? The tax will first be levied in ...... (year) to raise ...... (dollars). In the ...... (number of years) following years, the tax will increase by not more than ...... (per cent or dollar amount of increase) each year, so that, during ...... (last year of the tax), the tax will raise approximately ...... (dollars). The county auditor estimates that the rate of the tax per dollar of valuation will be ...... mill(s), which amounts to $..... per one hundred dollars of valuation, both during ...... (first year of the tax) and ...... mill(s), which amounts to $...... per one hundred dollars of valuation, during ...... (last year of the tax). The tax will not be levied after ...... (year).
 
 FOR THE TAX LEVY
 AGAINST THE TAX LEVY  "

 
The form of the ballot in an election on the question of a renewal levy under section 5705.213 of the Revised Code shall be as follows:
"Shall the ......... school district be authorized to renew a tax for current expenses which will raise ......... (dollars), estimated by the county auditor to be ......... mills for each dollar of valuation, which amounts to ......... (rate expressed in dollars and cents) for each one hundred dollars of valuation? The tax shall be in effect for ......... (the number of years the levy shall be in effect, or a continuing period of time).
 
 FOR THE TAX LEVY
 AGAINST THE TAX LEVY  "

 
If the tax is to be placed on the current tax list, the form of the ballot shall be modified by adding, after the statement of the number of years the levy is to be in effect, the phrase ", commencing in .......... (first year the tax is to be levied), first due in calendar year .......... (first calendar year in which the tax shall be due)."
(D) The question covered by a resolution adopted under section 5705.212 or 5705.213 of the Revised Code shall be submitted as a separate question, but may be printed on the same ballot with any other question submitted at the same election, other than the election of officers. More than one question may be submitted at the same election.
(E) Taxes voted in excess of the ten-mill limitation under division (B) or (C) of this section shall be certified to the tax commissioner. If an additional tax is to be placed upon the tax list of the current year, as specified in the resolution providing for its submission, the result of the election shall be certified immediately after the canvass by the board of elections to the board of education. The board of education immediately shall make the necessary levy and certify it to the county auditor, who shall extend it on the tax list for collection. After the first year, the levy shall be included in the annual tax budget that is certified to the county budget commission.
Sec. 5705.261.  The question of decrease of an increased rate of levy approved for a continuing period of time by the voters of a subdivision may be initiated by the filing of a petition with the board of elections of the proper county not less than seventy-five days before the general election in any year requesting that an election be held on such question. Such petition shall state the amount of the proposed decrease in the rate of levy and shall be signed by qualified electors residing in the subdivision equal in number to at least ten per cent of the total number of votes cast in the subdivision for the office of governor at the most recent general election for that office. Only one such petition may be filed during each five-year period following the election at which the voters approved the increased rate for a continuing period of time.
After determination by it that such petition is valid, the board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of the district at the succeeding general election. The election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections in such subdivision for county offices. Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the district once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, stating and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the purpose, the amount of the proposed decrease in rate, and the time and place of the election. The form of the ballot cast at such election shall be prescribed by the secretary of state. The question covered by such petition shall be submitted as a separate proposition but it may be printed on the same ballot with any other propositions submitted at the same election other than the election of officers. If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question of a decrease at such election approve the proposed decrease in rate, the result of the election shall be certified immediately after the canvass by the board of elections to the subdivision's taxing authority, which shall thereupon, after the current year, cease to levy such increased rate or levy such tax at such reduced rate upon the duplicate of the subdivision. If notes have been issued in anticipation of the collection of such levy, the taxing authority shall continue to levy and collect under authority of the election authorizing the original levy such amounts as will be sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on such anticipation notes as the same fall due.
Sec. 5705.71.  (A) The electors of a county may initiate the question of a tax levy for support of senior citizens services or facilities by the filing of a petition with the board of elections of that county not less than seventy-five days before the date of any primary or general election requesting that an election be held on such question. The petition shall be signed by at least ten per cent of the qualified electors residing in the county and voting for the office of governor at the last general election.
(B) The petition shall state the purpose for which the senior citizens tax levy is being proposed, shall specify the amount of the proposed increase in rate, the period of time during which the increase is to be in effect, and whether the levy is to be imposed in the current year. The number of years may be any number not exceeding five, except that when the additional rate is for the payment of debt charges the increased rate shall be for the life of the indebtedness.
(C) After determination by it that such petition is valid, the board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of the county at the succeeding primary or general election.
(D) The election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections in such county for county offices. Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, stating and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the purpose, the amount of the proposed increase in rate, and the time and place of the election.
(E) The form of the ballot cast at such election shall be prescribed by the secretary of state. If the tax is to be placed on the tax list of the current tax year, the form of the ballot shall include a statement to that effect and shall indicate the first calendar year the tax will be due. The question covered by such petition shall be submitted as a separate proposition but it may be printed on the same ballot with any other propositions submitted at the same election other than the election of officers.
(F) If a majority of electors voting on the question vote in favor of the levy, the board of county commissioners shall levy a tax, for the period and the purpose stated within the petition. If the tax is to be placed upon the tax list of the current year, as specified in the petition, the result of the election shall be certified immediately after the canvass by the board of elections to the board of county commissioners, which shall forthwith make the necessary levy and certify it to the county auditor, who shall extend it on the tax list for collection. After the first year, the tax levy shall be included in the annual tax budget that is certified to the county budget commission.
Sec. 5739.022.  (A) The question of repeal of either a county permissive tax or an increase in the rate of a county permissive tax that was adopted as an emergency measure pursuant to section 5739.021 or 5739.026 of the Revised Code may be initiated by filing with the board of elections of the county not less than seventy-five days before the general election in any year a petition requesting that an election be held on the question. The question of repealing an increase in the rate of the county permissive tax shall be submitted to the electors as a separate question from the repeal of the tax in effect prior to the increase in the rate. Any petition filed under this section shall be signed by qualified electors residing in the county equal in number to ten per cent of those voting for governor at the most recent gubernatorial election.
After determination by it that the petition is valid, the board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of the county at the next general election. The election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections for county offices in the county. The board of elections shall notify the tax commissioner, in writing, of the election upon determining that the petition is valid. Notice of the election shall also be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the district once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, stating and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the purpose, the time, and the place of the election. The form of the ballot cast at the election shall be prescribed by the secretary of state; however, the ballot question shall read, "shall the tax (or, increase in the rate of the tax) be retained?
 
 Yes
 No  "

 
The question covered by the petition shall be submitted as a separate proposition, but it may be printed on the same ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election other than the election of officers.
(B) If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question of repeal of either a county permissive tax or an increase in the rate of a county permissive tax approve the repeal, the board of elections shall notify the board of county commissioners and the tax commissioner of the result of the election immediately after the result has been declared. The board of county commissioners shall, on the first day of the calendar quarter following the expiration of sixty-five days after the date the board and the tax commissioner receive the notice, in the case of a repeal of a county permissive tax, cease to levy the tax, or, in the case of a repeal of an increase in the rate of a county permissive tax, levy the tax at the rate at which it was imposed immediately prior to the increase in rate and cease to levy the increased rate.
(C) Upon receipt from a board of elections of a notice of the results of an election required by division (B) of this section, the tax commissioner shall provide notice of a tax repeal or rate change in a manner that is reasonably accessible to all affected vendors. The commissioner shall provide this notice at least sixty days prior to the effective date of the rate change. The commissioner, by rule, may establish the method by which notice will be provided.
(D) If a vendor that is registered with the central electronic registration system provided for in section 5740.05 of the Revised Code makes a sale in this state by printed catalog and the consumer computed the tax on the sale based on local rates published in the catalog, any tax repealed or rate changed under this section shall not apply to such a sale until the first day of a calendar quarter following the expiration of one hundred twenty days from the date of notice by the tax commissioner pursuant to division (C) of this section.
Sec. 5748.02.  (A) The board of education of any school district, except a joint vocational school district, may declare, by resolution, the necessity of raising annually a specified amount of money for school district purposes. The resolution shall specify whether the income that is to be subject to the tax is taxable income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code or taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of that section. A copy of the resolution shall be certified to the tax commissioner no later than eighty-five days prior to the date of the election at which the board intends to propose a levy under this section. Upon receipt of the copy of the resolution, the tax commissioner shall estimate both of the following:
(1) The property tax rate that would have to be imposed in the current year by the district to produce an equivalent amount of money;
(2) The income tax rate that would have had to have been in effect for the current year to produce an equivalent amount of money from a school district income tax.
Within ten days of receiving the copy of the board's resolution, the commissioner shall prepare these estimates and certify them to the board. Upon receipt of the certification, the board may adopt a resolution proposing an income tax under division (B) of this section at the estimated rate contained in the certification rounded to the nearest one-fourth of one per cent. The commissioner's certification applies only to the board's proposal to levy an income tax at the election for which the board requested the certification. If the board intends to submit a proposal to levy an income tax at any other election, it shall request another certification for that election in the manner prescribed in this division.
(B)(1) Upon the receipt of a certification from the tax commissioner under division (A) of this section, a majority of the members of a board of education may adopt a resolution proposing the levy of an annual tax for school district purposes on school district income. The proposed levy may be for a continuing period of time or for a specified number of years. The resolution shall set forth the purpose for which the tax is to be imposed, the rate of the tax, which shall be the rate set forth in the commissioner's certification rounded to the nearest one-fourth of one per cent, the number of years the tax will be levied or that it will be levied for a continuing period of time, the date on which the tax shall take effect, which shall be the first day of January of any year following the year in which the question is submitted, and the date of the election at which the proposal shall be submitted to the electors of the district, which shall be on the date of a primary, general, or special election the date of which is consistent with section 3501.01 of the Revised Code. The resolution shall specify whether the income that is to be subject to the tax is taxable income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code or taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of that section. The specification shall be the same as the specification in the resolution adopted and certified under division (A) of this section. If the board of education currently imposes an income tax pursuant to this chapter that is due to expire and a question is submitted under this section for a proposed income tax to take effect upon the expiration of the existing tax, the board may specify in the resolution that the proposed tax renews the expiring tax and is not an additional income tax, provided that the tax rate being proposed is no higher than the tax rate that is currently imposed.
(2) A board of education adopting a resolution under division (B)(1) of this section proposing a school district income tax for a continuing period of time and limited to the purpose of current expenses may propose in that resolution to reduce the rate or rates of one or more of the school district's property taxes levied for a continuing period of time in excess of the ten-mill limitation for the purpose of current expenses. The reduction in the rate of a property tax may be any amount, expressed in mills per one dollar in valuation, not exceeding the rate at which the tax is authorized to be levied. The reduction in the rate of a tax shall first take effect for the tax year that includes the day on which the school district income tax first takes effect, and shall continue for each tax year that both the school district income tax and the property tax levy are in effect.
In addition to the matters required to be set forth in the resolution under division (B)(1) of this section, a resolution containing a proposal to reduce the rate of one or more property taxes shall state for each such tax the maximum rate at which it currently may be levied and the maximum rate at which the tax could be levied after the proposed reduction, expressed in mills per one dollar in valuation, and that the tax is levied for a continuing period of time.
If a board of education proposes to reduce the rate of one or more property taxes under division (B)(2) of this section, the board, when it makes the certification required under division (A) of this section, shall designate the specific levy or levies to be reduced, the maximum rate at which each levy currently is authorized to be levied, and the rate by which each levy is proposed to be reduced. The tax commissioner, when making the certification to the board under division (A) of this section, also shall certify the reduction in the total effective tax rate for current expenses for each class of property that would have resulted if the proposed reduction in the rate or rates had been in effect the previous tax year. As used in this paragraph, "effective tax rate" has the same meaning as in section 323.08 of the Revised Code.
(C) A resolution adopted under division (B) of this section shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no publication of the resolution shall be necessary other than that provided for in the notice of election. Immediately after its adoption and at least seventy-five days prior to the election at which the question will appear on the ballot, a copy of the resolution shall be certified to the board of elections of the proper county, which shall submit the proposal to the electors on the date specified in the resolution. The form of the ballot shall be as provided in section 5748.03 of the Revised Code. Publication of notice of the election shall be made in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the county once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall contain the time and place of the election and the question to be submitted to the electors. The question covered by the resolution shall be submitted as a separate proposition, but may be printed on the same ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election, other than the election of officers.
(D) No board of education shall submit the question of a tax on school district income to the electors of the district more than twice in any calendar year. If a board submits the question twice in any calendar year, one of the elections on the question shall be held on the date of the general election.
Sec. 5748.04. (A) The question of the repeal of a school district income tax levied for more than five years may be initiated not more than once in any five-year period by filing with the board of elections of the appropriate counties not later than seventy-five days before the general election in any year after the year in which it is approved by the electors a petition requesting that an election be held on the question. The petition shall be signed by qualified electors residing in the school district levying the income tax equal in number to ten per cent of those voting for governor at the most recent gubernatorial election.
The board of elections shall determine whether the petition is valid, and if it so determines, it shall submit the question to the electors of the district at the next general election. The election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections for county offices in the county. Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the district once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, stating and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the purpose, the time, and the place of the election. The form of the ballot cast at the election shall be as follows:
"Shall the annual income tax of ..... per cent, currently levied on the school district income of individuals and estates by .......... (state the name of the school district) for the purpose of .......... (state purpose of the tax), be repealed?
 
 For repeal of the income tax
 Against repeal of the income tax  "

 
(B)(1) If the tax is imposed on taxable income as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code, the form of the ballot shall be modified by stating that the tax currently is levied on the "earned income of individuals residing in the school district" in lieu of the "school district income of individuals and estates."
(2) If the rate of one or more property tax levies was reduced for the duration of the income tax levy pursuant to division (B)(2) of section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, the form of the ballot shall be modified by adding the following language immediately after "repealed": ", and shall the rate of an existing tax on property for the purpose of current expenses, which rate was reduced for the duration of the income tax, be INCREASED from ..... mills to ..... mills per one dollar of valuation beginning in ..... (state the first year for which the rate of the property tax will increase)." In lieu of "for repeal of the income tax" and "against repeal of the income tax," the phrases "for the issue" and "against the issue," respectively, shall be substituted.
(3) If the rate of more than one property tax was reduced for the duration of the income tax, the ballot language shall be modified accordingly to express the rates at which those taxes currently are levied and the rates to which the taxes would be increased.
(C) The question covered by the petition shall be submitted as a separate proposition, but it may be printed on the same ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election other than the election of officers. If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question vote in favor of it, the result shall be certified immediately after the canvass by the board of elections to the board of education of the school district and the tax commissioner, who shall thereupon, after the current year, cease to levy the tax, except that if notes have been issued pursuant to section 5748.05 of the Revised Code the tax commissioner shall continue to levy and collect under authority of the election authorizing the levy an annual amount, rounded upward to the nearest one-fourth of one per cent, as will be sufficient to pay the debt charges on the notes as they fall due.
(D) If a school district income tax repealed pursuant to this section was approved in conjunction with a reduction in the rate of one or more school district property taxes as provided in division (B)(2) of section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, then each such property tax may be levied after the current year at the rate at which it could be levied prior to the reduction, subject to any adjustments required by the county budget commission pursuant to Chapter 5705. of the Revised Code. Upon the repeal of a school district income tax under this section, the board of education may resume levying a property tax, the rate of which has been reduced pursuant to a question approved under section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, at the rate the board originally was authorized to levy the tax. A reduction in the rate of a property tax under section 5748.02 of the Revised Code is a reduction in the rate at which a board of education may levy that tax only for the period during which a school district income tax is levied prior to any repeal pursuant to this section. The resumption of the authority to levy the tax upon such a repeal does not constitute a tax levied in excess of the one per cent limitation prescribed by Section 2 of Article XII, Ohio Constitution, or in excess of the ten-mill limitation.
(E) This section does not apply to school district income tax levies that are levied for five or fewer years.
Sec. 5748.08.  (A) The board of education of a city, local, or exempted village school district, at any time by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that it may be necessary for the school district to do all of the following:
(1) Raise a specified amount of money for school district purposes by levying an annual tax on school district income;
(2) Issue general obligation bonds for permanent improvements, stating in the resolution the necessity and purpose of the bond issue and the amount, approximate date, estimated rate of interest, and maximum number of years over which the principal of the bonds may be paid;
(3) Levy a tax outside the ten-mill limitation to pay debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities;
(4) Submit the question of the school district income tax and bond issue to the electors of the district at a special election.
The resolution shall specify whether the income that is to be subject to the tax is taxable income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code or taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of that section.
On adoption of the resolution, the board shall certify a copy of it to the tax commissioner and the county auditor no later than ninety days prior to the date of the special election at which the board intends to propose the income tax and bond issue. Not later than ten days of receipt of the resolution, the tax commissioner, in the same manner as required by division (A) of section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, shall estimate the rates designated in division divisions (A)(1) and (2) of that section and certify them to the board. Not later than ten days of receipt of the resolution, the county auditor shall estimate and certify to the board the average annual property tax rate required throughout the stated maturity of the bonds to pay debt charges on the bonds, in the same manner as under division (C) of section 133.18 of the Revised Code.
(B) On receipt of the tax commissioner's and county auditor's certifications prepared under division (A) of this section, the board of education of the city, local, or exempted village school district, by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may adopt a resolution proposing for a specified number of years or for a continuing period of time the levy of an annual tax for school district purposes on school district income and declaring that the amount of taxes that can be raised within the ten-mill limitation will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the present and future requirements of the school district; that it is necessary to issue general obligation bonds of the school district for specified permanent improvements and to levy an additional tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation to pay the debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities; and that the question of the bonds and taxes shall be submitted to the electors of the school district at a special election, which shall not be earlier than seventy-five days after certification of the resolution to the board of elections, and the date of which shall be consistent with section 3501.01 of the Revised Code. The resolution shall specify all of the following:
(1) The purpose for which the school district income tax is to be imposed and the rate of the tax, which shall be the rate set forth in the tax commissioner's certification rounded to the nearest one-fourth of one per cent;
(2) Whether the income that is to be subject to the tax is taxable income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code or taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of that section. The specification shall be the same as the specification in the resolution adopted and certified under division (A) of this section.
(3) The number of years the tax will be levied, or that it will be levied for a continuing period of time;
(4) The date on which the tax shall take effect, which shall be the first day of January of any year following the year in which the question is submitted;
(5) The county auditor's estimate of the average annual property tax rate required throughout the stated maturity of the bonds to pay debt charges on the bonds.
(C) A resolution adopted under division (B) of this section shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no publication of the resolution shall be necessary other than that provided for in the notice of election. Immediately after its adoption and at least seventy-five days prior to the election at which the question will appear on the ballot, the board of education shall certify a copy of the resolution, along with copies of the auditor's estimate and its resolution under division (A) of this section, to the board of elections of the proper county. The board of education shall make the arrangements for the submission of the question to the electors of the school district, and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections in the district for the election of county officers.
The resolution shall be put before the electors as one ballot question, with a majority vote indicating approval of the school district income tax, the bond issue, and the levy to pay debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities. The board of elections shall publish the notice of the election in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the school district once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, also shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice of election shall state all of the following:
(1) The questions to be submitted to the electors;
(2) The rate of the school district income tax;
(3) The principal amount of the proposed bond issue;
(4) The permanent improvements for which the bonds are to be issued;
(5) The maximum number of years over which the principal of the bonds may be paid;
(6) The estimated additional average annual property tax rate to pay the debt charges on the bonds, as certified by the county auditor;
(7) The time and place of the special election.
(D) The form of the ballot on a question submitted to the electors under this section shall be as follows:
"Shall the ........ school district be authorized to do both of the following:
(1) Impose an annual income tax of ...... (state the proposed rate of tax) on the school district income of individuals and of estates, for ........ (state the number of years the tax would be levied, or that it would be levied for a continuing period of time), beginning ........ (state the date the tax would first take effect), for the purpose of ........ (state the purpose of the tax)?
(2) Issue bonds for the purpose of ....... in the principal amount of $......, to be repaid annually over a maximum period of ....... years, and levy a property tax outside the ten-mill limitation estimated by the county auditor to average over the bond repayment period ....... mills for each one dollar of tax valuation, which amounts to ....... (rate expressed in cents or dollars and cents, such as "36 cents" or "$1.41") for each $100 of tax valuation, to pay the annual debt charges on the bonds, and to pay debt charges on any notes issued in anticipation of those bonds?
 
 FOR THE INCOME TAX AND BOND ISSUE
 AGAINST THE INCOME TAX AND BOND ISSUE  "

 
(E) If the question submitted to electors proposes a school district income tax only on the taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code, the form of the ballot shall be modified by stating that the tax is to be levied on the "earned income of individuals residing in the school district" in lieu of the "school district income of individuals and of estates."
(F) The board of elections promptly shall certify the results of the election to the tax commissioner and the county auditor of the county in which the school district is located. If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote in favor of it, the income tax and the applicable provisions of Chapter 5747. of the Revised Code shall take effect on the date specified in the resolution, and the board of education may proceed with issuance of the bonds and with the levy and collection of the property taxes to pay debt charges on the bonds, at the additional rate or any lesser rate in excess of the ten-mill limitation. Any securities issued by the board of education under this section are Chapter 133. securities, as that term is defined in section 133.01 of the Revised Code.
(G) After approval of a question under this section, the board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the school district income tax in accordance with section 5748.05 of the Revised Code. Any anticipation notes under this division shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code, shall have principal payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed five years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their issuance.
(H) The question of repeal of a school district income tax levied for more than five years may be initiated and submitted in accordance with section 5748.04 of the Revised Code.
(I) No board of education shall submit a question under this section to the electors of the school district more than twice in any calendar year. If a board submits the question twice in any calendar year, one of the elections on the question shall be held on the date of the general election.
Sec. 6119.18.  The board of trustees of a regional water and sewer district, by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that it is necessary to levy a tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation for the purpose of providing funds to pay current expenses of the district or for the purpose of paying any portion of the cost of one or more water resource projects or parts thereof or for both of such purposes, and that the question of such tax levy shall be submitted to the electors of the district at a general or primary election. Such resolution shall conform to the requirements of section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, except as otherwise permitted by this section and except that such levy may be for a period not longer than ten years. The resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its passage and no publication of the resolution is necessary other than that provided for in the notice of election. A copy of such resolution shall, immediately after its passage, be certified to the board of elections of the proper county or counties in the manner provided by section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, and such section shall govern the arrangements for the submission of such question and other matters with respect to such election to which such section refers. Publication of the notice of such that election shall be made in one or more newspapers having a general circulation in the district once a week for four two consecutive weeks prior to the election, and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election.
If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote in favor thereof, the board may make the necessary levy within the district at the additional rate or at any lesser rate on the tax list and duplicate for the purpose or purposes stated in the resolution.
The taxes realized from such levy shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as other taxes on such tax list and duplicate and such taxes, when collected, shall be paid to the district and deposited by it in a special fund which shall be established by the district for all revenues derived from such levy and for the proceeds of anticipation notes which shall be deposited in such fund.
After the approval of such levy, the district may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such levy and, from time to time, during the life of such levy, issue anticipation notes in an amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the estimated proceeds of such levy to be collected in each year up to a period of five years after the date of issuance of such notes, less an amount equal to the proceeds of such levy previously obligated for each year by the issuance of anticipation notes, provided that the total amount maturing in any one year shall not exceed fifty per cent of the anticipated proceeds of such levy for that year. Each issue of notes shall be sold as provided in Chapter 133. of the Revised Code, and shall, except for such limitation that the total amount of such notes maturing in any one year shall not exceed fifty per cent of the anticipated proceeds of such levy for that year, mature serially in substantially equal installments during each year over a period not to exceed five years after their issuance.
Section 2. That existing sections 131.23, 145.38, 303.12, 306.70, 307.791, 322.021, 324.021, 503.162, 504.02, 504.03, 511.28, 511.34, 513.14, 519.12, 745.07, 747.11, 1901.07, 1901.10, 1901.31, 2961.01, 2967.17, 3311.21, 3311.50, 3311.73, 3349.29, 3354.12, 3355.09, 3375.03, 3501.01, 3501.05, 3501.10, 3501.11, 3501.13, 3501.17, 3501.26, 3501.30, 3501.33, 3501.35, 3501.38, 3501.39, 3503.02, 3503.06, 3503.11, 3503.13, 3503.14, 3503.16, 3503.19, 3503.21, 3503.23, 3503.24, 3505.062, 3505.063, 3505.16, 3505.18, 3505.19, 3505.20, 3505.21, 3505.22, 3505.25, 3505.26, 3505.27, 3505.32, 3506.01, 3506.05, 3506.12, 3506.13, 3506.18, 3509.02, 3509.03, 3509.031, 3509.04, 3509.05, 3509.06, 3509.08, 3509.09, 3511.02, 3511.09, 3511.13, 3513.04, 3513.041, 3513.05, 3513.052, 3513.07, 3513.09, 3513.19, 3513.20, 3513.22, 3513.257, 3513.259, 3513.261, 3513.30, 3515.03, 3515.04, 3515.07, 3515.08, 3515.13, 3517.01, 3517.081, 3517.092, 3517.10, 3517.106, 3517.1011, 3517.12, 3517.13, 3517.153, 3519.01, 3519.03, 3519.04, 3519.05, 3523.05, 3599.11, 3599.111, 3599.13, 3599.14, 3599.21, 3599.24, 3599.38, 4113.52, 4301.33, 4301.331, 4301.332, 4301.333, 4301.334, 4305.14, 4504.021, 5705.191, 5705.194, 5705.196, 5705.21, 5705.218, 5705.25, 5705.251, 5705.261, 5705.71, 5739.022, 5748.02, 5748.04, 5748.08, and 6119.18 and section 3503.27 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
Section 3. Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, the amendments made to sections 131.23, 306.70, 307.791, 322.021, 324.021, 503.162, 504.02, 504.03, 511.28, 511.34, 513.14, 745.07, 747.11, 3311.21, 3311.50, 3311.73, 3349.29, 3354.12, 3355.09, 4504.021, 5705.191, 5705.194, 5705.196, 5705.21, 5705.218, 5705.25, 5705.251, 5705.261, 5705.71, 5739.022, 5748.02, 5748.04, 5748.08, and 6119.18 of the Revised Code by this act that require a board of elections that operates and maintains a web site to post, on that web site, notices of certain elections for thirty days prior to the day of an election shall take effect on June 1, 2006.
Section 4. Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, the amendments made to sections 303.12, 519.12, 3375.03, 3501.38, 3505.18, 3513.07, 3513.09, and 3513.261 and the enactment of section 3501.382 of the Revised Code by this act that permit a disabled voter to appoint an attorney in fact and authorize an attorney in fact to sign election documents on behalf of that voter shall take effect on June 1, 2006.
Section 5. Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, the amendments made to sections 3501.26, 3501.30, 3501.33, 3501.35, 3505.16, 3505.25, 3505.26, 3505.27, 3505.32, 3506.12, 3506.13, 3509.06, 3515.04, 3515.13, 3523.05, and 3599.38 and the provisions enacted in sections 3501.90, 3505.183, and 3505.21 of the Revised Code by this act that permit the appointment of election observers and eliminate the appointment of election challengers and witnesses shall take effect on June 1, 2006.
Section 6. Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, the amendments made to sections 3501.01, 3503.14, 3503.16, 3503.19, 3503.28, 3505.18, 3509.03, 3509.031, 3509.04, 3509.05, 3511.02, and 3511.09 and the provisions enacted in 3501.19, sections 3505.181, 3505.182, and 3505.183 of Revised Code by this act that require a voter to provide identification and that specify the acceptable forms of identification shall take effect on June 1, 2006.
Section 7.  Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, the amendments made to section 3501.10 of the Revised Code establishing restrictions on the number of branch offices at which boards of elections may permit a voter to cast a ballot shall take effect on June 1, 2006.
Section 8. Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, the provisions enacted in section 3503.15 of the Revised Code that require the statewide voter registration database to be made available on a web site of the office of the Secretary of State shall take effect on June 1, 2006.
Section 9. (A) Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, the amendments made to sections 3501.05, 3503.16, 3503.19, 3503.24, 3505.18, 3505.20, 3505.22, 3509.09, 3511.13, and 3513.20 and the provisions enacted in sections 3501.19, 3503.28, 3505.181, 3505.182, and 3505.183 of the Revised Code that permit individuals to cast provisional ballots in an election or that otherwise specify election processes regarding provisional ballots shall take effect June 1, 2006.
(B) For the primary election conducted on May 2, 2006, and for any special election conducted on the day of that primary election, provisional ballots that meet the requirements of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-252, 116 Stat. 1666, shall be made available to voters for all elections for statewide office, county office, township office, and for all elections on questions and issues, as if the ballots for those offices, questions, or issues were ballots for an election for federal office.
(C) Notwithstanding any provision of section 3505.20, 3505.22, or 3513.20 of the Revised Code to the contrary, for the primary election conducted on May 2, 2006, provisional ballots that meet the requirements of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-252, 116 Stat. 1666, shall be made available to all voters for an election for federal office in the manner provided in that act.
Section 10. That section 3501.19 of the Revised Code, as enacted by this act, is hereby repealed effective January 1, 2009.
Section 11. The General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds that the following sections, presented in this act as composites of the sections as amended by the acts indicated, are the resulting versions of the sections in effect prior to the effective date of the sections as presented in this act:
Section 3517.10 of the Revised Code as amended by both Sub. S.B. 107 and Am. Sub. S.B. 115 of the 126th General Assembly.
Section 12. It is the intention of the General Assembly, in enacting section 3501.052 of the Revised Code in this act, to recognize that the Secretary of State's involvement with campaigns committees, committees named in initiative and referendum petitions, and persons making disbursements for the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications affects the Campaign Finance Law, since the Secretary of State makes decisions regarding compliance with, and alleged violations of, the Campaign Finance Law by campaign committees, committees named in initiative and referendum petitions, and persons making disbursements for the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications.
Section 13. The amendments made to sections 3505.062, 3519.01, 3519.04, and 3519.05 by this act and the enactment of section 3519.07 of the Revised Code by this act do not affect any initiative or referendum petition already filed with the Attorney General's office pursuant to section 3519.01 of the Revised Code on the effective date of this act.
Section 14. The amendments made to section 3503.06 of the Revised Code are intended to clarify that Ohio law requires the circulators of initiative and referendum petitions to be residents of this state. Those amendments shall not be construed to mean that Ohio law did not prior to the effective date of this act require circulators to be residents of this state.
Section 15. If any item of law that constitutes the whole or part of a codified section of law contained in this act, or if any application of any item of law that constitutes the whole or part of a codified section of law contained in this act, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other items of law or applications of items of law that can be given effect without the invalid item of law or application. To this end, the items of law of which the codified sections contained in this act are composed, and their applications, are independent and severable.