As Passed by the House

128th General Assembly
Regular Session
2009-2010
Am. Sub. H. B. No. 260


Representatives Stewart, Heard 

Cosponsors: Representatives Book, Domenick, Dyer, Foley, Garland, Letson, Okey, Skindell, Weddington, Williams, B., Yuko, Belcher, Bolon, Boyd, Brown, Celeste, Chandler, DeBose, Driehaus, Fende, Garrison, Hagan, Harris, Harwood, Koziura, Mallory, Murray, Newcomb, Patten, Phillips, Pillich, Pryor, Szollosi, Ujvagi, Williams, S., Winburn, Yates 



A BILL
To amend sections 133.06, 133.18, 302.03, 302.09, 1
303.11, 303.12, 303.25, 305.02, 305.31, 306.32, 2
306.321, 306.70, 306.71, 307.676, 307.677, 3
307.695, 307.697, 307.791, 307.94, 307.95, 4
322.02, 322.021, 324.02, 324.021, 345.03, 351.26, 5
503.02, 503.161, 503.24, 503.41, 504.01, 504.03, 6
505.13, 505.14, 511.01, 511.22, 511.27, 511.28, 7
511.33, 511.34, 513.06, 513.13, 513.18, 517.05, 8
519.11, 519.12, 519.25, 705.01, 707.21, 709.29, 9
709.39, 709.45, 709.462, 709.48, 709.50, 715.69, 10
715.691, 715.70, 715.71, 715.77, 718.01, 718.09, 11
718.10, 731.03, 731.28, 731.29, 733.09, 733.261, 12
733.262, 733.31, 733.48, 749.021, 755.01, 757.02, 13
759.25, 1515.28, 1545.21, 1545.36, 1711.30, 14
1901.07, 1901.10, 1901.31, 1907.13, 2101.43, 15
2301.02, 3311.053, 3311.059, 3311.21, 3311.213, 16
3311.22, 3311.231, 3311.25, 3311.26, 3311.37, 17
3311.38, 3311.50, 3311.73, 3316.08, 3318.06, 18
3318.061, 3318.361, 3354.12, 3355.02, 3355.09, 19
3357.02, 3357.11, 3375.19, 3375.201, 3375.211, 20
3375.212, 3501.01, 3501.02, 3501.03, 3501.05, 21
3501.07, 3501.10, 3501.11, 3501.17, 3501.18, 22
3501.21, 3501.22, 3501.38, 3501.39, 3501.90, 23
3503.01, 3503.04, 3503.06, 3503.10, 3503.11, 24
3503.14, 3503.15, 3503.16, 3503.19, 3503.21, 25
3503.24, 3503.28, 3505.01, 3505.03, 3505.04, 26
3505.06, 3505.062, 3505.08, 3505.10, 3505.11, 27
3505.12, 3505.13, 3505.18, 3505.181, 3505.182, 28
3505.183, 3505.20, 3505.21, 3505.23, 3505.28, 29
3505.30, 3505.32, 3506.02, 3506.11, 3506.12, 30
3506.21, 3509.01, 3509.02, 3509.03, 3509.031, 31
3509.04, 3509.05, 3509.06, 3509.08, 3509.09, 32
3511.01, 3511.02, 3511.03, 3511.04, 3511.05, 33
3511.06, 3511.08, 3511.10, 3511.11, 3511.13, 34
3513.01, 3513.02, 3513.041, 3513.05, 3513.052, 35
3513.121, 3513.122, 3513.151, 3513.19, 3513.251, 36
3513.253, 3513.254, 3513.255, 3513.256, 3513.257, 37
3513.259, 3513.263, 3513.30, 3513.31, 3513.311, 38
3513.312, 3517.01, 3517.012, 3517.02, 3517.03, 39
3519.08, 3519.16, 3521.03, 3709.051, 3709.071, 40
3709.29, 3767.05, 3769.27, 4301.33, 4301.331, 41
4301.332, 4301.333, 4301.334, 4301.356, 42
4301.421, 4301.424, 4303.29, 4305.14, 4504.021, 43
4504.15, 4504.16, 4504.21, 4506.03, 4507.13, 44
4507.52, 4928.20, 4929.26, 4931.51, 4931.52, 45
4931.53, 4951.44, 4955.05, 5705.19, 5705.191, 46
5705.195, 5705.199, 5705.20, 5705.21, 5705.211, 47
5705.212, 5705.213, 5705.217, 5705.218, 5705.219, 48
5705.2111, 5705.22, 5705.221, 5705.222, 5705.23, 49
5705.24, 5705.25, 5705.251, 5705.261, 5705.27, 50
5705.71, 5739.021, 5739.022, 5739.026, 5743.021, 51
5743.024, 5743.026, 5748.02, 5748.04, 5748.08, 52
6105.18, 6105.20, 6119.31, and 6119.32, to enact 53
new sections 3509.07 and 3511.09 and sections 54
125.042, 3501.012, 3501.40, 3503.141, 3503.142, 55
3503.191, 3503.20, 3503.22, 3505.331, 3507.01, 56
3507.02, 3507.03, 3509.10, 3511.021, 3511.041, 57
3511.14, and 3599.30, and to repeal sections 58
3503.18, 3503.33, 3505.19, 3505.22, 3506.13, 59
3509.022, 3509.07, 3511.07, 3511.09, 3511.12, 60
and 3513.20 of the Revised Code to revise the 61
Election Law. 62


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

       Section 1. That sections 133.06, 133.18, 302.03, 302.09, 63
303.11, 303.12, 303.25, 305.02, 305.31, 306.32, 306.321, 306.70, 64
306.71, 307.676, 307.677, 307.695, 307.697, 307.791, 307.94, 65
307.95, 322.02, 322.021, 324.02, 324.021, 345.03, 351.26, 503.02, 66
503.161, 503.24, 503.41, 504.01, 504.03, 505.13, 505.14, 511.01, 67
511.22, 511.27, 511.28, 511.33, 511.34, 513.06, 513.13, 513.18, 68
517.05, 519.11, 519.12, 519.25, 705.01, 707.21, 709.29, 709.39, 69
709.45, 709.462, 709.48, 709.50, 715.69, 715.691, 715.70, 715.71, 70
715.77, 718.01, 718.09, 718.10, 731.03, 731.28, 731.29, 733.09, 71
733.261, 733.262, 733.31, 733.48, 749.021, 755.01, 757.02, 72
759.25, 1515.28, 1545.21, 1545.36, 1711.30, 1901.07, 1901.10, 73
1901.31, 1907.13, 2101.43, 2301.02, 3311.053, 3311.059, 3311.21, 74
3311.213, 3311.22, 3311.231, 3311.25, 3311.26, 3311.37, 3311.38, 75
3311.50, 3311.73, 3316.08, 3318.06, 3318.061, 3318.361, 3354.12, 76
3355.02, 3355.09, 3357.02, 3357.11, 3375.19, 3375.201, 3375.211, 77
3375.212, 3501.01, 3501.02, 3501.03, 3501.05, 3501.07, 3501.10, 78
3501.11, 3501.17, 3501.18, 3501.21, 3501.22, 3501.38, 3501.39, 79
3501.90, 3503.01, 3503.04, 3503.06, 3503.10, 3503.11, 3503.14, 80
3503.15, 3503.16, 3503.19, 3503.21, 3503.24, 3503.28, 3505.01, 81
3505.03, 3505.04, 3505.06, 3505.062, 3505.08, 3505.10, 82
3505.11, 3505.12, 3505.13, 3505.18, 3505.181, 3505.182, 83
3505.183, 3505.20, 3505.21, 3505.23, 3505.28, 3505.30, 84
3505.32, 3506.02, 3506.11, 3506.12, 3506.21, 3509.01, 3509.02, 85
3509.03, 3509.031, 3509.04, 3509.05, 3509.06, 3509.08, 86
3509.09, 3511.01, 3511.02, 3511.03, 3511.04, 3511.05, 3511.06, 87
3511.08, 3511.10, 3511.11, 3511.13, 3513.01, 3513.02, 88
3513.041, 3513.05, 3513.052, 3513.121, 3513.122, 3513.151, 89
3513.19, 3513.251, 3513.253, 3513.254, 3513.255, 3513.256, 90
3513.257, 3513.259, 3513.263, 3513.30, 3513.31, 3513.311, 91
3513.312, 3517.01, 3517.012, 3517.02, 3517.03, 3519.08, 92
3519.16, 3521.03, 3709.051, 3709.071, 3709.29, 3767.05, 3769.27, 93
4301.33, 4301.331, 4301.332, 4301.333, 4301.334, 4301.356, 94
4301.421, 4301.424, 4303.29, 4305.14, 4504.021, 4504.15, 95
4504.16, 4504.21, 4506.03, 4507.13, 4507.52, 4928.20, 4929.26, 96
4931.51, 4931.52, 4931.53, 4951.44, 4955.05, 5705.19, 5705.191, 97
5705.195, 5705.199, 5705.20, 5705.21, 5705.211, 5705.212, 98
5705.213, 5705.217, 5705.218, 5705.219, 5705.2111, 5705.22, 99
5705.221, 5705.222, 5705.23, 5705.24, 5705.25, 5705.251, 100
5705.261, 5705.27, 5705.71, 5739.021, 5739.022, 5739.026, 101
5743.021, 5743.024, 5743.026, 5748.02, 5748.04, 5748.08, 6105.18, 102
6105.20, 6119.31, and 6119.32 be amended and new sections 103
3509.07 and 3511.09 and sections 125.042, 3501.012, 3501.40, 104
3503.141, 3503.142, 3503.191, 3503.20, 3503.22, 3505.331, 105
3507.01, 3507.02, 3507.03, 3509.10, 3511.021, 3511.041, 106
3511.14, and 3599.30 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as 107
follows:108

       Sec. 125.042. (A) The department of administrative services, 109
by rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall 110
establish a purchasing program through which the department enters 111
into purchase contracts for supplies used by boards of elections, 112
including any polling place supplies required under section 113
3501.30 of the Revised Code. A board of elections that opts to 114
participate in the purchasing program may purchase its supplies 115
through the contracts entered into by the department.116

       (B) Purchases that a board of elections makes under this 117
section are exempt from any competitive selection procedures 118
otherwise required by law.119

       Sec. 133.06.  (A) A school district shall not incur, without120
a vote of the electors, net indebtedness that exceeds an amount121
equal to one-tenth of one per cent of its tax valuation, except as122
provided in divisions (G) and (H) of this section and in division123
(C) of section 3313.372 of the Revised Code, or as prescribed in124
section 3318.052 or 3318.44 of the Revised Code, or as provided in 125
division (J) of this section.126

       (B) Except as provided in divisions (E), (F), and (I) of this127
section, a school district shall not incur net indebtedness that128
exceeds an amount equal to nine per cent of its tax valuation.129

       (C) A school district shall not submit to a vote of the130
electors the question of the issuance of securities in an amount131
that will make the district's net indebtedness after the issuance132
of the securities exceed an amount equal to four per cent of its133
tax valuation, unless the superintendent of public instruction,134
acting under policies adopted by the state board of education, and135
the tax commissioner, acting under written policies of the136
commissioner, consent to the submission. A request for the137
consents shall be made at least one hundred fivefifteen days 138
prior to the election at which the question is to be submitted.139

       The superintendent of public instruction shall certify to the 140
district the superintendent's and the tax commissioner's decisions 141
within thirty days after receipt of the request for consents.142

       If the electors do not approve the issuance of securities at 143
the election for which the superintendent of public instruction 144
and tax commissioner consented to the submission of the question, 145
the school district may submit the same question to the electors 146
on the date that the next special election may be held under 147
section 3501.01 of the Revised Code without submitting a new 148
request for consent. If the school district seeks to submit the 149
same question at any other subsequent election, the district shall 150
first submit a new request for consent in accordance with this 151
division.152

       (D) In calculating the net indebtedness of a school district, 153
none of the following shall be considered:154

       (1) Securities issued to acquire school buses and other155
equipment used in transporting pupils or issued pursuant to156
division (D) of section 133.10 of the Revised Code;157

       (2) Securities issued under division (F) of this section,158
under section 133.301 of the Revised Code, and, to the extent in159
excess of the limitation stated in division (B) of this section,160
under division (E) of this section;161

       (3) Indebtedness resulting from the dissolution of a joint162
vocational school district under section 3311.217 of the Revised163
Code, evidenced by outstanding securities of that joint vocational164
school district;165

       (4) Loans, evidenced by any securities, received under166
sections 3313.483, 3317.0210, 3317.0211, and 3317.64 of the167
Revised Code;168

       (5) Debt incurred under section 3313.374 of the Revised Code;169

       (6) Debt incurred pursuant to division (B)(5) of section170
3313.37 of the Revised Code to acquire computers and related171
hardware;172

       (7) Debt incurred under section 3318.042 of the Revised Code.173

       (E) A school district may become a special needs district as174
to certain securities as provided in division (E) of this section.175

       (1) A board of education, by resolution, may declare its176
school district to be a special needs district by determining both177
of the following:178

       (a) The student population is not being adequately serviced179
by the existing permanent improvements of the district.180

       (b) The district cannot obtain sufficient funds by the181
issuance of securities within the limitation of division (B) of182
this section to provide additional or improved needed permanent183
improvements in time to meet the needs.184

       (2) The board of education shall certify a copy of that185
resolution to the superintendent of public instruction with a186
statistical report showing all of the following:187

       (a) A history of and a projection of the growth of the188
student population;189

       (b) The history of and a projection of the growth of the tax190
valuation;191

       (c) The projected needs;192

       (d) The estimated cost of permanent improvements proposed to193
meet such projected needs.194

       (3) The superintendent of public instruction shall certify195
the district as an approved special needs district if the196
superintendent finds both of the following:197

       (a) The district does not have available sufficient198
additional funds from state or federal sources to meet the199
projected needs.200

       (b) The projection of the potential average growth of tax201
valuation during the next five years, according to the information202
certified to the superintendent and any other information the203
superintendent obtains, indicates a likelihood of potential204
average growth of tax valuation of the district during the next205
five years of an average of not less than three per cent per year.206
The findings and certification of the superintendent shall be207
conclusive.208

       (4) An approved special needs district may incur net209
indebtedness by the issuance of securities in accordance with the210
provisions of this chapter in an amount that does not exceed an211
amount equal to the greater of the following:212

       (a) Nine per cent of the sum of its tax valuation plus an213
amount that is the product of multiplying that tax valuation by214
the percentage by which the tax valuation has increased over the215
tax valuation on the first day of the sixtieth month preceding the216
month in which its board determines to submit to the electors the217
question of issuing the proposed securities;218

       (b) Nine per cent of the sum of its tax valuation plus an219
amount that is the product of multiplying that tax valuation by220
the percentage, determined by the superintendent of public221
instruction, by which that tax valuation is projected to increase222
during the next ten years.223

       (F) A school district may issue securities for emergency224
purposes, in a principal amount that does not exceed an amount225
equal to three per cent of its tax valuation, as provided in this226
division.227

       (1) A board of education, by resolution, may declare an228
emergency if it determines both of the following:229

       (a) School buildings or other necessary school facilities in230
the district have been wholly or partially destroyed, or condemned231
by a constituted public authority, or that such buildings or232
facilities are partially constructed, or so constructed or planned233
as to require additions and improvements to them before the234
buildings or facilities are usable for their intended purpose, or235
that corrections to permanent improvements are necessary to remove236
or prevent health or safety hazards.237

       (b) Existing fiscal and net indebtedness limitations make238
adequate replacement, additions, or improvements impossible.239

       (2) Upon the declaration of an emergency, the board of240
education may, by resolution, submit to the electors of the241
district pursuant to section 133.18 of the Revised Code the242
question of issuing securities for the purpose of paying the cost,243
in excess of any insurance or condemnation proceeds received by244
the district, of permanent improvements to respond to the245
emergency need.246

       (3) The procedures for the election shall be as provided in247
section 133.18 of the Revised Code, except that:248

       (a) The form of the ballot shall describe the emergency249
existing, refer to this division as the authority under which the250
emergency is declared, and state that the amount of the proposed251
securities exceeds the limitations prescribed by division (B) of252
this section;253

       (b) The resolution required by division (B) of section 133.18 254
of the Revised Code shall be certified to the county auditor and 255
the board of elections at least seventy-fiveninety-five days256
prior to the election;257

       (c) The county auditor shall advise and, not later than258
sixty-fiveninety days before the election, confirm that advice by259
certification to, the board of education of the information260
required by division (C) of section 133.18 of the Revised Code;261

       (d) The board of education shall then certify its resolution262
and the information required by division (D) of section 133.18 of263
the Revised Code to the board of elections not less than sixty264
eighty-five days prior to the election.265

       (4) Notwithstanding division (B) of section 133.21 of the266
Revised Code, the first principal payment of securities issued267
under this division may be set at any date not later than sixty268
months after the earliest possible principal payment otherwise269
provided for in that division.270

       (G) The board of education may contract with an architect,271
professional engineer, or other person experienced in the design272
and implementation of energy conservation measures for an analysis273
and recommendations pertaining to installations, modifications of274
installations, or remodeling that would significantly reduce275
energy consumption in buildings owned by the district. The report276
shall include estimates of all costs of such installations,277
modifications, or remodeling, including costs of design,278
engineering, installation, maintenance, repairs, and debt service,279
and estimates of the amounts by which energy consumption and280
resultant operational and maintenance costs, as defined by the281
Ohio school facilities commission, would be reduced.282

       If the board finds after receiving the report that the amount283
of money the district would spend on such installations,284
modifications, or remodeling is not likely to exceed the amount of285
money it would save in energy and resultant operational and286
maintenance costs over the ensuing fifteen years, the board may287
submit to the commission a copy of its findings and a request for288
approval to incur indebtedness to finance the making or289
modification of installations or the remodeling of buildings for290
the purpose of significantly reducing energy consumption.291

       If the commission determines that the board's findings are292
reasonable, it shall approve the board's request. Upon receipt of293
the commission's approval, the district may issue securities294
without a vote of the electors in a principal amount not to exceed295
nine-tenths of one per cent of its tax valuation for the purpose296
of making such installations, modifications, or remodeling, but297
the total net indebtedness of the district without a vote of the298
electors incurred under this and all other sections of the Revised299
Code, except section 3318.052 of the Revised Code, shall not 300
exceed one per cent of the district's tax valuation.301

       So long as any securities issued under division (G) of this302
section remain outstanding, the board of education shall monitor303
the energy consumption and resultant operational and maintenance304
costs of buildings in which installations or modifications have305
been made or remodeling has been done pursuant to division (G) of306
this section and shall maintain and annually update a report307
documenting the reductions in energy consumption and resultant308
operational and maintenance cost savings attributable to such309
installations, modifications, or remodeling. The report shall be310
certified by an architect or engineer independent of any person311
that provided goods or services to the board in connection with312
the energy conservation measures that are the subject of the313
report. The resultant operational and maintenance cost savings314
shall be certified by the school district treasurer. The report315
shall be made available to the commission upon request.316

       (H) With the consent of the superintendent of public317
instruction, a school district may incur without a vote of the318
electors net indebtedness that exceeds the amounts stated in319
divisions (A) and (G) of this section for the purpose of paying320
costs of permanent improvements, if and to the extent that both of321
the following conditions are satisfied:322

       (1) The fiscal officer of the school district estimates that323
receipts of the school district from payments made under or324
pursuant to agreements entered into pursuant to section 725.02,325
1728.10, 3735.671, 5709.081, 5709.082, 5709.40, 5709.41, 5709.62,326
5709.63, 5709.632, 5709.73, 5709.78, or 5709.82 of the Revised327
Code, or distributions under division (C) of section 5709.43 of328
the Revised Code, or any combination thereof, are, after329
accounting for any appropriate coverage requirements, sufficient330
in time and amount, and are committed by the proceedings, to pay331
the debt charges on the securities issued to evidence that332
indebtedness and payable from those receipts, and the taxing333
authority of the district confirms the fiscal officer's estimate,334
which confirmation is approved by the superintendent of public335
instruction;336

       (2) The fiscal officer of the school district certifies, and337
the taxing authority of the district confirms, that the district,338
at the time of the certification and confirmation, reasonably339
expects to have sufficient revenue available for the purpose of340
operating such permanent improvements for their intended purpose341
upon acquisition or completion thereof, and the superintendent of342
public instruction approves the taxing authority's confirmation.343

       The maximum maturity of securities issued under division (H)344
of this section shall be the lesser of twenty years or the maximum345
maturity calculated under section 133.20 of the Revised Code.346

       (I) A school district may incur net indebtedness by the347
issuance of securities in accordance with the provisions of this348
chapter in excess of the limit specified in division (B) or (C) of349
this section when necessary to raise the school district portion350
of the basic project cost and any additional funds necessary to 351
participate in a project under Chapter 3318. of the Revised Code, 352
including the cost of items designated by the Ohio school 353
facilities commission as required locally funded initiatives and 354
the cost for site acquisition. The school facilities commission 355
shall notify the superintendent of public instruction whenever a 356
school district will exceed either limit pursuant to this357
division.358

       (J) A school district whose portion of the basic project cost 359
of its classroom facilities project under sections 3318.01 to360
3318.20 of the Revised Code is greater than or equal to one361
hundred million dollars may incur without a vote of the electors362
net indebtedness in an amount up to two per cent of its tax363
valuation through the issuance of general obligation securities in364
order to generate all or part of the amount of its portion of the365
basic project cost if the controlling board has approved the366
school facilities commission's conditional approval of the project367
under section 3318.04 of the Revised Code. The school district368
board and the Ohio school facilities commission shall include the369
dedication of the proceeds of such securities in the agreement370
entered into under section 3318.08 of the Revised Code. No state371
moneys shall be released for a project to which this section372
applies until the proceeds of any bonds issued under this section373
that are dedicated for the payment of the school district portion374
of the project are first deposited into the school district's375
project construction fund.376

       Sec. 133.18.  (A) The taxing authority of a subdivision may377
by legislation submit to the electors of the subdivision the378
question of issuing any general obligation bonds, for one purpose,379
that the subdivision has power or authority to issue.380

       (B) When the taxing authority of a subdivision desires or is381
required by law to submit the question of a bond issue to the382
electors, it shall pass legislation that does all of the383
following:384

       (1) Declares the necessity and purpose of the bond issue;385

       (2) States the date of the authorized election at which the386
question shall be submitted to the electors;387

       (3) States the amount, approximate date, estimated net 388
average rate of interest, and maximum number of years over which 389
the principal of the bonds may be paid;390

       (4) Declares the necessity of levying a tax outside the tax391
limitation to pay the debt charges on the bonds and any392
anticipatory securities.393

       The estimated net average interest rate shall be determined 394
by the taxing authority based on, among other factors, then 395
existing market conditions, and may reflect adjustments for any 396
anticipated direct payments expected to be received by the taxing 397
authority from the government of the United States relating to the 398
bonds and the effect of any federal tax credits anticipated to be 399
available to owners of all or a portion of the bonds. The 400
estimated net average rate of interest, and any statutory or401
charter limit on interest rates that may then be in effect and402
that is subsequently amended, shall not be a limitation on the403
actual interest rate or rates on the securities when issued.404

       (C)(1) The taxing authority shall certify a copy of the405
legislation passed under division (B) of this section to the406
county auditor. The county auditor shall promptly calculate and407
advise and, not later than seventy-fiveeighty-five days before 408
the election, confirm that advice by certification to, the taxing 409
authority the estimated average annual property tax levy, 410
expressed in cents or dollars and cents for each one hundred 411
dollars of tax valuation and in mills for each one dollar of tax 412
valuation, that the county auditor estimates to be required 413
throughout the stated maturity of the bonds to pay the debt 414
charges on the bonds. In calculating the estimated average annual 415
property tax levy for this purpose, the county auditor shall 416
assume that the bonds are issued in one series bearing interest 417
and maturing in substantially equal principal amounts in each year 418
over the maximum number of years over which the principal of the 419
bonds may be paid as stated in that legislation, and that the 420
amount of the tax valuation of the subdivision for the current 421
year remains the same throughout the maturity of the bonds, except 422
as otherwise provided in division (C)(2) of this section. If the 423
tax valuation for the current year is not determined, the county 424
auditor shall base the calculation on the estimated amount of the 425
tax valuation submitted by the county auditor to the county budget 426
commission. If the subdivision is located in more than one county, 427
the county auditor shall obtain the assistance of the county 428
auditors of the other counties, and those county auditors shall 429
provide assistance, in establishing the tax valuation of the 430
subdivision for purposes of certifying the estimated average 431
annual property tax levy.432

       (2) When considering the tangible personal property component 433
of the tax valuation of the subdivision, the county auditor shall 434
take into account the assessment percentages prescribed in section 435
5711.22 of the Revised Code. The tax commissioner may issue rules, 436
orders, or instructions directing how the assessment percentages 437
must be utilized.438

       (D) After receiving the county auditor's advice under439
division (C) of this section, the taxing authority by legislation440
may determine to proceed with submitting the question of the issue441
of securities, and shall, not later than the seventy-fifth442
eighty-fifth day before the day of the election, file the 443
following with the board of elections:444

       (1) Copies of the legislation provided for in divisions (B)445
and (D) of this section;446

       (2) The amount of the estimated average annual property tax447
levy, expressed in cents or dollars and cents for each one hundred448
dollars of tax valuation and in mills for each one dollar of tax449
valuation, as estimated and certified to the taxing authority by450
the county auditor.451

       (E)(1) The board of elections shall prepare the ballots and452
make other necessary arrangements for the submission of the453
question to the electors of the subdivision. If the subdivision is 454
located in more than one county, the board shall inform the boards 455
of elections of the other counties of the filings with it, and 456
those other boards shall if appropriate make the other necessary 457
arrangements for the election in their counties. The election 458
shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the manner 459
provided in Title XXXV of the Revised Code.460

       (2) The election shall be held at the regular places for461
voting in the subdivision. If the electors of only a part of a462
precinct are qualified to vote at the election the board of463
elections may assign the electors in that part to an adjoining464
precinct, including an adjoining precinct in another county if the465
board of elections of the other county consents to and approves466
the assignment. Each elector so assigned shall be notified of that 467
fact prior to the election by notice mailed by the board of468
elections, in such manner as it determines, prior to the election.469

       (3) The board of elections shall publish a notice of the470
election, in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the471
subdivision, at least once no later than ten days prior to the472
election. The notice shall state all of the following:473

       (a) The principal amount of the proposed bond issue;474

       (b) The stated purpose for which the bonds are to be issued;475

       (c) The maximum number of years over which the principal of476
the bonds may be paid;477

       (d) The estimated additional average annual property tax478
levy, expressed in cents or dollars and cents for each one hundred479
dollars of tax valuation and in mills for each one dollar of tax480
valuation, to be levied outside the tax limitation, as estimated481
and certified to the taxing authority by the county auditor;482

       (e) The first calendar year in which the tax is expected to483
be due.484

       (F)(1) The form of the ballot to be used at the election485
shall be substantially either of the following, as applicable:486

       (a) "Shall bonds be issued by the ............ (name of487
subdivision) for the purpose of ........... (purpose of the bond488
issue) in the principal amount of .......... (principal amount of489
the bond issue), to be repaid annually over a maximum period of490
.......... (the maximum number of years over which the principal491
of the bonds may be paid) years, and an annual levy of property492
taxes be made outside the .......... (as applicable, "ten-mill" or493
"...charter tax") limitation, estimated by the county auditor to494
average over the repayment period of the bond issue ..........495
(number of mills) mills for each one dollar of tax valuation,496
which amounts to .......... (rate expressed in cents or dollars497
and cents, such as "36 cents" or "$1.41") for each one hundred498
dollars of tax valuation, commencing in .......... (first year the499
tax will be levied), first due in calendar year .......... (first500
calendar year in which the tax shall be due), to pay the annual501
debt charges on the bonds, and to pay debt charges on any notes502
issued in anticipation of those bonds?503

         504

  For the bond issue 505
  Against the bond issue   " 506

         507

       (b) In the case of an election held pursuant to legislation508
adopted under section 3375.43 or 3375.431 of the Revised Code:509

       "Shall bonds be issued for .......... (name of library) for510
the purpose of .......... (purpose of the bond issue), in the511
principal amount of .......... (amount of the bond issue) by512
.......... (the name of the subdivision that is to issue the bonds513
and levy the tax) as the issuer of the bonds, to be repaid514
annually over a maximum period of .......... (the maximum number515
of years over which the principal of the bonds may be paid) years,516
and an annual levy of property taxes be made outside the ten-mill517
limitation, estimated by the county auditor to average over the518
repayment period of the bond issue .......... (number of mills)519
mills for each one dollar of tax valuation, which amounts to520
.......... (rate expressed in cents or dollars and cents, such as521
"36 cents" or "$1.41") for each one hundred dollars of tax522
valuation, commencing in .......... (first year the tax will be523
levied), first due in calendar year .......... (first calendar524
year in which the tax shall be due), to pay the annual debt525
charges on the bonds, and to pay debt charges on any notes issued526
in anticipation of those bonds?527

         528

  For the bond issue 529
  Against the bond issue   " 530

         531

       (2) The purpose for which the bonds are to be issued shall be 532
printed in the space indicated, in boldface type.533

       (G) The board of elections shall promptly certify the results 534
of the election to the tax commissioner, the county auditor of 535
each county in which any part of the subdivision is located, and 536
the fiscal officer of the subdivision. The election, including the 537
proceedings for and result of the election, is incontestable other 538
than in a contest filed under section 3515.09 of the Revised Code 539
in which the plaintiff prevails.540

       (H) If a majority of the electors voting upon the question541
vote for it, the taxing authority of the subdivision may proceed542
under sections 133.21 to 133.33 of the Revised Code with the543
issuance of the securities and with the levy and collection of a544
property tax outside the tax limitation during the period the545
securities are outstanding sufficient in amount to pay the debt546
charges on the securities, including debt charges on any547
anticipatory securities required to be paid from that tax. If548
legislation passed under section 133.22 or 133.23 of the Revised549
Code authorizing those securities is filed with the county auditor550
on or before the last day of November, the amount of the voted551
property tax levy required to pay debt charges or estimated debt552
charges on the securities payable in the following year shall if553
requested by the taxing authority be included in the taxes levied554
for collection in the following year under section 319.30 of the555
Revised Code.556

       (I)(1) If, before any securities authorized at an election557
under this section are issued, the net indebtedness of the558
subdivision exceeds that applicable to that subdivision or those559
securities, then and so long as that is the case none of the560
securities may be issued.561

       (2) No securities authorized at an election under this562
section may be initially issued after the first day of the sixth563
January following the election, but this period of limitation564
shall not run for any time during which any part of the permanent565
improvement for which the securities have been authorized, or the566
issuing or validity of any part of the securities issued or to be567
issued, or the related proceedings, is involved or questioned568
before a court or a commission or other tribunal, administrative569
agency, or board.570

       (3) Securities representing a portion of the amount571
authorized at an election that are issued within the applicable572
limitation on net indebtedness are valid and in no manner affected573
by the fact that the balance of the securities authorized cannot574
be issued by reason of the net indebtedness limitation or lapse of575
time.576

       (4) Nothing in this division (I) shall be interpreted or577
applied to prevent the issuance of securities in an amount to fund578
or refund anticipatory securities lawfully issued.579

       (5) The limitations of divisions (I)(1) and (2) of this580
section do not apply to any securities authorized at an election581
under this section if at least ten per cent of the principal582
amount of the securities, including anticipatory securities,583
authorized has theretofore been issued, or if the securities are584
to be issued for the purpose of participating in any federally or585
state-assisted program.586

       (6) The certificate of the fiscal officer of the subdivision587
is conclusive proof of the facts referred to in this division.588

       Sec. 302.03.  (A) The board of county commissioners of any589
county may, by a two-thirds vote of the board, or shall, upon590
petition by three per cent of the electors of the county as591
determined by the number of votes cast therein for the office of592
governor at the most recent gubernatorial election, by resolution, 593
cause the board of elections in the county to submit to the 594
electors of the county the question of adopting one of the595
alternative forms of county government authorized by sections596
302.01 to 302.24 of the Revised Code. The question shall be voted 597
upon at the next general election occurring not less than598
seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the certification of the 599
resolution to the board of elections.600

       (B) If, in any county, a resolution is adopted by the board 601
of county commissioners requiring that the question of choosing a 602
commission to frame a county charter be submitted to the electors 603
thereof prior to the resolution provided for in this section, the 604
proposition to adopt an alternative form of county government 605
provided in sections 302.01 to 302.24 of the Revised Code, shall 606
not be submitted in that county as long as the question of 607
choosing such commission or of adopting a charter framed by such 608
commission is pending therein.609

       (C) Any proposition for an alternative form of county610
government shall specify the number of members of the board of611
county commissioners, how many shall be elected at large, or how612
many shall be elected by districts.613

       Sec. 302.09.  When a vacancy occurs in the board of county 614
commissioners or in the office of county auditor, county 615
treasurer, prosecuting attorney, clerk of the court of common 616
pleas, sheriff, county recorder, county engineer, or coroner more 617
than fortyfifty days before the next general election for state 618
and county officers, the vacancy shall be filled as provided for 619
in divisions (A) and (B) of section 305.02 of the Revised Code.620

       Sec. 303.11.  If the zoning resolution is adopted by the621
board of county commissioners, such board shall cause the question 622
of whether or not the proposed plan of zoning shall be put into 623
effect to be submitted to the electors residing in the624
unincorporated area of the county included in the proposed plan of 625
zoning for their approval or rejection at the next primary or626
general election, or a special election may be called for this627
purpose. Such resolution shall be filed with the board of628
elections not later than four p.m. on the seventy-fifth629
eighty-fifth day before the day of the election. No zoning 630
regulations shall be put into effect in any township, unless a 631
majority of the vote cast on the issue in that township is in 632
favor of the proposed plan of zoning. Upon certification by the 633
board of elections the resolution shall take immediate effect in 634
all townships which voted approval, eliminating from the plan any 635
township which did not vote approval.636

       Within five working days after the resolution's effective637
date, the board of county commissioners shall file it, including638
text and maps, in the office of the county recorder. The board639
shall also file duplicates of the same documents with the regional 640
or county planning commission, if one exists, within the same 641
period.642

       The board shall file all resolutions, including text and643
maps, that are in effect on January 1, 1992, in the office of the644
county recorder within thirty working days after that date. The645
board shall also file duplicates of the same documents with the646
regional or county planning commission, if one exists, within the647
same period.648

       The failure to file a resolution, or any text and maps, or649
duplicates of any of these documents, with the office of the650
county recorder or the county or regional planning commission as651
required by this section does not invalidate the resolution and is 652
not grounds for an appeal of any decision of the board of zoning 653
appeals.654

       Sec. 303.12.  (A)(1) Amendments to the zoning resolution may655
be initiated by motion of the county rural zoning commission, by656
the passage of a resolution by the board of county commissioners, 657
or by the filing of an application by one or more of the owners or658
lessees of property within the area proposed to be changed or659
affected by the proposed amendment with the county rural zoning660
commission. The board of county commissioners may require that the 661
owner or lessee of property filing an application to amend the662
zoning resolution pay a fee to defray the cost of advertising,663
mailing, filing with the county recorder, and other expenses. If664
the board of county commissioners requires such a fee, it shall be665
required generally, for each application. The board of county666
commissioners, upon the passage of such a resolution, shall 667
certify it to the county rural zoning commission.668

       (2) Upon the adoption of a motion by the county rural zoning 669
commission, the certification of a resolution by the board of 670
county commissioners to the commission, or the filing of an 671
application by property owners or lessees as described in division 672
(A)(1) of this section with the commission, the commission shall 673
set a date for a public hearing, which date shall not be less than 674
twenty nor more than forty days from the date of adoption of such 675
a motion, the date of the certification of such a resolution, or 676
the date of the filing of such an application. Notice of the 677
hearing shall be given by the commission by one publication in one 678
or more newspapers of general circulation in each township 679
affected by the proposed amendment at least ten days before the 680
date of the hearing.681

       (B) If the proposed amendment intends to rezone or redistrict 682
ten or fewer parcels of land, as listed on the county auditor's 683
current tax list, written notice of the hearing shall be mailed by 684
the county rural zoning commission, by first class mail, at least685
ten days before the date of the public hearing to all owners of686
property within and contiguous to and directly across the street687
from the area proposed to be rezoned or redistricted to the688
addresses of those owners appearing on the county auditor's689
current tax list. The failure of delivery of that notice shall not690
invalidate any such amendment.691

       (C) If the proposed amendment intends to rezone or redistrict 692
ten or fewer parcels of land as listed on the county auditor's 693
current tax list, the published and mailed notices shall set forth 694
the time, date, and place of the public hearing and include all of 695
the following:696

       (1) The name of the county rural zoning commission that will 697
be conducting the hearing;698

       (2) A statement indicating that the motion, resolution, or699
application is an amendment to the zoning resolution;700

       (3) A list of the addresses of all properties to be rezoned701
or redistricted by the proposed amendment and of the names of702
owners of these properties, as they appear on the county auditor's703
current tax list;704

       (4) The present zoning classification of property named in705
the proposed amendment and the proposed zoning classification of 706
that property;707

       (5) The time and place where the motion, resolution, or708
application proposing to amend the zoning resolution will be709
available for examination for a period of at least ten days prior710
to the hearing;711

       (6) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of712
the public hearing by publication, by mail, or by both publication 713
and mail;714

       (7) A statement that, after the conclusion of the hearing,715
the matter will be submitted to the board of county commissioners716
for its action;717

       (8) Any other information requested by the commission.718

       (D) If the proposed amendment alters the text of the zoning719
resolution, or rezones or redistricts more than ten parcels of720
land as listed on the county auditor's current tax list, the721
published notice shall set forth the time, date, and place of the722
public hearing and include all of the following:723

       (1) The name of the county rural zoning commission that will 724
be conducting the hearing on the proposed amendment;725

       (2) A statement indicating that the motion, application, or726
resolution is an amendment to the zoning resolution;727

       (3) The time and place where the text and maps of the728
proposed amendment will be available for examination for a period729
of at least ten days prior to the hearing;730

       (4) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of731
the hearing by publication;732

       (5) A statement that, after the conclusion of the hearing,733
the matter will be submitted to the board of county commissioners734
for its action;735

       (6) Any other information requested by the commission.736

       Hearings shall be held in the county court house or in a737
public place designated by the commission.738

       (E) Within five days after the adoption of the motion 739
described in division (A) of this section, the certification of 740
the resolution described in division (A) of this section, or the 741
filing of the application described in division (A) of this 742
section, the county rural zoning commission shall transmit a copy 743
of it together with text and map pertaining to it to the county or 744
regional planning commission, if there is such a commission.745

       The county or regional planning commission shall recommend746
the approval or denial of the proposed amendment or the approval747
of some modification of it and shall submit its recommendation to 748
the county rural zoning commission. The recommendation shall be 749
considered at the public hearing held by the county rural zoning 750
commission on the proposed amendment.751

       The county rural zoning commission, within thirty days after 752
the hearing, shall recommend the approval or denial of the753
proposed amendment, or the approval of some modification of it,754
and shall submit that recommendation together with the motion,755
application, or resolution involved, the text and map pertaining 756
to the proposed amendment, and the recommendation of the county or 757
regional planning commission on it to the board of county 758
commissioners.759

       The board of county commissioners, upon receipt of that760
recommendation, shall set a time for a public hearing on the761
proposed amendment, which date shall be not more than thirty days762
from the date of the receipt of that recommendation. Notice of the 763
hearing shall be given by the board by one publication in one or 764
more newspapers of general circulation in the county, at least ten765
days before the date of the hearing.766

       (F) If the proposed amendment intends to rezone or redistrict 767
ten or fewer parcels of land as listed on the county auditor's 768
current tax list, the published notice shall set forth the time, 769
date, and place of the public hearing and include all of the 770
following:771

       (1) The name of the board of county commissioners that will 772
be conducting the hearing;773

       (2) A statement indicating that the motion, application, or774
resolution is an amendment to the zoning resolution;775

       (3) A list of the addresses of all properties to be rezoned776
or redistricted by the proposed amendment and of the names of777
owners of those properties, as they appear on the county auditor's778
current tax list;779

       (4) The present zoning classification of property named in780
the proposed amendment and the proposed zoning classification of 781
that property;782

       (5) The time and place where the motion, application, or783
resolution proposing to amend the zoning resolution will be784
available for examination for a period of at least ten days prior785
to the hearing;786

       (6) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of787
the hearing by publication, by mail, or by both publication and 788
mail;789

       (7) Any other information requested by the board.790

       (G) If the proposed amendment alters the text of the zoning791
resolution, or rezones or redistricts more than ten parcels of792
land as listed on the county auditor's current tax list, the793
published notice shall set forth the time, date, and place of the794
public hearing and include all of the following:795

       (1) The name of the board of county commissioners that will 796
be conducting the hearing on the proposed amendment;797

       (2) A statement indicating that the motion, application, or798
resolution is an amendment to the zoning resolution;799

       (3) The time and place where the text and maps of the800
proposed amendment will be available for examination for a period801
of at least ten days prior to the hearing;802

       (4) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of803
the hearing by publication;804

       (5) Any other information requested by the board.805

       (H) Within twenty days after its public hearing, the board of 806
county commissioners shall either adopt or deny the recommendation 807
of the county rural zoning commission or adopt some modification 808
of it. If the board denies or modifies the commission's 809
recommendation, a majority vote of the board shall be required.810

        The proposed amendment, if adopted by the board, shall become 811
effective in thirty days after the date of its adoption, unless, 812
within thirty days after the adoption, there is presented to the813
board of county commissioners a petition, signed by a number of814
qualified voters residing in the unincorporated area of the815
township or part of that unincorporated area included in the816
zoning plan equal to not less than eight per cent of the total817
vote cast for all candidates for governor in that area at the most818
recent general election at which a governor was elected,819
requesting the board to submit the amendment to the electors of 820
that area for approval or rejection at a special election to be821
held on the day of the next primary or general election occurring 822
at least eighty-five days after the petition is submitted. Each823
part of this petition shall contain the number and the full and824
correct title, if any, of the zoning amendment resolution, 825
motion, or application, furnishing the name by which the amendment 826
is known and a brief summary of its contents. In addition to827
meeting the requirements of this section, each petition shall be828
governed by the rules specified in section 3501.38 of the Revised829
Code.830

       The form of a petition calling for a zoning referendum and831
the statement of the circulator shall be substantially as follows:832

"PETITION FOR ZONING REFERENDUM
833

(if the proposal is identified by a particular name or number, or834
both, these should be inserted here) ........................835

       A proposal to amend the zoning map of the unincorporated area836
of .............. Township, ................... County, Ohio,837
adopted ....... (date) .......... (followed by brief summary of838
the proposal).839

       To the Board of County Commissioners of ..................840
County, Ohio:841

       We, the undersigned, being electors residing in the842
unincorporated area of ............... Township, included within843
the ................. County Zoning Plan, equal to not less than844
eight per cent of the total vote cast for all candidates for845
governor in the area at the preceding general election at which a846
governor was elected, request the Board of County Commissioners to847
submit this amendment of the zoning resolution to the electors of848
............. Township residing within the unincorporated area of849
the township included in the ............... County Zoning850
Resolution, for approval or rejection at a special election to be851
held on the day of the next primary or general election to be held852
on ........(date)......., pursuant to section 303.12 of the853
Revised Code.854

Street Address Date of 855
Signature or R.F.D. Township Precinct County Signing 856
857
858

STATEMENT OF CIRCULATOR
859

I, .....................(name of circulator)...................,860
declare under penalty of election falsification that I am an861
elector of the state of Ohio and reside at the address appearing862
below my signature; that I am the circulator of the foregoing part863
petition containing .....(number)....... signatures; that I have 864
witnessed the affixing of every signature; that all signers were 865
to the best of my knowledge and belief qualified to sign; and that 866
every signature is to the best of my knowledge and belief the867
signature of the person whose signature it purports to be or of an 868
attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the 869
Revised Code.870

871
(Signature of circulator) 872
873
(Address of circulator's permanent 874
residence in this state) 875
876
(City, village, or township, 877
and zip code) 878

       WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY879
OF THE FIFTH DEGREE."880

       No amendment for which such a referendum vote has been881
requested shall be put into effect unless a majority of the vote882
cast on the issue is in favor of the amendment. Upon certification 883
by the board of elections that the amendment has been approved by 884
the voters, it shall take immediate effect.885

       Within five working days after an amendment's effective date,886
the board of county commissioners shall file the text and maps of887
the amendment in the office of the county recorder and with the888
regional or county planning commission, if one exists.889

       The failure to file any amendment, or any text and maps, or890
duplicates of any of these documents, with the office of the891
county recorder or the county or regional planning commission as892
required by this section does not invalidate the amendment and is893
not grounds for an appeal of any decision of the board of zoning894
appeals.895

       Sec. 303.25.  In any township in which there is in force a896
plan of county zoning, the plan may be repealed by the board of897
county commissioners, as to such township, in the following898
manner:899

       (A) The board may adopt a resolution upon its own initiative.900

       (B) The board shall adopt a resolution, if there is presented 901
to it a petition, similar in all relevant aspects to that 902
prescribed in section 303.12 of the Revised Code, signed by a 903
number of qualified voters residing in the unincorporated area of 904
such township included in the zoning plan equal to not less than 905
eight per cent of the total vote cast for all candidates for906
governor in such area at the most recent general election at which 907
a governor was elected, requesting the question of whether or not 908
the plan of zoning in effect in such township shall be repealed, 909
to be submitted to the electors residing in the unincorporated 910
area of the township included in the zoning plan at a special 911
election to be held on the day of the next primary or general 912
election. The resolution adopted by the board of county 913
commissioners to cause such question to be submitted to the 914
electors shall be certified to the board of elections not later 915
than seventy-fiveeighty-five days prior to the day of election at916
which the question is to be voted upon. In the event a majority of 917
the vote cast on such question in the township is in favor of918
repeal of zoning, then such regulations shall no longer be of any919
effect. Not more than one such election shall be held in any two920
calendar years.921

       Sec. 305.02.  (A) If a vacancy in the office of county922
commissioner, prosecuting attorney, county auditor, county923
treasurer, clerk of the court of common pleas, sheriff, county924
recorder, county engineer, or coroner occurs more than fortyfifty925
days before the next general election for state and county 926
officers, a successor shall be elected at such election for the 927
unexpired term unless such term expires within one year 928
immediately following the date of such general election.929

       In either event, the vacancy shall be filled as provided in930
this section and the appointee shall hold his office until a931
successor is elected and qualified.932

       (B) If a vacancy occurs from any cause in any of the offices 933
named in division (A) of this section, the county central934
committee of the political party with which the last occupant of935
the office was affiliated shall appoint a person to hold the936
office and to perform the duties thereof until a successor is937
elected and has qualified, except that if such vacancy occurs938
because of the death, resignation, or inability to take the office 939
of an officer-elect whose term has not yet begun, an appointment 940
to take such office at the beginning of the term shall be made by 941
the central committee of the political party with which such 942
officer-elect was affiliated.943

       (C) Not less than five nor more than forty-five days after a 944
vacancy occurs, the county central committee shall meet for the945
purpose of making an appointment under this section. Not less than 946
four days before the date of such meeting the chairmanchairperson947
or secretary of such central committee shall send by first class948
mail to every member of such central committee a written notice949
which shall state the time and place of such meeting and the950
purpose thereof. A majority of the members of the central951
committee present at such meeting may make the appointment.952

       (D) If the last occupant of the office or the officer-elect 953
was elected as an independent candidate, the board of county 954
commissioners shall make such appointment at the time when the 955
vacancy occurs, except where the vacancy is in the office of 956
county commissioner, in which case the prosecuting attorney and 957
the remaining commissioners or a majority of them shall make the 958
appointment.959

       (E) Appointments made under this section shall be certified 960
by the appointing county central committee or by the board of 961
county commissioners to the county board of elections and to the 962
secretary of state, and the persons so appointed and certified 963
shall be entitled to all remuneration provided by law for the 964
offices to which they are appointed.965

       (F) The board of county commissioners may appoint a person to 966
hold any of the offices named in division (A) of this section as 967
an acting officer and to perform the duties thereof between the 968
occurrence of the vacancy and the time when the officer appointed 969
by the central committee qualifies and takes the office.970

       (G) A person appointed prosecuting attorney or assistant971
prosecuting attorney shall give bond and take the oath of office972
prescribed by section 309.03 of the Revised Code for the973
prosecuting attorney.974

       Sec. 305.31.  The procedure for submitting to a referendum a 975
resolution adopted by a board of county commissioners under 976
division (H) of section 307.695 of the Revised Code that is not 977
submitted to the electors of the county for their approval or 978
disapproval; any resolution adopted by a board of county 979
commissioners pursuant to division (D)(1) of section 307.697, 980
section 322.02, 322.06, or 324.02, sections 1515.22 and 1515.24, 981
division (B)(1) of section 4301.421, section 4504.02, 5739.021, or 982
5739.026, division (A)(6) of section 5739.09, section 5741.021 or983
5741.023, or division (C)(1) of section 5743.024 of the Revised984
Code; or a rule adopted pursuant to section 307.79 of the Revised985
Code shall be as prescribed by this section.986

       Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, when a987
petition, signed by ten per cent of the number of electors who988
voted for governor at the most recent general election for the989
office of governor in the county, is filed with the county auditor990
within thirty days after the date the resolution is passed or rule 991
is adopted by the board of county commissioners, or is filed992
within forty-five days after the resolution is passed, in the case993
of a resolution adopted pursuant to section 5739.021 of the994
Revised Code that is passed within one year after a resolution995
adopted pursuant to that section has been rejected or repealed by996
the electors, requesting that the resolution be submitted to the997
electors of the county for their approval or rejection, the county 998
auditor shall, after ten days following the filing of the999
petition, and not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth1000
eighty-fifth day before the day of election, transmit a certified 1001
copy of the text of the resolution or rule to the board of 1002
elections. In the case of a petition requesting that a resolution 1003
adopted under division (D)(1) of section 307.697, division (B)(1) 1004
of section 4301.421, or division (C)(1) of section 5743.024 of the 1005
Revised Code be submitted to electors for their approval or 1006
rejection, the petition shall be signed by seven per cent of the 1007
number of electors who voted for governor at the most recent 1008
election for the office of governor in the county. The county 1009
auditor shall transmit the petition to the board together with the 1010
certified copy of the resolution or rule. The board shall examine 1011
all signatures on the petition to determine the number of electors 1012
of the county who signed the petition. The board shall return the1013
petition to the auditor within ten days after receiving it,1014
together with a statement attesting to the number of such electors1015
who signed the petition. The board shall submit the resolution or1016
rule to the electors of the county, for their approval or1017
rejection, at the succeeding general election held in the county1018
in any year, or on the day of the succeeding primary election held1019
in the county in even-numbered years, occurring subsequent to1020
seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the auditor certifies the 1021
sufficiency and validity of the petition to the board of 1022
elections.1023

       No resolution shall go into effect until approved by the1024
majority of those voting upon it. However, a rule shall take1025
effect and remain in effect unless and until a majority of the1026
electors voting on the question of repeal approve the repeal. 1027
Sections 305.31 to 305.41 of the Revised Code do not prevent a1028
county, after the passage of any resolution or adoption of any1029
rule, from proceeding at once to give any notice or make any1030
publication required by the resolution or rule.1031

       The board of county commissioners shall make available to any1032
person, upon request, a certified copy of any resolution or rule1033
subject to the procedure for submitting a referendum under1034
sections 305.31 to 305.42 of the Revised Code beginning on the1035
date the resolution or rule is adopted by the board. The board may 1036
charge a fee for the cost of copying the resolution or rule.1037

       As used in this section, "certified copy" means a copy1038
containing a written statement attesting that it is a true and1039
exact reproduction of the original resolution or rule.1040

       Sec. 306.32.  Any county, or any two or more counties,1041
municipal corporations, or townships, or any combination of these,1042
may create a regional transit authority by the adoption of a1043
resolution or ordinance by the board of county commissioners of1044
each county, the legislative authority of each municipal1045
corporation, and the board of township trustees of each township1046
which is to create or to join in the creation of the regional1047
transit authority. The resolution or ordinance shall state:1048

       (A) The necessity for the creation of a regional transit1049
authority;1050

       (B) The counties, municipal corporations, or townships which1051
are to create or to join in the creation of the regional transit1052
authority;1053

       (C) The official name by which the regional transit authority 1054
shall be known;1055

       (D) The place in which the principal office of the regional1056
transit authority will be located or the manner in which it may be1057
selected;1058

       (E) The number, term, and compensation, or method for1059
establishing compensation, of the members of the board of trustees1060
of the regional transit authority. Compensation shall not exceed1061
fifty dollars for each board and committee meeting attended by a1062
member, except that if compensation is provided annually it shall1063
not exceed six thousand dollars for the president of the board or1064
four thousand eight hundred dollars for each other board member.1065

       (F) The manner in which vacancies on the board of trustees of 1066
the regional transit authority shall be filled;1067

       (G) The manner and to what extent the expenses of the1068
regional transit authority shall be apportioned among the1069
counties, municipal corporations, and townships creating it;1070

       (H) The purposes, including the kinds of transit facilities,1071
for which the regional transit authority is organized.1072

       The regional transit authority provided for in the resolution 1073
or ordinance shall be deemed to be created upon the adoption of 1074
the resolution or ordinance by the board of county commissioners 1075
of each county, the legislative authority of each municipal 1076
corporation, and the board of township trustees of each township 1077
enumerated in the resolution or ordinance.1078

       The resolution or ordinance creating a regional transit1079
authority may be amended to include additional counties, municipal1080
corporations, or townships or for any other purpose, by the1081
adoption of the amendment by the board of county commissioners of1082
each county, the legislative authority of each municipal1083
corporation, and the board of township trustees of each township1084
which has created or joined or proposes to join the regional1085
transit authority.1086

       After each county, municipal corporation, and township which1087
has created or joined or proposes to join the regional transit1088
authority has adopted its resolution or ordinance approving1089
inclusion of additional counties, municipal corporations, or1090
townships in the regional transit authority, a copy of each 1091
resolution or ordinance shall be filed with the clerk of the board1092
of the county commissioners of each county, the clerk of the1093
legislative authority of each municipal corporation, and the1094
fiscal officer of the board of trustees of each township proposed1095
to be included in the regional transit authority. The inclusion is 1096
effective when all such filing has been completed, unless the 1097
regional transit authority to which territory is to be added has 1098
authority to levy an ad valorem tax on property, or a sales tax, 1099
within its territorial boundaries, in which event the inclusion 1100
shall become effective on the sixtieth day after the last such 1101
filing is accomplished, unless, prior to the expiration of the 1102
sixty-day period, qualified electors residing in the area proposed 1103
to be added to the regional transit authority, equal in number to 1104
at least ten per cent of the qualified electors from the area who1105
voted for governor at the last gubernatorial election, file a1106
petition of referendum against the inclusion. Any petition of1107
referendum filed under this section shall be filed at the office1108
of the secretary of the board of trustees of the regional transit1109
authority. The person presenting the petition shall be given a1110
receipt containing on it the time of the day, the date, and the1111
purpose of the petition. The secretary of the board of trustees of 1112
the regional transit authority shall cause the appropriate board 1113
or boards of elections to check the sufficiency of signatures on 1114
any petition of referendum filed under this section and, if found 1115
to be sufficient, shall present the petition to the board of 1116
trustees at a meeting of said board which occurs not later than 1117
thirty days following the filing of said petition. Upon1118
presentation to the board of trustees of a petition of referendum1119
against the proposed inclusion, the board of trustees shall1120
promptly certify the proposal to the board or boards of elections1121
for the purpose of having the proposal placed on the ballot at the1122
next general or primary election which occurs not less than1123
seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the date of the meeting of 1124
said board, or at a special election, the date of which shall be1125
specified in the certification, which date shall be not less than1126
seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the date of such meeting of 1127
the board. Signatures on a petition of referendum may be withdrawn 1128
up to and including the meeting of the board of trustees 1129
certifying the proposal to the appropriate board or boards of 1130
elections. If territory of more than one county, municipal 1131
corporation, or township is to be added to the regional transit 1132
authority, the electors of the territories of the counties, 1133
municipal corporations, or townships which are to be added shall 1134
vote as a district, and the majority affirmative vote shall be 1135
determined by the vote cast in the district as a whole. Upon 1136
certification of a proposal to the appropriate board or boards of 1137
elections pursuant to this section, the board or boards of 1138
election shall make the necessary arrangements for the submission 1139
of the question to the electors of the territory to be added to 1140
the regional transit authority qualified to vote on the question, 1141
and the election shall be held, canvassed, and certified in the 1142
manner provided for the submission of tax levies under section 1143
5705.191 of the Revised Code, except that the question appearing 1144
on the ballot shall read:1145

       "Shall the territory within the .........................1146
(Name or names of political subdivisions to be joined) be added to1147
.................................. (Name) regional transit1148
authority?" and shall a(n) .......... (here insert type of tax or1149
taxes) at a rate of taxation not to exceed ..... (here insert1150
maximum tax rate or rates) be levied for all transit purposes?"1151

       If the question is approved by at least a majority of the1152
electors voting on the question, the joinder is immediately1153
effective, and the regional transit authority may extend the levy1154
of the tax against all the taxable property within the territory1155
which has been added. If the question is approved at a general1156
election or at a special election occurring prior to the general 1157
election but after the fifteenth day of July, the regional transit 1158
authority may amend its budget and resolution adopted pursuant to 1159
section 5705.34 of the Revised Code, and the levy shall be placed 1160
on the current tax list and duplicate and collected as other taxes 1161
are collected from all taxable property within the territorial1162
boundaries of the regional transit authority, including the1163
territory within each political subdivision added as a result of 1164
the election.1165

       The territorial boundaries of a regional transit authority1166
shall be coextensive with the territorial boundaries of the1167
counties, municipal corporations, and townships included within1168
the regional transit authority, provided that the same area may be1169
included in more than one regional transit authority so long as1170
the regional transit authorities are not organized for purposes as1171
provided for in the resolutions or ordinances creating the same,1172
and any amendments to them, relating to the same kinds of transit1173
facilities; and provided further, that if a regional transit1174
authority includes only a portion of an entire county, a regional1175
transit authority for the same purposes may be created in the1176
remaining portion of the same county by resolution of the board of1177
county commissioners acting alone or in conjunction with municipal1178
corporations and townships as provided in this section.1179

       No regional transit authority shall be organized after1180
January 1, 1975, to include any area already included in a1181
regional transit authority, except that any regional transit1182
authority organized after June 29, 1974, and having territorial 1183
boundaries entirely within a single county shall, upon adoption by 1184
the board of county commissioners of the county of a resolution 1185
creating a regional transit authority including within its 1186
territorial jurisdiction the existing regional transit authority 1187
and for purposes including the purposes for which the existing1188
regional transit authority was created, be dissolved and its1189
territory included in such new regional transit authority. Any1190
resolution creating such a new regional transit authority shall1191
make adequate provision for satisfaction of the obligations of the1192
dissolved regional transit authority.1193

       Sec. 306.321.  The resolution or ordinance creating a1194
regional transit authority may be amended to include additional1195
counties, municipal corporations, or townships by the adoption of 1196
an amendment by the board of county commissioners of each county, 1197
the legislative authority of each municipal corporation, and the 1198
board of township trustees of each township which has created or, 1199
prior to the adoption of the amendment, joined or proposes to join 1200
the regional transit authority.1201

       After each county, municipal corporation, and township which1202
has created or, prior to the adoption of the amendment, joined or 1203
proposes to join the regional transit authority has adopted its 1204
resolution or ordinance approving inclusion of additional 1205
counties, municipal corporations, or townships in the regional 1206
transit authority, a copy of each resolution or ordinance shall be 1207
filed with the clerk of the board of the county commissioners of 1208
each county, the clerk of the legislative authority of each 1209
municipal corporation, and the fiscal officer of the board of 1210
trustees of each township proposed to be included in the regional 1211
transit authority.1212

       Any ordinances or resolutions adopted pursuant to this1213
section approving inclusion of additional counties, municipal1214
corporations, or townships in the regional transit authority shall 1215
provide that the board of trustees of the regional transit1216
authority must, not later than the tenth day following the day on1217
which the filing of the ordinances or resolutions, as required by1218
the immediately preceding paragraph, is completed, adopt its1219
resolution providing for submission to the electors of the1220
regional transit authority as enlarged, of the question pursuant1221
to section 306.49 of the Revised Code, of the renewal, the renewal 1222
and increase, or the increase of, or the imposition of an1223
additional, ad valorem tax, or of the question pursuant to section 1224
306.70 of the Revised Code, of the renewal, the renewal and 1225
increase, or the increase of, or the imposition of an additional, 1226
sales and use tax. The resolution submitting the question of the 1227
tax shall specify the date of the election, which shall be not 1228
less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after certification of the 1229
resolution to the board of elections and which shall be consistent 1230
with the requirements of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code. The 1231
inclusion of the territory of the additional counties, municipal 1232
corporations, or townships in the regional transit authority shall 1233
be effective as of the date on which the resolution of the board 1234
of trustees of the regional transit authority is adopted 1235
submitting the question to the electors, provided that until the 1236
question is approved, existing contracts providing payment for 1237
transit services within the added territory shall remain in effect 1238
and transit services shall not be affected by the inclusion of the 1239
additional territory. The resolution shall be certified to the 1240
board of elections and the election shall be held, canvassed, and 1241
certified as provided in section 306.49 of the Revised Code in the 1242
case of an ad valorem tax or in section 306.70 of the Revised Code 1243
in the case of a sales and use tax.1244

       If the question of the tax which is submitted is not approved1245
by a majority of the electors of the enlarged regional transit1246
authority voting on the question, as of the day following the day1247
on which the results of the election become conclusive, the1248
additional counties, municipal corporations, or townships, which1249
had been included in the regional transit authority as of the date 1250
of the adoption of the resolution submitting to the electors the 1251
question, shall be removed from the territory of the regional 1252
transit authority and shall no longer be a part of that authority 1253
without any further action by either the political subdivisions 1254
which were included in the authority prior to the adoption of the 1255
resolution submitting the question to the electors or of the 1256
political subdivisions added to the authority as a result of the 1257
adoption of the resolution. The regional transit authority reduced 1258
to its territory as it existed prior to the inclusion of the 1259
additional counties, municipal corporations, or townships, shall 1260
be entitled to levy and collect any ad valorem or sales and use 1261
taxes which it was authorized to levy and collect prior to the 1262
enlargement of its territory and for which authorization has not 1263
expired, as if the enlargement had not occurred.1264

       If the question of the tax which is submitted provides for a1265
sales and use tax to be imposed and the question is approved, and1266
the regional transit authority had previously been authorized1267
pursuant to section 306.49 of the Revised Code to levy an ad1268
valorem tax, the regional transit authority shall appropriate from 1269
the first moneys received from the sales and use tax in each year, 1270
the full amount required in order to pay the principal of and 1271
interest on any notes of the regional transit authority issued 1272
pursuant to section 306.49 of the Revised Code, in anticipation of 1273
the collection of the ad valorem tax; and shall not thereafter 1274
levy and collect the ad valorem tax previously approved unless the 1275
levy and collection is necessary to pay the principal of and 1276
interest on notes issued in anticipation of the tax in order to 1277
avoid impairing the obligation of the contract between the 1278
regional transit authority and the note holders.1279

       If the question of the additional or renewal tax levy is1280
approved, the tax may be levied and collected as is otherwise 1281
provided for an ad valorem tax or a sales and use tax imposed by a 1282
regional transit authority, provided that if a question relating 1283
to an ad valorem tax is approved at the general election or at a 1284
special election occurring prior to a general election, but after 1285
the fifteenth day of July, the regional transit authority may 1286
amend its budget for its next fiscal year and its resolution1287
adopted pursuant to section 5705.34 of the Revised Code or adopt1288
such resolution, and the levy shall be placed on the current tax1289
list and duplicate and collected as all other taxes are collected1290
from all taxable property within the enlarged territory of the1291
regional transit authority including the territory within each1292
political subdivision which has been added to the regional transit 1293
authority pursuant to this section, provided further that if a 1294
question relating to sales and use tax is approved after the1295
fifteenth day of July in any calendar year, the regional transit1296
authority may amend its budget for the current and next fiscal1297
year and any resolution adopted pursuant to section 5705.34 of the 1298
Revised Code, to reflect the imposition of the sales and use tax 1299
and shall amend its budget for the next fiscal year and any1300
resolution adopted pursuant to section 5705.34 of the Revised Code 1301
to comply with the immediately preceding paragraph. If the budget 1302
of the regional transit authority is amended pursuant to this 1303
paragraph, the county auditor shall prepare and deliver an amended1304
certificate of estimated resources to reflect the change in1305
anticipated revenues of the regional transit authority.1306

       The procedures of this section are in addition to and an1307
alternative to those established in section 306.32 of the Revised1308
Code for joining to a regional transit authority additional1309
counties, municipal corporations, or townships.1310

       Sec. 306.70.  A tax proposed to be levied by a board of1311
county commissioners or by the board of trustees of a regional1312
transit authority pursuant to sections 5739.023 and 5741.022 of1313
the Revised Code shall not become effective until it is submitted1314
to the electors residing within the county or within the1315
territorial boundaries of the regional transit authority and1316
approved by a majority of the electors voting on it. Such question 1317
shall be submitted at a general election or at a special election 1318
on a day specified in the resolution levying the tax and occurring 1319
not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after such resolution1320
is certified to the board of elections, in accordance with section1321
3505.071 of the Revised Code.1322

       The board of elections of the county or of each county in1323
which any territory of the regional transit authority is located1324
shall make the necessary arrangements for the submission of such1325
question to the electors of the county or regional transit1326
authority, and the election shall be held, canvassed, and1327
certified in the same manner as regular elections for the election1328
of county officers. Notice of the election shall be published in1329
one or more newspapers which in the aggregate are of general1330
circulation in the territory of the county or of the regional1331
transit authority once a week for two consecutive weeks prior to1332
the election and, if the board of elections operates and maintains 1333
a web site, notice of the election also shall be posted on that 1334
web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall 1335
state the type, rate, and purpose of the tax to be levied, the 1336
length of time during which the tax will be in effect, and the 1337
time and place of the election.1338

       More than one such question may be submitted at the same1339
election. The form of the ballots cast at such election shall be:1340

       "Shall a(n) ................ (sales and use) .............1341
tax be levied for all transit purposes of the ..................1342
(here insert name of the county or regional transit authority) at1343
a rate not exceeding ................... (here insert percentage)1344
per cent for ................ (here insert number of years the tax1345
is to be in effect, or that it is to be in effect for a continuing1346
period of time)?"1347

       If the tax proposed to be levied is a continuation of an1348
existing tax, whether at the same rate or at an increased or1349
reduced rate, or an increase in the rate of an existing tax, the1350
notice and ballot form shall so state.1351

       The board of elections to which the resolution was certified1352
shall certify the results of the election to the county auditor of1353
the county or secretary-treasurer of the regional transit1354
authority levying the tax and to the tax commissioner of the1355
state.1356

       Sec. 306.71.  The question of the decrease of the rate of a1357
tax approved for a continuing period of time by the voters of a1358
county or regional transit authority pursuant to sections 5739.023 1359
and 5741.022 of the Revised Code may be initiated by the filing of 1360
a petition with the board of elections of the county, or in the 1361
case of a regional transit authority with the board of elections 1362
as determined pursuant to section 3505.071 of the Revised Code, 1363
prior to the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the general1364
election in any year requesting that an election be held on such1365
question. Such petition shall state the amount of the proposed1366
decrease in the rate of the tax and shall be signed by at least1367
ten per cent of the number of qualified electors residing in such1368
county, or in the territory of the regional transit authority, who 1369
voted at the last general election.1370

       After determination by it that such petition is valid, the1371
board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of1372
the county or regional transit authority at the succeeding general 1373
election. The election shall be conducted, notice thereof shall be 1374
given, and the results thereof shall be certified in the manner 1375
provided in section 306.70 of the Revised Code. If a majority of 1376
the qualified electors voting on such question approve the 1377
proposed decrease in rate, such decrease in rate shall become 1378
effective on the first day of the second January after such 1379
election.1380

       In any case where bonds, or notes in anticipation of bonds,1381
of a regional transit authority have been issued under section1382
306.40 of the Revised Code without a vote of the electors while1383
the tax proposed to be reduced was in effect, the board of1384
trustees of the regional transit authority shall continue to levy1385
and collect under authority of the original election authorizing1386
the tax a rate of tax in each year which the authority reasonably1387
estimates will produce an amount in that year equal to the amount1388
of principal of and interest on such bonds as is payable in that1389
year.1390

       Sec. 307.676. (A) As used in this section:1391

       (1) "Food and beverages" means any raw, cooked, or processed 1392
edible substance used or intended for use in whole or in part for 1393
human consumption, including ice, water, spirituous liquors, wine, 1394
mixed beverages, beer, soft drinks, soda, and other beverages.1395

       (2) "Convention facilities authority" has the same meaning as 1396
in section 351.01 of the Revised Code.1397

       (3) "Convention center" has the same meaning as in section 1398
307.695 of the Revised Code.1399

       (B) The legislative authority of a county with a population 1400
of one million or more according to the most recent federal 1401
decennial census may, by resolution adopted on or before August 1402
30, 2004, by a majority of the members of the legislative 1403
authority and with the subsequent approval of a majority of the 1404
electors of the county voting upon it, levy a tax of not more than 1405
two per cent on every retail sale in the county of food and 1406
beverages to be consumed on the premises where sold to pay the 1407
expenses of administering the tax and to provide revenues for the 1408
county general fund. Such resolution shall direct the board of 1409
elections to submit the question of levying the tax to the 1410
electors of the county at the next primary or general election in 1411
the county occurring not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days 1412
after the resolution is certified to the board of elections, and 1413
such resolution may further direct the board of elections to 1414
include upon the ballot submitted to the electors any specific 1415
purposes for which the tax will be used. The legislative authority 1416
shall establish all regulations necessary to provide for the 1417
administration and allocation of the tax. The regulations may 1418
prescribe the time for payment of the tax and may provide for 1419
imposition of a penalty, interest, or both for late payments, 1420
provided that any such penalty may not exceed ten per cent of the 1421
amount of tax due and the rate at which interest accrues may not 1422
exceed the rate per annum required under section 5703.47 of the 1423
Revised Code.1424

       (C) A tax levied under this section shall remain in effect 1425
for the period of time specified in the resolution or ordinance 1426
levying the tax, but in no case for a longer period than forty 1427
years.1428

       (D) A tax levied under this section is in addition to any 1429
other tax levied under Chapter 307., 4301., 4305., 5739., 5741., 1430
or any other chapter of the Revised Code. "Price," as defined in 1431
sections 5739.01 and 5741.01 of the Revised Code, does not include 1432
any tax levied under this section and any tax levied under this 1433
section does not include any tax imposed under Chapter 5739. or 1434
5741. of the Revised Code.1435

       (E)(1) No amount collected from a tax levied under this 1436
section shall be contributed to a convention facilities authority, 1437
corporation, or other entity created after July 1, 2003, for the 1438
principal purpose of constructing, improving, expanding, 1439
equipping, financing, or operating a convention center unless the 1440
mayor of the municipal corporation in which the convention center 1441
is to be operated by that convention facilities authority, 1442
corporation, or other entity has consented to the creation of that 1443
convention facilities authority, corporation, or entity. 1444
Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 351.04 of the 1445
Revised Code, if a tax is levied by a county under this section, 1446
the board of county commissioners of that county may determine the 1447
manner of selection, the qualifications, the number, and terms of 1448
office of the members of the board of directors of any convention 1449
facilities authority, corporation, or other entity described in 1450
division (E)(1) of this section.1451

       (2)(a) No amount collected from a tax levied under this 1452
section may be used for any purpose other than paying the direct 1453
and indirect costs of constructing, improving, expanding, 1454
equipping, financing, or operating a convention center and for the 1455
real and actual costs of administering the tax, unless, prior to 1456
the adoption of the resolution of the legislative authority of the 1457
county directing the board of elections to submit the question of 1458
the levy, extension, or increase to the electors of the county, 1459
the county and the mayor of the most populous municipal 1460
corporation in that county have entered into an agreement as to 1461
the use of such amounts, provided that such agreement has been 1462
approved by a majority of the mayors of the other municipal 1463
corporations in that county. The agreement shall provide that the 1464
amounts to be used for purposes other than paying the convention 1465
center or administrative costs described in division (E)(2)(a) of 1466
this section be used only for the direct and indirect costs of 1467
capital improvements in accordance with the agreement, including 1468
the financing of capital improvements. Immediately following the 1469
execution of the agreement, the county shall:1470

       (i) In accordance with section 7.12 of the Revised Code, 1471
cause the agreement to be published at least once in a newspaper 1472
of general circulation in that county; or1473

       (ii) Post the agreement in at least five public places in the 1474
county, as determined by the legislative authority, for a period 1475
not less than fifteen days.1476

       (b) If the county in which the tax is levied has an 1477
association of mayors and city managers, the approval of that 1478
association of an agreement described in division (E)(2)(a) of 1479
this section shall be considered to be the approval of the 1480
majority of the mayors of the other municipal corporations for 1481
purposes of that division.1482

       (F) Each year, the auditor of state shall conduct an audit of 1483
the uses of any amounts collected from taxes levied under this 1484
section and shall prepare a report of the auditor of state's 1485
findings. The auditor of state shall submit the report to the 1486
legislative authority of the county that has levied the tax, the 1487
speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the 1488
senate, and the leaders of the minority parties of the house of 1489
representatives and the senate.1490

       (G) The levy of any taxes under Chapter 5739. of the Revised 1491
Code on the same transactions subject to a tax under this section 1492
does not prevent the levy of a tax under this section.1493

       Sec. 307.677.  (A) As used in this section:1494

       (1) "Food and beverages" means any raw, cooked, or processed 1495
edible substance used or intended for use in whole or in part for 1496
human consumption, including ice, water, spirituous liquors, wine, 1497
mixed beverages, beer, soft drinks, soda, and other beverages.1498

       (2) "Convention facilities authority" has the same meaning as 1499
in section 351.01 of the Revised Code.1500

       (3) "Convention center" has the same meaning as in section 1501
307.695 of the Revised Code.1502

       (B) The legislative authority of a county with a population 1503
of one million two hundred thousand or more according to the most 1504
recent federal decennial census or the most recent annual 1505
population estimate published or released by the United States 1506
census bureau at the time the resolution is adopted placing the 1507
levy on the ballot, may, by resolution adopted on or before July 1508
1, 2008, by a majority of the members of the legislative authority 1509
and with the subsequent approval of a majority of the electors of 1510
the county voting upon it, levy a tax of not more than two per 1511
cent on every retail sale in the county of food and beverages to 1512
be consumed on the premises where sold to pay the expenses of 1513
administering the tax and to provide revenues for paying the 1514
direct and indirect costs of constructing, improving, expanding, 1515
equipping, financing, or operating a convention center. The 1516
resolution shall direct the board of elections to submit the 1517
question of levying the tax to the electors of the county at the 1518
next primary or general election in the county occurring not less 1519
than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the resolution is 1520
certified to the board of elections. The legislative authority 1521
shall establish all rules necessary to provide for the 1522
administration and allocation of the tax. The rules may prescribe 1523
the time for payment of the tax and may provide for imposition of 1524
a penalty, interest, or both for late payments, but any such 1525
penalty shall not exceed ten per cent of the amount of tax due and 1526
the rate at which interest accrues shall not exceed the rate per 1527
annum required under section 5703.47 of the Revised Code.1528

       (C) A tax levied under this section shall remain in effect 1529
for the period of time specified in the resolution or ordinance 1530
levying the tax, but not for a longer period than forty years.1531

       (D) A tax levied under this section is in addition to any 1532
other tax levied under Chapter 307., 4301., 4305., 5739., 5741., 1533
or any other chapter of the Revised Code. "Price," as defined in 1534
sections 5739.01 and 5741.01 of the Revised Code, does not include 1535
any tax levied under this section and any tax levied under this 1536
section does not include any tax imposed under Chapter 5739. or 1537
5741. of the Revised Code.1538

       (E) Any amount collected from a tax levied under this section 1539
may be contributed to a convention facilities authority created 1540
before July 1, 2005, but no amount collected from a tax levied 1541
under this section may be contributed to a convention facilities 1542
authority, corporation, or other entity created after July 1, 1543
2005, unless the mayor of the municipal corporation in which the 1544
convention center is to be operated by that convention facilities 1545
authority, corporation, or other entity has consented to the 1546
creation of that convention facilities authority, corporation, or 1547
entity.1548

       (F) The levy of any taxes under Chapter 5739. of the Revised 1549
Code on the same transactions subject to a tax under this section 1550
does not prevent the levy of a tax under this section.1551

       Sec. 307.695.  (A) As used in this section:1552

       (1) "Arena" means any structure designed and constructed for 1553
the purpose of providing a venue for public entertainment and 1554
recreation by the presentation of concerts, sporting and athletic 1555
events, and other events and exhibitions, including facilities 1556
intended to house or provide a site for one or more athletic or 1557
sports teams or activities, spectator facilities, parking 1558
facilities, walkways, and auxiliary facilities, real and personal 1559
property, property rights, easements, leasehold estates, and 1560
interests that may be appropriate for, or used in connection with, 1561
the operation of the arena.1562

       (2) "Convention center" means any structure expressly 1563
designed and constructed for the purposes of presenting 1564
conventions, public meetings, and exhibitions and includes parking 1565
facilities that serve the center and any personal property used in 1566
connection with any such structure or facilities.1567

       (3) "Eligible county" means a county having a population of 1568
at least four hundred thousand but not more than eight hundred 1569
thousand according to the 2000 federal decennial census and that 1570
directly borders the geographic boundaries of another state.1571

        (4) "Entity" means a nonprofit corporation, a municipal 1572
corporation, a port authority created under Chapter 4582. of the 1573
Revised Code, or a convention facilities authority created under 1574
Chapter 351. of the Revised Code.1575

       (5) "Lodging taxes" means excise taxes levied under division 1576
(A)(1), (A)(2), or (C) of section 5739.09 of the Revised Code and 1577
the revenues arising therefrom.1578

       (6) "Nonprofit corporation" means a nonprofit corporation 1579
that is organized under the laws of this state and that includes 1580
within the purposes for which it is incorporated the authorization 1581
to lease and operate facilities such as a convention center or an 1582
arena or a combination of an arena and convention center.1583

       (7) "Project" means acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, 1584
renovating, rehabilitating, expanding, adding to, equipping, 1585
furnishing or otherwise improving an arena, a convention center, 1586
or a combination of an arena and convention center. For purposes 1587
of this section, a project is a permanent improvement for one 1588
purpose under Chapter 133. of the Revised Code.1589

       (8) "Project revenues" means money received by a county with 1590
a population greater than four hundred thousand wherein the 1591
population of the largest city comprises more than one-third of 1592
that county's population, other than money from taxes or from 1593
the proceeds of securities secured by taxes, in connection with, 1594
derived from, related to, or resulting from a project, 1595
including, but not limited to, rentals and other payments 1596
received under a lease or agreement with respect to the project, 1597
ticket charges or surcharges for admission to events at a 1598
project, charges or surcharges for parking for events at a 1599
project, charges for the use of a project or any portion of a 1600
project, including suites and seating rights, the sale of naming 1601
rights for the project or a portion of the project, unexpended 1602
proceeds of any county revenue bonds issued for the project, and 1603
any income and profit from the investment of the proceeds of any 1604
such revenue bonds or any project revenues.1605

       (9) "Chapter 133. securities," "debt charges," "general 1606
obligation," "legislation," "one purpose," "outstanding," 1607
"permanent improvement," "person," and "securities" have the 1608
meanings given to those terms in section 133.01 of the Revised 1609
Code.1610

       (B) A board of county commissioners may enter into an1611
agreement with a convention and visitors' bureau operating in the1612
county under which:1613

       (1) The bureau agrees to construct and equip a convention1614
center in the county and to pledge and contribute from the tax1615
revenues received by it under division (A) of section 5739.09 of1616
the Revised Code, not more than such portion thereof that it is1617
authorized to pledge and contribute for the purpose described in1618
division (C) of this section; and1619

       (2) The board agrees to levy a tax under division (C) of1620
section 5739.09 of the Revised Code and pledge and contribute the1621
revenues therefrom for the purpose described in division (C) of1622
this section.1623

       (C) The purpose of the pledges and contributions described in 1624
divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section is payment of principal, 1625
interest, and premium, if any, on bonds and notes issued by or for 1626
the benefit of the bureau to finance the construction and 1627
equipping of a convention center. The pledges and contributions 1628
provided for in the agreement shall be for the period stated in 1629
the agreement. Revenues determined from time to time by the board 1630
to be needed to cover the real and actual costs of administering 1631
the tax imposed by division (C) of section 5739.09 of the Revised 1632
Code may not be pledged or contributed. The agreement shall 1633
provide that any such bonds and notes shall be secured by a trust1634
agreement between the bureau or other issuer acting for the1635
benefit of the bureau and a corporate trustee that is a trust1636
company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or1637
without the state, and the trust agreement shall pledge or assign1638
to the retirement of the bonds or notes, all moneys paid by the1639
county under this section. A tax the revenues from which are1640
pledged under an agreement entered into by a board of county1641
commissioners under this section shall not be subject to1642
diminution by initiative or referendum, or diminution by statute,1643
unless provision is made therein for an adequate substitute1644
therefor reasonably satisfactory to the trustee under the trust1645
agreement that secures the bonds and notes.1646

       (D) A pledge of money by a county under division (B) of this 1647
section shall not be indebtedness of the county for purposes of 1648
Chapter 133. of the Revised Code.1649

       (E) If the terms of the agreement so provide, the board of1650
county commissioners may acquire and lease real property to the1651
convention bureau as the site of the convention center. The lease 1652
shall be on such terms as are set forth in the agreement. The 1653
purchase and lease are not subject to the limitations of sections 1654
307.02 and 307.09 of the Revised Code.1655

       (F) In addition to the authority granted to a board of county 1656
commissioners under divisions (B) to (E) of this section, a board 1657
of county commissioners in a county with a population of one 1658
million two hundred thousand or more, or a county with a 1659
population greater than four hundred thousand wherein the 1660
population of the largest city comprises more than one-third of 1661
that county's population, may purchase, for cash or by installment 1662
payments, enter into lease-purchase agreements for, lease with an 1663
option to purchase, lease, construct, enlarge, improve, rebuild, 1664
equip, or furnish a convention center.1665

       (G) The board of county commissioners of a county with a 1666
population greater than four hundred thousand wherein the 1667
population of the largest city comprises more than one-third of 1668
that county's population may undertake, finance, operate, and 1669
maintain a project. The board may lease a project to an entity on 1670
terms that the board determines to be in the best interest of the 1671
county and in furtherance of the public purpose of the project; 1672
the lease may be for a term of thirty-five years or less and may 1673
provide for an option of the entity to renew the lease for a term 1674
of thirty-five years or less. The board may enter into an 1675
agreement with an entity with respect to a project on terms that 1676
the board determines to be in the best interest of the county and 1677
in furtherance of the public purpose of the project. To the extent 1678
provided for in an agreement or a lease with an entity, the board 1679
may authorize the entity to administer on behalf of the board any 1680
contracts for the project. The board may enter into an agreement 1681
providing for the sale to a person of naming rights to a project 1682
or portion of a project, for a period, for consideration, and on 1683
other terms and conditions that the board determines to be in the 1684
best interest of the county and in furtherance of the public 1685
purpose of the project. The board may enter into an agreement with 1686
a person owning or operating a professional athletic or sports 1687
team providing for the use by that person of a project or portion 1688
of a project for that team's offices, training, practices, and 1689
home games for a period, for consideration, and on other terms and 1690
conditions that the board determines to be in the best interest of 1691
the county and in furtherance of the public purpose of the 1692
project. The board may establish ticket charges or surcharges for 1693
admission to events at a project, charges or surcharges for 1694
parking for events at a project, and charges for the use of a 1695
project or any portion of a project, including suites and seating 1696
rights, and may, as necessary, enter into agreements related 1697
thereto with persons for a period, for consideration, and on other 1698
terms and conditions that the board determines to be in the best 1699
interest of the county and in furtherance of the public purpose of 1700
the project. A lease or agreement authorized by this division is 1701
not subject to sections 307.02, 307.09, and 307.12 of the Revised 1702
Code.1703

       (H) Notwithstanding any contrary provision in Chapter 5739. 1704
of the Revised Code, after adopting a resolution declaring it to 1705
be in the best interest of the county to undertake a project as 1706
described in division (G) of this section, the board of county 1707
commissioners of an eligible county may adopt a resolution 1708
enacting or increasing any lodging taxes within the limits 1709
specified in Chapter 5739. of the Revised Code with respect to 1710
those lodging taxes and amending any prior resolution under which 1711
any of its lodging taxes have been imposed in order to provide 1712
that those taxes, after deducting the real and actual costs of 1713
administering the taxes and any portion of the taxes returned to 1714
any municipal corporation or township as provided in division 1715
(A)(1) of section 5739.09 of the Revised Code, shall be used by 1716
the board for the purposes of undertaking, financing, operating, 1717
and maintaining the project, including paying debt charges on any 1718
securities issued by the board under division (I) of this section, 1719
or to make contributions to the convention and visitors' bureau 1720
operating within the county, or to promote, advertise, and market 1721
the region in which the county is located, all as the board may 1722
determine and make appropriations for from time to time, subject 1723
to the terms of any pledge to the payment of debt charges on 1724
outstanding general obligation securities or special obligation 1725
securities authorized under division (I) of this section. A 1726
resolution adopted under division (H) of this section shall be 1727
adopted not earlier than January 15, 2007, and not later than 1728
January 15, 2008.1729

       A resolution adopted under division (H) of this section may 1730
direct the board of elections to submit the question of enacting 1731
or increasing lodging taxes, as the case may be, to the electors 1732
of the county at a special election held on the date specified by 1733
the board in the resolution, provided that the election occurs not 1734
less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after a certified copy of 1735
the resolution is transmitted to the board of elections and no 1736
later than January 15, 2008. A resolution submitted to the 1737
electors under this division shall not go into effect unless it 1738
is approved by a majority of those voting upon it. A resolution 1739
adopted under division (H) of this section that is not submitted 1740
to the electors of the county for their approval or disapproval 1741
is subject to a referendum as provided in sections 305.31 to 1742
305.41 of the Revised Code.1743

       A resolution adopted under division (H) of this section takes 1744
effect upon its adoption, unless the resolution is submitted to 1745
the electors of the county for their approval or disapproval, in 1746
which case the resolution takes effect on the date the board of 1747
county commissioners receives notification from the board of 1748
elections of the affirmative vote. Lodging taxes received after 1749
the effective date of the resolution may be used for the purposes 1750
described in division (H) of this section, except that lodging 1751
taxes that have been pledged to the payment of debt charges on any 1752
bonds or notes issued by or for the benefit of a convention and 1753
visitors' bureau under division (C) of this section shall be used 1754
exclusively for that purpose until such time as the bonds or notes 1755
are no longer outstanding under the trust agreement securing those 1756
bonds or notes.1757

       (I)(1) The board of county commissioners of a county with a 1758
population greater than four hundred thousand wherein the 1759
population of the largest city comprises more than one-third of 1760
that county's population may issue the following securities of 1761
the county for the purpose of paying costs of the project, 1762
refunding any outstanding county securities issued for that 1763
purpose, refunding any outstanding bonds or notes issued by or 1764
for the benefit of the bureau under division (C) of this 1765
section, or for any combination of those purposes:1766

       (a) General obligation securities issued under Chapter 133. 1767
of the Revised Code. The resolution authorizing these securities 1768
may include covenants to appropriate annually from lawfully 1769
available lodging taxes, and to continue to levy and collect those 1770
lodging taxes in, amounts necessary to meet the debt charges on 1771
those securities.1772

       (b) Special obligation securities issued under Chapter 133. 1773
of the Revised Code that are secured only by lawfully available 1774
lodging taxes and any other taxes and revenues pledged to pay the 1775
debt charges on those securities, except ad valorem property 1776
taxes. The resolution authorizing those securities shall include 1777
a pledge of and covenants to appropriate annually from lawfully 1778
available lodging taxes and any other taxes and revenues pledged 1779
for such purpose, and to continue to collect any of those revenues 1780
pledged for such purpose and to levy and collect those lodging 1781
taxes and any other taxes pledged for such purpose, in amounts 1782
necessary to meet the debt charges on those securities. The pledge 1783
is valid and binding from the time the pledge is made, and the 1784
lodging taxes so pledged and thereafter received by the county are 1785
immediately subject to the lien of the pledge without any physical 1786
delivery of the lodging taxes or further act. The lien of any 1787
pledge is valid and binding as against all parties having claims 1788
of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the county, 1789
regardless of whether such parties have notice of the lien. 1790
Neither the resolution nor any trust agreement by which a pledge 1791
is created or further evidenced is required to be filed or 1792
recorded except in the records of the board. The special 1793
obligation securities shall contain a statement on their face to 1794
the effect that they are not general obligation securities, and, 1795
unless paid from other sources, are payable from the pledged 1796
lodging taxes.1797

       (c) Revenue securities authorized under section 133.08 of the 1798
Revised Code and issued under Chapter 133. of the Revised Code 1799
that are secured only by lawfully available project revenues 1800
pledged to pay the debt charges on those securities.1801

       (2) The securities described in division (I)(1) of this 1802
section are subject to Chapter 133. of the Revised Code.1803

       (3) Section 133.34 of the Revised Code, except for division 1804
(A) of that section, applies to the issuance of any refunding 1805
securities authorized under this division. In lieu of division (A) 1806
of section 133.34 of the Revised Code, the board of county 1807
commissioners shall establish the maturity date or dates, the 1808
interest payable on, and other terms of refunding securities as it 1809
considers necessary or appropriate for their issuance, provided 1810
that the final maturity of refunding securities shall not exceed 1811
by more than ten years the final maturity of any bonds refunded by 1812
refunding securities.1813

       (4) The board may not repeal, rescind, or reduce all or any 1814
portion of any lodging taxes pledged to the payment of debt 1815
charges on any outstanding special obligation securities 1816
authorized under this division, and no portion of any lodging 1817
taxes that is pledged, or that the board has covenanted to levy, 1818
collect, and appropriate annually to pay debt charges on any 1819
outstanding securities authorized under this division is subject 1820
to repeal, rescission, or reduction by the electorate of the 1821
county.1822

       Sec. 307.697.  (A) For the purpose of section 307.696 of the1823
Revised Code and to pay any or all of the charge the board of1824
elections makes against the county to hold the election on the1825
question of levying the tax, or for those purposes and to provide1826
revenues to the county for permanent improvements, the board of1827
county commissioners of a county may levy a tax not to exceed1828
three dollars on each gallon of spirituous liquor sold to or1829
purchased by liquor permit holders for resale, and sold at retail1830
by the division of liquor control, in the county. The tax shall be 1831
levied on the number of gallons so sold. The tax may be levied for 1832
any number of years not exceeding twenty.1833

       The tax shall be levied pursuant to a resolution of the board1834
of county commissioners approved by a majority of the electors in1835
the county voting on the question of levying the tax, which1836
resolution shall specify the rate of the tax, the number of years1837
the tax will be levied, and the purposes for which the tax is1838
levied. The election may be held on the date of a general or1839
special election held not sooner than seventy-fiveeighty-five1840
days after the date the board certifies its resolution to the 1841
board of elections. If approved by the electors, the tax takes 1842
effect on the first day of the month specified in the resolution 1843
but not sooner than the first day of the month that is at least 1844
sixty days after the certification of the election results by the 1845
board of elections. A copy of the resolution levying the tax shall 1846
be certified to the division of liquor control at least sixty days1847
prior to the date on which the tax is to become effective.1848

       (B) A resolution under this section may be joined on the1849
ballot as a single question with a resolution adopted under1850
section 4301.421 or 5743.024 of the Revised Code to levy a tax for1851
the same purposes, and for the purpose of paying the expenses of1852
administering that tax.1853

       (C) The form of the ballot in an election held pursuant to1854
this section or section 4301.421 or 5743.024 of the Revised Code1855
shall be as follows or in any other form acceptable to the1856
secretary of state:1857

       "For the purpose of paying not more than one-half of the1858
costs of providing a public sports facility together with related1859
redevelopment and economic development projects, shall (an) excise1860
tax(es) be levied by .......... county at the rate of ......1861
(dollars on each gallon of spirituous liquor sold in the county by1862
the Ohio division of liquor control, cents per gallon on the sale1863
of beer at wholesale in the county, cents per gallon on the sale1864
of wine and mixed beverages at wholesale in the county, cents per1865
gallon on the sale of cider at wholesale in the county, or mills1866
per cigarette on the sale of cigarettes at wholesale in the1867
county), for ...... years?1868

        1869

 Yes 1870
 No  " 1871

        1872

       For an election in which questions under this section or1873
section 4301.421 or 5743.024 of the Revised Code are joined as a1874
single question, the form of the ballot shall be as above, except1875
each of the proposed taxes shall be listed.1876

       (D) The board of county commissioners of a county in which a1877
tax is imposed under this section on July 19, 1995, may levy a tax 1878
for the purpose of section 307.673 of the Revised Code regardless 1879
of whether or not the cooperative agreement authorized under that1880
section has been entered into prior to the day the resolution1881
adopted under division (D)(1) or (2) of this section is adopted, 1882
and for the purpose of reimbursing a county for costs incurred in 1883
the construction of a sports facility pursuant to an agreement 1884
entered into by the county under section 307.696 of the Revised 1885
Code. The tax shall be levied and approved in one of the manners 1886
prescribed by division (D)(1) or (2) of this section.1887

       (1) The tax may be levied pursuant to a resolution adopted by 1888
a majority of the members of the board of county commissioners not 1889
later than forty-five days after July 19, 1995. A board of county 1890
commissioners approving a tax under division (D)(1) of this 1891
section may approve a tax under division (B)(1) of section 1892
4301.421 or division (C)(1) of section 5743.024 of the Revised 1893
Code at the same time. Subject to the resolution being submitted 1894
to a referendum under sections 305.31 to 305.41 of the Revised 1895
Code, the resolution shall take effect immediately, but the tax 1896
levied pursuant to the resolution shall not be levied prior to the1897
day following the last day the tax levied pursuant to divisions 1898
(A), (B), and (C) of this section may be levied.1899

       (2) The tax may be levied pursuant to a resolution adopted by 1900
a majority of the members of the board of county commissioners not 1901
later than forty-five days after July 19, 1995, and approved by a 1902
majority of the electors of the county voting on the question of1903
levying the tax at the next succeeding general election following 1904
July 19, 1995. The board of county commissioners shall certify a 1905
copy of the resolution to the board of elections immediately upon 1906
adopting a resolution under division (D)(2) of this section, and 1907
the board of elections shall place the question of levying the tax1908
on the ballot at that election. The form of the ballot shall be as 1909
prescribed by division (C) of this section, except that the phrase 1910
"paying not more than one-half of the costs of providing a sports 1911
facility together with related redevelopment and economic 1912
development projects" shall be replaced by the phrase "paying the 1913
costs of constructing or renovating a sports facility and 1914
reimbursing a county for costs incurred by the county in the 1915
construction of a sports facility," and the phrase ", beginning 1916
.......... (here insert the earliest date the tax would take 1917
effect)" shall be appended after "years." A board of county 1918
commissioners submitting the question of a tax under division 1919
(D)(2) of this section may submit the question of a tax under 1920
division (B)(2) of section 4301.421 or division (C)(2) of section1921
5743.024 of the Revised Code as a single question, and the form of 1922
the ballot shall include each of the proposed taxes.1923

       If approved by a majority of electors voting on the question,1924
the tax shall take effect on the day specified on the ballot,1925
which shall not be earlier than the day following the last day the1926
tax levied pursuant to divisions (A), (B), and (C) of this section1927
may be levied.1928

       The rate of a tax levied pursuant to division (D)(1) or (2)1929
of this section shall not exceed the rate specified in division1930
(A) of this section. A tax levied pursuant to division (D)(1) or1931
(2) of this section may be levied for any number of years not1932
exceeding twenty.1933

       A board of county commissioners adopting a resolution under1934
division (D)(1) or (2) of this section shall certify a copy of the1935
resolution to the division of liquor control immediately upon 1936
adoption of the resolution.1937

       (E) No tax shall be levied under this section on or after the 1938
effective date of the amendment of this section by the capital 1939
appropriations act of the 127th general assemblySeptember 23, 1940
2008. This division does not prevent the collection of any tax 1941
levied under this section before that date so long as that tax 1942
remains effective.1943

       Sec. 307.791.  The question of repeal of a county sediment1944
control rule adopted under section 307.79 of the Revised Code may1945
be initiated by filing with the board of elections of the county1946
not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days before the general or 1947
primary election in any year a petition requesting that an 1948
election be held on such question. Such petition shall be signed 1949
by qualified electors residing in the county equal in number to 1950
ten per cent of those voting for governor at the most recent1951
gubernatorial election in the county.1952

       After determination by it that such petition is valid, the1953
board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of1954
the county at the next general or primary election. The election1955
shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as 1956
regular elections for county offices in the county. Notice of the 1957
election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation 1958
in the county once a week for two consecutive weeks prior to the 1959
election and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a 1960
web site, notice of the election also shall be posted on that web 1961
site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state 1962
the purpose, time, and place of the election and the complete text 1963
of each rule sought to be repealed. The form of the ballot cast at 1964
such election shall be prescribed by the secretary of state. The 1965
question covered by such petition shall be submitted as a separate 1966
proposition, but it may be printed on the same ballot with any 1967
other proposition submitted at the same election other than the 1968
election of officers. If a majority of the qualified electors 1969
voting on the question of repeal approve the repeal, the result of 1970
the election shall be certified immediately after the canvass by 1971
the board of elections to the board of county commissioners, who 1972
shall thereupon rescind the rule.1973

       Sec. 307.94.  Electors of a county, equal in number to ten1974
per cent of the number who voted for governor in the county at the 1975
most recent gubernatorial election, may file, not later than one 1976
hundred ten days before the date of a general election, a petition 1977
with the board of county commissioners asking that the question of 1978
the adoption of a county charter in the form attached to the 1979
petition be submitted to the electors of the county. The petition 1980
shall be available for public inspection at the offices of the 1981
county commissioners during regular business hours until four p.m. 1982
of the ninety-sixthone hundred sixth day before the election, at 1983
which time the board shall, by resolution, certify the petition to 1984
the board of elections of the county for submission to the 1985
electors of the county, unless the signatures are insufficient or 1986
the petitions otherwise invalid, at the next general election.1987

       Such electors may, in the alternative not later than the one 1988
hundred fifteenthtwenty-fifth day before the date of a general 1989
election, file such a petition with the board of elections of the 1990
county. In such case the board of elections shall immediately 1991
proceed to determine whether the petition and the signatures on 1992
the petition meet the requirements of law and to count the number 1993
of valid signatures and to note opposite each invalid signature 1994
the reason for the invalidity. The board of elections shall 1995
complete its examination of the petition and the signatures and 1996
shall submit a report to the board of county commissioners not 1997
later than the one hundred fifthfifteenth day before the date of 1998
the general election certifying whether the petition is valid or 1999
invalid and, if invalid, the reasons for invalidity, whether there 2000
are sufficient valid signatures, and the number of valid and 2001
invalid signatures. The petition and a copy of the report to the 2002
board of county commissioners shall be available for public 2003
inspection at the board of elections. If the petition is certified 2004
by the board of elections to be valid and to have sufficient valid 2005
signatures, the board of county commissioners shall forthwith and 2006
not later than four p.m. on the ninety-sixthone hundred sixth day 2007
before the general election, by resolution, certify the petition 2008
to the board of elections for submission to the electors of the 2009
county at the next general election. If the petition is certified 2010
by the board of elections to be invalid or to have insufficient 2011
valid signatures, or both, the petitioners' committee may protest 2012
such findings or solicit additional signatures as provided in 2013
section 307.95 of the Revised Code, or both, or request that the 2014
board of elections proceed to establish the validity or invalidity 2015
of the petition and the sufficiency or insufficiency of the 2016
signatures in an action before the court of common pleas in the 2017
county. Such action must be brought within three days after the 2018
request has been made, and the case shall be heard forthwith by a 2019
judge or such court whose decision shall be certified to the board 2020
of elections and to the board of county commissioners in 2021
sufficient time to permit the board of county commissioners to 2022
perform its duty to certify the petition, if it is determined by 2023
the court to be valid and contain sufficient valid signatures, to 2024
the board of elections not later than four p.m. on the 2025
ninety-sixthone hundred sixth day prior to the general election 2026
for submission to the electors at such general election.2027

       A county charter to be submitted to the voters by petition2028
shall be considered to be attached to the petition if it is2029
printed as a part of the petition. A county charter petition may2030
consist of any number of separate petition papers. Each part shall 2031
have attached a copy of the charter to be submitted to the2032
electors, and each part shall otherwise meet all the requirements2033
of law for a county charter petition. Section 3501.38 of the2034
Revised Code applies to county charter petitions.2035

       The petitioners shall designate in the petition the names and 2036
addresses of a committee of not fewer than three nor more than 2037
five persons who will represent them in all matters relating to 2038
the petition. Notice of all matters or proceedings pertaining to 2039
such petitions may be served on the committee, or any of them,2040
either personally or by certified mail, or by leaving it at the2041
usual place of residence of each of them.2042

       Sec. 307.95.  (A) When a county charter petition has been2043
certified to the board of elections pursuant to section 307.94 of2044
the Revised Code, the board shall immediately proceed to determine 2045
whether the petition and the signatures on the petition meet the 2046
requirements of law, including section 3501.38 of the Revised 2047
Code, and to count the number of valid signatures. The board shall 2048
note opposite each invalid signature the reason for the 2049
invalidity. The board shall complete its examination of the2050
petition and the signatures not later than ten days after receipt2051
of the petition certified by the board of county commissioners and 2052
shall submit a report to the board of county commissioners not 2053
less than eighty-fiveninety-five days before the election 2054
certifying whether the petition is valid or invalid and, if 2055
invalid, the reasons for the invalidity, whether there are 2056
sufficient valid signatures, and the number of valid and invalid 2057
signatures. The petition and a copy of the report to the board of 2058
county commissioners shall be available for public inspection at 2059
the board of elections. If the petition is determined by the board2060
of elections to be valid but the number of valid signatures is2061
insufficient, the board of county commissioners shall immediately2062
notify the committee for the petitioners, who may solicit and file 2063
additional signatures to the petition pursuant to division (E) of 2064
this section or protest the board of election's findings pursuant 2065
to division (B) of this section, or both.2066

       (B) Protests against the board of election's findings2067
concerning the validity or invalidity of a county charter petition 2068
or any signature on such petition may be filed by any elector 2069
eligible to vote at the next general election with the board of 2070
elections not later than four p.m. of the eighty-second2071
ninety-second day before the election. Each protest shall identify 2072
the part of, or omission from, the petition or the signature or 2073
signatures to which the protest is directed, and shall set forth2074
specifically the reason for the protest. A protest must be in2075
writing, signed by the elector making the protest, and shall2076
include the protestor's address. Each protest shall be filed in2077
duplicate.2078

       (C) The board of elections shall deliver or mail be certified 2079
mail one copy of each protest filed with it to the secretary of 2080
state. The secretary of state, within ten days after receipt of 2081
the protests, shall determine the validity or invalidity of the 2082
petition and the sufficiency or insufficiency of the signatures. 2083
The secretary of state may determine whether to permit matters not 2084
raised by protest to be considered in determining such validity or 2085
invalidity or sufficiency or insufficiency, and may conduct 2086
hearings, either in Columbus or in the county where the county 2087
charter petition is filed. The determination by the secretary of 2088
state is final.2089

       (D) The secretary of state shall notify the board of2090
elections of the determination of the validity or invalidity of2091
the petition and sufficiency or insufficiency of the signatures2092
not later than four p.m. of the seventy-firsteighty-first day 2093
before the election. If the petition is determined to be valid and 2094
to contain sufficient valid signatures, the charter shall be 2095
placed on the ballot at the next general election. If the petition 2096
is determined to be invalid, the secretary of state shall so 2097
notify the board of county commissioners and the board of county2098
commissioners shall notify the committee. If the petition is2099
determined by the secretary of state to be valid but the number of 2100
valid signatures is insufficient, the board of elections shall2101
immediately notify the committee for the petitioners and the2102
committee shall be allowed ten additional days after such2103
notification to solicit and file additional signatures to the2104
petition subject to division (E) of this section.2105

       (E) All additional signatures solicited pursuant to division 2106
(A) or (D) of this section shall be filed with the board of 2107
elections not less than sixtyseventy days before the election. 2108
The board of elections shall examine and determine the validity or2109
invalidity of the additional separate petition papers and of the2110
signatures thereon, and its determination is final. No valid2111
signature on an additional separate petition paper that is the2112
same as a valid signature on an original separate petition paper2113
shall be counted. The number of valid signatures on the original2114
separate petition papers and the additional separate petition2115
papers shall be added together to determine whether there are2116
sufficient valid signatures. If the number of valid signatures is 2117
sufficient and the additional separate petition papers otherwise 2118
valid, the charter shall be placed on the ballot at the next 2119
general election. If not, the board of elections shall notify the 2120
county commissioners, and the commissioners shall notify the 2121
committee.2122

       Sec. 322.02.  (A) For the purpose of paying the costs of2123
enforcing and administering the tax and providing additional2124
general revenue for the county, any county may levy and collect a2125
tax to be known as the real property transfer tax on each deed2126
conveying real property or any interest in real property located2127
wholly or partially within the boundaries of the county at a rate 2128
not to exceed thirty cents per hundred dollars for each one2129
hundred dollars or fraction thereof of the value of the real2130
property or interest in real property located within the2131
boundaries of the county granted, assigned, transferred, or2132
otherwise conveyed by the deed. The tax shall be levied pursuant 2133
to a resolution adopted by the board of county commissioners of 2134
the county and, except as provided in division (A) of section 2135
322.07 of the Revised Code, shall be levied at a uniform rate upon 2136
all deeds as defined in dividiondivision (D) of section 322.01 of 2137
the Revised Code. Prior to the adoption of any such resolution, 2138
the board of county commissioners shall conduct two public 2139
hearings thereon, the second hearing to be not less than three nor 2140
more than ten days after the first. Notice of the date, time, and 2141
place of the hearings shall be given by publication in a newspaper 2142
of general circulation in the county once a week on the same day 2143
of the week for two consecutive weeks, the second publication 2144
being not less than ten nor more than thirty days prior to the 2145
first hearing. The tax shall be levied upon the grantor named in 2146
the deed and shall be paid by the grantor for the use of the 2147
county to the county auditor at the time of the delivery of the 2148
deed as provided in section 319.202 of the Revised Code and prior 2149
to the presentation of the deed to the recorder of the county for 2150
recording.2151

       (B) No resolution levying a real property transfer tax 2152
pursuant to this section or a manufactured home transfer tax 2153
pursuant to section 322.06 of the Revised Code shall be effective 2154
sooner than thirty days following its adoption. Such a resolution 2155
is subject to a referendum as provided in sections 305.31 to 2156
305.41 of the Revised Code, unless the resolution is adopted as an2157
emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the2158
public peace, health, or safety, in which case it shall go into2159
immediate effect. An emergency measure must receive an affirmative 2160
vote of all of the members of the board of commissioners, and 2161
shall state the reasons for the necessity. A resolution may direct 2162
the board of elections to submit the question of levying the tax 2163
to the electors of the county at the next primary or general 2164
election in the county occurring not less than seventy-five2165
eighty-five days after the resolution is certified to the board. 2166
No such resolution shall go into effect unless approved by a 2167
majority of those voting upon it.2168

       Sec. 322.021.  The question of a repeal of a county2169
permissive tax adopted as an emergency measure pursuant to 2170
division (B) of section 322.02 of the Revised Code may be 2171
initiated by filing with the board of elections of the county not 2172
less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days before the general 2173
election in any year a petition requesting that an election be 2174
held on such question. Such petition shall be signed by qualified 2175
electors residing in the county equal in number to ten per cent of 2176
those voting for governor at the most recent gubernatorial 2177
election.2178

       After determination by it that such petition is valid, the2179
board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of2180
the county at the next general election. The election shall be2181
conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular2182
elections for county offices in the county. Notice of the election 2183
shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the 2184
district once a week for two consecutive weeks prior to the 2185
election and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a 2186
web site, notice of the election also shall be posted on that web 2187
site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state 2188
the purpose, time, and place of the election. The form of the 2189
ballot cast at such election shall be prescribed by the secretary 2190
of state. The question covered by such petition shall be submitted 2191
as a separate proposition, but it may be printed on the same 2192
ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election 2193
other than the election of officers. If a majority of the 2194
qualified electors voting on the question of repeal approve the 2195
repeal, the result of the election shall be certified immediately 2196
after the canvass by the board of elections to the board of county 2197
commissioners, who shall thereupon, after the current year, cease 2198
to levy the tax.2199

       Sec. 324.02.  For the purpose of providing additional general 2200
revenues for the county and paying the expense of administering 2201
such levy, any county may levy a county excise tax to be known as 2202
the utilities service tax on the charge for every utility service 2203
to customers within the county at a rate not to exceed two per 2204
cent of such charge. On utility service to customers engaged in 2205
business, the tax shall be imposed at a rate of one hundred fifty 2206
per cent of the rate imposed upon all other consumers within the 2207
county. The tax shall be levied pursuant to a resolution adopted 2208
by the board of county commissioners of the county and shall be 2209
levied at uniform rates required by this section upon all charges 2210
for utility service except as provided in section 324.03 of the 2211
Revised Code. The tax shall be levied upon the customer and shall 2212
be paid by the customer to the utility supplying the service at 2213
the time the customer pays the utility for the service. If the 2214
charge for utility service is billed to a person other than the 2215
customer at the request of such person, the tax commissioner of 2216
the state may, in accordance with section 324.04 of the Revised 2217
Code, provide for the levy of the tax against and the payment of 2218
the tax by such other person. Each utility furnishing a utility 2219
service the charge for which is subject to the tax shall set forth 2220
the tax as a separate item on each bill or statement rendered to 2221
the customer.2222

       Prior to the adoption of any resolution levying a utilities2223
service tax the board of county commissioners shall conduct two2224
public hearings thereon, the second hearing to be not less than2225
three nor more than ten days after the first. Notice of the date, 2226
time, and place of such hearings shall be given by publication in 2227
a newspaper of general circulation in the county once a week on 2228
the same day of the week for two consecutive weeks, the second 2229
publication being not less than ten nor more than thirty days 2230
prior to the first hearing. No resolution levying a utilities 2231
service tax pursuant to this section of the Revised Code shall be 2232
effective sooner than thirty days following its adoption and such 2233
resolution is subject to a referendum as provided in sections 2234
305.31 to 305.41 of the Revised Code, unless such resolution is 2235
adopted as an emergency measure necessary for the immediate 2236
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, in which case 2237
it shall go into immediate effect. Such emergency measure must 2238
receive an affirmative vote of all of the members of the board of 2239
commissioners, and shall state the reasons for such necessity. A 2240
resolution may direct the board of elections to submit the 2241
question of levying the tax to the electors of the county at the 2242
next primary or general election in the county occurring not less 2243
than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after such resolution is 2244
certified to the board. No such resolution shall go into effect 2245
unless approved by a majority of those voting upon it. The tax 2246
levied by such resolution shall apply to all bills rendered 2247
subsequent to the sixtieth day after the effective date of the 2248
resolution. No bills shall be rendered out of the ordinary course 2249
of business to avoid payment of the tax.2250

       Sec. 324.021.  The question of repeal of a county permissive 2251
tax adopted as an emergency measure pursuant to section 324.02 of 2252
the Revised Code may be initiated by filing with the board of 2253
elections of the county not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five2254
days before the general election in any year a petition requesting 2255
that an election be held on such question. Such petition shall be 2256
signed by qualified electors residing in the county equal in 2257
number to ten per cent of those voting for governor at the most 2258
recent gubernatorial election.2259

       After determination by it that such petition is valid, the2260
board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of2261
the county at the next general election. The election shall be2262
conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular2263
elections for county offices in the county. Notice of the election 2264
shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the 2265
district once a week for two consecutive weeks prior to the 2266
election and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a 2267
web site, notice of the election also shall be posted on that web 2268
site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state 2269
the purpose, time, and place of the election. The form of the 2270
ballot cast at such election shall be prescribed by the secretary 2271
of state. The question covered by such petition shall be submitted 2272
as a separate proposition, but it may be printed on the same 2273
ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election 2274
other than the election of officers. If a majority of the 2275
qualified electors voting on the question of repeal approve the 2276
repeal, the result of the election shall be certified immediately 2277
after the canvass by the board of elections to the board of county 2278
commissioners, who shall thereupon, after the current year, cease 2279
to levy the tax.2280

       Sec. 345.03.  A copy of any resolution adopted under section 2281
345.01 of the Revised Code shall be certified within five days by 2282
the taxing authority and not later than four p. m. of the2283
seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the day of the election, to 2284
the county board of elections, and such board shall submit the 2285
proposal to the electors of the subdivision at the succeeding 2286
general election. The board shall make the necessary arrangements 2287
for the submission of such question to the electors of the2288
subdivision, and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and2289
certified in like manner as regular elections in such subdivision.2290

       Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of2291
general circulation in the subdivision, at least once, not less2292
than two weeks prior to such election. The notice shall set out2293
the purpose of the proposed increase in rate, the amount of the2294
increase expressed in dollars and cents for each one hundred2295
dollars of valuation as well as in mills for each one dollar of2296
property valuation, the number of years during which such increase 2297
will be in effect, and the time and place of holding such 2298
election.2299

       Sec. 351.26.  (A) The board of directors of a convention2300
facilities authority may adopt a resolution requesting the board2301
of county commissioners of the county in which the convention2302
facilities authority has its territory to propose the question of2303
a tax to be levied pursuant to this section and section 4301.4242304
or sections 5743.026 and 5743.324 of the Revised Code for the2305
purpose of construction or renovation of a sports facility. The2306
board of directors shall certify a copy of the resolution to the2307
board of county commissioners not later than ninetyone hundred2308
days prior to the day of the election at which the board of 2309
directors requests the board of county commissioners to submit the 2310
question of the tax. The resolution shall state the rate at which 2311
the tax would be levied, the purpose for which the tax would be 2312
levied, the number of years the tax would be levied, the section 2313
of the Revised Code under which the tax would be levied, and the2314
date of the election at which the board of directors requests the2315
board of county commissioners to submit the question of the tax,2316
all of which are subject to the limitations of this section and2317
section 4301.424 or sections 5743.026 and 5743.324 of the Revised 2318
Code.2319

       Upon receiving a copy of such a resolution from the board of2320
directors, the board of county commissioners shall adopt a2321
resolution either approving or rejecting the proposal, and certify2322
a copy of its resolution to the board of directors. If the board2323
of county commissioners approves the proposal, the board of county2324
commissioners shall propose the question of levying a tax pursuant2325
to section 4301.424 of the Revised Code or pursuant to sections2326
5743.026 and 5743.324 of the Revised Code, as specified in the2327
board of directors' resolution, for the purpose of construction or2328
renovation of a sports facility.2329

       (B) The form of the ballot in an election held on the2330
question of levying a tax proposed pursuant to section 4301.424 or2331
5743.026 of the Revised Code shall be as follows or in any other2332
form acceptable to the secretary of state:2333

       "For the purpose of paying the costs of ..........2334
(constructing or renovating) a sports facility, shall (an) excise2335
tax(es) be levied by the .......... county for the convention2336
facilities authority of .......... county at the rate of ......2337
(dollars on each gallon of spirituous liquor sold in the county by2338
the Ohio division of liquor control, cents per gallon on the sale 2339
of beer at wholesale in the county, cents per gallon on the sale 2340
of wine and mixed beverages at wholesale in the county, or mills 2341
per cigarette on the sale of cigarettes at wholesale in the 2342
county), for ...... years?2343

        2344

  Yes 2345
  No  " 2346

        2347

       For an election in which questions under section 4301.424 or2348
5743.026 of the Revised Code are joined as a single question, the2349
form of the ballot shall be as above, except each of the proposed2350
taxes shall be listed.2351

       (C) No tax shall be levied under this section on or after the 2352
effective date of the amendment of this section by the capital 2353
appropriations act of the 127th general assemblySeptember 23, 2354
2008. This division does not prevent the collection of any tax 2355
levied under this section before that date so long as that tax 2356
remains effective.2357

       Sec. 503.02.  (A) Except as otherwise provided in this2358
section, the board of county commissioners may change the 2359
boundaries of any civil township, or partition any township among 2360
other townships within the county, by attaching a part of one 2361
township to another, by dividing one township and attaching the 2362
parts to other townships, or by laying off and designating a new 2363
township from the territory of one or more townships of the same 2364
county or from territory not before included in a civil township, 2365
when it is made to appear necessary or expedient by a petition for 2366
that purpose, signed by a majority of the electors residing within 2367
the bounds of the townships to be affected by the partition or2368
division, as determined by the number of votes cast in those2369
townships for the office of governor at the most recent general 2370
election for that office.2371

       If the board receives a petition to partition a township that 2372
has adopted a limited home rule government under Chapter 504. of 2373
the Revised Code, signed by a majority of the electors residing in 2374
that township, the board shall certify the question of whether or 2375
not the township shall remain intact to the board of elections. 2376
The board of elections shall determine the validity and 2377
sufficiency of the signatures on the petition and, if there are 2378
enough valid signatures, shall place the question on the ballot at 2379
a special election to be held on the day of the next general or 2380
primary election in the township occurring at least seventy-five2381
eighty-five days after the petition is filed, for a vote of the 2382
electors within that township. If a majority of those voting vote 2383
against keeping the township intact, the board of county2384
commissioners shall proceed to partition the township. If a 2385
majority of those voting vote for keeping the township intact, the 2386
board of county commissioners shall not partition the township and 2387
shall deny the petition.2388

       (B) If a township is divided or partitioned under this 2389
section, the board of county commissioners shall apportion the 2390
funds in the township's treasury to the township to which portions 2391
of the divided or partitioned township are attached, or to the new 2392
townships established. This apportionment may take into account 2393
the taxable property valuation, population, or size of the 2394
portions created by the division or partition, as well as any 2395
other readily ascertainable criteria.2396

       Sec. 503.161.  (A) A board of township trustees, by a 2397
unanimous vote, may adopt a resolution causing the board of 2398
elections to submit to the electors of the unincorporated area of 2399
the township the question of whether the township's name should be 2400
changed.2401

       (B) The electors of the unincorporated area of a township may2402
petition the board of township trustees to adopt a resolution 2403
causing the board of elections to submit to the electors the 2404
question of whether the township's name should be changed. Upon 2405
receipt of a petition signed by twenty per cent of the electors of 2406
the unincorporated area of the township, as determined by the 2407
total number of votes cast in that area for the office of governor 2408
at the preceding general election for that office, the board of2409
township trustees shall adopt such a resolution.2410

       (C) The question of whether the township's name should be 2411
changed shall be voted upon at the next primary or general 2412
election occurring at least seventy-fiveeighty-five days after 2413
the certification of the resolution adopted under division (A) or 2414
(B) of this section to the board of elections.2415

       Sec. 503.24.  If there is a vacancy by reason of the2416
nonacceptance, death, or removal of a person chosen to an office2417
in any township at the regular election, or if there is a vacancy2418
from any other cause, the board of township trustees shall appoint 2419
a person having the qualifications of an elector to fill such 2420
vacancy for the unexpired term or until a successor is elected.2421

       If a township is without a board or if no appointment is made 2422
within thirty days after the occurrence of a vacancy, a majority 2423
of the persons designated as the committee of five on the 2424
last-filed nominating petition of the township officer whose2425
vacancy is to be filled who are residents of the township shall2426
appoint a person having the qualifications of an elector to fill2427
the vacancy for the unexpired term or until a successor is2428
elected. If at least three of the committee members who are2429
residents of the township cannot be found, or if that number of2430
such members fails to make an appointment within ten days after2431
the thirty-day period in which the board of township trustees is2432
authorized to make an appointment, then the presiding probate2433
judge of the county shall appoint a suitable person having the2434
qualifications of an elector in the township to fill the vacancy2435
for the unexpired term or until a successor is elected.2436

       If a vacancy occurs in a township elective office more than2437
fortyfifty days before the next general election for municipal 2438
and township officers a successor shall be chosen at that election 2439
to fill the unexpired term, provided the term does not expire 2440
within one year from the day of the election. If the term expires2441
within one year from the day of the next general election for2442
municipal and township officers, a successor appointed pursuant to 2443
this section shall serve out the unexpired term.2444

       Sec. 503.41.  (A) A board of township trustees, by2445
resolution, may regulate and require the registration of massage2446
establishments and their employees within the unincorporated2447
territory of the township. In accordance with sections 503.40 to2448
503.49 of the Revised Code, for that purpose, the board, by a2449
majority vote of all members, may adopt, amend, administer, and2450
enforce regulations within the unincorporated territory of the2451
township.2452

       (B) A board may adopt regulations and amendments under this2453
section only after public hearing at not fewer than two regular2454
sessions of the board. The board shall cause to be published in at 2455
least one newspaper of general circulation in the township notice 2456
of the public hearings, including the time, date, and place, once 2457
a week for two weeks immediately preceding the hearings. The board 2458
shall make available proposed regulations or amendments to the 2459
public at the office of the board.2460

       (C) Regulations or amendments adopted by the board are2461
effective thirty days after the date of adoption unless, within2462
thirty days after the adoption of the regulations or amendments,2463
the township fiscal officer receives a petition, signed by a2464
number of qualified electors residing in the unincorporated area2465
of the township equal to not less than ten per cent of the total2466
vote cast for all candidates for governor in the area at the most2467
recent general election at which a governor was elected,2468
requesting the board to submit the regulations or amendments to2469
the electors of the area for approval or rejection at the next2470
primary or general election occurring at least seventy-five2471
eighty-five days after the board receives the petition.2472

       No regulation or amendment for which the referendum vote has2473
been requested is effective unless a majority of the votevotes2474
cast on the issue is in favor of the regulation or amendment. 2475
Upon certification by the board of elections that a majority of2476
the votes cast on the issue was in favor of the regulation or2477
amendment, the regulation or amendment takes immediate effect.2478

       (D) The board shall make available regulations it adopts or2479
amends to the public at the office of the board and shall cause to2480
be published a notice of the availability of the regulations in at2481
least one newspaper of general circulation in the township within2482
ten days after their adoption or amendment.2483

       (E) Nothing in sections 503.40 to 503.49 of the Revised Code2484
shall be construed to allow a board of township trustees to2485
regulate the practice of any limited branch of medicine specified2486
in section 4731.15 of the Revised Code or the practice of2487
providing therapeutic massage by a licensed physician, a licensed2488
chiropractor, a licensed podiatrist, a licensed nurse, or any2489
other licensed health professional. As used in this division,2490
"licensed" means licensed, certified, or registered to practice in2491
this state.2492

       Sec. 504.01.  A township that meets the qualifications of 2493
this section may adopt a limited home rule government in the2494
manner provided in this section.2495

       (A)(1) If a township has a population of at least three 2496
thousand five hundred but less than five thousand in the 2497
unincorporated territory of the township, a limited home rule 2498
government under which the township exercises limited powers of 2499
local self-government and limited police powers may be adopted if 2500
all the following apply:2501

       (a) The electors of the unincorporated territory of the 2502
township petition the board of township trustees to adopt limited 2503
home rule government;2504

       (b) The petition has been signed by ten per cent of the 2505
electors of the unincorporated territory of the township, as 2506
determined by the total number of votes cast in that territory for 2507
the office of governor at the most recent general election for 2508
that office;2509

       (c) The board of township trustees appoints a township 2510
administrator under division (A)(2) of section 505.031 of the 2511
Revised Code; and2512

       (d) The total amount certified in the official certificate of 2513
estimated resources or in an amended official certificate of 2514
estimated resources for the township under section 5705.36 of the 2515
Revised Code is at least three million five hundred thousand 2516
dollars for the most recently concluded fiscal year.2517

       If the conditions enumerated in this division have been met, 2518
the board shall adopt and certify to the board of elections a 2519
resolution directing the board of elections to submit to the 2520
electors of the unincorporated territory the question whether the 2521
township should adopt a limited home rule government. The question 2522
shall be voted upon at the next general election occurring at 2523
least seventy-fiveeighty-five days after certification of the 2524
resolution to the board of elections.2525

       (2) If a township has a population of at least five thousand 2526
but less than fifteen thousand in the unincorporated territory of 2527
the township, the board of township trustees, by a majority vote, 2528
may adopt a resolution causing the board of elections to submit to 2529
the electors of the unincorporated area of the township the 2530
question of whether the township should adopt a limited home rule 2531
government under which it exercises limited powers of local 2532
self-government and limited police powers, as authorized by this 2533
chapter. The question shall be voted upon at the next general2534
election occurring at least seventy-fiveeighty-five days after2535
certification of the resolution to the board of elections.2536

       (3) If a township has a population of fifteen thousand or 2537
more in the unincorporated territory of the township, the board of 2538
township trustees, after at least one public hearing, may do 2539
either of the following:2540

       (a) By a unanimous vote, adopt a resolution establishing a 2541
limited home rule government under which the township exercises 2542
limited powers of local self-government and limited police powers 2543
as authorized by this chapter. The resolution shall become 2544
effective thirty days after the date of its adoption unless within 2545
that thirty-day period there is presented to the board of township 2546
trustees a petition, signed by a number of registered electors 2547
residing in the unincorporated area of the township equal to at 2548
least ten per cent of the total vote cast for all candidates for 2549
governor in that area at the most recent general election at which 2550
a governor was elected, requesting the board of township trustees 2551
to submit the question of establishing a limited home rule 2552
government to the electors of that area for approval or rejection 2553
at a special election to be held on the day of the next primary or 2554
general election occurring at least seventy-fiveeighty-five days 2555
after the petition is presented. Each part of the petition shall 2556
meet the requirements specified in section 3501.38 of the Revised 2557
Code. Upon timely receipt of the petition, the board of township 2558
trustees shall adopt a resolution causing the board of elections 2559
to submit to the electors of the unincorporated area of the 2560
township the question of whether the township should adopt a 2561
limited home rule government.2562

       (b) By a majority vote, adopt a resolution causing the board 2563
of elections to submit to the electors of the unincorporated area 2564
of the township the question of whether the township should adopt 2565
a limited home rule government under which it exercises limited 2566
powers of local self-government and limited police powers, as 2567
authorized by this chapter. The question shall be voted upon at 2568
the next general election occurring at least seventy-five2569
eighty-five days after certification of the resolution to the 2570
board of elections.2571

       (4) If a township meets the population requirements of 2572
division (A)(2) or (3) of this section, the electors of the 2573
unincorporated area of the township may petition the board of 2574
township trustees to adopt a resolution causing the board of 2575
elections to submit to the electors the question of whether the 2576
township should adopt a limited home rule government. Upon receipt 2577
of a petition signed by ten per cent of the electors of the 2578
unincorporated area of the township, as determined by the total 2579
number of votes cast in that area for the office of governor at 2580
the most recent general election for that office, the board of 2581
township trustees shall adopt the resolution. The question shall 2582
be voted upon at the next general election occurring at least 2583
seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the certification of the 2584
resolution to the board of elections.2585

       (B) If the population of the unincorporated territory of any 2586
township that adopts a limited home rule government under division 2587
(A)(3) or (4) of this section is fifteen thousand or more, the 2588
township shall be called an "urban township."2589

       (C) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1) of this 2590
section, townships with a population of less than five thousand in 2591
the unincorporated territory of the township are not permitted to 2592
adopt a limited home rule government.2593

       Sec. 504.03.  (A)(1) If a limited home rule government is2594
adopted pursuant to section 504.02 of the Revised Code, it shall2595
remain in effect for at least three years except as otherwise2596
provided in division (B) of this section. At the end of that2597
period, if the board of township trustees determines that that2598
government is not in the best interests of the township, it may2599
adopt a resolution causing the board of elections to submit to the2600
electors of the unincorporated area of the township the question2601
of whether the township should continue the limited home rule2602
government. The question shall be voted upon at the next general2603
election occurring at least seventy-fiveeighty-five days after2604
the certification of the resolution to the board of elections. 2605
After certification of the resolution, the board of elections2606
shall submit the question to the electors of the unincorporated2607
area of the township, and the ballot language shall be2608
substantially as follows:2609

       "Shall the township of ........... (name) continue the2610
limited home rule government under which it is operating?2611

...... For continuation of the limited home rule government 2612
...... Against continuation of the limited home rule government" 2613

       (2)(a) At least forty-five days before the election on the2614
question of continuing the limited home rule government, the board2615
of township trustees shall have notice of the election published 2616
in a newspaper of general circulation in the township once a week 2617
for two consecutive weeks and have the notice posted in five 2618
conspicuous places in the unincorporated area of the township.2619

       (b) If a board of elections operates and maintains a web 2620
site, notice of the election shall be posted on that web site for 2621
at least thirty days before the election on the question of 2622
continuing the limited home rule government.2623

       (B) The electors of a township that has adopted a limited2624
home rule government may propose at any time by initiative2625
petition, in accordance with section 504.14 of the Revised Code, a2626
resolution submitting to the electors in the unincorporated area2627
of the township, in an election, the question set forth in2628
division (A)(1) of this section.2629

       (C) If a majority of the votes cast under division (A) or (B) 2630
of this section on the proposition of continuing the limited home 2631
rule government is in the negative, that government is terminated 2632
effective on the first day of January immediately following the 2633
election, and a limited home rule government shall not be adopted 2634
in the unincorporated area of the township pursuant to section 2635
504.02 of the Revised Code for at least three years after that 2636
date.2637

       (D) If a limited home rule government is terminated under2638
this section, the board of township trustees immediately shall2639
adopt a resolution repealing all resolutions adopted pursuant to2640
this chapter that are not authorized by any other section of the2641
Revised Code outside this chapter, effective on the first day of2642
January immediately following the election described in division2643
(A) or (B) of this section. However, no resolution adopted under2644
this division shall affect or impair the obligations of the2645
township under any security issued or contracts entered into by2646
the township in connection with the financing of any water supply2647
facility or sewer improvement under sections 504.18 to 504.20 of2648
the Revised Code or the authority of the township to collect or2649
enforce any assessments or other revenues constituting security2650
for or source of payments of debt service charges of those2651
securities.2652

       (E) Upon the termination of a limited home rule government2653
under this section, if the township had converted its board of2654
township trustees to a five-member board before September 26, 2655
2003, the current board member who received the lowest number of 2656
votes of the current board members who were elected at the most 2657
recent election for township trustees, and the current board 2658
member who received the lowest number of votes of the current 2659
board members who were elected at the second most recent election 2660
for township trustees, shall cease to be township trustees on the 2661
date that the limited home rule government terminates. Their 2662
offices likewise shall cease to exist at that time, and the board 2663
shall continue as a three-member board as provided in section 2664
505.01 of the Revised Code.2665

       Sec. 505.13.  The board of township trustees of a township2666
which is composed in whole or in part of islands, accessible from2667
the mainland only by watercraft, may purchase and operate, and may 2668
let for hire, a scow or lighter of sufficient tonnage to carry 2669
stone and other road building material, equipped with or without a 2670
proper crane or loading device, and for such purpose the board may 2671
levy a tax upon all the taxable property in the township, in such 2672
amount as it determines.2673

       The question of levying such tax shall be submitted to the2674
qualified electors of the township at a general election. The2675
trustees shall certify such resolution to the board of elections2676
not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day 2677
before the day of the election. Twenty days' notice thereof shall 2678
be previously given by posting in at least three public places in 2679
the township. Such notice shall state specifically the amount to 2680
be raised and the purpose thereof. If a majority of all the votes 2681
cast at such election upon the proposition is in favor thereof, 2682
the tax provided for is authorized.2683

       Sec. 505.14.  The board of township trustees of a township2684
described in section 505.13 of the Revised Code, which, for any2685
reason, is inaccessible from the mainland at some time of the2686
year, may construct, acquire, purchase, lease, and maintain a2687
house as the residence of a resident physician, when, in the2688
opinion of a majority of the members of such board, it is2689
necessary for the maintenance of the public health and welfare.2690

       For the maintenance, construction, acquisition, purchase, or2691
leastlease of such a house the board may levy a tax upon all the2692
taxable property in the township, in such amount as it determines.2693

       The question of levying such a tax shall be submitted to the2694
qualified electors of the township at a general or special2695
election. The trustees shall certify such resolution to the board2696
of elections not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth2697
eighty-fifth day before the day of the election. Twenty days' 2698
notice thereof shall be previously given by posting in at least 2699
three public places in the township. Such notice shall state 2700
specifically the amount to be raised and the purpose thereof. If a 2701
majority of all votes cast at such election upon the proposition 2702
is in favor thereof, the tax provided for is authorized.2703

       Upon the authorization of such tax levy the board may issue2704
notes in anticipation of such revenues, to mature in not more than2705
two years from the date of issue, and to bear interest at not more2706
than four per cent per annum.2707

       Sec. 511.01.  If, in a township, a town hall is to be built, 2708
improved, enlarged, or removed at a cost greater than ten thousand 2709
dollars, the board of township trustees shall submit the question 2710
to the electors of such township and shall certify their 2711
resolution to the board of elections not later than four p.m. of 2712
the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the day of the election.2713

       Sec. 511.22.  The board of township trustees shall direct the2714
township fiscal officer to file a written notice, not later than 2715
four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the day of 2716
the election, with the board of elections having charge of the2717
preparation of official ballots, that an election will be held as2718
provided in section 511.21 of the Revised Code and that the2719
following shall be printed on the ballot:2720

" YES SHALL A PUBLIC PARK OR 2721
NO PUBLIC PARKS BE ESTABLISHED 2722
IN .....(NAME)..... TOWNSHIP?" 2723

       If a majority of the votes is in favor of the proposition, a2724
park or parks shall be established for the township. If a majority 2725
of the votes cast is against the proposition, the board of park 2726
commissioners shall be abolished, and the board of township 2727
trustees shall provide for and pay all the proper expenses 2728
incurred by it.2729

       Sec. 511.27.  (A) To defray the expenses of the township park 2730
district and for purchasing, appropriating, operating,2731
maintaining, and improving lands for parks or recreational2732
purposes, the board of park commissioners may levy a sufficient 2733
tax within the ten-mill limitation, not to exceed one mill on each 2734
dollar of valuation on all real and personal property within the 2735
township, and on all real and personal property within any 2736
municipal corporation that is within the township, that was within 2737
the township at the time that the park district was established, 2738
or the boundaries of which are coterminous with or include the 2739
township. The levy shall be over and above all other taxes and 2740
limitations on such property authorized by law.2741

       (B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this2742
section, the board of park commissioners, not less than 2743
seventy-fiveeighty-five days before the day of the election, may 2744
declare by resolution that the amount of taxes that may be raised 2745
within the ten-mill limitation will be insufficient to provide an 2746
adequate amount for the necessary requirements of the district and 2747
that it is necessary to levy a tax in excess of that limitation 2748
for the use of the district. The resolution shall specify the 2749
purpose for which the taxes shall be used, the annual rate 2750
proposed, and the number of consecutive years the levy will be in 2751
effect. Upon the adoption of the resolution, the question of 2752
levying the taxes shall be submitted to the electors of the 2753
township and the electors of any municipal corporation that is 2754
within the township, that was within the township at the time that 2755
the park district was established, or the boundaries of which are 2756
coterminous with or include the township, at a special election to 2757
be held on whichever of the following occurs first:2758

       (1) The day of the next ensuing general election;2759

       (2) The first Tuesday after the first Monday in May of any 2760
calendar year, except that, if a presidential primary election is 2761
held in that calendar year, then the day of that election.2762

       The rate submitted to the electors at any one election shall 2763
not exceed two mills annually upon each dollar of valuation. If a2764
majority of the electors voting upon the question of the levy vote 2765
in favor of the levy, the tax shall be levied on all real and2766
personal property within the township and on all real and personal 2767
property within any municipal corporation that is within the 2768
township, that was within the township at the time that the park 2769
district was established, or the boundaries of which are 2770
coterminous with or include the township, and the levy shall be 2771
over and above all other taxes and limitations on such property 2772
authorized by law.2773

       (C) In any township park district that contains only2774
unincorporated territory, if the township board of park2775
commissioners is appointed by the board of township trustees,2776
before a tax can be levied and certified to the county auditor2777
pursuant to section 5705.34 of the Revised Code or before a2778
resolution for a tax levy can be certified to the board of2779
elections pursuant to section 511.28 of the Revised Code, the2780
board of park commissioners shall receive approval for its levy 2781
request from the board of township trustees. The board of park 2782
commissioners shall adopt a resolution requesting the board of 2783
township trustees to approve the levy request, stating the annual 2784
rate of the proposed levy and the reason for the levy request. On 2785
receiving this request, the board of township trustees shall vote 2786
on whether to approve the request and, if a majority votes to 2787
approve it, shall issue a resolution approving the levy at the 2788
requested rate.2789

       Sec. 511.28.  A copy of any resolution for a tax levy adopted 2790
by the township board of park commissioners as provided in section 2791
511.27 of the Revised Code shall be certified by the clerk of the 2792
board of park commissioners to the board of elections of the 2793
proper county, together with a certified copy of the resolution 2794
approving the levy, passed by the board of township trustees if 2795
such a resolution is required by division (C) of section 511.27 of 2796
the Revised Code, not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days 2797
before a general or primary election in any year. The board of 2798
elections shall submit the proposal to the electors as provided in 2799
section 511.27 of the Revised Code at the succeeding general or 2800
primary election. A resolution to renew an existing levy may not 2801
be placed on the ballot unless the question is submitted at the 2802
general election held during the last year the tax to be renewed 2803
may be extended on the real and public utility property tax list 2804
and duplicate, or at any election held in the ensuing year. The 2805
board of park commissioners shall cause notice that the vote will 2806
be taken to be published once a week for two consecutive weeks 2807
prior to the election in a newspaper of general circulation in the 2808
county within which the park district is located. Additionally, if 2809
the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the 2810
board of elections shall post that notice on its web site for 2811
thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the 2812
purpose of the proposed levy, the annual rate proposed expressed 2813
in dollars and cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation as 2814
well as in mills for each one dollar of valuation, the number of 2815
consecutive years during which the levy shall be in effect, and 2816
the time and place of the election.2817

       The form of the ballots cast at the election shall be: "An2818
additional tax for the benefit of (name of township park district) 2819
.......... for the purpose of (purpose stated in the order of the 2820
board) .......... at a rate not exceeding .......... mills for 2821
each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to (rate expressed in 2822
dollars and cents) .......... for each one hundred dollars of 2823
valuation, for (number of years the levy is to run) ..........2824

        2825

 FOR THE TAX LEVY 2826
 AGAINST THE TAX LEVY  " 2827

        2828

       If the levy submitted is a proposal to renew, increase, or2829
decrease an existing levy, the form of the ballot specified in2830
this section may be changed by substituting for the words "An2831
additional" at the beginning of the form, the words "A renewal of2832
a" in the case of a proposal to renew an existing levy in the same 2833
amount; the words "A renewal of .......... mills and an increase 2834
of .......... mills to constitute a" in the case of an increase; 2835
or the words "A renewal of part of an existing levy, being a 2836
reduction of .......... mills, to constitute a" in the case of a 2837
decrease in the rate of the existing levy.2838

       If the tax is to be placed on the current tax list, the form 2839
of the ballot shall be modified by adding, after the statement of 2840
the number of years the levy is to run, the phrase ", commencing 2841
in .......... (first year the tax is to be levied), first due in 2842
calendar year .......... (first calendar year in which the tax 2843
shall be due)."2844

       The question covered by the order shall be submitted as a2845
separate proposition, but may be printed on the same ballot with2846
any other proposition submitted at the same election, other than2847
the election of officers. More than one such question may be2848
submitted at the same election.2849

       Sec. 511.33.  In paying any expenses of park management and2850
of improvements authorized by section 511.32 of the Revised Code,2851
the board of township trustees may appropriate and use for these2852
purposes any funds in the township treasury then unappropriated2853
for any other purpose. If there are no available funds in the2854
treasury or an insufficient amount to pay for the desired park2855
management and improvements in any year, the board may levy a tax2856
in order to pay for the park management and improvements. The tax 2857
shall be levied upon all of the taxable property in the township 2858
and shall be certified, levied, and collected in the manner 2859
prescribed for the certification, levy, and collection of other 2860
township taxes. The money so raised shall be paid over to the 2861
township fiscal officer, and the fiscal officer shall pay the 2862
money out on the order of the board. If a sum greater than two 2863
thousand dollars is to be expended by the board for park 2864
management and improvement purposes in any one year, and the sum 2865
is not available from any unappropriated money in the township 2866
treasury, the question of levying the additional tax shall, before 2867
making a levy that will amount to more than two thousand dollars, 2868
be submitted to and approved by a majority of the electors of the 2869
township voting on the question. If the election is necessary, it2870
shall be called at a regular meeting of the board, and the2871
resolution shall be certified to the board of elections not later2872
than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the 2873
day of the election.2874

       Twenty days' notice of the election shall be given by the2875
posting of notices of the election by the township fiscal officer 2876
in ten public places in the township, and provisions for holding 2877
the election shall be made by the board of elections upon 2878
receiving notice of the date and purpose of the election from the 2879
fiscal officer. This section and section 511.32 of the Revised 2880
Code do not repeal, affect, or modify any law relating to park 2881
commissioners, or prevent the appointment of park commissioners in 2882
the future.2883

       Sec. 511.34.  In townships composed of islands, and on one of 2884
which islands lands have been conveyed in trust for the benefit of 2885
the inhabitants of the island for use as a park, and a board of 2886
park trustees has been provided for the control of the park, the 2887
board of township trustees may create a tax district of the island 2888
to raise funds by taxation as provided under divisions (A) and (B) 2889
of this section.2890

       (A) For the care and maintenance of parks on the island, the 2891
board of township trustees annually may levy a tax, not to exceed 2892
one mill, upon all the taxable property in the district. The tax 2893
shall be in addition to all other levies authorized by law, and 2894
subject to no limitation on tax rates except as provided in this2895
division.2896

       The proceeds of the tax levy shall be expended by the board2897
of township trustees for the purpose of the care and maintenance 2898
of the parks, and shall be paid out of the township treasury upon 2899
the orders of the board of park trustees.2900

       (B) For the purpose of acquiring additional land for use as a2901
park, the board of township trustees may levy a tax in excess of2902
the ten-mill limitation on all taxable property in the district. 2903
The tax shall be proposed by resolution adopted by two-thirds of 2904
the members of the board of township trustees. The resolution 2905
shall specify the purpose and rate of the tax and the number of 2906
years the tax will be levied, which shall not exceed five years, 2907
and which may include a levy on the current tax list and 2908
duplicate. The resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its 2909
passage, and no publication of the resolution is necessary other 2910
than that provided for in the notice of election. The board of 2911
township trustees shall certify a copy of the resolution to the 2912
proper board of elections not later than seventy-fiveeighty-five2913
days before the primary or general election in the township, and 2914
the board of elections shall submit the question of the tax to the 2915
voters of the district at the succeeding primary or general 2916
election. The board of elections shall make the necessary 2917
arrangements for the submission of the question to the electors of 2918
the district, and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and 2919
certified in the same manner as regular elections in the township 2920
for the election of officers. Notice of the election shall be 2921
published in a newspaper of general circulation in the township 2922
once a week for two consecutive weeks prior to the election and, 2923
if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, 2924
notice of the election also shall be posted on that web site for 2925
thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the 2926
purpose of the tax, the proposed rate of the tax expressed in 2927
dollars and cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation and 2928
mills for each one dollar of valuation, the number of years the 2929
tax will be in effect, the first year the tax will be levied, and 2930
the time and place of the election.2931

       The form of the ballots cast at an election held under this 2932
division shall be as follows:2933

       "An additional tax for the benefit of ......... (name of the 2934
township) for the purpose of acquiring additional park land at a2935
rate of ......... mills for each one dollar of valuation, which2936
amounts to ........ (rate expressed in dollars and cents) for each 2937
one hundred dollars of valuation, for ......... (number of years 2938
the levy is to run) beginning in ........... (first year the tax 2939
will be levied).2940

        2941

 FOR THE TAX LEVY 2942
 AGAINST THE TAX LEVY  " 2943

        2944

       The question shall be submitted as a separate proposition but 2945
may be printed on the same ballot with any other proposition2946
submitted at the same election other than the election of2947
officers. More than one such question may be submitted at the same 2948
election.2949

       If the levy is approved by a majority of electors voting on 2950
the question, the board of elections shall certify the result of 2951
the election to the tax commissioner. In the first year of the 2952
levy, the tax shall be extended on the tax lists after the2953
February settlement following the election. If the tax is to be 2954
placed on the tax lists of the current year as specified in the 2955
resolution, the board of elections shall certify the result of the 2956
election immediately after the canvass to the board of township 2957
trustees, which shall forthwith make the necessary levy and 2958
certify the levy to the county auditor, who shall extend the levy 2959
on the tax lists for collection. After the first year of the levy, 2960
the levy shall be included in the annual tax budget that is 2961
certified to the county budget commission.2962

       Sec. 513.06.  Upon the execution of the agreement provided2963
for in section 513.05 of the Revised Code, the board of township2964
trustees shall submit the question of the ratification of such2965
agreement to the electors of the township at the next general2966
election occurring not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days 2967
after the certification of the resolution to the board of 2968
elections. If the sums to be paid by the township under such 2969
agreement are not available from current general revenue of such 2970
township, the board shall also submit to the electors, at the same 2971
election, the question of the issue of bonds of the township, in 2972
the amount specified in such agreement, for the purpose of 2973
providing funds for the payment thereof. The proceedings in the 2974
matter of such election and in the issuance and sale of such bonds 2975
shall be as provided by Chapter 133. of the Revised Code. Such 2976
agreement shall not be effective, and no bonds shall be issued, 2977
unless the electors approve both the agreement and the bond issue, 2978
if the question of the issue of bonds is submitted.2979

       Sec. 513.13.  The board of elections of the county in which a 2980
joint township hospital district, or the most populous portion of 2981
such district, lies shall, by resolution approved by a two-thirds 2982
vote of the joint township district hospital board, place upon the 2983
ballot for submission to the electorate of such district, at the 2984
next primary or general election, occurring not less than 2985
seventy-fiveeighty-five nor more than one hundred twentythirty2986
days after the request is received from such joint township 2987
district hospital board, the question of levying a tax, not to 2988
exceed one mill outside the ten-mill limitation, for a period not 2989
to exceed five years, to provide funds for the payment of 2990
necessary expenses incurred in the operation of hospital 2991
facilities or, if required by agreement made under section 140.03 2992
of the Revised Code, for costs of hospital facilities or current 2993
operating expenses of hospital facilities, or both. Such 2994
resolution shall be certified to the board of elections not later 2995
than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the 2996
day of the election. If a majority of the electors in such 2997
district voting on the proposition, vote in favor thereof, the 2998
county auditor of each county in which such district lies shall 2999
annually place a levy on the tax duplicate against the property in 3000
such district, in the amount required by the joint board of 3001
trustees of the district, but not to exceed one mill.3002

       Sec. 513.18.  In the event any township, contiguous to a3003
joint township hospital district, desires to become a part of such 3004
district in existence under sections 513.07 to 513.18 of the3005
Revised Code, its board of township trustees, by a two-thirds3006
favorable vote of the members of such board, after the existing3007
joint township hospital board has, by a majority favorable vote of 3008
the members thereof, approved the terms under which such township 3009
proposes to join the district, shall become a part of the joint 3010
township district hospital board under such terms and with all the 3011
rights, privileges, and responsibilities enjoyed by and extended 3012
to the existing members of the hospital board under such sections, 3013
including representation on the board of hospital governors by the 3014
appointment of an elector of such township as a member thereof. If 3015
the terms under which such township proposes to join the hospital 3016
district involve a tax levy for the purpose of sharing the 3017
existing obligations, including bonded indebtedness, of the 3018
district or the necessary operating expenses of such hospital, 3019
such township shall not become a part of the district until its 3020
electors have approved such levy as provided in this section.3021

       Upon request of the board of township trustees of the3022
township proposing to join such district, by resolution approved3023
by a two-thirds vote of its members, the board of elections of the 3024
county in which the township lies shall place upon the ballot for 3025
submission to the electorate of such township at the next primary 3026
or general election occurring not less than seventy-five3027
eighty-five nor more than one hundred twentythirty days after 3028
such request is received from the board of township trustees the 3029
question of levying a tax, not to exceed one mill outside the 3030
ten-mill limitation, for a period of not to exceed five years, to 3031
provide funds for the payment of the township's share of the 3032
necessary expenses incurred in the operation of such hospital, or 3033
the question of levying a tax to pay the township's share of the3034
existing obligations, including bonded indebtedness, of the3035
district, or both questions may be submitted at the same primary3036
or general election. If a majority of the electors voting on the3037
propositions vote in favor thereof, the county auditor shall place 3038
such levies on the tax duplicate against the property in the 3039
township, which township shall thereby become a part of said joint 3040
township hospital district.3041

       Sec. 517.05.  On the making of an order or the filing of an3042
application as provided by section 517.04 of the Revised Code, the 3043
township fiscal officer shall certify the order or application to 3044
the board of elections not later than four p.m. of the3045
seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the day of the election, 3046
and, at least twenty days before an election, the fiscal officer 3047
shall post written notices in at least three public places in the 3048
township that a vote will be taken on the question of the3049
establishment of a cemetery. If a majority of the votes cast at 3050
the election on the proposition is in favor of establishing a 3051
cemetery, the board of township trustees shall procure the lands 3052
for that purpose and levy taxes as provided by section 517.03 of 3053
the Revised Code.3054

       Sec. 519.11.  If the zoning resolution is adopted by the3055
board of township trustees, such board shall cause the question of 3056
whether or not the proposed plan of zoning shall be put into3057
effect to be submitted to the electors residing in the3058
unincorporated area of the township included in the proposed plan3059
of zoning for their approval or rejection at the next primary or3060
general election, or a special election may be called for this3061
purpose. Such resolution shall be filed with the board of3062
elections not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth3063
eighty-fifth day before the day of the election. No zoning 3064
regulations shall be put into effect unless a majority of the vote 3065
cast on the issue is in favor of the proposed plan of zoning. Upon 3066
certification by the board of elections the resolution shall take 3067
immediate effect, if the plan was so approved.3068

       Within five working days after the resolution's effective3069
date, the board of township trustees shall file it, including text 3070
and maps, in the office of the county recorder. The board shall 3071
also file duplicates of the same documents with the regional or 3072
county planning commission, if one exists, within the same period.3073

       The board shall file all resolutions, including text and3074
maps, that are in effect on January 1, 1992, in the office of the3075
county recorder within thirty working days after that date. The3076
board shall also file duplicates of the same documents with the3077
regional or county planning commission, if one exists, within the3078
same period.3079

       The failure to file a resolution, or any text and maps, or3080
duplicates of any of these documents, with the office of the3081
county recorder or the county or regional planning commission as3082
required by this section does not invalidate the resolution and is 3083
not grounds for an appeal of any decision of the board of zoning 3084
appeals.3085

       Sec. 519.12.  (A)(1) Amendments to the zoning resolution may3086
be initiated by motion of the township zoning commission, by the3087
passage of a resolution by the board of township trustees, or by3088
the filing of an application by one or more of the owners or3089
lessees of property within the area proposed to be changed or3090
affected by the proposed amendment with the township zoning3091
commission. The board of township trustees may require that the3092
owner or lessee of property filing an application to amend the3093
zoning resolution pay a fee to defray the cost of advertising,3094
mailing, filing with the county recorder, and other expenses. If3095
the board of township trustees requires such a fee, it shall be 3096
required generally, for each application. The board of township 3097
trustees, upon the passage of such a resolution, shall certify it 3098
to the township zoning commission.3099

       (2) Upon the adoption of a motion by the township zoning 3100
commission, the certification of a resolution by the board of 3101
township trustees to the commission, or the filing of an 3102
application by property owners or lessees as described in division 3103
(A)(1) of this section with the commission, the commission shall 3104
set a date for a public hearing, which date shall not be less than 3105
twenty nor more than forty days from the date of the certification 3106
of such a resolution, the date of adoption of such a motion, or 3107
the date of the filing of such an application. Notice of the 3108
hearing shall be given by the commission by one publication in one 3109
or more newspapers of general circulation in the township at least 3110
ten days before the date of the hearing.3111

       (B) If the proposed amendment intends to rezone or redistrict 3112
ten or fewer parcels of land, as listed on the county auditor's 3113
current tax list, written notice of the hearing shall be mailed by 3114
the township zoning commission, by first class mail, at least ten3115
days before the date of the public hearing to all owners of3116
property within and contiguous to and directly across the street3117
from the area proposed to be rezoned or redistricted to the3118
addresses of those owners appearing on the county auditor's3119
current tax list. The failure of delivery of that notice shall not3120
invalidate any such amendment.3121

       (C) If the proposed amendment intends to rezone or redistrict 3122
ten or fewer parcels of land as listed on the county auditor's 3123
current tax list, the published and mailed notices shall set forth 3124
the time, date, and place of the public hearing and include all of 3125
the following:3126

       (1) The name of the township zoning commission that will be3127
conducting the hearing;3128

       (2) A statement indicating that the motion, resolution, or3129
application is an amendment to the zoning resolution;3130

       (3) A list of the addresses of all properties to be rezoned3131
or redistricted by the proposed amendment and of the names of3132
owners of those properties, as they appear on the county auditor's3133
current tax list;3134

       (4) The present zoning classification of property named in3135
the proposed amendment and the proposed zoning classification of 3136
that property;3137

       (5) The time and place where the motion, resolution, or3138
application proposing to amend the zoning resolution will be3139
available for examination for a period of at least ten days prior3140
to the hearing;3141

       (6) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of3142
the hearing by publication, by mail, or by both publication and 3143
mail;3144

        (7) A statement that, after the conclusion of the hearing,3145
the matter will be submitted to the board of township trustees for3146
its action;3147

       (8) Any other information requested by the commission.3148

       (D) If the proposed amendment alters the text of the zoning3149
resolution, or rezones or redistricts more than ten parcels of3150
land as listed on the county auditor's current tax list, the3151
published notice shall set forth the time, date, and place of the3152
public hearing and include all of the following:3153

       (1) The name of the township zoning commission that will be3154
conducting the hearing on the proposed amendment;3155

       (2) A statement indicating that the motion, application, or3156
resolution is an amendment to the zoning resolution;3157

       (3) The time and place where the text and maps of the3158
proposed amendment will be available for examination for a period3159
of at least ten days prior to the hearing;3160

       (4) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of3161
the hearing by publication;3162

       (5) A statement that, after the conclusion of the hearing,3163
the matter will be submitted to the board of township trustees for3164
its action;3165

       (6) Any other information requested by the commission.3166

       (E) Within five days after the adoption of the motion 3167
described in division (A) of this section, the certification of 3168
the resolution described in division (A) of this section, or the 3169
filing of the application described in division (A) of this 3170
section, the township zoning commission shall transmit a copy of 3171
it together with text and map pertaining to it to the county or 3172
regional planning commission, if there is such a commission.3173

       The county or regional planning commission shall recommend3174
the approval or denial of the proposed amendment or the approval3175
of some modification of it and shall submit its recommendation to 3176
the township zoning commission. The recommendation shall be3177
considered at the public hearing held by the township zoning3178
commission on the proposed amendment.3179

       The township zoning commission, within thirty days after the 3180
hearing, shall recommend the approval or denial of the proposed 3181
amendment, or the approval of some modification of it, and submit 3182
that recommendation together with the motion, application, or3183
resolution involved, the text and map pertaining to the proposed 3184
amendment, and the recommendation of the county or regional 3185
planning commission on it to the board of township trustees.3186

       The board of township trustees, upon receipt of that3187
recommendation, shall set a time for a public hearing on the 3188
proposed amendment, which date shall not be more than thirty days 3189
from the date of the receipt of that recommendation. Notice of the 3190
hearing shall be given by the board by one publication in one or 3191
more newspapers of general circulation in the township, at least 3192
ten days before the date of the hearing.3193

       (F) If the proposed amendment intends to rezone or redistrict 3194
ten or fewer parcels of land as listed on the county auditor's 3195
current tax list, the published notice shall set forth the time, 3196
date, and place of the public hearing and include all of the 3197
following:3198

       (1) The name of the board of township trustees that will be 3199
conducting the hearing;3200

       (2) A statement indicating that the motion, application, or3201
resolution is an amendment to the zoning resolution;3202

       (3) A list of the addresses of all properties to be rezoned3203
or redistricted by the proposed amendment and of the names of3204
owners of those properties, as they appear on the county auditor's3205
current tax list;3206

       (4) The present zoning classification of property named in3207
the proposed amendment and the proposed zoning classification of 3208
that property;3209

       (5) The time and place where the motion, application, or3210
resolution proposing to amend the zoning resolution will be3211
available for examination for a period of at least ten days prior3212
to the hearing;3213

       (6) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of3214
the hearing by publication, by mail, or by both publication and 3215
mail;3216

       (7) Any other information requested by the board.3217

       (G) If the proposed amendment alters the text of the zoning3218
resolution, or rezones or redistricts more than ten parcels of3219
land as listed on the county auditor's current tax list, the3220
published notice shall set forth the time, date, and place of the3221
public hearing and include all of the following:3222

       (1) The name of the board of township trustees that will be 3223
conducting the hearing on the proposed amendment;3224

       (2) A statement indicating that the motion, application, or3225
resolution is an amendment to the zoning resolution;3226

       (3) The time and place where the text and maps of the3227
proposed amendment will be available for examination for a period3228
of at least ten days prior to the hearing;3229

       (4) The name of the person responsible for giving notice of3230
the hearing by publication;3231

       (5) Any other information requested by the board.3232

       (H) Within twenty days after its public hearing, the board of 3233
township trustees shall either adopt or deny the recommendations 3234
of the township zoning commission or adopt some modification of 3235
them. If the board denies or modifies the commission's 3236
recommendations, a majority vote of the board shall be required.3237

        The proposed amendment, if adopted by the board, shall become 3238
effective in thirty days after the date of its adoption, unless, 3239
within thirty days after the adoption, there is presented to the3240
board of township trustees a petition, signed by a number of3241
registered electors residing in the unincorporated area of the3242
township or part of that unincorporated area included in the3243
zoning plan equal to not less than eight per cent of the total3244
vote cast for all candidates for governor in that area at the most3245
recent general election at which a governor was elected,3246
requesting the board of township trustees to submit the amendment3247
to the electors of that area for approval or rejection at a3248
special election to be held on the day of the next primary or3249
general election that occurs at least seventy-fiveeighty-five3250
days after the petition is filed. Each part of this petition 3251
shall contain the number and the full and correct title, if any, 3252
of the zoning amendment resolution, motion, or application, 3253
furnishing the name by which the amendment is known and a brief 3254
summary of its contents. In addition to meeting the requirements 3255
of this section, each petition shall be governed by the rules 3256
specified in section 3501.38 of the Revised Code.3257

       The form of a petition calling for a zoning referendum and3258
the statement of the circulator shall be substantially as follows:3259

"PETITION FOR ZONING REFERENDUM
3260

(if the proposal is identified by a particular name or number, or3261
both, these should be inserted here) .......................3262

       A proposal to amend the zoning map of the unincorporated area3263
of ............. Township, ................. County, Ohio, adopted3264
.....(date)..... (followed by brief summary of the proposal).3265

       To the Board of Township Trustees of .....................3266
Township, ................. County, Ohio:3267



       We, the undersigned, being electors residing in the3269
unincorporated area of ....................... Township, included3270
within the ............. Township Zoning Plan, equal to not less3271
than eight per cent of the total vote cast for all candidates for3272
governor in the area at the preceding general election at which a3273
governor was elected, request the Board of Township Trustees to3274
submit this amendment of the zoning resolution to the electors of3275
........................ Township residing within the3276
unincorporated area of the township included in the3277
.................. Township Zoning Resolution, for approval or3278
rejection at a special election to be held on the day of the 3279
primary or general election to be held on .....(date).....,3280
pursuant to section 519.12 of the Revised Code.3281

Street Address Date of 3282
Signature or R.F.D. Township Precinct County Signing 3283
3284
3285

STATEMENT OF CIRCULATOR
3286

I, .............(name of circulator).........., declare under3287
penalty of election falsification that I am an elector of the3288
state of Ohio and reside at the address appearing below my3289
signature; that I am the circulator of the foregoing part petition 3290
containing .......(number)....... signatures; that I have 3291
witnessed the affixing of every signature; that all signers were3292
to the best of my knowledge and belief qualified to sign; and that 3293
every signature is to the best of my knowledge and belief the 3294
signature of the person whose signature it purports to be or of an 3295
attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the 3296
Revised Code.3297

3298
(Signature of circulator) 3299
3300
(Address of circulator's permanent 3301
residence in this state) 3302
3303
(City, village, or township, 3304
and zip code) 3305

       WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY3306
OF THE FIFTH DEGREE."3307

       The petition shall be filed with the board of township 3308
trustees and shall be accompanied by an appropriate map of the 3309
area affected by the zoning proposal. Within two weeks after 3310
receiving a petition filed under this section, the board of3311
township trustees shall certify the petition to the board of 3312
elections. A petition filed under this section shall be certified 3313
to the board of elections not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five3314
days prior to the election at which the question is to be voted 3315
upon.3316

       The board of elections shall determine the sufficiency and 3317
validity of each petition certified to it by a board of township 3318
trustees under this section. If the board of elections determines 3319
that a petition is sufficient and valid, the question shall be 3320
voted upon at a special election to be held on the day of the next 3321
primary or general election that occurs at least seventy-five3322
eighty-five days after the date the petition is filed with the 3323
board of township trustees, regardless of whether any election 3324
will be held to nominate or elect candidates on that day.3325

       No amendment for which such a referendum vote has been3326
requested shall be put into effect unless a majority of the vote3327
cast on the issue is in favor of the amendment. Upon certification 3328
by the board of elections that the amendment has been approved by 3329
the voters, it shall take immediate effect.3330

       Within five working days after an amendment's effective date,3331
the board of township trustees shall file the text and maps of the3332
amendment in the office of the county recorder and with the county 3333
or regional planning commission, if one exists.3334

       The failure to file any amendment, or any text and maps, or3335
duplicates of any of these documents, with the office of the3336
county recorder or the county or regional planning commission as3337
required by this section does not invalidate the amendment and is3338
not grounds for an appeal of any decision of the board of zoning3339
appeals.3340

       Sec. 519.25.  In any township in which there is in force a3341
plan of township zoning, the plan may be repealed by the board of3342
township trustees in the following manner:3343

       (A) The board may adopt a resolution upon its own initiative.3344

       (B) The board shall adopt a resolution if there is presented 3345
to it a petition, similar in all relevant aspects to that 3346
prescribed in section 519.12 of the Revised Code, signed by a 3347
number of qualified electors residing in the unincorporated area 3348
of such township included in the zoning plan equal to not less 3349
than eight per cent of the total vote cast for all candidates for 3350
governor in such area at the most recent general election at which 3351
a governor was elected, requesting that the question of whether or 3352
not the plan of zoning in effect in such township shall be 3353
repealed be submitted to the electors residing in the 3354
unincorporated area of the township included in the zoning plan at 3355
a special election to be held on the day of the next primary or 3356
general election. The resolution adopted by the board of township 3357
trustees to cause such question to be submitted to the electors 3358
shall be certified to the board of elections not later than 3359
seventy-fiveeighty-five days prior to the day of election at 3360
which said question is to be voted upon. In the event a majority 3361
of the vote cast on such question in the township is in favor of 3362
repeal of zoning, then such regulations shall no longer be of any 3363
effect. Not more than one such election shall be held in any two 3364
calendar years.3365

       Sec. 705.01.  Whenever electors of any municipal corporation, 3366
equal in number to ten per cent of those who voted at the last 3367
regular municipal election, file a petition with the board of 3368
elections of the county in which such municipal corporation is 3369
situated, asking that the question of organizing the municipal 3370
corporation under any one of the plans of government provided in 3371
sections 705.41 to 705.86 of the Revised Code, be submitted to the 3372
electors thereof, such board shall at once certify that fact to 3373
the legislative authority of the municipal corporation and the 3374
legislative authority shall, within thirty days, provide for 3375
submitting such question at a special election, to be held not 3376
less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the filing of such 3377
petition. Any such election shall be conducted in accordance with 3378
the general election laws except as otherwise provided in sections 3379
705.01 to 705.92 of the Revised Code, and the legislative 3380
authority of any municipal corporation holding such an election 3381
shall appropriate whatever money is necessary for the proper 3382
conduct of such election.3383

       Sec. 707.21.  The first election of officers for a municipal 3384
corporation organized under Chapter 707,. of the Revised Code 3385
shall be held at the time of the next regular municipal election 3386
if one occurs not less than one hundred five nor more than one 3387
hundred eighty days after the creation of the municipal 3388
corporation. Otherwise a special election shall be held. Such 3389
special election may be held on the day of a primary or general 3390
election or on a date set by the board of elections. Nominations 3391
of candidates for election to municipal office at a special 3392
election shall be made by nominating petition and shall be signed 3393
by not less than twenty-five qualified electors nor more than 3394
fifty qualified electors of the township or of the portion thereof 3395
which has been incorporated into such municipal corporation, and 3396
be filed with the board of elections not less than sixty3397
eighty-five days before the day of the election.3398

       Municipal officers elected at such special election shall3399
hold office until the first day of January next after the first3400
regular municipal election occurring not less than one hundred3401
five days after the creation of such municipal corporation.3402

       Sec. 709.29.  Within thirty days after filing the conditions 3403
of annexation as provided by section 709.28 of the Revised Code 3404
with the legislative authorities of the municipal corporations, 3405
the legislative authorities of both such municipal corporations 3406
shall order the question of annexation, upon the conditions 3407
contained in the report of such commissioners, to be submitted to 3408
a vote at the next regular election or primary election, occurring 3409
not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the filing of 3410
such conditions with the board of elections.3411

       Each ordinance shall prescribe the manner in which the3412
submission shall be made and shall be published in its respective3413
municipal corporation by posters or otherwise, for a period of at3414
least twenty days, prior to the time fixed for the election, in3415
such manner as the legislative authority deems most expedient, and 3416
a printed copy of such conditions shall be mailed to each voter of 3417
such municipal corporations, as shown by the registration books.3418

       Sec. 709.39.  The freehold electors owning lands in any3419
portion of a village, such portion being contiguous to an3420
adjoining township, and comprising not less than one thousand five 3421
hundred acres of land, may file a petition with the board of3422
elections in such county requesting that an election be held to3423
obtain the opinion of the freehold electors owning lands and3424
residing within such portion of the village upon the question of3425
the detachment of the portion from such village, or, upon the3426
question of the detachment of such portion from the village and3427
the erection of such detached portion into a new township. Such3428
petition shall contain:3429

       (A) An accurate description of the territory sought to be3430
detached;3431

       (B) An accurate map or plat thereof;3432

       (C) If the erection of a new township is also sought, the3433
name proposed for such new township;3434

       (D) The name of a person to act as agent of the petitioners;3435

       (E) Signatures equal in number to fifteen per cent of the3436
total number of votes cast at the last general election in such3437
territory.3438

       Within ten days after the filing of such petition with the3439
board the board shall determine whether the petition conforms to3440
this section. If it does not conform, no further action shall be3441
taken thereon. If it does conform, the board shall order an3442
election, as prayed for in the petition, which election shall be3443
held at a convenient place within the territory sought to be3444
detached, on a day named by the board, which day shall be not less 3445
than seventy-fiveeighty-five days thereafter. The board shall3446
thereupon give ten days' notice of such election by publication in 3447
a newspaper of general circulation in such territory, and shall 3448
cause written or printed notices thereof to be posted in three or 3449
more public places in such territory. The election shall be 3450
conducted in the manner provided in Title XXXV of the Revised 3451
Code, and the judges and clerks thereof shall be designated by 3452
such board.3453

       If no freehold electors own lands in the portion of the3454
village seeking to be detached, the owners of lands within that3455
portion may file a petition with the board of county commissioners 3456
requesting that the board proceed with the detachment procedures, 3457
or with procedures for the detachment and erection of the portion 3458
of the village into a new township, pursuant to section 709.38 of 3459
the Revised Code. The petition shall contain the items required in 3460
divisions (A), (B), and (D) of this section, and signatures equal 3461
in number to at least a majority of the owners of land within the 3462
portion of the village seeking to be detached.3463

       The ballots shall contain the words "for detachment," and3464
"against detachment." If a majority of the ballots cast at such3465
election are cast against detachment, no further proceedings shall 3466
be had in relation thereto for a period of two years. If a3467
majority of the votes cast at such election are cast for3468
detachment, the result of such election, together with the3469
original petition and plat and a transcript of all the proceedings 3470
of such board in reference thereto shall be certified by the board 3471
and delivered to the county recorder, who shall forthwith make a 3472
record of the petition and plat and transcript of all the 3473
proceedings of the board and the result of the election, in the 3474
public book of records, and preserve in histhe recorder's office 3475
the original papers delivered to himthe recorder by such board. 3476
The recorder shall certify thereon that the transcribed petition 3477
and map are properly recorded. When the recorder hasAfter having3478
made such record, hethe recorder shall certify and forward to the3479
secretary of state, a transcript thereof.3480

       The detachment of such territory from the village shall3481
thereupon be complete, and, if the petition included a request3482
that such territory be erected into a new township, the territory3483
shall thereupon constitute a new township, under the name and3484
style specified in such petition. All expense involved in holding 3485
such election, and in the filing, recording, and transcribing of 3486
the records, provided for in this section, shall be defrayed by 3487
the petitioners, and the board and the recorder may require the 3488
payment thereof in advance as a condition precedent to the taking 3489
by them, or either of them, of any action provided for in this 3490
section.3491

       Sec. 709.45. (A) A petition may be filed with the board of3492
elections proposing that one or more municipal corporations be3493
merged with another municipal corporation, or that the3494
unincorporated area of a township be merged with one or more3495
municipal corporations, as provided by section 709.44 of the3496
Revised Code. The petition may be presented in separate petition 3497
papers. Each petition paper shall contain, in concise language, 3498
the purpose of the petition and the names of not less than five3499
electors of each affected municipal corporation, or the names of 3500
not less than five electors of the unincorporated area of the3501
township and the names of not less than five electors of each3502
affected municipal corporation, to be nominated to serve as 3503
commissioners. The petition shall be governed by the rules of 3504
section 3501.38 of the Revised Code. The petition shall contain 3505
signatures of electors of each municipal corporation or of each 3506
municipal corporation and the unincorporated area of the township 3507
proposed to be merged and signatures of electors of the municipal 3508
corporation with which merger is proposed, numbering not less than 3509
ten per cent of the number of electors residing in each such 3510
political subdivision who voted for the office of governor at the 3511
most recent general election for that office.3512

       (B) The petition shall be filed with the board of elections3513
of the county in which the largest portion of the population of3514
the municipal corporation with which merger is proposed resides. 3515
The board of elections shall cause the validity of all signatures 3516
to be ascertained and, in doing so, may require the assistance of 3517
boards of elections of other counties as the case requires. If the 3518
petition is sufficient, the board of elections of the county in 3519
which the petition is required to be filed shall submit the 3520
question: "Shall a commission be chosen to draw up a statement of 3521
conditions for merger of the political subdivisions of ........., 3522
..........., and ...........?" for the approval or rejection of 3523
the electors of each political subdivision proposed to be merged 3524
and the electors of the municipal corporation to which merger is 3525
proposed at the next general election, in any year, occurring 3526
subsequent to the period ending seventy-fiveeighty-five days3527
after the filing of the petition with the board. Provision shall 3528
be made on the ballot for the election, from each of the component 3529
political subdivisions, of five electors who shall constitute the3530
commission to draw up the statement of conditions for merger of3531
the political subdivisions. If any of the political subdivisions3532
for which merger is proposed are located wholly or partially in a3533
county other than the one in which the petition is required to be3534
filed, the board of elections of the county in which the petition 3535
is filed shall, if the petition is found to be sufficient, certify 3536
the sufficiency of the petition and the statement of the issue to 3537
be voted on to the boards of elections of those other counties; 3538
the boards of elections of those other counties shall submit the3539
question of merging and the names of candidates to be elected to3540
the commission to draw up the statement of conditions for merger, 3541
for the approval or rejection of the electors in the portions of 3542
those political subdivisions within their respective counties;3543
and, upon the holding of the election, the boards of elections of 3544
those other counties shall certify the election results to the 3545
board of elections of the county in which the petition is required 3546
to be filed.3547

       (C) In addition to the filing of the petition with the board3548
of elections as provided in division (B) of this section, a copy3549
of the petition shall be filed with the legislative authority of3550
each affected municipal corporation and, if applicable, the board3551
of township trustees of the affected township. At a public meeting 3552
scheduled not less than thirty days before the date of the 3553
election at which the question of merging goes before the 3554
electors, each of those legislative authorities and, if 3555
applicable, the board of township trustees shall state and explain 3556
their position on the proposed merger.3557

       Sec. 709.462. (A) Once proposed merger conditions are3558
prepared, the members of the commission shall vote on them.3559

       (B) If no proposed merger condition can be agreed upon by a3560
majority of the members of the commission from each political3561
subdivision, the members of the commission may vote on whether the3562
merger should not occur. If, in that situation, a majority of the3563
members of the commission from each political subdivision votes3564
against the merger, no further proceedings shall be had on the3565
petition filed under section 709.45 of the Revised Code, and no 3566
further petitions shall be filed under that section proposing a 3567
merger of any or all of the political subdivisions that were the 3568
subjects of that petition for at least three years after the date 3569
of the commission's vote.3570

       (C) If proposed merger conditions are agreed upon by a3571
majority of the members of the commission from each political3572
subdivision, the commission shall issue a report listing the3573
conditions agreed to and the reasoning behind adopting each3574
condition. In addition, after the next general election occurring3575
after the election of the members of the commission, but not less 3576
than seventy-fiveeighty-five days preceding the second general3577
election occurring after the election of the members of the3578
commission, the commission, unless it has ceased to exist under 3579
division (D) of this section, shall certify the fact of that 3580
agreement and a list of the agreed-to merger conditions to the3581
board of elections of each of the counties in which the political3582
subdivisions proposed for merger are located. The question of the 3583
approval or rejection of the merger conditions shall be submitted 3584
to the voters at that second general election occurring after the 3585
election of the members of the commission. The boards of elections 3586
shall submit the merger conditions for the approval or rejection 3587
of the electors in the portions of the political subdivisions 3588
within their respective counties, and, upon the holding of the 3589
election, each board of elections other than the board of the 3590
county in which the petition is required to be filed shall certify3591
its results to the board of elections of the county in which the3592
petition is required to be filed.3593

       (D) Regardless of whether a merger commission succeeds in3594
reaching an agreement, the commission shall cease to exist on the3595
seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day preceding the next general election 3596
occurring after the election of the members of the commission, 3597
unless the commission requests an extension of time from the 3598
legislative authority of each political subdivision involved and 3599
each of those legislative authorities approves the extension. This 3600
extension of time may be only until the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth3601
day preceding the second general election occurring after the 3602
election of the members of the commission. If the commission 3603
ceases to exist under this division, no further petitions shall be 3604
filed under section 709.45 of the Revised Code proposing a merger 3605
of any or all of the political subdivisions that were the subjects 3606
of the petition considered by the commission for at least three 3607
years after the date the commission ceases to exist.3608

       Sec. 709.48.  On and after the date on which a petition is3609
filed with the board of elections under section 709.45 of the3610
Revised Code for the election of a merger commission for the3611
merger of one or more municipal corporations and the 3612
unincorporated territory of a township, no petition for the 3613
annexation of any part of the unincorporated territory of the 3614
township shall be filed with a board of county commissioners under 3615
section 709.03 or 709.15 of the Revised Code, until one of the 3616
following occurs:3617

       (A) The question of forming a merger commission is defeated 3618
at the election provided for under section 709.45 of the Revised 3619
Code by a majority of the electors of any one of the municipal 3620
corporations or the unincorporated territory of the township in 3621
which the election is held.3622

       (B) The merger commission elected pursuant to section 709.45 3623
of the Revised Code fails to reach agreement on merger conditions 3624
by the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day preceding the next general 3625
election occurring after the election of the members of the 3626
commission or, if the time for the commission's existence is 3627
extended under division (D) of section 709.462 of the Revised 3628
Code, by the date that extension ceases, whichever is later.3629

       (C) The merger conditions agreed upon by the merger3630
commission are defeated by a majority of the electors of any one 3631
of the municipal corporations or the unincorporated territory of 3632
the township in which the election on the conditions is held.3633

       Sec. 709.50.  (A) Notwithstanding any other section of the3634
Revised Code, when a township contains at least ninety per cent of 3635
the geographic area of a municipal corporation, either that3636
township or the municipal corporation may remove that part of that 3637
township that is located within the municipal corporation from 3638
that township if all of the following apply:3639

       (1) The electors of the township and the municipal3640
corporation have voted to approve the establishment of a merger3641
commission pursuant to section 709.45 of the Revised Code.3642

       (2) The unincorporated territory of the township has a3643
population of more than nine thousand.3644

       (3) The township has previously adopted a limited home rule 3645
government under Chapter 504. of the Revised Code and a township 3646
zoning resolution under Chapter 519. of the Revised Code.3647

       (4) Not later than December 31, 1994, either the township3648
adopts a resolution or the municipal corporation adopts a3649
resolution or ordinance to remove that part of the township that3650
is located in the municipal corporation from the township. Any3651
resolution or ordinance adopted under division (A)(4) of this3652
section shall include an accurate description of the land to be3653
removed. The political subdivision that adopts an ordinance or3654
resolution under division (A)(4) of this section shall file with3655
the county recorder a copy of it certified by the county auditor,3656
together with a map or plat certified by the county auditor of the 3657
land to be removed. The county recorder shall record the ordinance 3658
or resolution and the map or plat.3659

       (B) If either the township or the municipal corporation takes 3660
the action described in division (A)(4) of this section, the 3661
removal shall occur. After the removal, the unincorporated3662
territory of the township shall no longer receive any revenue by3663
virtue of its relationship to the municipal corporation. As soon3664
as practicable after a removal occurs under this section, the3665
board of county commissioners shall ascertain whether there is any 3666
joint indebtedness of the unincorporated territory of the township 3667
and the municipal corporation. If there is any such indebtedness, 3668
the board of county commissioners shall apportion it in accordance 3669
with section 503.10 of the Revised Code.3670

       (C)(1) If a removal occurs under this section, all or part of 3671
the unincorporated territory of the township may become a village 3672
if the board of township trustees adopts, by unanimous vote, a 3673
resolution for all or part of that territory to become a village. 3674
The board of township trustees shall file with the county recorder 3675
a copy of any resolution it adopts under division (C)(1) of this 3676
section certified by the county auditor, together with a map or 3677
plat certified by the county auditor of the land to be included in 3678
the village. The county recorder shall record the resolution and 3679
the map or plat. Once the board adopts a resolution under division 3680
(C)(1) of this section, no land within the area that will 3681
constitute the village may be annexed, and any pending annexation 3682
proceeding that includes land in that area shall be considered to 3683
be terminated with regard to that land.3684

       (2) If the board does not adopt a resolution under division 3685
(C)(1) of this section, or if the board adopts such a resolution 3686
in which only a part of the unincorporated territory becomes a 3687
village, the board of county commissioners shall attach all the 3688
unincorporated territory that does not become a village to any 3689
township contiguous to that territory or erect that territory into 3690
a new township, the boundaries of which need not include 3691
twenty-two square miles of territory.3692

       (D) If a board of township trustees adopts a resolution under 3693
division (C)(1) of this section for all or part of the township's 3694
unincorporated territory to become a village, the board shall 3695
serve as the legislative authority of the area constituting the 3696
village until the next regular municipal election that occurs at 3697
least seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the adoption of the 3698
resolution. At that election, the legislative authority of the 3699
village shall be elected under section 731.09 of the Revised Code 3700
and all other officers of the village shall be elected under 3701
Chapter 733. of the Revised Code.3702

       Sec. 715.69.  (A) As used in this section:3703

       (1) "Contracting party" means a municipal corporation that3704
has entered into a joint economic development zone contract or any 3705
party succeeding to such a municipal corporation.3706

       (2) "Contract for utility services" means a contract under3707
which a municipal corporation agrees to provide to another3708
municipal corporation water, sewer, electric, or other utility3709
services necessary to the public health, safety, and welfare.3710

       (3) "Joint economic development zone contract" means a 3711
contract described in and entered into under division (B) of this 3712
section.3713

       (4) "Zone" means a joint economic development zone designated 3714
under this section.3715

       (B) Two or more municipal corporations may enter into a 3716
contract whereby they agree to share in the costs of improvements 3717
for an area or areas located in one or more of the contracting 3718
parties that they designate as a joint economic development zone 3719
for the purpose of facilitating new or expanded growth for 3720
commercial or economic development in the state. Except as 3721
otherwise provided in division (I) of this section, the contract 3722
and zone shall meet the requirements of divisions (B) to (H) of 3723
this section.3724

       (C) The contract shall set forth each contracting party's 3725
contribution to the joint economic development zone. The3726
contributions may be in any form that the contracting parties 3727
agree to, subject to divisions (G) and (I) of this section, and 3728
may include, but are not limited to, the provision of services, 3729
money, or equipment. The contract may provide for the contracting 3730
parties to distribute among themselves, in the manner they agree3731
to, any municipal income tax revenues derived from the income 3732
earned by persons employed by businesses that locate within the 3733
zone after it is designated by the contracting parties and from 3734
the net profits of such businesses. Except as provided in 3735
divisions (G) and (I) of this section, the contract may be 3736
amended, renewed, or terminated with the consent of the3737
contracting parties.3738

       (D) Before the legislative authority of any of the 3739
contracting parties enacts an ordinance approving a contract to 3740
designate a joint economic development zone, the legislative 3741
authority of each of the contracting parties shall hold a public 3742
hearing concerning the contract and zone. Each such legislative 3743
authority shall provide at least thirty days' public notice of the3744
time and place of the public hearing in a newspaper of general 3745
circulation in the municipal corporation. During the thirty-day 3746
period prior to the public hearing, all of the following documents 3747
shall be available for public inspection in the office of the 3748
clerk of the legislative authority of each of the contracting 3749
parties:3750

       (1) A copy of the contract designating the zone;3751

       (2) A description of the area or areas to be included in the 3752
zone, including a map in sufficient detail to denote the specific 3753
boundaries of the area or areas;3754

       (3) An economic development plan for the zone that includes a 3755
schedule for the provision of any new, expanded, or additional 3756
services, facilities, or improvements.3757

       A public hearing held under division (D) of this section 3758
shall allow for public comment and recommendations on the contract 3759
and zone. The contracting parties may include in the contract any 3760
of those recommendations prior to approval of the contract.3761

       (E) After the public hearings required under division (D) of 3762
this section have been held, each contracting party may enact an 3763
ordinance approving the contract to designate a joint economic 3764
development zone. After each contracting party has enacted such an 3765
ordinance, the clerk of the legislative authority of each 3766
contracting party shall file with the board of elections of each 3767
county within which a contracting party is located a copy of the 3768
ordinance approving the contract and shall direct the board of3769
elections to submit the ordinance to the electors of the 3770
contracting party on the day of the next general, primary, or 3771
special election occurring at least seventy-fiveeighty-five days 3772
after the ordinance is filed with the board of elections.3773

       (F) The ballot shall be in the following form:3774

       "Shall the ordinance of the legislative authority of the 3775
(city or village) of (name of contracting party) approving the 3776
contract with (name of each other contracting party) for the 3777
designation of a joint economic development zone be approved?3778

        3779

 FOR THE ORDINANCE AND CONTRACT 3780
 AGAINST THE ORDINANCE AND CONTRACT  " 3781

        3782

If a majority of the electors of each contracting party voting on 3783
the issue vote for the ordinance and contract, the ordinance shall 3784
become effective immediately and the contract shall go into effect 3785
immediately or in accordance with its terms.3786

       (G) If two or more contracting parties previously have 3787
entered into a separate contract for utility services, then 3788
amendment, renewal, or termination of the separate contract for 3789
utility services shall not constitute a part of the consideration 3790
for a joint economic development zone contract unless the 3791
legislative authority of each contracting party determines all of 3792
the following:3793

       (1) That the creation of the joint economic development zone3794
will facilitate new or expanded growth for commercial or economic 3795
development in this state;3796

       (2) That substantial consideration exists to support the 3797
joint economic development zone contract;3798

       (3) That the contracting parties are entering into the joint 3799
economic development zone contract freely and without duress or 3800
coercion related to the amendment, renewal, or termination of the 3801
separate contract for utility services.3802

       (H) A joint economic development zone contract that does not 3803
satisfy division (G) of this section is void and unenforceable. If 3804
the joint economic development zone contract provides for the 3805
extension of utility service or the provision of utility service 3806
at a lower rate than is currently in effect, any action claiming 3807
duress or coercion relating to a joint economic development zone 3808
contract may be brought only by a contracting party, and must be 3809
brought before the contracting parties enter into the joint 3810
economic development zone contract. The signing of the joint 3811
economic development zone contract as authorized by the 3812
contracting parties is conclusive evidence as to the3813
determinations set forth under division (G) of this section.3814

       (I) If one of the contracting parties is an impacted city as3815
defined in division (C) of section 1728.01 of the Revised Code, 3816
then divisions (D) to (F) of this section shall not apply to the 3817
joint economic development zone contract or to the joint economic 3818
development zone to which that contract relates unless the 3819
contracting parties agree that those divisions shall apply.3820

       Sec. 715.691.  (A) As used in this section:3821

       (1) "Contracting party" means a municipal corporation that3822
has entered into a joint economic development zone contract or any3823
party succeeding to the municipal corporation, or a township that3824
entered into a joint economic development zone contract with a 3825
municipal corporation.3826

       (2) "Zone" means a joint economic development zone designated 3827
under this section.3828

       (B) This section provides alternative procedures and3829
requirements for creating and operating a joint economic3830
development zone to those set forth in section 715.69 of the3831
Revised Code. This section applies only if one of the contracting3832
parties to the zone does not levy a municipal income tax under3833
Chapter 718. of the Revised Code. A municipal corporation that3834
does not levy a municipal income tax may enter into an agreement3835
to create and operate a joint economic development zone under this3836
section or under section 715.69 of the Revised Code.3837

       Two or more municipal corporations or one or more townships3838
and one or more municipal corporations may enter into a contract3839
whereby they agree to share in the costs of improvements for an3840
area or areas located in one or more of the contracting parties3841
that they designate as a joint economic development zone for the3842
purpose of facilitating new or expanded growth for commercial or3843
economic development in the state. The contract and zone shall3844
meet the requirements of divisions (B) to (J) of this section.3845

       (C) The contract shall set forth each contracting party's3846
contribution to the joint economic development zone. The3847
contributions may be in any form that the contracting parties3848
agree to, and may include, but are not limited to, the provision3849
of services, money, or equipment. The contract may be amended,3850
renewed, or terminated with the consent of the contracting3851
parties. The contract shall continue in existence throughout the3852
term it specifies and shall be binding on the contracting parties3853
and on any entities succeeding to the contracting parties.3854

       (D) Before the legislative authority of any of the3855
contracting parties enacts an ordinance or resolution approving a3856
contract to designate a joint economic development zone, the3857
legislative authority of each of the contracting parties shall3858
hold a public hearing concerning the contract and zone. Each 3859
legislative authority shall provide at least thirty days' public3860
notice of the time and place of the public hearing in a newspaper3861
of general circulation in the municipal corporation or township.3862
During the thirty-day period prior to the public hearing, all of3863
the following documents shall be available for public inspection3864
in the office of the clerk of the legislative authority of a3865
municipal corporation that is a contracting party and in the3866
office of the fiscal officer of a township that is a contracting 3867
party:3868

       (1) A copy of the contract designating the zone;3869

       (2) A description of the area or areas to be included in the3870
zone, including a map in sufficient detail to denote the specific3871
boundaries of the area or areas;3872

       (3) An economic development plan for the zone that includes a 3873
schedule for the provision of any new, expanded, or additional3874
services, facilities, or improvements.3875

       A public hearing held under division (D) of this section3876
shall allow for public comment and recommendations on the contract3877
and zone. The contracting parties may include in the contract any3878
of those recommendations prior to approval of the contract.3879

       (E) After the public hearings required under division (D) of3880
this section have been held, each contracting party may enact an3881
ordinance or resolution approving the contract to designate a3882
joint economic development zone. After each contracting party has3883
enacted an ordinance or resolution, the clerk of the legislative 3884
authority of a municipal corporation that is a contracting party 3885
and the fiscal officer of a township that is a contracting party3886
shall file with the board of elections of each county within which 3887
a contracting party is located a copy of the ordinance or 3888
resolution approving the contract and shall direct the board of 3889
elections to submit the ordinance or resolution to the electors of 3890
the contracting party on the day of the next general, primary, or 3891
special election occurring at least seventy-fiveeighty-five days 3892
after the ordinance or resolution is filed with the board of3893
elections. If any of the contracting parties is a township, 3894
however, then only the township or townships shall submit the 3895
resolution to the electors.3896

       (F)(1) If a vote is required to approve a municipal3897
corporation as a contracting party to a joint economic development3898
zone under this section, the ballot shall be in the following3899
form:3900

       "Shall the ordinance of the legislative authority of the3901
(city or village) of (name of contracting party) approving the3902
contract with (name of each other contracting party) for the3903
designation of a joint economic development zone be approved?3904

        3905

 FOR THE ORDINANCE AND CONTRACT 3906
 AGAINST THE ORDINANCE AND CONTRACT  " 3907

        3908

       (2) If a vote is required to approve a township as a3909
contracting party to a joint economic development zone under this3910
section, the ballot shall be in the following form:3911

       "Shall the resolution of the board of township trustees of3912
the township of (name of contracting party) approving the contract3913
with (name of each other contracting party) for the designation of3914
a joint economic development zone be approved?3915

        3916

 FOR THE RESOLUTION AND CONTRACT 3917
 AGAINST THE RESOLUTION AND CONTRACT  " 3918

        3919

       If a majority of the electors of each contracting party3920
voting on the issue vote for the ordinance or resolution and3921
contract, the ordinance or resolution shall become effective3922
immediately and the contract shall go into effect immediately or3923
in accordance with its terms.3924

       (G)(1) A board of directors shall govern each joint economic3925
development zone created under section 715.691 of the Revised3926
Code. The members of the board shall be appointed as provided in3927
the contract. Each of the contracting parties shall appoint three3928
members to the board. Terms for each member shall be for two3929
years, each term ending on the same day of the month of the year3930
as did the term that it succeeds. A member may be reappointed to3931
the board.3932

       (2) Membership on the board is not the holding of a public3933
office or employment within the meaning of any section of the3934
Revised Code or any charter provision prohibiting the holding of3935
other public office or employment. Membership on the board is not3936
a direct or indirect interest in a contract or expenditure of3937
money by a municipal corporation, township, county, or other3938
political subdivision with which a member may be affiliated.3939
Notwithstanding any provision of law or a charter to the contrary,3940
no member of the board shall forfeit or be disqualified from3941
holding any public office or employment by reason of membership on3942
the board.3943

       (3) The board is a public body for the purposes of section3944
121.22 of the Revised Code. Chapter 2744. of the Revised Code3945
applies to the board and the zone.3946

       (H) The contract may grant to the board of directors3947
appointed under division (G) of this section the power to adopt a3948
resolution to levy an income tax within the zone. The income tax3949
shall be used for the purposes of the zone and for the purposes of3950
the contracting municipal corporations pursuant to the contract.3951
The income tax may be levied in the zone based on income earned by3952
persons working within the zone and on the net profits of3953
businesses located in the zone. The income tax is subject to3954
Chapter 718. of the Revised Code, except that a vote shall be3955
required by the electors residing in the zone to approve the rate3956
of income tax unless a majority of the electors residing within3957
the zone, as determined by the total number of votes cast in the3958
zone for the office of governor at the most recent general3959
election for that office, submit a petition to the board3960
requesting that the election provided for in division (H)(1) of3961
this section not be held. If no electors reside within the zone,3962
then division (H)(3) of this section applies. The rate of the3963
income tax shall be no higher than the highest rate being levied3964
by a municipal corporation that is a party to the contract.3965

       (1) The board of directors may levy an income tax at a rate3966
that is not higher than the highest rate being levied by a3967
municipal corporation that is a party to the contract, provided3968
that the rate of the income tax is first submitted to and approved3969
by the electors of the zone at the succeeding regular or primary3970
election, or a special election called by the board, occurring3971
subsequent to seventy-fiveeighty-five days after a certified copy 3972
of the resolution levying the income tax and calling for the 3973
election is filed with the board of elections. If the voters3974
approve the levy of the income tax, the income tax shall be in 3975
force for the full period of the contract establishing the zone. 3976
No election shall be held under this section if a majority of the 3977
electors residing within the zone, determined as specified in3978
division (H) of this section, submit a petition to that effect to 3979
the board of directors. Any increase in the rate of an income tax 3980
by the board of directors shall be approved by a vote of the 3981
electors of the zone and shall be in force for the remaining 3982
period of the contract establishing the zone.3983

       (2) Whenever a zone is located in the territory of more than3984
one contracting party, a majority vote of the electors in each of3985
the several portions of the territory of the contracting parties3986
constituting the zone approving the levy of the tax is required3987
before it may be imposed under division (H) of this section.3988

       (3) If no electors reside in the zone, no election for the3989
approval or rejection of an income tax shall be held under this3990
section, provided that where no electors reside in the zone, the3991
rate of the income tax shall be no higher than the highest rate3992
being levied by a municipal corporation that is a party to the3993
contract.3994

       (4) The board of directors of a zone levying an income tax3995
shall enter into an agreement with one of the municipal3996
corporations that is a party to the contract to administer,3997
collect, and enforce the income tax on behalf of the zone.3998

       (5) The board of directors of a zone shall publish or post3999
public notice within the zone of any resolution adopted levying an4000
income tax in the same manner required of municipal corporations4001
under sections 731.21 and 731.25 of the Revised Code.4002

       (I)(1) If for any reason a contracting party reverts to or4003
has its boundaries changed so that it is classified as a township4004
that is the entity succeeding to that contracting party, the4005
township is considered to be a municipal corporation for the4006
purposes of the contract for the full period of the contract4007
establishing the joint economic development zone, except that if4008
that contracting party is administering, collecting, and enforcing4009
the income tax on behalf of the district as provided in division4010
(H)(4) of this section, the contract shall be amended to allow one4011
of the other contracting parties to administer, collect, and4012
enforce that tax.4013

       (2) Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code, if 4014
there is any change in the boundaries of a township so that a4015
municipal corporation once located within the township is no4016
longer so located, the township shall remain in existence even4017
though its remaining unincorporated area contains less than4018
twenty-two square miles, if the township has been or becomes a4019
party to a contract creating a joint economic development zone4020
under this section or the contract creating that joint economic4021
development zone under this section is terminated or repudiated4022
for any reason by any party or person. The township shall continue 4023
its existing status in all respects, including having the same 4024
form of government and the same elected board of trustees as its 4025
governing body. The township shall continue to receive all of its 4026
tax levies and sources of income as a township in accordance with 4027
any section of the Revised Code, whether the levies and sources of4028
income generate millage within the ten-mill limitation or in 4029
excess of the ten-mill limitation. The name of the township may be 4030
changed to the name of the contracting party appearing in the 4031
contract creating a joint economic development zone under this4032
section, so long as the name does not conflict with any other name4033
in the state that has been certified by the secretary of state.4034
The township shall have all of the powers set out in sections4035
715.79, 715.80, and 715.81 of the Revised Code.4036

       (J) If, after creating and operating a joint economic4037
development zone under this section, a contracting party that did4038
not levy a municipal income tax under Chapter 718. of the Revised4039
Code levies such a tax, the tax shall not apply to the zone for4040
the full period of the contract establishing the zone, if the4041
board of directors of the zone has levied an income tax as4042
provided in division (H) of this section.4043

       Sec. 715.70.  (A) This section and section 715.71 of the4044
Revised Code apply only to:4045

       (1) Municipal corporations and townships within a county that4046
has adopted a charter under Sections 3 and 4 of Article X, Ohio4047
Constitution;4048

       (2) Municipal corporations and townships that have created a4049
joint economic development district comprised entirely of real4050
property owned by a municipal corporation at the time the district4051
was created under this section. The real property owned by the4052
municipal corporation shall include an airport owned by the4053
municipal corporation and located entirely beyond the municipal4054
corporation's corporate boundary.4055

       (3) Municipal corporations or townships that are part of or4056
contiguous to a transportation improvement district created under4057
Chapter 5540. of the Revised Code and that have created a joint4058
economic development district under this section or section 715.714059
of the Revised Code prior to November 15, 1995;4060

       (4) Municipal corporations that have previously entered into4061
a contract creating a joint economic development district pursuant4062
to division (A)(2) of this section, even if the territory to be4063
included in the district does not meet the requirements of that4064
division.4065

       (B)(1) One or more municipal corporations and one or more4066
townships may enter into a contract approved by the legislative4067
authority of each contracting party pursuant to which they create4068
as a joint economic development district an area or areas for the4069
purpose of facilitating economic development to create or preserve4070
jobs and employment opportunities and to improve the economic4071
welfare of the people in the state and in the area of the4072
contracting parties. A municipal corporation described in division 4073
(A)(4) of this section may enter into a contract with other 4074
municipal corporations and townships to create a new joint4075
economic development district. In a district that includes a4076
municipal corporation described in division (A)(4) of this4077
section, the territory of each of the contracting parties shall be4078
contiguous to the territory of at least one other contracting4079
party, or contiguous to the territory of a township or municipal4080
corporation that is contiguous to another contracting party, even4081
if the intervening township or municipal corporation is not a4082
contracting party. The area or areas of land to be included in the 4083
district shall not include any parcel of land owned in fee by a 4084
municipal corporation or a township or parcel of land that is4085
leased to a municipal corporation or a township, unless the4086
municipal corporation or township is a party to the contract or4087
unless the municipal corporation or township has given its consent4088
to have its parcel of land included in the district by the4089
adoption of a resolution. As used in this division, "parcel of4090
land" means any parcel of land owned by a municipal corporation or4091
a township for at least a six-month period within a five-year4092
period prior to the creation of a district, but "parcel of land"4093
does not include streets or public ways and sewer, water, and4094
other utility lines whether owned in fee or otherwise.4095

       The district created shall be located within the territory of4096
one or more of the participating parties and may consist of all or4097
a portion of such territory. The boundaries of the district shall4098
be described in the contract or in an addendum to the contract.4099

       (2) Prior to the public hearing to be held pursuant to4100
division (D)(2) of this section, the participating parties shall4101
give a copy of the proposed contract to each municipal corporation4102
located within one-quarter mile of the proposed joint economic4103
development district and not otherwise a party to the contract,4104
and afford the municipal corporation the reasonable opportunity,4105
for a period of thirty days following receipt of the proposed4106
contract, to make comments and suggestions to the participating4107
parties regarding elements contained in the proposed contract.4108

       (3) The district shall not exceed two thousand acres in area. 4109
The territory of the district shall not completely surround4110
territory that is not included within the boundaries of the4111
district.4112

       (4) Sections 503.07 to 503.12 of the Revised Code do not4113
apply to territory included within a district created pursuant to4114
this section as long as the contract creating the district is in4115
effect, unless the legislative authority of each municipal4116
corporation and the board of township trustees of each township4117
included in the district consent, by ordinance or resolution, to4118
the application of those sections of the Revised Code.4119

       (5) Upon the execution of the contract creating the district4120
by the parties to the contract, a participating municipal4121
corporation or township included within the district shall file a4122
copy of the fully executed contract with the county recorder of4123
each county within which a party to the contract is located, in4124
the miscellaneous records of the county. No annexation proceeding4125
pursuant to Chapter 709. of the Revised Code that proposes the4126
annexation to, merger, or consolidation with a municipal4127
corporation of any unincorporated territory within the district4128
shall be commenced for a period of three years after the contract4129
is filed with the county recorder of each county within which a4130
party to the contract is located unless each board of township4131
trustees whose territory is included, in whole or part, within the4132
district and the territory proposed to be annexed, merged, or4133
consolidated adopts a resolution consenting to the commencement of4134
the proceeding and a copy of the resolution is filed with the4135
legislative authority of each county within which a party to the4136
contract is located or unless the contract is terminated during4137
this period.4138

       The contract entered into between the municipal corporations4139
and townships pursuant to this section may provide for the4140
prohibition of any annexation by the participating municipal4141
corporations of any unincorporated territory within the district4142
beyond the three-year mandatory prohibition of any annexation4143
provided for in division (B)(5) of this section.4144

       (C)(1) After the legislative authority of a municipal4145
corporation and the board of township trustees have adopted an4146
ordinance and resolution approving a contract to create a joint4147
economic development district pursuant to this section, and after4148
a contract has been signed, the municipal corporations and4149
townships shall jointly file a petition with the legislative4150
authority of each county within which a party to the contract is4151
located.4152

       (a) The petition shall contain all of the following:4153

       (i) A statement that the area or areas of the district is not4154
greater than two thousand acres and is located within the4155
territory of one or more of the contracting parties;4156

       (ii) A brief summary of the services to be provided by each4157
party to the contract or a reference to the portion of the4158
contract describing those services;4159

       (iii) A description of the area or areas to be designated as4160
the district;4161

       (iv) The signature of a representative of each of the4162
contracting parties.4163

       (b) The following documents shall be filed with the petition:4164

       (i) A signed copy of the contract, together with copies of4165
district maps and plans related to or part of the contract;4166

       (ii) A certified copy of the ordinances and resolutions of4167
the contracting parties approving the contract;4168

       (iii) A certificate from each of the contracting parties4169
indicating that the public hearings required by division (D)(2) of4170
this section have been held, the date of the hearings, and4171
evidence of publication of the notice of the hearings;4172

       (iv) One or more signed statements of persons who are owners4173
of property located in whole or in part within the area to be4174
designated as the district, requesting that the property be4175
included within the district, provided that those statements shall4176
represent a majority of the persons owning property located in4177
whole or in part within the district and persons owning a majority4178
of the acreage located within the district. A signature may be4179
withdrawn by the signer up to but not after the time of the public4180
hearing required by division (D)(2) of this section.4181

       (2) The legislative authority of each county within which a4182
party to the contract is located shall adopt a resolution4183
approving the petition for the creation of the district if the4184
petition and other documents have been filed in accordance with4185
the requirements of division (C)(1) of this section. If the4186
petition and other documents do not substantially meet the4187
requirements of that division, the legislative authority of any4188
county within which a party to the contract is located may adopt a4189
resolution disapproving the petition for the creation of the4190
district. The legislative authority of each county within which a4191
party to the contract is located shall adopt a resolution4192
approving or disapproving the petition within thirty days after4193
the petition was filed. If the legislative authority of each such4194
county does not adopt the resolution within the thirty-day period,4195
the petition shall be deemed approved and the contract shall go4196
into effect immediately after that approval or at such other time4197
as the contract specifies.4198

       (D)(1) The contract creating the district shall set forth or4199
provide for the amount or nature of the contribution of each4200
municipal corporation and township to the development and4201
operation of the district and may provide for the sharing of the4202
costs of the operation of and improvements for the district. The4203
contributions may be in any form to which the contracting4204
municipal corporations and townships agree and may include but are4205
not limited to the provision of services, money, real or personal4206
property, facilities, or equipment. The contract may provide for4207
the contracting parties to share revenue from taxes levied on4208
property by one or more of the contracting parties if those4209
revenues may lawfully be applied to that purpose under the4210
legislation by which those taxes are levied. The contract shall4211
provide for new, expanded, or additional services, facilities, or4212
improvements, including expanded or additional capacity for or4213
other enhancement of existing services, facilities, or4214
improvements, provided that those services, facilities, or4215
improvements, or expanded or additional capacity for or4216
enhancement of existing services, facilities, or improvements,4217
required herein have been provided within the two-year period4218
prior to the execution of the contract.4219

       (2) Before the legislative authority of a municipal4220
corporation or a board of township trustees passes any ordinance4221
or resolution approving a contract to create a joint economic4222
development district pursuant to this section, the legislative4223
authority of the municipal corporation and the board of township4224
trustees shall each hold a public hearing concerning the joint4225
economic development district contract and shall provide thirty4226
days' public notice of the time and place of the public hearing in4227
a newspaper of general circulation in the municipal corporation4228
and the township. The board of township trustees may provide4229
additional notice to township residents in accordance with section4230
9.03 of the Revised Code, and any additional notice shall include4231
the public hearing announcement; a summary of the terms of the4232
contract; a statement that the entire text of the contract and4233
district maps and plans are on file for public examination in the4234
office of the township fiscal officer; and information pertaining 4235
to any tax changes that will or may occur as a result of the 4236
contract.4237

       During the thirty-day period prior to the public hearing, a4238
copy of the text of the contract together with copies of district4239
maps and plans related to or part of the contract shall be on4240
file, for public examination, in the offices of the clerk of the4241
legislative authority of the municipal corporation and of the4242
township fiscal officer. The public hearing provided for in4243
division (D)(2) of this section shall allow for public comment and4244
recommendations from the public on the proposed contract. The4245
contracting parties may include in the contract any of those4246
recommendations prior to the approval of the contract.4247

       (3) Any resolution of the board of township trustees that4248
approves a contract that creates a joint economic development4249
district pursuant to this section shall be subject to a referendum4250
of the electors of the township. When a referendum petition,4251
signed by ten per cent of the number of electors in the township4252
who voted for the office of governor at the most recent general4253
election for the office of governor, is presented to the board of4254
township trustees within thirty days after the board of township4255
trustees adopted the resolution, ordering that the resolution be4256
submitted to the electors of the township for their approval or4257
rejection, the board of township trustees shall, after ten days4258
and not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day 4259
before the election, certify the text of the resolution to the 4260
board of elections. The board of elections shall submit the 4261
resolution to the electors of the township for their approval or 4262
rejection at the next general, primary, or special election 4263
occurring subsequent to seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the 4264
certifying of the petition to the board of elections.4265

       (4) Upon the creation of a district under this section or4266
section 715.71 of the Revised Code, one of the contracting parties4267
shall file a copy of the following with the director of4268
development:4269

       (a) The petition and other documents described in division4270
(C)(1) of this section, if the district is created under this4271
section;4272

       (b) The documents described in division (D) of section 715.71 4273
of the Revised Code, if the district is created under this4274
section.4275

       (E) The district created by the contract shall be governed by 4276
a board of directors that shall be established by or pursuant to 4277
the contract. The board is a public body for the purposes of4278
section 121.22 of the Revised Code. The provisions of Chapter4279
2744. of the Revised Code apply to the board and the district. The4280
members of the board shall be appointed as provided in the4281
contract from among the elected members of the legislative4282
authorities and the elected chief executive officers of the4283
contracting parties, provided that there shall be at least two4284
members appointed from each of the contracting parties.4285

       (F) The contract shall enumerate the specific powers, duties, 4286
and functions of the board of directors of a district, and the 4287
contract shall provide for the determination of procedures that 4288
are to govern the board of directors. The contract may grant to 4289
the board the power to adopt a resolution to levy an income tax4290
within the district. The income tax shall be used for the purposes 4291
of the district and for the purposes of the contracting municipal 4292
corporations and townships pursuant to the contract. The income 4293
tax may be levied in the district based on income earned by4294
persons working or residing within the district and based on the4295
net profits of businesses located in the district. The income tax4296
shall follow the provisions of Chapter 718. of the Revised Code,4297
except that a vote shall be required by the electors residing in4298
the district to approve the rate of income tax. If no electors4299
reside within the district, then division (F)(4) of this section4300
applies. The rate of the income tax shall be no higher than the4301
highest rate being levied by a municipal corporation that is a4302
party to the contract.4303

       (1) Within one hundred eighty days after the first meeting of 4304
the board of directors, the board may levy an income tax, provided4305
that the rate of the income tax is first submitted to and approved 4306
by the electors of the district at the succeeding regular or 4307
primary election, or a special election called by the board,4308
occurring subsequent to seventy-fiveeighty-five days after a4309
certified copy of the resolution levying the income tax and4310
calling for the election is filed with the board of elections. If 4311
the voters approve the levy of the income tax, the income tax4312
shall be in force for the full period of the contract establishing 4313
the district. Any increase in the rate of an income tax that was4314
first levied within one hundred eighty days after the first4315
meeting of the board of directors shall be approved by a vote of4316
the electors of the district, shall be in force for the remaining4317
period of the contract establishing the district, and shall not be4318
subject to division (F)(2) of this section.4319

       (2) Any resolution of the board of directors levying an4320
income tax that is adopted subsequent to one hundred eighty days4321
after the first meeting of the board of directors shall be subject4322
to a referendum as provided in division (F)(2) of this section.4323
Any resolution of the board of directors levying an income tax4324
that is adopted subsequent to one hundred eighty days after the4325
first meeting of the board of directors shall be subject to an4326
initiative proceeding to amend or repeal the resolution levying4327
the income tax as provided in division (F)(2) of this section.4328
When a referendum petition, signed by ten per cent of the number4329
of electors in the district who voted for the office of governor4330
at the most recent general election for the office of governor, is4331
filed with the county auditor of each county within which a party4332
to the contract is located within thirty days after the resolution4333
is adopted by the board or when an initiative petition, signed by4334
ten per cent of the number of electors in the district who voted4335
for the office of governor at the most recent general election for4336
the office of governor, is filed with the county auditor of each4337
such county ordering that a resolution to amend or repeal a prior4338
resolution levying an income tax be submitted to the electors4339
within the district for their approval or rejection, the county4340
auditor of each such county, after ten days and not later than4341
four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the4342
election, shall certify the text of the resolution to the board of4343
elections of that county. The county auditor of each such county 4344
shall retain the petition. The board of elections shall submit the 4345
resolution to such electors, for their approval or rejection, at 4346
the next general, primary, or special election occurring 4347
subsequent to seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the certifying 4348
of such petition to the board of elections.4349

       (3) Whenever a district is located in the territory of more4350
than one contracting party, a majority vote of the electors, if4351
any, in each of the several portions of the territory of the4352
contracting parties constituting the district approving the levy4353
of the tax is required before it may be imposed pursuant to this4354
division.4355

       (4) If there are no electors residing in the district, no4356
election for the approval or rejection of an income tax shall be4357
held pursuant to this section, provided that where no electors4358
reside in the district, the maximum rate of the income tax that4359
may be levied shall not exceed one per cent.4360

       (5) The board of directors of a district levying an income4361
tax shall enter into an agreement with one of the municipal4362
corporations that is a party to the contract to administer,4363
collect, and enforce the income tax on behalf of the district. The4364
resolution levying the income tax shall provide the same credits,4365
if any, to residents of the district for income taxes paid to4366
other such districts or municipal corporations where the residents4367
work, as credits provided to residents of the municipal4368
corporation administering the income tax.4369

       (6)(a) The board shall publish or post public notice within4370
the district of any resolution adopted levying an income tax in4371
the same manner required of municipal corporations under sections4372
731.21 and 731.25 of the Revised Code.4373

       (b) Except as otherwise specified by this division, any4374
referendum or initiative proceeding within a district shall be4375
conducted in the same manner as is required for such proceedings4376
within a municipal corporation pursuant to sections 731.28 to4377
731.40 of the Revised Code.4378

       (G) Membership on the board of directors does not constitute4379
the holding of a public office or employment within the meaning of4380
any section of the Revised Code or any charter provision4381
prohibiting the holding of other public office or employment, and4382
shall not constitute an interest, either direct or indirect, in a4383
contract or expenditure of money by any municipal corporation,4384
township, county, or other political subdivision with which the4385
member may be connected. No member of a board of directors shall4386
be disqualified from holding any public office or employment, nor4387
shall such member forfeit or be disqualified from holding any such4388
office or employment, by reason of the member's membership on the4389
board of directors, notwithstanding any law or charter provision4390
to the contrary.4391

       (H) The powers and authorizations granted pursuant to this4392
section or section 715.71 of the Revised Code are in addition to4393
and not in derogation of all other powers granted to municipal4394
corporations and townships pursuant to law. When exercising a4395
power or performing a function or duty under a contract authorized4396
pursuant to this section or section 715.71 of the Revised Code, a4397
municipal corporation may exercise all of the powers of a4398
municipal corporation, and may perform all the functions and4399
duties of a municipal corporation, within the district, pursuant4400
to and to the extent consistent with the contract. When exercising 4401
a power or performing a function or duty under a contract 4402
authorized pursuant to this section or section 715.71 of the 4403
Revised Code, a township may exercise all of the powers of a4404
township, and may perform all the functions and duties of a4405
township, within the district, pursuant to and to the extent4406
consistent with the contract. The district board of directors has4407
no powers except those specifically set forth in the contract as4408
agreed to by the participating parties. No political subdivision4409
shall authorize or grant any tax exemption pursuant to Chapter4410
1728. or section 3735.67, 5709.62, 5709.63, or 5709.632 of the4411
Revised Code on any property located within the district without 4412
the consent of the contracting parties. The prohibition for any4413
tax exemption pursuant to this division shall not apply to any4414
exemption filed, pending, or approved, or for which an agreement4415
has been entered into, before the effective date of the contract4416
entered into by the parties.4417

       (I) Municipal corporations and townships may enter into4418
binding agreements pursuant to a contract authorized under this4419
section or section 715.71 of the Revised Code with respect to the4420
substance and administration of zoning and other land use4421
regulations, building codes, public permanent improvements, and4422
other regulatory and proprietary matters that are determined,4423
pursuant to the contract, to be for a public purpose and to be4424
desirable with respect to the operation of the district or to4425
facilitate new or expanded economic development in the state or4426
the district, provided that no contract shall exempt the territory4427
within the district from the procedures and processes of land use4428
regulation applicable pursuant to municipal corporation, township,4429
and county regulations, including but not limited to procedures4430
and processes concerning zoning.4431

       (J) A contract entered into pursuant to this section or4432
section 715.71 of the Revised Code may be amended and it may be4433
renewed, canceled, or terminated as provided in or pursuant to the4434
contract. The contract may be amended to add property owned by one 4435
of the contracting parties to the district, or may be amended to 4436
delete property from the district whether or not one of the4437
contracting parties owns the deleted property. The contract shall4438
continue in existence throughout its term and shall be binding on4439
the contracting parties and on any entities succeeding to such4440
parties, whether by annexation, merger, or otherwise. The income4441
tax levied by the board pursuant to this section or section 715.714442
of the Revised Code shall apply in the entire district throughout4443
the term of the contract, notwithstanding that all or a portion of4444
the district becomes subject to annexation, merger, or4445
incorporation. No township or municipal corporation is divested of 4446
its rights or obligations under the contract because of4447
annexation, merger, or succession of interests.4448

       (K) After the creation of a joint economic development4449
district described in division (A)(2) of this section, a municipal4450
corporation that is a contracting party may cease to own property4451
included in the district, but such property shall continue to be4452
included in the district and subject to the terms of the contract.4453

       Sec. 715.71.  (A) This section provides alternative4454
procedures and requirements to those set forth in section 715.704455
of the Revised Code for creating and operating a joint economic4456
development district. Divisions (B), (C), (D)(1) to (3), and (F)4457
of section 715.70 of the Revised Code do not apply to a joint4458
economic development district established under this section. 4459
However, divisions (A), (D)(4), (E), (G), (H), (I), (J), and (K)4460
of section 715.70 of the Revised Code do apply to a district4461
established under this section.4462

       (B) One or more municipal corporations and one or more4463
townships may enter into a contract approved by the legislative4464
authority of each contracting party pursuant to which they create4465
as a joint economic development district one or more areas for the4466
purpose of facilitating economic development to create or preserve4467
jobs and employment opportunities and to improve the economic4468
welfare of the people in this state and in the area of the4469
contracting parties. The district created shall be located within4470
the territory of one or more of the contracting parties and may4471
consist of all or a portion of that territory. The boundaries of 4472
the district shall be described in the contract or in an addendum 4473
to the contract. The area or areas of land to be included in the 4474
district shall not include any parcel of land owned in fee by or 4475
leased to a municipal corporation or township, unless the 4476
municipal corporation or township is a party to the contract or 4477
has given its consent to have its parcel of land included in the 4478
district by the adoption of a resolution. As used in this 4479
division, "parcel of land" has the same meaning as in division (B) 4480
of section 715.70 of the Revised Code.4481

       (C) Before the legislative authority of a municipal4482
corporation or a board of township trustees adopts an ordinance or4483
resolution approving a contract to create a joint economic4484
development district under this section, it shall hold a public4485
hearing concerning the joint economic development district4486
contract and shall provide thirty days' public notice of the time4487
and place of the public hearing in a newspaper of general4488
circulation in the municipal corporation and the township. Each4489
municipal corporation and township that is a party to the contract4490
shall hold a public hearing. During the thirty-day period prior to 4491
a public hearing, a copy of the text of the contract together with 4492
copies of district maps and plans related to or part of the4493
contract shall be on file, for public examination, in the offices4494
of the clerk of the legislative authority of the municipal4495
corporation and of the township fiscal officer. The public4496
hearings provided for in this division shall allow for public4497
comment and recommendations on the proposed contract. The4498
participating parties may include in the contract any of those4499
recommendations prior to approval of the contract.4500

       (D) After the legislative authority of a municipal4501
corporation and the board of township trustees have adopted an4502
ordinance and resolution approving a contract to create a joint4503
economic development district, the municipal corporation and the4504
township jointly shall file with the legislative authority of each4505
county within which a party to the contract is located all of the4506
following:4507

       (1) A signed copy of the contract, together with copies of4508
district maps and plans related to or part of the contract;4509

       (2) Certified copies of the ordinances and resolutions of the 4510
contracting parties relating to the district and the contract;4511

       (3) A certificate of each of the contracting parties that the 4512
public hearings provided for in division (C) of this section have 4513
been held, the date of the hearings, and evidence of publication 4514
of the notice of the hearings.4515

       (E) Within thirty days after the filing under division (D) of 4516
this section, the legislative authority of each county within4517
which a party to the contract is located shall adopt a resolution4518
acknowledging the receipt of the required documents, approving the4519
creation of the joint economic development district, and directing4520
that the resolution of the board of township trustees approving4521
the contract be submitted to the electors of the township for4522
approval at the next succeeding general, primary, or special4523
election. The legislative authority of the county shall file with4524
the board of elections at least seventy-fiveeighty-five days4525
before the day of the election a copy of the resolution of the4526
board of township trustees approving the contract. The resolution 4527
of the legislative authority of the county also shall specify the 4528
date the election is to be held and shall direct the board of 4529
elections to conduct the election in the township. If the 4530
resolution of the legislative authority of the county is not4531
adopted within the thirty-day period after the filing under4532
division (D) of this section, the joint economic development4533
district shall be deemed approved by the county legislative4534
authority, and the board of township trustees shall file its4535
resolution with the board of elections for submission to the4536
electors of the township for approval at the next succeeding4537
general, primary, or special election. The filing shall occur at 4538
least seventy-fiveeighty-five days before the specified date the 4539
election is to be held and shall direct the board of elections to 4540
conduct the election in the township.4541

       The ballot shall be in the following form:4542

       "Shall the resolution of the board of township trustees4543
approving the contract with ............... (here insert name of4544
each municipal corporation and other township that is a party to4545
the contract) for the creation of a joint economic development4546
district be approved?4547

        4548

 FOR THE RESOLUTION AND CONTRACT 4549
 AGAINST THE RESOLUTION AND CONTRACT  " 4550

        4551

If a majority of the electors of the township voting on the issue4552
vote for the resolution and contract, the resolution shall become4553
effective immediately and the contract shall go into effect4554
immediately or in accordance with its terms.4555

       (F) The contract creating the district shall set forth or4556
provide for the amount or nature of the contribution of each4557
municipal corporation and township to the development and4558
operation of the district and may provide for the sharing of the4559
costs of the operation of and improvements for the district. The4560
contributions may be in any form to which the contracting4561
municipal corporations and townships agree and may include but are4562
not limited to the provision of services, money, real or personal4563
property, facilities, or equipment. The contract may provide for4564
the contracting parties to share revenue from taxes levied on4565
property by one or more of the contracting parties if those4566
revenues may lawfully be applied to that purpose under the4567
legislation by which those taxes are levied. The contract shall4568
provide for new, expanded, or additional services, facilities, or4569
improvements, including expanded or additional capacity for or4570
other enhancement of existing services, facilities, or4571
improvements, provided that the existing services, facilities, or4572
improvements, or the expanded or additional capacity for or4573
enhancement of the existing services, facilities, or improvements,4574
have been provided within the two-year period prior to the4575
execution of the contract.4576

       (G) The contract shall enumerate the specific powers, duties, 4577
and functions of the board of directors of the district and shall 4578
provide for the determination of procedures that are to govern the 4579
board of directors. The contract may grant to the board the power 4580
to adopt a resolution to levy an income tax within the district. 4581
The income tax shall be used for the purposes of the district and 4582
for the purposes of the contracting municipal corporations and 4583
townships pursuant to the contract. The income tax may be levied 4584
in the district based on income earned by persons working or 4585
residing within the district and based on the net profits of 4586
businesses located in the district. The income tax of the district 4587
shall follow the provisions of Chapter 718. of the Revised Code, 4588
except that no vote shall be required by the electors residing in 4589
the district. The rate of the income tax shall be no higher than 4590
the highest rate being levied by a municipal corporation that is a 4591
party to the contract.4592

       The board of directors of a district levying an income tax4593
shall enter into an agreement with one of the municipal4594
corporations that is a party to the contract to administer,4595
collect, and enforce the income tax on behalf of the district. The4596
resolution levying the income tax shall provide the same credits,4597
if any, to residents of the district for income taxes paid to4598
other districts or municipal corporations where the residents4599
work, as credits provided to residents of the municipal4600
corporation administering the income tax.4601

       (H) No annexation proceeding pursuant to Chapter 709. of the4602
Revised Code that proposes the annexation to or merger or4603
consolidation with a municipal corporation, except a municipal4604
corporation that is a party to the contract, of any unincorporated4605
territory within the district shall be commenced for a period of4606
three years after the contract is filed with the legislative4607
authority of each county within which a party to the contract is4608
located in accordance with division (D) of this section unless4609
each board of township trustees whose territory is included, in4610
whole or part, within the district and the territory proposed to4611
be annexed, merged, or consolidated adopts a resolution consenting4612
to the commencement of the proceeding and a copy of the resolution4613
is filed with the legislative authority of each such county or4614
unless the contract is terminated during this three-year period.4615
The contract entered into between the municipal corporations and4616
townships pursuant to this section may provide for the prohibition4617
of any annexation by the participating municipal corporations of4618
any unincorporated territory within the district.4619

       Sec. 715.77.  (A)(1) A board of township trustees that is a 4620
party to a contract creating a joint economic development district 4621
pursuant to sections 715.72 to 715.82 of the Revised Code may 4622
choose to not submit its resolution approving the contract to the 4623
electors of the township if all of the following conditions are 4624
satisfied:4625

       (a) The resolution has been approved by a unanimous vote of 4626
the members of the board of township trustees or, if a county is 4627
one of the contracting parties under division (D) of section 4628
715.72 of the Revised Code, the resolution has been approved by a 4629
majority vote of the members of the board of township trustees;4630

       (b) The creation of the joint economic development district 4631
is proposed at the request of a majority of the owners of land 4632
included within the proposed district;4633

       (c) The territory to be included in the proposed joint 4634
economic development district is zoned in a manner appropriate to 4635
the function of the proposed district.4636

       (2) Unless the legislative authority of a county adopts a 4637
resolution under section 715.76 of the Revised Code disapproving 4638
the creation of a joint economic development district within 4639
thirty days after the filing made under that section, the 4640
legislative authority of each such county shall adopt a resolution4641
acknowledging the receipt of the required documents, approving the 4642
creation of the joint economic development district, and, if the4643
board of township trustees has not invoked its authority under 4644
division (A)(1) of this section, directing that the resolution of 4645
the board of township trustees approving the contract creating the 4646
joint economic development district be submitted to the electors 4647
of the township for approval at the next succeeding general, 4648
primary, or special election. If the board of township trustees 4649
chooses to submit approval of the contract to the electors of the 4650
township, the legislative authority of the county shall file with 4651
the board of elections at least seventy-fiveeighty-five days4652
before the day of the election a copy of the resolution of the4653
board of township trustees approving the contract. The resolution 4654
of the legislative authority of the county also shall specify the 4655
date the election is to be held and shall direct the board of 4656
elections to conduct the election in the township.4657

       (3) If the resolution of the legislative authority of the4658
county is not adopted within the thirty-day period after the 4659
filing made under section 715.76 of the Revised Code, the joint 4660
economic development district shall be deemed approved by the 4661
county legislative authority and, if the board of township 4662
trustees has not invoked its authority under division (A)(1) of 4663
this section, the board of township trustees shall file its4664
resolution with the board of elections for submission to the4665
electors of the township for approval at the next succeeding4666
general, primary, or special election. In such case, the board of 4667
township trustees shall file the resolution at least seventy-five4668
eighty-five days before the specified date the election is to be 4669
held and shall direct the board of elections to conduct the 4670
election in the township.4671

       (4) Any contract creating a joint economic development 4672
district in which a board of township trustees is a party shall 4673
provide that the contract is not effective earlier than the 4674
thirty-first day after its approval, including any approval by 4675
electors required in this section.4676

       If the board of township trustees chooses pursuant to 4677
division (A)(1) of this section not to submit the approval of the 4678
contract to the electors, the resolution of the board of township 4679
trustees approving the contract is subject to a referendum of the 4680
electors of the township when requested through a petition. When 4681
signed by ten per cent of the number of electors in the township 4682
who voted for the office of governor at the most recent general 4683
election, a referendum petition asking that the resolution be4684
submitted to the electors of the township may be presented to the 4685
board of township trustees. Such a petition shall be presented 4686
within thirty days after the board of township trustees adopts the 4687
resolution. The board of township trustees shall, not later than 4688
four p.m. of the tenth day after receipt of the petition, certify 4689
the text of the resolution to the board of elections. The board of 4690
elections shall submit the resolution to the electors of the 4691
township for their approval or rejection at the next general, 4692
primary, or special election occurring at least seventy-five4693
eighty-five days after such certification.4694

       (B) The ballot shall be in the following form:4695

       "Shall the resolution of the board of township trustees4696
approving the contract with ............... (here insert name of4697
each municipal corporation and other township that is a 4698
contracting party) for the creation of a joint economic 4699
development district be approved?4700

        4701

 FOR THE RESOLUTION AND CONTRACT 4702
 AGAINST THE RESOLUTION AND CONTRACT  " 4703

        4704

If a majority of the electors of the township voting on the issue4705
vote for the resolution and contract, the resolution shall become4706
effective immediately and the contract shall go into effect on the 4707
thirty-first day after this election or thereafter in accordance 4708
with terms of the contract.4709

       Sec. 718.01.  (A) As used in this chapter:4710

       (1) "Adjusted federal taxable income" means a C corporation's 4711
federal taxable income before net operating losses and special 4712
deductions as determined under the Internal Revenue Code, adjusted 4713
as follows:4714

       (a) Deduct intangible income to the extent included in 4715
federal taxable income. The deduction shall be allowed regardless 4716
of whether the intangible income relates to assets used in a trade 4717
or business or assets held for the production of income.4718

       (b) Add an amount equal to five per cent of intangible income 4719
deducted under division (A)(1)(a) of this section, but excluding 4720
that portion of intangible income directly related to the sale, 4721
exchange, or other disposition of property described in section 4722
1221 of the Internal Revenue Code;4723

       (c) Add any losses allowed as a deduction in the computation 4724
of federal taxable income if the losses directly relate to the 4725
sale, exchange, or other disposition of an asset described in 4726
section 1221 or 1231 of the Internal Revenue Code;4727

       (d)(i) Except as provided in division (A)(1)(d)(ii) of this 4728
section, deduct income and gain included in federal taxable income 4729
to the extent the income and gain directly relate to the sale, 4730
exchange, or other disposition of an asset described in section 4731
1221 or 1231 of the Internal Revenue Code;4732

        (ii) Division (A)(1)(d)(i) of this section does not apply to 4733
the extent the income or gain is income or gain described in 4734
section 1245 or 1250 of the Internal Revenue Code.4735

        (e) Add taxes on or measured by net income allowed as a 4736
deduction in the computation of federal taxable income;4737

        (f) In the case of a real estate investment trust and 4738
regulated investment company, add all amounts with respect to 4739
dividends to, distributions to, or amounts set aside for or 4740
credited to the benefit of investors and allowed as a deduction in 4741
the computation of federal taxable income;4742

        (g) If the taxpayer is not a C corporation and is not an 4743
individual, the taxpayer shall compute adjusted federal taxable 4744
income as if the taxpayer were a C corporation, except:4745

        (i) Guaranteed payments and other similar amounts paid or 4746
accrued to a partner, former partner, member, or former member 4747
shall not be allowed as a deductible expense; and4748

        (ii) Amounts paid or accrued to a qualified self-employed 4749
retirement plan with respect to an owner or owner-employee of the 4750
taxpayer, amounts paid or accrued to or for health insurance for 4751
an owner or owner-employee, and amounts paid or accrued to or for 4752
life insurance for an owner or owner-employee shall not be allowed 4753
as a deduction.4754

        Nothing in division (A)(1) of this section shall be construed 4755
as allowing the taxpayer to add or deduct any amount more than 4756
once or shall be construed as allowing any taxpayer to deduct any 4757
amount paid to or accrued for purposes of federal self-employment 4758
tax.4759

        Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting or 4760
removing the ability of any municipal corporation to administer, 4761
audit, and enforce the provisions of its municipal income tax.4762

       (2) "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code4763
of 1986, 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 1, as amended.4764

       (3) "Schedule C" means internal revenue service schedule C4765
filed by a taxpayer pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.4766

       (4) "Form 2106" means internal revenue service form 21064767
filed by a taxpayer pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.4768

       (5) "Intangible income" means income of any of the following4769
types: income yield, interest, capital gains, dividends, or other 4770
income arising from the ownership, sale, exchange, or other 4771
disposition of intangible property including, but not limited to, 4772
investments, deposits, money, or credits as those terms are4773
defined in Chapter 5701. of the Revised Code, and patents, 4774
copyrights, trademarks, tradenames, investments in real estate 4775
investment trusts, investments in regulated investment companies, 4776
and appreciation on deferred compensation. "Intangible income" 4777
does not include prizes, awards, or other income associated with 4778
any lottery winnings or other similar games of chance.4779

       (6) "S corporation" means a corporation that has made an4780
election under subchapter S of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the4781
Internal Revenue Code for its taxable year.4782

       (7) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2004, 4783
"net profit" for a taxpayer other than an individual means 4784
adjusted federal taxable income and "net profit" for a taxpayer 4785
who is an individual means the individual's profit required to be 4786
reported on schedule C, schedule E, or schedule F, other than any 4787
amount allowed as a deduction under division (E)(2) or (3) of this 4788
section or amounts described in division (H) of this section.4789

       (8) "Taxpayer" means a person subject to a tax on income 4790
levied by a municipal corporation. Except as provided in division 4791
(L) of this section, "taxpayer" does not include any person that 4792
is a disregarded entity or a qualifying subchapter S subsidiary 4793
for federal income tax purposes, but "taxpayer" includes any 4794
other person who owns the disregarded entity or qualifying 4795
subchapter S subsidiary.4796

       (9) "Taxable year" means the corresponding tax reporting 4797
period as prescribed for the taxpayer under the Internal Revenue 4798
Code.4799

       (10) "Tax administrator" means the individual charged with 4800
direct responsibility for administration of a tax on income levied 4801
by a municipal corporation and includes:4802

        (a) The central collection agency and the regional income tax 4803
agency and their successors in interest, and other entities 4804
organized to perform functions similar to those performed by the 4805
central collection agency and the regional income tax agency;4806

        (b) A municipal corporation acting as the agent of another 4807
municipal corporation; and4808

        (c) Persons retained by a municipal corporation to administer 4809
a tax levied by the municipal corporation, but only if the 4810
municipal corporation does not compensate the person in whole or 4811
in part on a contingency basis.4812

        (11) "Person" includes individuals, firms, companies, 4813
business trusts, estates, trusts, partnerships, limited liability 4814
companies, associations, corporations, governmental entities, and 4815
any other entity.4816

        (12) "Schedule E" means internal revenue service schedule E 4817
filed by a taxpayer pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.4818

        (13) "Schedule F" means internal revenue service schedule F 4819
filed by a taxpayer pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.4820

       (B) No municipal corporation shall tax income at other than 4821
a uniform rate.4822

       (C) No municipal corporation shall levy a tax on income at a4823
rate in excess of one per cent without having obtained the4824
approval of the excess by a majority of the electors of the4825
municipality voting on the question at a general, primary, or4826
special election. The legislative authority of the municipal4827
corporation shall file with the board of elections at least4828
seventy-fiveeighty-five days before the day of the election a 4829
copy of the ordinance together with a resolution specifying the 4830
date the election is to be held and directing the board of 4831
elections to conduct the election. The ballot shall be in the 4832
following form: "Shall the Ordinance providing for a ... per cent 4833
levy on income for (Brief description of the purpose of the 4834
proposed levy) be passed?4835

        4836

 FOR THE INCOME TAX 4837
 AGAINST THE INCOME TAX  " 4838

        4839

       In the event of an affirmative vote, the proceeds of the levy4840
may be used only for the specified purpose.4841

       (D)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no 4842
municipal corporation shall exempt from a tax on income 4843
compensation for personal services of individuals over eighteen 4844
years of age or the net profit from a business or profession.4845

       (2)(a) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 4846
2004, no municipal corporation shall tax the net profit from a 4847
business or profession using any base other than the taxpayer's 4848
adjusted federal taxable income.4849

       (b) Division (D)(2)(a) of this section does not apply to any 4850
taxpayer required to file a return under section 5745.03 of the 4851
Revised Code or to the net profit from a sole proprietorship.4852

       (E)(1) The legislative authority of a municipal corporation 4853
may, by ordinance or resolution, exempt from withholding and from 4854
a tax on income the following:4855

       (a) Compensation arising from the sale, exchange, or other 4856
disposition of a stock option, the exercise of a stock option, or 4857
the sale, exchange, or other disposition of stock purchased under 4858
a stock option; or4859

       (b) Compensation attributable to a nonqualified deferred 4860
compensation plan or program described in section 3121(v)(2)(C) of 4861
the Internal Revenue Code.4862

       (2) The legislative authority of a municipal corporation may 4863
adopt an ordinance or resolution that allows a taxpayer who is an 4864
individual to deduct, in computing the taxpayer's municipal income 4865
tax liability, an amount equal to the aggregate amount the 4866
taxpayer paid in cash during the taxable year to a health savings 4867
account of the taxpayer, to the extent the taxpayer is entitled to 4868
deduct that amount on internal revenue service form 1040.4869

       (3) The legislative authority of a municipal corporation may 4870
adopt an ordinance or resolution that allows a taxpayer who has a 4871
net profit from a business or profession that is operated as a 4872
sole proprietorship to deduct from that net profit the amount that 4873
the taxpayer paid during the taxable year for medical care 4874
insurance premiums for the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, and 4875
dependents as defined in section 5747.01 of the Revised Code. The 4876
deduction shall be allowed to the same extent the taxpayer is 4877
entitled to deduct the premiums on internal revenue service form 4878
1040. The deduction allowed under this division shall be net of 4879
any related premium refunds, related premium reimbursements, or 4880
related insurance premium dividends received by the taxpayer 4881
during the taxable year.4882

       (F) If an individual's taxable income includes income against4883
which the taxpayer has taken a deduction for federal income tax4884
purposes as reportable on the taxpayer's form 2106, and against4885
which a like deduction has not been allowed by the municipal4886
corporation, the municipal corporation shall deduct from the4887
taxpayer's taxable income an amount equal to the deduction shown4888
on such form allowable against such income, to the extent not4889
otherwise so allowed as a deduction by the municipal corporation.4890

       (G)(1) In the case of a taxpayer who has a net profit from a 4891
business or profession that is operated as a sole proprietorship, 4892
no municipal corporation may tax or use as the base for 4893
determining the amount of the net profit that shall be considered 4894
as having a taxable situs in the municipal corporation, an amount 4895
other than the net profit required to be reported by the taxpayer 4896
on schedule C or F from such sole proprietorship for the taxable 4897
year.4898

        (2) In the case of a taxpayer who has a net profit from 4899
rental activity required to be reported on schedule E, no 4900
municipal corporation may tax or use as the base for determining 4901
the amount of the net profit that shall be considered as having a 4902
taxable situs in the municipal corporation, an amount other than 4903
the net profit from rental activities required to be reported by 4904
the taxpayer on schedule E for the taxable year.4905

       (H) A municipal corporation shall not tax any of the4906
following:4907

       (1) The military pay or allowances of members of the armed4908
forces of the United States and of members of their reserve4909
components, including the Ohio national guard;4910

       (2) The income of religious, fraternal, charitable,4911
scientific, literary, or educational institutions to the extent4912
that such income is derived from tax-exempt real estate,4913
tax-exempt tangible or intangible property, or tax-exempt4914
activities;4915

       (3) Except as otherwise provided in division (I) of this4916
section, intangible income;4917

       (4) Compensation paid under section 3501.28 or 3501.36 of the 4918
Revised Code to a person serving as a precinct election official, 4919
to the extent that such compensation does not exceed one thousand 4920
dollars annually. Such compensation in excess of one thousand 4921
dollars may be subjected to taxation by a municipal corporation. A 4922
municipal corporation shall not require the payer of such4923
compensation to withhold any tax from that compensation.4924

       (5) Compensation paid to an employee of a transit authority,4925
regional transit authority, or regional transit commission created4926
under Chapter 306. of the Revised Code for operating a transit bus4927
or other motor vehicle for the authority or commission in or4928
through the municipal corporation, unless the bus or vehicle is4929
operated on a regularly scheduled route, the operator is subject4930
to such a tax by reason of residence or domicile in the municipal4931
corporation, or the headquarters of the authority or commission is4932
located within the municipal corporation;4933

       (6) The income of a public utility, when that public utility4934
is subject to the tax levied under section 5727.24 or 5727.30 of4935
the Revised Code, except a municipal corporation may tax the 4936
following, subject to Chapter 5745. of the Revised Code:4937

       (a) Beginning January 1, 2002, the income of an electric4938
company or combined company;4939

        (b) Beginning January 1, 2004, the income of a telephone4940
company.4941

       As used in division (H)(6) of this section, "combined 4942
company," "electric company," and "telephone company" have the 4943
same meanings as in section 5727.01 of the Revised Code.4944

       (7) On and after January 1, 2003, items excluded from federal 4945
gross income pursuant to section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code;4946

       (8) On and after January 1, 2001, compensation paid to a4947
nonresident individual to the extent prohibited under section4948
718.011 of the Revised Code;4949

       (9)(a) Except as provided in division (H)(9)(b) and (c) of 4950
this section, an S corporation shareholder's distributive share of 4951
net profits of the S corporation, other than any part of the4952
distributive share of net profits that represents wages as defined 4953
in section 3121(a) of the Internal Revenue Code or net earnings 4954
from self-employment as defined in section 1402(a) of the Internal 4955
Revenue Code.4956

       (b) If, pursuant to division (H) of former section 718.01 of 4957
the Revised Code as it existed before March 11, 2004, a majority 4958
of the electors of a municipal corporation voted in favor of the 4959
question at an election held on November 4, 2003, the municipal 4960
corporation may continue after 2002 to tax an S corporation 4961
shareholder's distributive share of net profits of an S 4962
corporation.4963

        (c) If, on December 6, 2002, a municipal corporation was 4964
imposing, assessing, and collecting a tax on an S corporation 4965
shareholder's distributive share of net profits of the S 4966
corporation to the extent the distributive share would be 4967
allocated or apportioned to this state under divisions (B)(1) and 4968
(2) of section 5733.05 of the Revised Code if the S corporation 4969
were a corporation subject to taxes imposed under Chapter 5733. of 4970
the Revised Code, the municipal corporation may continue to impose 4971
the tax on such distributive shares to the extent such shares 4972
would be so allocated or apportioned to this state only until 4973
December 31, 2004, unless a majority of the electors of the 4974
municipal corporation voting on the question of continuing to tax 4975
such shares after that date vote in favor of that question at an 4976
election held November 2, 2004. If a majority of those electors 4977
vote in favor of the question, the municipal corporation may 4978
continue after December 31, 2004, to impose the tax on such 4979
distributive shares only to the extent such shares would be so 4980
allocated or apportioned to this state.4981

       (d) For the purposes of division (D) of section 718.14 of the 4982
Revised Code, a municipal corporation shall be deemed to have 4983
elected to tax S corporation shareholders' distributive shares of 4984
net profits of the S corporation in the hands of the shareholders 4985
if a majority of the electors of a municipal corporation vote in 4986
favor of a question at an election held under division (H)(9)(b) 4987
or (c) of this section. The municipal corporation shall specify 4988
by ordinance or rule that the tax applies to the distributive 4989
share of a shareholder of an S corporation in the hands of the 4990
shareholder of the S corporation.4991

       (10) Employee compensation that is not "qualifying wages" as 4992
defined in section 718.03 of the Revised Code;4993

        (11) Beginning August 1, 2007, compensation paid to a person 4994
employed within the boundaries of a United States air force base 4995
under the jurisdiction of the United States air force that is 4996
used for the housing of members of the United States air force and 4997
is a center for air force operations, unless the person is 4998
subject to taxation because of residence or domicile. If the 4999
compensation is subject to taxation because of residence or 5000
domicile, municipal income tax shall be payable only to the 5001
municipal corporation of residence or domicile.5002

       (I) Any municipal corporation that taxes any type of5003
intangible income on March 29, 1988, pursuant to Section 3 of5004
Amended Substitute Senate Bill No. 238 of the 116th general5005
assembly, may continue to tax that type of income after 1988 if a5006
majority of the electors of the municipal corporation voting on5007
the question of whether to permit the taxation of that type of5008
intangible income after 1988 vote in favor thereof at an election5009
held on November 8, 1988.5010

       (J) Nothing in this section or section 718.02 of the Revised5011
Code shall authorize the levy of any tax on income that a5012
municipal corporation is not authorized to levy under existing5013
laws or shall require a municipal corporation to allow a deduction5014
from taxable income for losses incurred from a sole proprietorship5015
or partnership.5016

       (K)(1) Nothing in this chapter prohibits a municipal 5017
corporation from allowing, by resolution or ordinance, a net 5018
operating loss carryforward.5019

        (2) Nothing in this chapter requires a municipal corporation 5020
to allow a net operating loss carryforward.5021

       (L)(1) A single member limited liability company that is a 5022
disregarded entity for federal tax purposes may elect to be a 5023
separate taxpayer from its single member in all Ohio municipal 5024
corporations in which it either filed as a separate taxpayer or 5025
did not file for its taxable year ending in 2003, if all of the 5026
following conditions are met:5027

       (a) The limited liability company's single member is also a 5028
limited liability company;5029

       (b) The limited liability company and its single member were 5030
formed and doing business in one or more Ohio municipal 5031
corporations for at least five years before January 1, 2004;5032

       (c) Not later than December 31, 2004, the limited liability 5033
company and its single member each make an election to be treated 5034
as a separate taxpayer under division (L) of this section;5035

       (d) The limited liability company was not formed for the 5036
purpose of evading or reducing Ohio municipal corporation income 5037
tax liability of the limited liability company or its single 5038
member;5039

       (e) The Ohio municipal corporation that is the primary place 5040
of business of the sole member of the limited liability company 5041
consents to the election.5042

       (2) For purposes of division (L)(1)(e) of this section, a 5043
municipal corporation is the primary place of business of a 5044
limited liability company if, for the limited liability company's 5045
taxable year ending in 2003, its income tax liability is greater 5046
in that municipal corporation than in any other municipal 5047
corporation in Ohio, and that tax liability to that municipal 5048
corporation for its taxable year ending in 2003 is at least four 5049
hundred thousand dollars.5050

       Sec. 718.09.  (A) This section applies to either of the5051
following:5052

       (1) A municipal corporation that shares the same territory as 5053
a city, local, or exempted village school district, to the extent 5054
that not more than five per cent of the territory of the municipal5055
corporation is located outside the school district and not more 5056
than five per cent of the territory of the school district is5057
located outside the municipal corporation;5058

       (2) A municipal corporation that shares the same territory as 5059
a city, local, or exempted village school district, to the extent 5060
that not more than five per cent of the territory of the municipal 5061
corporation is located outside the school district, more than five 5062
per cent but not more than ten per cent of the territory of the 5063
school district is located outside the municipal corporation, and 5064
that portion of the territory of the school district that is 5065
located outside the municipal corporation is located entirely 5066
within another municipal corporation having a population of four 5067
hundred thousand or more according to the federal decennial census 5068
most recently completed before the agreement is entered into under 5069
division (B) of this section.5070

       (B) The legislative authority of a municipal corporation to 5071
which this section applies may propose to the electors an income 5072
tax, one of the purposes of which shall be to provide financial 5073
assistance to the school district through payment to the district 5074
of not less than twenty-five per cent of the revenue generated by 5075
the tax, except that the legislative authority may not propose to 5076
levy the income tax on the incomes of nonresident individuals. 5077
Prior to proposing the tax, the legislative authority shall 5078
negotiate and enter into a written agreement with the board of 5079
education of the school district specifying the tax rate, the 5080
percentage of tax revenue to be paid to the school district, the 5081
purpose for which the school district will use the money, the 5082
first year the tax will be levied, the date of the special 5083
election on the question of the tax, and the method and schedule 5084
by which the municipal corporation will make payments to the 5085
school district. The special election shall be held on a day 5086
specified in division (D) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code, 5087
except that the special election may not be held on the day for 5088
holding a primary election as authorized by the municipal 5089
corporation's charter unless the municipal corporation is to have 5090
a primary election on that day.5091

       After the legislative authority and board of education have5092
entered into the agreement, the legislative authority shall5093
provide for levying the tax by ordinance. The ordinance shall5094
state the tax rate, the percentage of tax revenue to be paid to5095
the school district, the purpose for which the municipal5096
corporation will use its share of the tax revenue, the first year5097
the tax will be levied, and that the question of the income tax5098
will be submitted to the electors of the municipal corporation.5099
The legislative authority also shall adopt a resolution specifying5100
the regular or special election date the election will be held and5101
directing the board of elections to conduct the election. At least 5102
seventy-fiveeighty-five days before the date of the election, the5103
legislative authority shall file certified copies of the ordinance5104
and resolution with the board of elections.5105

       (C) The board of elections shall make the necessary5106
arrangements for the submission of the question to the electors of5107
the municipal corporation, and shall conduct the election in the5108
same manner as any other municipal income tax election. Notice of5109
the election shall be published in a newspaper of general5110
circulation in the municipal corporation once a week for four5111
consecutive weeks prior to the election, and shall include5112
statements of the rate and municipal corporation and school5113
district purposes of the income tax, the percentage of tax revenue5114
that will be paid to the school district, and the first year the5115
tax will be levied. The ballot shall be in the following form:5116

       "Shall the ordinance providing for a ..... per cent levy on5117
income for (brief description of the municipal corporation and5118
school district purposes of the levy, including a statement of the5119
percentage of tax revenue that will be paid to the school5120
district) be passed? The income tax, if approved, will not be 5121
levied on the incomes of individuals who do not reside in (the 5122
name of the municipal corporation).5123

        5124

 For the income tax 5125
 Against the income tax  " 5126

        5127

       (D) If the question is approved by a majority of the5128
electors, the municipal corporation shall impose the income tax5129
beginning in the year specified in the ordinance. The proceeds of5130
the levy may be used only for the specified purposes, including5131
payment of the specified percentage to the school district.5132

       Sec. 718.10.  (A) This section applies to a group of two or5133
more municipal corporations that, taken together, share the same5134
territory as a single city, local, or exempted village school5135
district, to the extent that not more than five per cent of the5136
territory of the municipal corporations as a group is located5137
outside the school district and not more than five per cent of the5138
territory of the school district is located outside the municipal5139
corporations as a group.5140

       (B) The legislative authorities of the municipal corporations 5141
in a group of municipal corporations to which this section applies 5142
each may propose to the electors an income tax, to be levied in 5143
concert with income taxes in the other municipal corporations of 5144
the group, except that a legislative authority may not propose to 5145
levy the income tax on the incomes of individuals who do not 5146
reside in the municipal corporation. One of the purposes of such a 5147
tax shall be to provide financial assistance to the school5148
district through payment to the district of not less than5149
twenty-five per cent of the revenue generated by the tax. Prior to 5150
proposing the taxes, the legislative authorities shall negotiate 5151
and enter into a written agreement with each other and with the 5152
board of education of the school district specifying the tax rate, 5153
the percentage of the tax revenue to be paid to the school 5154
district, the first year the tax will be levied, and the date of 5155
the election on the question of the tax, all of which shall be the5156
same for each municipal corporation. The agreement also shall5157
state the purpose for which the school district will use the5158
money, and specify the method and schedule by which each municipal 5159
corporation will make payments to the school district. The special 5160
election shall be held on a day specified in division (D) of 5161
section 3501.01 of the Revised Code, including a day on which all 5162
of the municipal corporations are to have a primary election.5163

       After the legislative authorities and board of education have5164
entered into the agreement, each legislative authority shall5165
provide for levying its tax by ordinance. Each ordinance shall5166
state the rate of the tax, the percentage of tax revenue to be5167
paid to the school district, the purpose for which the municipal5168
corporation will use its share of the tax revenue, and the first5169
year the tax will be levied. Each ordinance also shall state that5170
the question of the income tax will be submitted to the electors5171
of the municipal corporation on the same date as the submission of5172
questions of an identical tax to the electors of each of the other5173
municipal corporations in the group, and that unless the electors5174
of all of the municipal corporations in the group approve the tax5175
in their respective municipal corporations, none of the municipal5176
corporations in the group shall levy the tax. Each legislative5177
authority also shall adopt a resolution specifying the regular or5178
special election date the election will be held and directing the5179
board of elections to conduct the election. At least seventy-five5180
eighty-five days before the date of the election, each legislative 5181
authority shall file certified copies of the ordinance and 5182
resolution with the board of elections.5183

       (C) For each of the municipal corporations, the board of5184
elections shall make the necessary arrangements for the submission5185
of the question to the electors, and shall conduct the election in5186
the same manner as any other municipal income tax election. For5187
each of the municipal corporations, notice of the election shall5188
be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the5189
municipal corporation once a week for four consecutive weeks prior5190
to the election. The notice shall include a statement of the rate5191
and municipal corporation and school district purposes of the5192
income tax, the percentage of tax revenue that will be paid to the5193
school district, and the first year the tax will be levied, and an5194
explanation that the tax will not be levied unless an identical5195
tax is approved by the electors of each of the other municipal5196
corporations in the group. The ballot shall be in the following5197
form:5198

       "Shall the ordinance providing for a ... per cent levy on5199
income for (brief description of the municipal corporation and5200
school district purposes of the levy, including a statement of the5201
percentage of income tax revenue that will be paid to the school5202
district) be passed? The income tax, if approved, will not be 5203
levied on the incomes of individuals who do not reside in (the 5204
name of the municipal corporation). In order for the income tax to 5205
be levied, the voters of (the other municipal corporations in the5206
group), which are also in the (name of the school district) school5207
district, must approve an identical income tax and agree to pay5208
the same percentage of the tax revenue to the school district.5209

        5210

 For the income tax 5211
 Against the income tax  " 5212

        5213

       (D) If the question is approved by a majority of the electors 5214
and identical taxes are approved by a majority of the electors in 5215
each of the other municipal corporations in the group, the 5216
municipal corporation shall impose the tax beginning in the year 5217
specified in the ordinance. The proceeds of the levy may be used 5218
only for the specified purposes, including payment of the5219
specified percentage to the school district.5220

       Sec. 731.03.  (A) Except as otherwise provided in division5221
(B) of this section, one member of the legislative authority of a5222
city from each ward and such number of members thereof at large as 5223
is provided by section 731.01 of the Revised Code shall be chosen 5224
in each odd-numbered year. Members shall serve for a term of two 5225
years commencing on the first day of January next after their 5226
election.5227

       (B) A city legislative authority may, by majority vote, adopt 5228
a resolution causing the board of elections to submit to the city 5229
electors the question of whether the terms of office of the 5230
members of the legislative authority should be changed from two to 5231
four years. The question may also ask whether the legislative 5232
authority should be authorized to establish staggered four-year 5233
terms of office among members of the legislative authority by 5234
fixing certain terms of office at two years for one term of office 5235
but then at four years thereafter. If the resolution calls for 5236
submission of the question about staggered terms, the resolution 5237
shall specify the number of members to be elected for four-year 5238
terms and the number to be elected for two-year terms at the next 5239
election for such members. The resolution shall also specify how 5240
many of those members elected to four-year terms and how many of 5241
those members elected to two-year terms shall be elected from the 5242
city at large, and how many from wards. If staggered terms of 5243
office are established, the legislative authority shall fix the 5244
length of the terms of office prior to the last day fixed by law 5245
for filing as a candidate for such office. The question shall be 5246
voted upon at the next general election occurring not less than 5247
seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the certification of the 5248
resolution to the board of elections. If a majority of the votes 5249
cast on the question is in the affirmative, the terms of office of 5250
the members of the legislative authority shall be four years 5251
effective on the first day of January following the next regular 5252
municipal election, except as may otherwise be provided by the 5253
legislative authority to establish staggered terms of office among 5254
members of the legislative authority.5255

       A city legislative authority whose members' terms of office5256
are four years may, by a majority vote, adopt a resolution5257
establishing staggered four-year terms of office among members of5258
the legislative authority by fixing certain terms of office at two 5259
years for one term of office but then at four years thereafter. 5260
The resolution shall specify the number of members to be elected 5261
for four-year terms and the number to be elected for two-year 5262
terms, and shall specify how many of those members elected to 5263
four-year terms and how many of those members elected to two-year 5264
terms shall be elected from the city at large, and how many from 5265
wards. If staggered terms of office are established, the 5266
legislative authority shall fix the length of the terms of office 5267
prior to the last day fixed by law for filing as a candidate for 5268
such office.5269

       A city legislative authority whose members' terms of office5270
are four years may, by majority vote, adopt a resolution causing5271
the board of elections to submit to the city electors the question 5272
of whether the members' terms should be changed back from four to 5273
two years. The question shall be voted upon at the next general 5274
election occurring not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days5275
after the certification of the resolution to the board of5276
elections. If a majority of the votes cast on the question is in5277
the affirmative, the terms of office of the members of the5278
legislative authority shall be two years effective on the first5279
day of January following the next regular municipal election.5280

       Sec. 731.28.  Ordinances and other measures providing for the 5281
exercise of any powers of government granted by the constitution 5282
or delegated to any municipal corporation by the general assembly 5283
may be proposed by initiative petition. Such initiative petition 5284
must contain the signatures of not less than ten per cent of the 5285
number of electors who voted for governor at the most recent 5286
general election for the office of governor in the municipal 5287
corporation.5288

       When a petition is filed with the city auditor or village5289
clerk, signed by the required number of electors proposing an5290
ordinance or other measure, such auditor or clerk shall, after ten 5291
days, transmit a certified copy of the text of the proposed5292
ordinance or measure to the board of elections. The auditor or5293
clerk shall transmit the petition to the board together with the5294
certified copy of the proposed ordinance or other measure. The5295
board shall examine all signatures on the petition to determine5296
the number of electors of the municipal corporation who signed the 5297
petition. The board shall return the petition to the auditor or 5298
clerk within ten days after receiving it, together with a5299
statement attesting to the number of such electors who signed the5300
petition.5301

       The board shall submit such proposed ordinance or measure for 5302
the approval or rejection of the electors of the municipal5303
corporation at the next general election occurring subsequent to 5304
seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the auditor or clerk certifies 5305
the sufficiency and validity of the initiative petition to the 5306
board of elections. No ordinance or other measure proposed by 5307
initiative petition and approved by a majority of the electors 5308
voting upon the measure in such municipal corporation shall be 5309
subject to the veto of the mayor.5310

       As used in this section, "certified copy" means a copy5311
containing a written statement attesting it is a true and exact5312
reproduction of the original proposed ordinance or other measure.5313

       Sec. 731.29.  Any ordinance or other measure passed by the5314
legislative authority of a municipal corporation shall be subject5315
to the referendum except as provided by section 731.30 of the5316
Revised Code. No ordinance or other measure shall go into effect5317
until thirty days after it is filed with the mayor of a city or5318
passed by the legislative authority in a village, except as5319
provided by such section.5320

       When a petition, signed by ten per cent of the number of5321
electors who voted for governor at the most recent general5322
election for the office of governor in the municipal corporation,5323
is filed with the city auditor or village clerk within thirty days 5324
after any ordinance or other measure is filed with the mayor or 5325
passed by the legislative authority of a village, or in case the 5326
mayor has vetoed the ordinance or any measure and returned it to 5327
council, such petition may be filed within thirty days after the 5328
council has passed the ordinance or measure over histhe veto,5329
ordering that such ordinance or measure be submitted to the5330
electors of such municipal corporation for their approval or5331
rejection, such auditor or clerk shall, after ten days, and not5332
later than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before 5333
the day of election, transmit a certified copy of the text of the 5334
ordinance or measure to the board of elections. The auditor or 5335
clerk shall transmit the petition to the board together with the 5336
certified copy of the ordinance or measure. The board shall 5337
examine all signatures on the petition to determine the number of 5338
electors of the municipal corporation who signed the petition. The 5339
board shall return the petition to the auditor or clerk within ten 5340
days after receiving it, together with a statement attesting to 5341
the number of such electors who signed the petition. The board 5342
shall submit the ordinance or measure to the electors of the 5343
municipal corporation, for their approval or rejection, at the 5344
next general election occurring subsequent to seventy-five5345
eighty-five days after the auditor or clerk certifies the 5346
sufficiency and validity of the petition to the board of 5347
elections.5348

       No such ordinance or measure shall go into effect until5349
approved by the majority of those voting upon it. Sections 731.28 5350
to 731.41 of the Revised Code do not prevent a municipal5351
corporation, after the passage of any ordinance or other measure,5352
from proceeding at once to give any notice or make any publication 5353
required by such ordinance or other measure.5354

       As used in this section, "certified copy" means a copy5355
containing a written statement attesting that it is a true and5356
exact reproduction of the original ordinance or other measure.5357

       Sec. 733.09.  (A) Except as otherwise provided in division5358
(B) of this section, the president of the legislative authority of5359
a city shall be elected for a term of two years, commencing on the5360
first day of January next after his election. HeThe president of5361
the legislative authority shall be an elector of the city, and5362
shall preside at all regular and special meetings of such5363
legislative authority, but hethe president shall have no vote5364
therein except in case of a tie.5365

       (B) A city legislative authority may, by majority vote, adopt 5366
a resolution causing the board of elections to submit to the city 5367
electors the question of whether the term of office of the5368
president of the legislative authority should be changed from two5369
to four years. The question shall be voted upon at the next5370
general election occurring not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five5371
days after the certification of the resolution to the board of 5372
elections. If a majority of the votes cast on the question is in 5373
the affirmative, the term of office of the president of the5374
legislative authority shall be four years effective on the first5375
day of January following the next regular municipal election.5376

       A city legislative authority whose president's term of office5377
is four years may, by majority vote, adopt a resolution causing5378
the board of elections to submit to the city electors the question5379
of whether the president's term should be changed from four to two5380
years. The question shall be voted upon at the next general5381
election occuringoccurring not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five5382
days after the certification of the resolution to the board of5383
elections. If a majority of the votes cast on the question is in5384
the affirmative, the term of the office of the president of the5385
legislative authority shall be two years effective on the first5386
day of January following the next regular municipal election.5387

       Sec. 733.261.  (A) The legislative authority of a village5388
may, by ordinance or resolution passed by at least a majority5389
vote, combine the duties of the clerk and the treasurer into one5390
office, to be known as the clerk-treasurer. The combination shall 5391
be effective on the first day of January following the next5392
regular municipal election at which the village clerk is to be5393
elected, provided that a clerk-treasurer shall be elected at such5394
election pursuant to this section and shall be elected for a term5395
of four years, commencing on the first day of April following his5396
election. Between the first day of January and the first day of 5397
April following such an election, the clerk shall perform the5398
duties of clerk-treasurer. The legislative authority of the5399
village shall file certification of such action with the board of5400
elections not less than one hundred fivefifteen days before the 5401
day of the next municipal primary election at which the village 5402
clerk is to be elected; provided that in villages under two 5403
thousand population in which no petition for a primary election 5404
was filed pursuant to section 3513.01 of the Revised Code, or in 5405
villages in which no primary is held pursuant to section 3513.02 5406
of the Revised Code, such action shall be certified to the board 5407
of elections not less than one hundred fivefifteen days before 5408
the next general election at which the village clerk is to be 5409
elected.5410

       At such succeeding regular municipal election and thereafter, 5411
the clerk-treasurer shall be elected for a term of four years, 5412
commencing on the first day of April following the 5413
clerk-treasurer's election. The clerk-treasurer shall be an 5414
elector of the corporation.5415

       (B) In addition to the circumstances described in division5416
(A) of this section, when a vacancy exists in the office of5417
village treasurer or village clerk the legislative authority of a5418
village may, by ordinance or resolution passed by at least a5419
majority vote, combine the duties of the clerk and the treasurer5420
into one office, to be known as the clerk-treasurer. The5421
combination shall be effective on the effective date of the5422
ordinance or resolution combining the duties of the offices of5423
clerk and treasurer. At the next regular municipal election at5424
which the village clerk would have been elected and each four5425
years thereafter, the clerk-treasurer shall be elected for a term5426
of four years, commencing on the first day of April following the 5427
clerk-treasurer's election. The clerk-treasurer shall be an 5428
elector of the municipal corporation.5429

       (C) The clerk-treasurer shall perform the duties provided by 5430
law for the clerk and the treasurer. All laws pertaining to the 5431
clerk and to the treasurer shall be construed to apply to the5432
clerk-treasurer, provided that the initial compensation for the5433
office of clerk-treasurer shall be established by the legislative5434
authority and that action shall not be subject to section 731.135435
of the Revised Code relating to the time when the compensation of5436
village elected officials shall be fixed and pertaining to changes 5437
in compensation of officials during the term of office.5438

       (D) The legislative authority of a village having a5439
clerk-treasurer may separate the offices by ordinance or5440
resolution passed by at least a majority vote. The action to5441
separate the offices may be taken in either of the following5442
circumstances:5443

       (1) When a vacancy exists in the office of clerk-treasurer, 5444
in which case the separation shall be effective upon the effective 5445
date of the ordinance or resolution;5446

       (2) When the action of the legislative authority is certified 5447
to and filed with the board of elections not less than one hundred 5448
fivefifteen days before the day of the next primary election at 5449
which the village clerk and treasurer are to be elected; provided 5450
that in villages under two thousand population in which no 5451
petition for a primary election was filed pursuant to section 5452
3513.01 of the Revised Code, or in villages in which no primary is 5453
held pursuant to section 3513.02 of the Revised Code, such action 5454
shall be certified to the board of elections not less than one 5455
hundred fivefifteen days before the next general election at 5456
which the village clerk and treasurer are to be elected.5457

       Sec. 733.262. (A) In lieu of having the elected office of5458
village clerk and the office of village treasurer, or the combined5459
elected office of village clerk-treasurer, a village may combine5460
the duties of the clerk and treasurer into one appointed office,5461
to be known as the village fiscal officer. To make this change,5462
the village legislative authority shall pass, by a two-thirds5463
vote, an ordinance or resolution proposing to make the change5464
effective on the first day of January following the next regular5465
municipal election at which the village clerk or village5466
clerk-treasurer is to be elected.5467

       So that no election for the office of village clerk or5468
village clerk-treasurer is held after the passage of the ordinance5469
or resolution, the village legislative authority shall file a5470
certified copy of the ordinance or resolution with the board of5471
elections not less than one hundred fivefifteen days before the 5472
day of the next succeeding municipal primary election at which 5473
candidates for the office of village clerk or village 5474
clerk-treasurer are to be nominated, or, in villages with a 5475
population of under two thousand in which no petition for a 5476
primary election is filed under section 3513.01 of the Revised 5477
Code or in villages in which no primary is held under section 5478
3513.02 of the Revised Code, not less than one hundred five5479
fifteen days before the next succeeding regular municipal election 5480
at which the village clerk or village clerk-treasurer is to be 5481
elected.5482

       (B) In addition to the circumstances described in division5483
(A) of this section, when a vacancy exists in the office of5484
village clerk or village clerk-treasurer, the village legislative5485
authority may pass, by a two-thirds vote, an ordinance or5486
resolution to combine the duties of the clerk and the treasurer5487
into the appointed office of village fiscal officer. That change5488
shall take effect on the effective date of the ordinance or5489
resolution.5490

       (C) A village fiscal officer appointed under this section5491
shall perform the duties provided by law for the village clerk and5492
treasurer and any other duties consistent with the nature of the5493
office that are provided for by municipal ordinance.5494

       (D) A village fiscal officer shall be appointed by the mayor5495
of the village, but that appointment does not become effective5496
until it is approved by a majority vote of the village legislative5497
authority. The village fiscal officer need not be an elector of5498
the village or reside in the village at the time of appointment;5499
however, the fiscal officer shall become a resident of the village5500
within six months after the appointment takes effect, unless an5501
ordinance is passed approving the fiscal officer's residence5502
outside of the village.5503

       The village fiscal officer may be removed without cause5504
either by the mayor with the consent of a majority of the members5505
of the village legislative authority or by a three-fourths vote of5506
the village legislative authority with or without the consent of5507
the mayor.5508

       (E) The legislative authority of a village that has a village 5509
fiscal officer may abolish that appointed office and return to an 5510
elected office of village clerk-treasurer by passing an ordinance 5511
or resolution by a two-thirds vote.5512

       If a vacancy exists in the office of village fiscal officer5513
when this ordinance or resolution is passed, the abolition shall5514
take effect on the effective date of the ordinance or resolution,5515
and the mayor shall appoint a village clerk-treasurer to serve5516
until the first day of April following the next regular municipal5517
election at which a clerk-treasurer can be elected. So an election5518
can be held, the village legislative authority shall file a5519
certified copy of the ordinance or resolution with the board of5520
elections not less than one hundred fivefifteen days before the 5521
day of the next succeeding municipal primary election.5522

       If a vacancy does not exist in the office of village fiscal5523
officer when the abolishing ordinance or resolution is passed, the5524
village legislative authority shall certify a copy of the5525
ordinance or resolution to the board of elections not less than5526
one hundred fivefifteen days before the day of the next 5527
succeeding municipal primary election.5528

       The person elected at the next regular municipal election as5529
village clerk-treasurer under the circumstances described in this5530
division shall serve a four-year term commencing on the first day5531
of April following that election.5532

       Sec. 733.31.  (A) Unless otherwise provided by law, vacancies 5533
arising in appointive and elective offices of villages shall be 5534
filled by appointment by the mayor for the remainder of the 5535
unexpired term, provided that:5536

       (1) Vacancies in the office of mayor shall be filled in the 5537
manner provided by section 733.25 of the Revised Code;5538

       (2) Vacancies in the membership of the legislative authority 5539
shall be filled in the manner provided by section 731.43 of the 5540
Revised Code;5541

       (3) Vacancies in the office of president pro tempore of a5542
village legislative authority shall be filled in the manner5543
provided by section 731.11 of the Revised Code.5544

       In the event of a vacancy in the office of village clerk or5545
treasurer, the mayor may appoint a person to serve as an acting5546
officer to perform the duties of the office until a permanent5547
officer is appointed to fill the vacancy.5548

       (B) Unless otherwise provided by law, vacancies arising in5549
appointive offices of cities shall be filled by appointment by the 5550
mayor for the remainder of the unexpired term.5551

       (C) A vacancy in the office of president of the legislative 5552
authority of a city shall be filled in the same manner as provided 5553
in division (D) of this section. Vacancies in the office of mayor 5554
of a city shall be filled in the manner provided in section 733.08 5555
of the Revised Code. Vacancies in the membership of the 5556
legislative authority of a city shall be filled in the manner 5557
provided in section 731.43 of the Revised Code.5558

       (D) In case of the death, resignation, removal, or disability 5559
of the director of law, auditor, or treasurer of a city and such 5560
vacancy occurs more than fortyfifty days before the next general 5561
election for such office, a successor shall be elected at such 5562
election for the unexpired term unless such term expires within 5563
one year immediately following the date of such general election. 5564
In either event, the vacancy shall be filled as provided in this 5565
section and the appointee shall hold his office until a successor 5566
is elected and qualified.5567

       (1) The county central committee of the political party with 5568
which the last occupant of the office was affiliated, acting5569
through its members who reside in the city where the vacancy5570
occurs, shall appoint a person to hold the office and to perform5571
the duties thereof until a successor is elected and has qualified, 5572
except that if such vacancy occurs because of the death, 5573
resignation, or inability to take the office of an officer-elect 5574
whose term has not yet begun, an appointment to take such office 5575
at the beginning of the term shall be made by the members of the 5576
central committee who reside in the city where the vacancy occurs.5577

       (2) Not less than five nor more than forty-five days after a 5578
vacancy occurs, the county central committee, acting through its 5579
members who reside in the city where the vacancy occurs, shall 5580
meet for the purpose of making an appointment. Not less than four 5581
days before the date of the meeting the chairmanchairperson or5582
secretary of the central committee shall send by first class mail5583
to every member of such central committee who resides in the city5584
where the vacancy occurs a written notice which shall state the5585
time and place of such meeting and the purpose thereof. A majority 5586
of the members of the central committee present at such meeting 5587
may make the appointment.5588

       (E) If the last occupant of the office or the officer-elect, 5589
as provided in division (D) of this section, was elected as an 5590
independent candidate, the mayor of the city shall make the 5591
appointment at the time the vacancy occurs.5592

       (F) Appointments made under this section shall be certified 5593
by the appointing county central committee or by the mayor of the 5594
municipal corporation to the county board of elections and to the 5595
secretary of state. The persons so appointed and certified shall 5596
be entitled to all remuneration provided by law for the offices to 5597
which they are appointed.5598

       (G) The mayor of the city may appoint a person to hold the5599
city office of director of law, auditor, or treasurer as an acting 5600
officer and to perform the duties thereof between the occurrence 5601
of the vacancy and the time when the person appointed by the 5602
central committee qualifies and takes the office.5603

       Sec. 733.48. (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this 5604
section, when it considers it necessary, the legislative authority 5605
of a village may provide legal counsel for the village, or for any 5606
department or official of the village, for a period not to exceed 5607
two years and shall provide compensation for the legal counsel.5608

       (B) A petition may be filed with the village clerk, signed by 5609
registered electors residing in the village equal in number to not 5610
less than ten per cent of the total vote cast for all candidates 5611
for governor in the village at the most recent general election at 5612
which a governor was elected, requesting that the question be 5613
placed before the electors whether, instead of the legislative 5614
authority appointing legal counsel for the village or for any 5615
department or official of the village, the mayor shall appoint an 5616
attorney or law firm as the legal counsel with the advice and 5617
consent of the legislative authority. Within two weeks after 5618
receipt of the petition, the clerk shall certify it to the board 5619
of elections, which shall determine its sufficiency and validity. 5620
The petition shall be certified to the board not less than 5621
seventy-fiveeighty-five days prior to the election at which the 5622
question is to be voted upon.5623

        At the election, if a majority of the electors of the village 5624
approves the question, then effective immediately when the mayor 5625
considers it necessary, the mayor shall appoint, with the advice 5626
and consent of the legislative authority, an attorney or law firm 5627
as legal counsel for the village, or for any department or 5628
official of the village, for a period not to exceed two years. The 5629
appointment of legal counsel under this division shall be pursuant 5630
to a contract approved by the mayor and a majority vote of the 5631
legislative authority. The contract shall provide for the 5632
compensation and other terms of the engagement of the legal 5633
counsel, and the legislative authority shall provide that 5634
compensation for the legal counsel.5635

       (C) When acting under this section, the legislative authority 5636
acts in its administrative capacity.5637

       Sec. 749.021.  Upon the execution of the agreement provided5638
for in section 749.02 of the Revised Code the legislative5639
authority of the municipal corporation shall submit to the5640
electors thereof, at the next general election occurring not less5641
than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the certification of the 5642
resolution to the board of elections, the question of the 5643
ratification of such agreement, and if the sum to be paid by the 5644
municipal corporation under the terms of such agreement is not 5645
available from current general revenues thereof, the legislative 5646
authority shall also submit to the electors, at the same election, 5647
the question of the issue of bonds of the municipal corporation in5648
the amount specified in such agreement for the purpose of5649
providing funds for the payment of such sum. The proceedings in5650
the matter of such election and in the issuance and sale of such5651
bonds shall be as provided by law for municipal bonds. Such5652
agreement shall not be effective, and no bonds shall be issued,5653
unless the electors approve of both the agreement and the bond5654
issue, if the question of the issue of bonds is so submitted.5655

       Sec. 755.01.  When five per cent of the qualified electors of 5656
a city petition the board of elections of the county for the 5657
privilege of determining by ballot whether there shall be a board 5658
of park commissioners, such board shall submit at the next general 5659
election held within such city at least eighty-five days after the 5660
petition is filed, or at a special election occurring at least 5661
eighty-five days after the petition is filed, if the petition 5662
requests a special election, the questions presented in the 5663
petition, to the electors of the city. Such special election shall 5664
be held at the usual place for holding municipal elections and 5665
shall be governed by the same rules, regulations, and laws as 5666
govern the holding of municipal elections.5667

       Sec. 757.02.  Upon the filing of a petition as provided by5668
section 757.01 of the Revised Code, the taxing authority of the5669
municipal corporation shall pass a resolution providing for the5670
submission of the question of levying a tax as provided by such5671
section at the next following municipal election. A copy of such5672
resolution shall be certified by the taxing authority to the board 5673
of elections not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days before 5674
the general election in any year in which a municipal election is5675
held, and such board shall submit the question to the electors of5676
the municipal corporation at the succeeding November election.5677
Section 5705.25 of the Revised Code relating to the arrangements5678
for and the conduct of such election, publication thereof, and5679
form of ballot therefor, shall apply to such proposal to the5680
electorate.5681

       If sixty-five per cent of the electors voting on such5682
proposal at the election vote in favor thereof, sections 5705.255683
and 5705.26 of the Revised Code, shall apply to the certification5684
and levy of such additional tax.5685

       Sec. 759.25.  The legislative authority of a village may levy 5686
a tax for the purchase of a funeral coach or the contruction5687
construction of a vault for the dead, for the use of the village.5688
Such resolution shall be filed with the board of elections not5689
later than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before 5690
the day of the election. The question of levying such tax, for 5691
either or both purposes, and the amount asked therefor, shall be 5692
separately submitted to the electors of the village at a general 5693
election. Twenty days' notice of such election shall be given by 5694
posting in at least three public places in the village. The notice 5695
shall state specifically the amount to be raised, and for what 5696
purpose. If a majority of all the votes cast at the election is in 5697
favor of either or both propositions, they shall be considered 5698
adopted and the tax authorized. The funeral coach and vault shall 5699
be under the control of the board of cemetery trustees of the5700
village where there is such board, otherwise under the control of5701
the legislative authority or person appointed by it.5702

       Sec. 1515.28.  A board of county commissioners may declare by 5703
resolution that it is necessary to levy a tax upon the property 5704
within the project area in order to pay the costs of the5705
improvement not otherwise funded.5706

       Such resolution shall specify the rate which it is necessary 5707
to levy, the purpose thereof, and the number of years during which 5708
such increase shall be in effect, which levy may include a levy 5709
upon the duplicate of the current year.5710

       A copy of the resolution shall be certified to the board of5711
elections for the county not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five5712
days before the general election in any year and said board shall 5713
submit the proposal to the electors within the project area at the5714
succeeding November election in accordance with section 5705.25 of 5715
the Revised Code. For purposes of that section, the subdivision is 5716
the project area.5717

       If the per cent required for approval of a levy as set forth 5718
in section 5705.26 of the Revised Code vote in favor thereof, the 5719
board of county commissioners may levy a tax within the project 5720
area, outside the ten-mill limitation, during the period and for 5721
the purpose stated in the resolution, or at any less rate or for 5722
any less number of years.5723

       The board may issue bonds and notes in anticipation of the5724
collection of taxes levied under this section, and notes in5725
anticipation of the issuance of bonds.5726

       Sec. 1545.21.  The board of park commissioners, by5727
resolution, may submit to the electors of the park district the5728
question of levying taxes for the use of the district. The5729
resolution shall declare the necessity of levying such taxes,5730
shall specify the purpose for which such taxes shall be used, the5731
annual rate proposed, and the number of consecutive years the rate 5732
shall be levied. Such resolution shall be forthwith certified to 5733
the board of elections in each county in which any part of such 5734
district is located, not later than the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth5735
day before the day of the election, and the question of the levy 5736
of taxes as provided in such resolution shall be submitted to the 5737
electors of the district at a special election to be held on 5738
whichever of the following occurs first:5739

       (A) The day of the next general election;5740

       (B) The first Tuesday after the first Monday in May in any 5741
calendar year, except that if a presidential primary election is 5742
held in that calendar year, then the day of that election. The 5743
ballot shall set forth the purpose for which the taxes shall be 5744
levied, the annual rate of levy, and the number of years of such 5745
levy. If the tax is to be placed on the current tax list, the form 5746
of the ballot shall state that the tax will be levied in the 5747
current tax year and shall indicate the first calendar year the 5748
tax will be due. If the resolution of the board of park5749
commissioners provides that an existing levy will be canceled upon 5750
the passage of the new levy, the ballot may include a statement 5751
that: "an existing levy of ... mills (stating the original levy 5752
millage), having ... years remaining, will be canceled and 5753
replaced upon the passage of this levy." In such case, the ballot 5754
may refer to the new levy as a "replacement levy" if the new5755
millage does not exceed the original millage of the levy being 5756
canceled or as a "replacement and additional levy" if the new 5757
millage exceeds the original millage of the levy being canceled. 5758
If a majority of the electors voting upon the question of such 5759
levy vote in favor thereof, such taxes shall be levied and shall 5760
be in addition to the taxes authorized by section 1545.20 of the 5761
Revised Code, and all other taxes authorized by law. The rate 5762
submitted to the electors at any one time shall not exceed two 5763
mills annually upon each dollar of valuation. When a tax levy has 5764
been authorized as provided in this section or in section 1545.041 5765
of the Revised Code, the board of park commissioners may issue 5766
bonds pursuant to section 133.24 of the Revised Code in 5767
anticipation of the collection of such levy, provided that such 5768
bonds shall be issued only for the purpose of acquiring and 5769
improving lands. Such levy, when collected, shall be applied in 5770
payment of the bonds so issued and the interest thereon. The 5771
amount of bonds so issued and outstanding at any time shall not 5772
exceed one per cent of the total tax valuation in such district. 5773
Such bonds shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed the rate 5774
determined as provided in section 9.95 of the Revised Code.5775

       Sec. 1545.36.  (A) When the board of elections of the county 5776
in which a park district is located has had filed with it a 5777
petition calling for the dissolution of the district, and5778
determines that the petition meets the requirements of this5779
section and section 3501.38 of the Revised Code, the board shall5780
place the issue of the dissolution on the ballot at the next5781
special election to be held on the day of a general or primary5782
election. Written notice of the filing of the petition shall be5783
sent immediately to the board of park commissioners and the5784
probate court that created the district.5785

       (B) The petition shall:5786

       (1) Be filed with the board no less than seventy-five5787
eighty-five days before the next election;5788

       (2) Be supported by the signatures of at least twenty-five5789
per cent of the number of voters in the district who voted in the5790
preceding gubernatorial election.5791

       (C) If the petition as filed does not have the required5792
number of signatures and the time for filing has elapsed, the5793
board shall declare it invalid. No further petition for5794
dissolution shall be received until after the next election is5795
completed. On determination of these findings, the board shall5796
send written notice of them to the principal circulator.5797

       (D)(1) If a majority of the votes cast support the5798
dissolution, the board shall immediately send written notice of5799
the vote, citing the number of votes for and against the issue, to 5800
the probate court, to the board of park commissioners, and to the 5801
principal circulator. No park district shall be applied for within 5802
the dissolved district for a period of four years following the 5803
election in which the issue was supported.5804

       (2) If the issue fails to obtain a majority of the votes5805
cast, the board shall receive no further petition for dissolution5806
until the fourth year following that in which the election failed, 5807
and shall send written notice of these results to the principal 5808
circulator and the board of park commissioners.5809

       Sec. 1711.30.  Before issuing bonds under section 1711.28 of 5810
the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners, by 5811
resolution, shall submit to the qualified electors of the county 5812
at the next general election for county officers, held not less 5813
than thirtyeighty-five days after receiving from the county5814
agricultural society the notice provided for in section 1711.25 of 5815
the Revised Code, the question of issuing and selling such bonds 5816
in such amount and denomination as are necessary for the purpose 5817
in view, and shall certify a copy of such resolution to the county 5818
board of elections.5819

       The county board of elections shall place the question of 5820
issuing and selling such bonds upon the ballot and make all other 5821
necessary arrangements for the submission, at the time fixed by 5822
such resolution, of such question to such electors. The votes cast 5823
at such election upon such question must be counted, canvassed, 5824
and certified in the same manner, except as provided by law, as5825
votes cast for county officers. Fifteen days' notice of such 5826
submission shall be given by the county board of elections, by 5827
publication once a week for two consecutive weeks in two or more 5828
newspapers published in the county, stating the amount of bonds to 5829
be issued, the purpose for which they are to be issued, and the 5830
time and places of holding such election. Such question must be5831
stated on the ballot as follows: "For the issue of county fair 5832
bonds, yes"; "For the issue of county fair bonds, no." If the 5833
majority of those voting upon the question of issuing the bonds 5834
vote in favor thereof, then and only then shall they be issued and 5835
the tax provided for in section 1711.29 of the Revised Code be 5836
levied.5837

       Sec. 1901.07.  (A) All municipal court judges shall be 5838
elected on the nonpartisan ballot for terms of six years. In a 5839
municipal court in which only one judge is to be elected in any 5840
one year, that judge's term commences on the first day of January 5841
after the election. In a municipal court in which two or more 5842
judges are to be elected in any one year, their terms commence on 5843
successive days beginning the first day of January, following the 5844
election, unless otherwise provided by section 1901.08 of the 5845
Revised Code. 5846

       (B) All candidates for municipal court judge may be nominated 5847
either by nominating petition or by primary election, except that 5848
if the jurisdiction of a municipal court extends only to the 5849
corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which the court 5850
is located and that municipal corporation operates under a 5851
charter, all candidates shall be nominated in the same manner 5852
provided in the charter for the office of municipal court judge 5853
or, if no specific provisions are made in the charter for the 5854
office of municipal court judge, in the same manner as the charter 5855
prescribes for the nomination and election of the legislative 5856
authority of the municipal corporation. 5857

        If the jurisdiction of a municipal court extends beyond the 5858
corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which it is 5859
located or if the jurisdiction of the court does not extend beyond 5860
the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which it is 5861
located and no charter provisions apply, all candidates for party 5862
nomination to the office of municipal court judge shall file a 5863
declaration of candidacy and petition not later than four p.m. of 5864
the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the day of the primary 5865
election, or if the primary election is a presidential primary 5866
election, not later than four p.m. of the sixtieth day before the 5867
day of the presidential primary election, in the form prescribed 5868
by section 3513.07 of the Revised Code. The petition shall 5869
conform to the requirements provided for those petitions of 5870
candidacy contained in section 3513.05 of the Revised Code, 5871
except that the petition shall be signed by at least fifty 5872
electors of the territory of the court. If no valid declaration 5873
of candidacy is filed for nomination as a candidate of a 5874
political party for election to the office of municipal court 5875
judge, or if the number of persons filing the declarations of 5876
candidacy for nominations as candidates of one political party 5877
for election to the office does not exceed the number of 5878
candidates that that party is entitled to nominate as its 5879
candidates for election to the office, no primary election shall 5880
be held for the purpose of nominating candidates of that party 5881
for election to the office, and the candidates shall be issued 5882
certificates of nomination in the manner set forth in section 5883
3513.02 of the Revised Code. 5884

       If the jurisdiction of a municipal court extends beyond the 5885
corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which it is 5886
located or if the jurisdiction of the court does not extend beyond 5887
the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which it is 5888
located and no charter provisions apply, nonpartisan candidates 5889
for the office of municipal court judge shall file nominating 5890
petitions not later than four p.m. of the day before the day of 5891
the primary election in the form prescribed by section 3513.261 of 5892
the Revised Code. The petition shall conform to the requirements 5893
provided for those petitions of candidacy contained in section 5894
3513.257 of the Revised Code, except that the petition shall be 5895
signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court. 5896

       The nominating petition or declaration of candidacy for a 5897
municipal court judge shall contain a designation of the term for 5898
which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular 5899
municipal election, the candidacies of the judges nominated shall 5900
be submitted to the electors of the territory on a nonpartisan, 5901
judicial ballot in the same manner as provided for judges of the 5902
court of common pleas, except that, in a municipal corporation 5903
operating under a charter, all candidates for municipal court 5904
judge shall be elected in conformity with the charter if 5905
provisions are made in the charter for the election of municipal 5906
court judges. 5907

       (C) Notwithstanding divisions (A) and (B) of this section, in 5908
the following municipal courts, the judges shall be nominated and 5909
elected as follows: 5910

       (1) In the Cleveland municipal court, the judges shall be 5911
nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at 5912
least fifty electors of the territory of the court. It shall be in 5913
the statutory form and shall be filed in the manner and within the 5914
time prescribed by the charter of the city of Cleveland for filing 5915
petitions of candidates for municipal offices. Each elector shall 5916
have the right to sign petitions for as many candidates as are to 5917
be elected, but no more. The judges shall be elected by the 5918
electors of the territory of the court in the manner provided by 5919
law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas. 5920

       (2) In the Toledo municipal court, the judges shall be 5921
nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at 5922
least fifty electors of the territory of the court. It shall be in 5923
the statutory form and shall be filed in the manner and within the 5924
time prescribed by the charter of the city of Toledo for filing 5925
nominating petitions for city council. Each elector shall have the 5926
right to sign petitions for as many candidates as are to be 5927
elected, but no more. The judges shall be elected by the electors 5928
of the territory of the court in the manner provided by law for 5929
the election of judges of the court of common pleas. 5930

       (3) In the Akron municipal court, the judges shall be 5931
nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at 5932
least fifty electors of the territory of the court. It shall be in 5933
statutory form and shall be filed in the manner and within the 5934
time prescribed by the charter of the city of Akron for filing 5935
nominating petitions of candidates for municipal offices. Each 5936
elector shall have the right to sign petitions for as many 5937
candidates as are to be elected, but no more. The judges shall be 5938
elected by the electors of the territory of the court in the 5939
manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of 5940
common pleas. 5941

       (4) In the Hamilton county municipal court, the judges shall 5942
be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at 5943
least fifty electors of the territory of the court, which 5944
petitions shall be signed, verified, and filed in the manner and 5945
within the time required by law for nominating petitions for 5946
members of council of the city of Cincinnati. The judges shall be 5947
elected by the electors of the territory of the court at the 5948
regular municipal election and in the manner provided by law for 5949
the election of judges of the court of common pleas. 5950

       (5) In the Franklin county municipal court, the judges shall 5951
be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at 5952
least fifty electors of the territory of the court. The petition 5953
shall be in the statutory form and shall be filed in the manner 5954
and within the time prescribed by the charter of the city of 5955
Columbus for filing petitions of candidates for municipal offices. 5956
The judges shall be elected by the electors of the territory of 5957
the court in the manner provided by law for the election of judges 5958
of the court of common pleas. 5959

       (6) In the Auglaize, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Crawford, 5960
Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Madison, Miami, Morrow, and Wayne 5961
county municipal courts, the judges shall be nominated only by 5962
petition. The petitions shall be signed by at least fifty 5963
electors of the territory of the court and shall conform to the 5964
provisions of this section. 5965

       (D) In the Portage county municipal court, the judges shall 5966
be nominated either by nominating petition or by primary election, 5967
as provided in division (B) of this section. 5968

       (E) As used in this section, as to an election for either a 5969
full or an unexpired term, "the territory within the jurisdiction 5970
of the court" means that territory as it will be on the first day 5971
of January after the election. 5972

       Sec. 1901.10.  (A)(1)(a) The judges of the municipal court5973
and officers of the court shall take an oath of office as provided 5974
in section 3.23 of the Revised Code. The office of judge of the 5975
municipal court is subject to forfeiture, and the judge may be 5976
removed from office, for the causes and by the procedure provided 5977
in sections 3.07 to 3.10 of the Revised Code. A vacancy in the 5978
office of judge exists upon the death, resignation, forfeiture, 5979
removal from office, or absence from official duties for a period 5980
of six consecutive months, as determined under this section, of 5981
the judge and also by reason of the expiration of the term of an 5982
incumbent when no successor has been elected or qualified. The 5983
chief justice of the supreme court may designate a judge of 5984
another municipal court to act until that vacancy is filled in 5985
accordance with section 107.08 of the Revised Code. A vacancy 5986
resulting from the absence of a judge from official duties for a 5987
period of six consecutive months shall be determined and declared 5988
by the legislative authority.5989

       (b) If a vacancy occurs in the office of judge or clerk of 5990
the municipal court after the one-hundredth day before the first 5991
Tuesday after the first Monday in May and prior to the fortieth5992
fiftieth day before the day of the general election, all5993
candidates for election to the unexpired term of the judge or 5994
clerk shall file nominating petitions with the board of elections 5995
not later than four p.m. on the tenth day following the day on 5996
which the vacancy occurs, except that, when the vacancy occurs 5997
fewer than six days before the fortiethfiftieth day before the 5998
general election, the deadline for filing shall be four p.m. on 5999
the thirty-sixthforty-sixth day before the day of the general 6000
election.6001

       (c) Each nominating petition referred to in division 6002
(A)(1)(b) of this section shall be in the form prescribed in 6003
section 3513.261 of the Revised Code and shall be signed by at 6004
least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the municipal6005
court. No nominating petition shall be accepted for filing or6006
filed if it appears on its face to contain signatures aggregating6007
in number more than twice the minimum aggregate number of6008
signatures required by this section.6009

       (2) If a judge of a municipal court that has only one judge 6010
is temporarily absent, incapacitated, or otherwise unavailable, 6011
the judge may appoint a substitute who has the qualifications 6012
required by section 1901.06 of the Revised Code or a retired judge 6013
of a court of record who is a qualified elector and a resident of 6014
the territory of the court. If the judge is unable to make the 6015
appointment, the chief justice of the supreme court shall appoint 6016
a substitute. The appointee shall serve during the absence, 6017
incapacity, or unavailability of the incumbent, shall have the 6018
jurisdiction and powers conferred upon the judge of the municipal 6019
court, and shall be styled "acting judge." During that time of6020
service, the acting judge shall sign all process and records and 6021
shall perform all acts pertaining to the office, except that of 6022
removal and appointment of officers of the court. All courts shall 6023
take judicial notice of the selection and powers of the acting 6024
judge. The incumbent judge shall establish the amount of 6025
compensation of an acting judge upon either a per diem, hourly, or6026
other basis, but the rate of pay shall not exceed the per diem 6027
amount received by the incumbent judge.6028

       (B) When the volume of cases pending in any municipal court 6029
necessitates an additional judge, the chief justice of the supreme 6030
court, upon the written request of the judge or presiding judge of 6031
that municipal court, may designate a judge of another municipal 6032
court or county court to serve for any period of time that the 6033
chief justice may prescribe. The compensation of a judge so 6034
designated shall be paid from the city treasury or, in the case of 6035
a county-operated municipal court, from the county treasury. In 6036
addition to the annual salary provided for in section 1901.11 of 6037
the Revised Code and in addition to any compensation under 6038
division (A)(5) or (6) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code to6039
which the judge is entitled in connection with the judge's own 6040
court, a full-time or part-time judge while holding court outside 6041
the judge's territory on the designation of the chief justice 6042
shall receive actual and necessary expenses and compensation as 6043
follows:6044

       (1) A full-time judge shall receive thirty dollars for each 6045
day of the assignment.6046

       (2) A part-time judge shall receive for each day of the6047
assignment the per diem compensation of the judges of the court to 6048
which the judge is assigned, less the per diem amount paid to 6049
those judges pursuant to section 141.04 of the Revised Code, 6050
calculated on the basis of two hundred fifty working days per 6051
year.6052

       If a request is made by a judge or the presiding judge of a6053
municipal court to designate a judge of another municipal court6054
because of the volume of cases in the court for which the request6055
is made and the chief justice reports, in writing, that no6056
municipal or county court judge is available to serve by 6057
designation, the judges of the court requesting the designation 6058
may appoint a substitute as provided in division (A)(2) of this 6059
section, who may serve for any period of time that is prescribed 6060
by the chief justice. The substitute judge shall be paid in the 6061
same manner and at the same rate as the incumbent judges, except 6062
that, if the substitute judge is entitled to compensation under 6063
division (A)(5) or (6) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code, then 6064
section 1901.121 of the Revised Code shall govern its payment.6065

       Sec. 1901.31.  The clerk and deputy clerks of a municipal 6066
court shall be selected, be compensated, give bond, and have 6067
powers and duties as follows: 6068

       (A) There shall be a clerk of the court who is appointed or 6069
elected as follows: 6070

       (1)(a) Except in the Akron, Barberton, Toledo, Hamilton 6071
county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts and 6072
through December 31, 2008, the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, if 6073
the population of the territory equals or exceeds one hundred 6074
thousand at the regular municipal election immediately preceding 6075
the expiration of the term of the present clerk, the clerk shall 6076
be nominated and elected by the qualified electors of the 6077
territory in the manner that is provided for the nomination and 6078
election of judges in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code. 6079

       The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six 6080
years, which term shall commence on the first day of January 6081
following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's 6082
successor is elected and qualified. 6083

       (b) In the Hamilton county municipal court, the clerk of 6084
courts of Hamilton county shall be the clerk of the municipal 6085
court and may appoint an assistant clerk who shall receive the 6086
compensation, payable out of the treasury of Hamilton county in 6087
semimonthly installments, that the board of county commissioners 6088
prescribes. The clerk of courts of Hamilton county, acting as the 6089
clerk of the Hamilton county municipal court and assuming the 6090
duties of that office, shall receive compensation at one-fourth 6091
the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common 6092
pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the 6093
county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of 6094
the Revised Code. This compensation shall be paid from the county 6095
treasury in semimonthly installments and is in addition to the 6096
annual compensation that is received for the performance of the 6097
duties of the clerk of courts of Hamilton county, as provided in 6098
sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. 6099

       (c) In the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts, 6100
the clerks of courts of Portage county and Wayne county shall be 6101
the clerks, respectively, of the Portage county and Wayne county 6102
municipal courts and may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each 6103
branch that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the 6104
Revised Code and assistant clerks as the judges of the municipal 6105
court determine are necessary, all of whom shall receive the 6106
compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. The clerks 6107
of courts of Portage county and Wayne county, acting as the clerks 6108
of the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts and 6109
assuming the duties of these offices, shall receive compensation 6110
payable from the county treasury in semimonthly installments at 6111
one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of 6112
common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of 6113
the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 6114
of the Revised Code. 6115

       (d) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(d) of 6116
this section, in the Akron municipal court, candidates for 6117
election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by 6118
primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day 6119
specified in the charter of the city of Akron for the nomination 6120
of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of 6121
section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations 6122
of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the 6123
nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of 6124
clerk of the Akron municipal court shall be signed by at least 6125
fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court. 6126

       The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and 6127
petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not 6128
later than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before 6129
the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 6130
3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of 6131
candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform 6132
to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of 6133
the Revised Code. 6134

       If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by 6135
any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political 6136
party for election to the office of clerk of the Akron municipal 6137
court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of 6138
nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. 6139
If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and 6140
petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political 6141
party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be 6142
held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for 6143
election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a 6144
certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 6145
3513.02 of the Revised Code. 6146

       Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating 6147
petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk 6148
of the Akron municipal court shall contain a designation of the 6149
term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following 6150
regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be 6151
submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court 6152
in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised 6153
Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so 6154
elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term 6155
shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's 6156
election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and 6157
qualified. 6158

       (e) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(e) of 6159
this section, in the Barberton municipal court, candidates for 6160
election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by 6161
primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day 6162
specified in the charter of the city of Barberton for the 6163
nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary 6164
provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the 6165
declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and 6166
the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office 6167
of clerk of the Barberton municipal court shall be signed by at 6168
least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court. 6169

       The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and 6170
petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not 6171
later than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before 6172
the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 6173
3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of 6174
candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform 6175
to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of 6176
the Revised Code. 6177

       If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by 6178
any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political 6179
party for election to the office of clerk of the Barberton 6180
municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the 6181
purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to 6182
that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of 6183
candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a 6184
particular political party for election to that office, a primary 6185
election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a 6186
candidate of that party for election to that office, and the 6187
candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the 6188
manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code. 6189

       Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating 6190
petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk 6191
of the Barberton municipal court shall contain a designation of 6192
the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following 6193
regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be 6194
submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court 6195
in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised 6196
Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so 6197
elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term 6198
shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's 6199
election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and 6200
qualified. 6201

       (f)(i) Through December 31, 2008, except as otherwise 6202
provided in division (A)(1)(f)(i) of this section, in the Cuyahoga 6203
Falls municipal court, candidates for election to the office of 6204
clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The 6205
primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter 6206
of the city of Cuyahoga Falls for the nomination of municipal 6207
officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 6208
3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of 6209
candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating 6210
petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the 6211
Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall be signed by at least fifty 6212
qualified electors of the territory of the court. 6213

       The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and 6214
petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not 6215
later than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before 6216
the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 6217
3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of 6218
candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform 6219
to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of 6220
the Revised Code. 6221

       If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by 6222
any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political 6223
party for election to the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls 6224
municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the 6225
purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to 6226
that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of 6227
candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a 6228
particular political party for election to that office, a primary 6229
election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a 6230
candidate of that party for election to that office, and the 6231
candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the 6232
manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code. 6233

       Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating 6234
petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk 6235
of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall contain a designation 6236
of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the 6237
following regular municipal election, all candidates for the 6238
office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the 6239
territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 6240
1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the 6241
court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six 6242
years, which term shall commence on the first day of January 6243
following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's 6244
successor is elected and qualified. 6245

       (ii) Division (A)(1)(f)(i) of this section shall have no 6246
effect after December 31, 2008. 6247

       (g) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(g) of 6248
this section, in the Toledo municipal court, candidates for 6249
election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by 6250
primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day 6251
specified in the charter of the city of Toledo for the nomination 6252
of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of 6253
section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations 6254
of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the 6255
nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of 6256
clerk of the Toledo municipal court shall be signed by at least 6257
fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court. 6258

       The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and 6259
petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not 6260
later than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before 6261
the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 6262
3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of 6263
candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform 6264
to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of 6265
the Revised Code. 6266

       If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by 6267
any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political 6268
party for election to the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal 6269
court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of 6270
nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. 6271
If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and 6272
petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political 6273
party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be 6274
held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for 6275
election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a 6276
certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 6277
3513.02 of the Revised Code. 6278

       Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating 6279
petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk 6280
of the Toledo municipal court shall contain a designation of the 6281
term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following 6282
regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be 6283
submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court 6284
in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised 6285
Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so 6286
elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term 6287
shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's 6288
election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and 6289
qualified. 6290

       (2)(a) Except for the Alliance, Auglaize county, Brown 6291
county, Columbiana county, Holmes county, Lorain, Massillon, and 6292
Youngstown municipal courts, in a municipal court for which the 6293
population of the territory is less than one hundred thousand, the 6294
clerk shall be appointed by the court, and the clerk shall hold 6295
office until the clerk's successor is appointed and qualified. 6296

       (b) In the Alliance, Lorain, Massillon, and Youngstown 6297
municipal courts, the clerk shall be elected for a term of office 6298
as described in division (A)(1)(a) of this section. 6299

       (c) In the Auglaize county, Brown county, and Holmes county 6300
municipal courts, the clerks of courts of Auglaize county, Brown 6301
county, and Holmes county shall be the clerks, respectively, of 6302
the Auglaize county, Brown county, and Holmes county municipal 6303
courts and may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch office 6304
that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised 6305
Code, and assistant clerks as the judge of the court determines 6306
are necessary, all of whom shall receive the compensation that the 6307
legislative authority prescribes. The clerks of courts of Auglaize 6308
county, Brown county, and Holmes county, acting as the clerks of 6309
the Auglaize county, Brown county, and Holmes county municipal 6310
courts and assuming the duties of these offices, shall receive 6311
compensation payable from the county treasury in semimonthly 6312
installments at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the 6313
clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with 6314
the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 6315
325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. 6316

       (d) In the Columbiana county municipal court, the clerk of 6317
courts of Columbiana county shall be the clerk of the municipal 6318
court, may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch office 6319
that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised 6320
Code, and may appoint any assistant clerks that the judges of the 6321
court determine are necessary. All of the chief deputy clerks and 6322
assistant clerks shall receive the compensation that the 6323
legislative authority prescribes. The clerk of courts of 6324
Columbiana county, acting as the clerk of the Columbiana county 6325
municipal court and assuming the duties of that office, shall 6326
receive in either biweekly installments or semimonthly 6327
installments, as determined by the payroll administrator, 6328
compensation payable from the county treasury at one-fourth the 6329
rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas 6330
as determined in accordance with the population of the county and 6331
the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised 6332
Code. 6333

       (3) During the temporary absence of the clerk due to illness, 6334
vacation, or other proper cause, the court may appoint a temporary 6335
clerk, who shall be paid the same compensation, have the same 6336
authority, and perform the same duties as the clerk. 6337

       (B) Except in the Hamilton county, Portage county, and Wayne 6338
county municipal courts, if a vacancy occurs in the office of the 6339
clerk of the Alliance, Lorain, Massillon, or Youngstown municipal 6340
court or occurs in the office of the clerk of a municipal court 6341
for which the population of the territory equals or exceeds one 6342
hundred thousand because the clerk ceases to hold the office 6343
before the end of the clerk's term or because a clerk-elect fails 6344
to take office, the vacancy shall be filled, until a successor is 6345
elected and qualified, by a person chosen by the residents of the 6346
territory of the court who are members of the county central 6347
committee of the political party by which the last occupant of 6348
that office or the clerk-elect was nominated. Not less than five 6349
nor more than fifteen days after a vacancy occurs, those members 6350
of that county central committee shall meet to make an appointment 6351
to fill the vacancy. At least four days before the date of the 6352
meeting, the chairperson or a secretary of the county central 6353
committee shall notify each such member of that county central 6354
committee by first class mail of the date, time, and place of the 6355
meeting and its purpose. A majority of all such members of that 6356
county central committee constitutes a quorum, and a majority of 6357
the quorum is required to make the appointment. If the office so 6358
vacated was occupied or was to be occupied by a person not 6359
nominated at a primary election, or if the appointment was not 6360
made by the committee members in accordance with this division, 6361
the court shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy. A 6362
successor shall be elected to fill the office for the unexpired 6363
term at the first municipal election that is held more than one 6364
hundred twentythirty days after the vacancy occurred. 6365

       (C)(1) In a municipal court, other than the Auglaize county, 6366
the Brown county, the Columbiana county, the Holmes county, and 6367
the Lorain municipal courts, for which the population of the 6368
territory is less than one hundred thousand, the clerk of the 6369
municipal court shall receive the annual compensation that the 6370
presiding judge of the court prescribes, if the revenue of the 6371
court for the preceding calendar year, as certified by the auditor 6372
or chief fiscal officer of the municipal corporation in which the 6373
court is located or, in the case of a county-operated municipal 6374
court, the county auditor, is equal to or greater than the 6375
expenditures, including any debt charges, for the operation of the 6376
court payable under this chapter from the city treasury or, in the 6377
case of a county-operated municipal court, the county treasury for 6378
that calendar year, as also certified by the auditor or chief 6379
fiscal officer. If the revenue of a municipal court, other than 6380
the Auglaize county, the Brown county, the Columbiana county, and 6381
the Lorain municipal courts, for which the population of the 6382
territory is less than one hundred thousand for the preceding 6383
calendar year as so certified is not equal to or greater than 6384
those expenditures for the operation of the court for that 6385
calendar year as so certified, the clerk of a municipal court 6386
shall receive the annual compensation that the legislative 6387
authority prescribes. As used in this division, "revenue" means 6388
the total of all costs and fees that are collected and paid to the 6389
city treasury or, in a county-operated municipal court, the county 6390
treasury by the clerk of the municipal court under division (F) of 6391
this section and all interest received and paid to the city 6392
treasury or, in a county-operated municipal court, the county 6393
treasury in relation to the costs and fees under division (G) of 6394
this section. 6395

       (2) In a municipal court, other than the Hamilton county, 6396
Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, for which the 6397
population of the territory is one hundred thousand or more, and 6398
in the Lorain municipal court, the clerk of the municipal court 6399
shall receive annual compensation in a sum equal to eighty-five 6400
per cent of the salary of a judge of the court. 6401

       (3) The compensation of a clerk described in division (C)(1) 6402
or (2) of this section and of the clerk of the Columbiana county 6403
municipal court is payable in either semimonthly installments or 6404
biweekly installments, as determined by the payroll administrator, 6405
from the same sources and in the same manner as provided in 6406
section 1901.11 of the Revised Code, except that the compensation 6407
of the clerk of the Carroll county municipal court is payable in 6408
biweekly installments. 6409

       (D) Before entering upon the duties of the clerk's office, 6410
the clerk of a municipal court shall give bond of not less than 6411
six thousand dollars to be determined by the judges of the court, 6412
conditioned upon the faithful performance of the clerk's duties. 6413

       (E) The clerk of a municipal court may do all of the 6414
following: administer oaths, take affidavits, and issue executions 6415
upon any judgment rendered in the court, including a judgment for 6416
unpaid costs; issue, sign, and attach the seal of the court to all 6417
writs, process, subpoenas, and papers issuing out of the court; 6418
and approve all bonds, sureties, recognizances, and undertakings 6419
fixed by any judge of the court or by law. The clerk may refuse to 6420
accept for filing any pleading or paper submitted for filing by a 6421
person who has been found to be a vexatious litigator under 6422
section 2323.52 of the Revised Code and who has failed to obtain 6423
leave to proceed under that section. The clerk shall do all of 6424
the following: file and safely keep all journals, records, 6425
books, and papers belonging or appertaining to the court; record 6426
the proceedings of the court; perform all other duties that the 6427
judges of the court may prescribe; and keep a book showing all 6428
receipts and disbursements, which book shall be open for public 6429
inspection at all times. 6430

       The clerk shall prepare and maintain a general index, a 6431
docket, and other records that the court, by rule, requires, all 6432
of which shall be the public records of the court. In the docket, 6433
the clerk shall enter, at the time of the commencement of an 6434
action, the names of the parties in full, the names of the 6435
counsel, and the nature of the proceedings. Under proper dates, 6436
the clerk shall note the filing of the complaint, issuing of 6437
summons or other process, returns, and any subsequent pleadings. 6438
The clerk also shall enter all reports, verdicts, orders, 6439
judgments, and proceedings of the court, clearly specifying the 6440
relief granted or orders made in each action. The court may order 6441
an extended record of any of the above to be made and entered, 6442
under the proper action heading, upon the docket at the request of 6443
any party to the case, the expense of which record may be taxed as 6444
costs in the case or may be required to be prepaid by the party 6445
demanding the record, upon order of the court. 6446

       (F) The clerk of a municipal court shall receive, collect, 6447
and issue receipts for all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other 6448
moneys payable to the office or to any officer of the court. The 6449
clerk shall each month disburse to the proper persons or officers, 6450
and take receipts for, all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other 6451
moneys that the clerk collects. Subject to sections 307.515 and 6452
4511.193 of the Revised Code and to any other section of the 6453
Revised Code that requires a specific manner of disbursement of 6454
any moneys received by a municipal court and except for the 6455
Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and Ottawa county municipal 6456
courts, the clerk shall pay all fines received for violation of 6457
municipal ordinances into the treasury of the municipal 6458
corporation the ordinance of which was violated and shall pay all 6459
fines received for violation of township resolutions adopted 6460
pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or Chapter 504. of the 6461
Revised Code into the treasury of the township the resolution of 6462
which was violated. Subject to sections 1901.024 and 4511.193 of 6463
the Revised Code, in the Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and 6464
Ottawa county municipal courts, the clerk shall pay fifty per cent 6465
of the fines received for violation of municipal ordinances and 6466
fifty per cent of the fines received for violation of township 6467
resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or 6468
Chapter 504. of the Revised Code into the treasury of the county. 6469
Subject to sections 307.515, 4511.19, and 5503.04 of the Revised 6470
Code and to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a 6471
specific manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a 6472
municipal court, the clerk shall pay all fines collected for the 6473
violation of state laws into the county treasury. Except in a 6474
county-operated municipal court, the clerk shall pay all costs and 6475
fees the disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for in 6476
the Revised Code into the city treasury. The clerk of a 6477
county-operated municipal court shall pay the costs and fees the 6478
disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for in the Revised 6479
Code into the county treasury. Moneys deposited as security for 6480
costs shall be retained pending the litigation. The clerk shall 6481
keep a separate account of all receipts and disbursements in civil 6482
and criminal cases, which shall be a permanent public record of 6483
the office. On the expiration of the term of the clerk, the clerk 6484
shall deliver the records to the clerk's successor. The clerk 6485
shall have other powers and duties as are prescribed by rule or 6486
order of the court. 6487

       (G) All moneys paid into a municipal court shall be noted on 6488
the record of the case in which they are paid and shall be 6489
deposited in a state or national bank, or a domestic savings and 6490
loan association, as defined in section 1151.01 of the Revised 6491
Code, that is selected by the clerk. Any interest received upon 6492
the deposits shall be paid into the city treasury, except that, in 6493
a county-operated municipal court, the interest shall be paid into 6494
the treasury of the county in which the court is located. 6495

       On the first Monday in January of each year, the clerk shall 6496
make a list of the titles of all cases in the court that were 6497
finally determined more than one year past in which there remains 6498
unclaimed in the possession of the clerk any funds, or any part of 6499
a deposit for security of costs not consumed by the costs in the 6500
case. The clerk shall give notice of the moneys to the parties who 6501
are entitled to the moneys or to their attorneys of record. All 6502
the moneys remaining unclaimed on the first day of April of each 6503
year shall be paid by the clerk to the city treasurer, except 6504
that, in a county-operated municipal court, the moneys shall be 6505
paid to the treasurer of the county in which the court is located. 6506
The treasurer shall pay any part of the moneys at any time to the 6507
person who has the right to the moneys upon proper certification 6508
of the clerk. 6509

       (H) Deputy clerks of a municipal court other than the Carroll 6510
county municipal court may be appointed by the clerk and shall 6511
receive the compensation, payable in either biweekly installments 6512
or semimonthly installments, as determined by the payroll 6513
administrator, out of the city treasury, that the clerk may 6514
prescribe, except that the compensation of any deputy clerk of a 6515
county-operated municipal court shall be paid out of the treasury 6516
of the county in which the court is located. The judge of the 6517
Carroll county municipal court may appoint deputy clerks for the 6518
court, and the deputy clerks shall receive the compensation, 6519
payable in biweekly installments out of the county treasury, that 6520
the judge may prescribe. Each deputy clerk shall take an oath of 6521
office before entering upon the duties of the deputy clerk's 6522
office and, when so qualified, may perform the duties appertaining 6523
to the office of the clerk. The clerk may require any of the 6524
deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand 6525
dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy 6526
clerk's duties. 6527

       (I) For the purposes of this section, whenever the population 6528
of the territory of a municipal court falls below one hundred 6529
thousand but not below ninety thousand, and the population of the 6530
territory prior to the most recent regular federal census 6531
exceeded one hundred thousand, the legislative authority of the 6532
municipal corporation may declare, by resolution, that the 6533
territory shall be considered to have a population of at least 6534
one hundred thousand. 6535

       (J) The clerk or a deputy clerk shall be in attendance at all 6536
sessions of the municipal court, although not necessarily in the 6537
courtroom, and may administer oaths to witnesses and jurors and 6538
receive verdicts. 6539

       Sec. 1907.13.  A county court judge, at the time of filing a 6540
nominating petition for the office or at the time of appointment 6541
to the office and during the judge's term of office, shall be a 6542
qualified elector and a resident of the county court district in 6543
which the judge is elected or appointed. A county court judge does 6544
not have to be a resident of an area of separate jurisdiction in 6545
the county court district to which the judge may be assigned 6546
pursuant to section 1907.15 of the Revised Code. Every county 6547
court judge shall have been admitted to the practice of law in 6548
this state and shall have been engaged, for a total of at least 6549
six years preceding the judge's appointment or the commencement of 6550
the judge's term, in the practice of law in this state, except 6551
that the six-year practice requirement does not apply to a county 6552
court judge who is holding office on the effective date of this 6553
amendment and who subsequently is a candidate for that office.6554

       Judges shall be elected by the electors of the county court6555
district at the general election in even-numbered years as set6556
forth in section 1907.11 of the Revised Code for a term of six6557
years commencing on the first day of January following the6558
election for the county court or on the dates specified in section 6559
1907.11 of the Revised Code for particular county court judges. 6560
Their successors shall be elected in even-numbered years every six 6561
years.6562

       All candidates for county court judge shall be nominated by6563
petition. The nominating petition shall be in the general form and 6564
signed and verified as prescribed by section 3513.261 of the6565
Revised Code and shall be signed by the lesser of fifty qualified6566
electors of the county court district or a number of qualified6567
electors of the county court district not less than one per cent 6568
of the number of electors who voted for governor at the most 6569
recent regular state election in the district. A nominating 6570
petition shall not be accepted for filing or filed if it appears 6571
on its face to contain signatures aggregating in number more than 6572
twice the minimum aggregate number of signatures required by this6573
section. A nominating petition shall be filed with the board of6574
elections not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth6575
eighty-fifth day before the day of the general election.6576

       Sec. 2101.43.  Whenever ten per cent of the number of6577
electors voting for governor at the most recent election in any 6578
county having less than sixty thousand population, as determined 6579
by the most recent federal census, petition a judge of the court 6580
of common pleas of such county, not less than seventy-five6581
eighty-five days before any general election for county officers, 6582
for the submission to the electors of such county the question of 6583
combining the probate court with the court of common pleas, such 6584
judge shall place upon the journal of said court an order 6585
requiring the sheriff to make proclamation that at the next6586
general election there will be submitted to the electors the 6587
question of combining the probate court with the court of common 6588
pleas. The clerk of the court of common pleas shall, thereupon, 6589
make and deliver a certified copy of such order to the sheriff, 6590
and the sheriff shall include notice of the submission of such 6591
question in histhe sheriff's proclamation of election for the6592
next general election.6593

       Each elector joining in a petition for the submission of said 6594
question shall sign such petition in the elector's own6595
handwriting, unless the elector cannot write and the elector's 6596
signature is made by mark, and shall add thereto the township, 6597
precinct, or ward of which the elector is a resident. Such 6598
petition may consist of as many parts as are convenient. One of 6599
the signers to each separate paper shall swear before some officer 6600
qualified to administer the oath that the petition is bona fide to 6601
the best of the signer's knowledge and belief. Such oath shall be 6602
a part of or attached to such paper. The judge upon receipt of 6603
such petition shall deposit it with the clerk of the court of 6604
common pleas.6605

       No signature shall be taken from or added to such petition6606
after it has been filed with the judge. When deposited such6607
petition shall be preserved and open to public inspection, and if6608
it is in conformity with this section, it shall be valid, unless6609
objection thereto is made in writing by an elector of the county6610
within five days after the filing thereof. Such objections, or any 6611
other questions arising in the course of the submission of the 6612
question of combining said courts, shall be considered and6613
determined by the judge, and histhe judge's decision shall be6614
final.6615

       Sec. 2301.02.  The number of judges of the court of common6616
pleas for each county, the time for the next election of the6617
judges in the several counties, and the beginning of their terms6618
shall be as follows:6619

       (A) In Adams, Ashland, Fayette, and Pike counties, one judge, 6620
elected in 1956, term to begin February 9, 1957;6621

       In Brown, Crawford, Defiance, Highland, Holmes, Morgan,6622
Ottawa, and Union counties, one judge, to be elected in 1954, term6623
to begin February 9, 1955;6624

       In Auglaize county, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to6625
begin January 9, 1957;6626

       In Coshocton, Darke, Fulton, Gallia, Guernsey, Hardin,6627
Jackson, Knox, Madison, Mercer, Monroe, Paulding, Vinton, and 6628
Wyandot counties, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to begin 6629
January 1, 1957;6630

       In Morrow county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term 6631
to begin January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 2006, term to 6632
begin January 1, 2007;6633

       In Logan county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term 6634
to begin January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 2004, term to 6635
begin January 2, 2005;6636

       In Carroll, Clinton, Hocking, Meigs, Pickaway, Preble, 6637
Shelby, Van Wert, and Williams counties, one judge, to be elected 6638
in 1952, term to begin January 1, 1953;6639

       In Champaign county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952, 6640
term to begin January 1, 1953, and one to be elected in 2008, term 6641
to begin February 10, 2009.6642

       In Harrison and Noble counties, one judge, to be elected in6643
1954, term to begin April 18, 1955;6644

       In Henry county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term 6645
to begin May 9, 1957, and one to be elected in 2004, term to begin 6646
January 1, 2005;6647

       In Putnam county, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to 6648
begin May 9, 1957;6649

       In Huron county, one judge, to be elected in 1952, term to6650
begin May 14, 1953;6651

       In Perry county, one judge, to be elected in 1954, term to6652
begin July 6, 1956;6653

       In Sandusky county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954,6654
term to begin February 10, 1955, and one to be elected in 1978,6655
term to begin January 1, 1979;6656

       (B) In Allen county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956, 6657
term to begin February 9, 1957, the second to be elected in 1958, 6658
term to begin January 1, 1959, and the third to be elected in 6659
1992, term to begin January 1, 1993;6660

       In Ashtabula county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,6661
term to begin February 9, 1955, one to be elected in 1960, term to6662
begin January 1, 1961, and one to be elected in 1978, term to6663
begin January 2, 1979;6664

       In Athens county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, term6665
to begin February 9, 1955, and one to be elected in 1990, term to6666
begin July 1, 1991;6667

       In Erie county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956, term6668
to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1970, term 6669
to begin January 2, 1971, the third to be elected in 2004, term to 6670
begin January 2, 2005, and the fourth to be elected in 2008, term 6671
to begin February 9, 2009;6672

       In Fairfield county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,6673
term to begin February 9, 1955, the second to be elected in 1970,6674
term to begin January 1, 1971, and the third to be elected in6675
1994, term to begin January 2, 1995;6676

       In Geauga county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term6677
to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1976,6678
term to begin January 6, 1977;6679

       In Greene county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956,6680
term to begin February 9, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,6681
term to begin January 1, 1961, the third to be elected in 1978,6682
term to begin January 2, 1979, and the fourth to be elected in6683
1994, term to begin January 1, 1995;6684

       In Hancock county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,6685
term to begin January 1, 1953, and the second to be elected in6686
1978, term to begin January 1, 1979;6687

       In Lawrence county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954,6688
term to begin February 9, 1955, and the second to be elected in6689
1976, term to begin January 1, 1977;6690

       In Marion county, three judges, one to be elected in 1952,6691
term to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1976,6692
term to begin January 2, 1977, and the third to be elected in6693
1998, term to begin February 9, 1999;6694

       In Medina county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,6695
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1966,6696
term to begin January 1, 1967, and the third to be elected in6697
1994, term to begin January 1, 1995;6698

       In Miami county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, term6699
to begin February 9, 1955, and one to be elected in 1970, term to6700
begin on January 1, 1971;6701

       In Muskingum county, three judges, one to be elected in 1968,6702
term to begin August 9, 1969, one to be elected in 1978, term to 6703
begin January 1, 1979, and one to be elected in 2002, term to 6704
begin January 2, 2003;6705

       In Portage county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,6706
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,6707
term to begin January 1, 1961, and the third to be elected in6708
1986, term to begin January 2, 1987;6709

       In Ross county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term6710
to begin February 9, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1976,6711
term to begin January 1, 1977;6712

       In Scioto county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,6713
term to begin February 10, 1955, the second to be elected in 1960,6714
term to begin January 1, 1961, and the third to be elected in6715
1994, term to begin January 2, 1995;6716

       In Seneca county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term6717
to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1986,6718
term to begin January 2, 1987;6719

       In Warren county, four judges, one to be elected in 1954,6720
term to begin February 9, 1955, the second to be elected in 1970,6721
term to begin January 1, 1971, the third to be elected in 1986, 6722
term to begin January 1, 1987, and the fourth to be elected in 6723
2004, term to begin January 2, 2005;6724

       In Washington county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,6725
term to begin January 1, 1953, and one to be elected in 1986, term6726
to begin January 1, 1987;6727

       In Wood county, three judges, one to be elected in 1968, term6728
beginning January 1, 1969, the second to be elected in 1970, term6729
to begin January 2, 1971, and the third to be elected in 1990,6730
term to begin January 1, 1991;6731

       In Belmont and Jefferson counties, two judges, to be elected6732
in 1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955,6733
respectively;6734

       In Clark county, four judges, one to be elected in 1952, term6735
to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1956, term6736
to begin January 2, 1957, the third to be elected in 1986, term to6737
begin January 3, 1987, and the fourth to be elected in 1994, term6738
to begin January 2, 1995.6739

       In Clermont county, five judges, one to be elected in 1956,6740
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1964,6741
term to begin January 1, 1965, the third to be elected in 1982,6742
term to begin January 2, 1983, the fourth to be elected in 1986, 6743
term to begin January 2, 1987; and the fifth to be elected in 6744
2006, term to begin January 3, 2007;6745

       In Columbiana county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,6746
term to begin January 1, 1953, and the second to be elected in6747
1956, term to begin January 1, 1957;6748

       In Delaware county, two judges, one to be elected in 1990,6749
term to begin February 9, 1991, the second to be elected in 1994,6750
term to begin January 1, 1995;6751

       In Lake county, six judges, one to be elected in 1958, term6752
to begin January 1, 1959, the second to be elected in 1960, term6753
to begin January 2, 1961, the third to be elected in 1964, term to6754
begin January 3, 1965, the fourth and fifth to be elected in 1978,6755
terms to begin January 4, 1979, and January 5, 1979, respectively,6756
and the sixth to be elected in 2000, term to begin January 6,6757
2001;6758

       In Licking county, four judges, one to be elected in 1954,6759
term to begin February 9, 1955, one to be elected in 1964, term to6760
begin January 1, 1965, one to be elected in 1990, term to begin 6761
January 1, 1991, and one to be elected in 2004, term to begin 6762
January 1, 2005;6763

       In Lorain county, nine judges, two to be elected in 1952,6764
terms to begin January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1953, respectively,6765
one to be elected in 1958, term to begin January 3, 1959, one to6766
be elected in 1968, term to begin January 1, 1969, two to be6767
elected in 1988, terms to begin January 4, 1989, and January 5,6768
1989, respectively, two to be elected in 1998, terms to begin6769
January 2, 1999, and January 3, 1999, respectively; and one to be 6770
elected in 2006, term to begin January 6, 2007; 6771

       In Butler county, eleven judges, one to be elected in 1956,6772
term to begin January 1, 1957; two to be elected in 1954, terms to6773
begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively; one to6774
be elected in 1968, term to begin January 2, 1969; one to be6775
elected in 1986, term to begin January 3, 1987; two to be elected6776
in 1988, terms to begin January 1, 1989, and January 2, 1989,6777
respectively; one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 4,6778
1993; two to be elected in 2002, terms to begin January 2, 2003, 6779
and January 3, 2003, respectively; and one to be elected in 2006, 6780
term to begin January 3, 2007;6781

       In Richland county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956,6782
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,6783
term to begin February 9, 1961, the third to be elected in 1968, 6784
term to begin January 2, 1969, and the fourth to be elected in 6785
2004, term to begin January 3, 2005;6786

       In Tuscarawas county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956,6787
term to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in6788
1960, term to begin January 2, 1961;6789

       In Wayne county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term6790
beginning January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 1968, term to6791
begin January 2, 1969;6792

       In Trumbull county, six judges, one to be elected in 1952,6793
term to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1954,6794
term to begin January 1, 1955, the third to be elected in 1956,6795
term to begin January 1, 1957, the fourth to be elected in 1964,6796
term to begin January 1, 1965, the fifth to be elected in 1976,6797
term to begin January 2, 1977, and the sixth to be elected in6798
1994, term to begin January 3, 1995;6799

       (C) In Cuyahoga county, thirty-nine judges; eight to be6800
elected in 1954, terms to begin on successive days beginning from6801
January 1, 1955, to January 7, 1955, and February 9, 1955,6802
respectively; eight to be elected in 1956, terms to begin on6803
successive days beginning from January 1, 1957, to January 8,6804
1957; three to be elected in 1952, terms to begin from January 1,6805
1953, to January 3, 1953; two to be elected in 1960, terms to6806
begin on January 8, 1961, and January 9, 1961, respectively; two6807
to be elected in 1964, terms to begin January 4, 1965, and January6808
5, 1965, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to begin on6809
January 10, 1967; four to be elected in 1968, terms to begin on6810
successive days beginning from January 9, 1969, to January 12,6811
1969; two to be elected in 1974, terms to begin on January 18,6812
1975, and January 19, 1975, respectively; five to be elected in6813
1976, terms to begin on successive days beginning January 6, 1977,6814
to January 10, 1977; two to be elected in 1982, terms to begin6815
January 11, 1983, and January 12, 1983, respectively; and two to6816
be elected in 1986, terms to begin January 13, 1987, and January6817
14, 1987, respectively;6818

       In Franklin county, twenty-two judges; two to be elected in6819
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955,6820
respectively; four to be elected in 1956, terms to begin January6821
1, 1957, to January 4, 1957; four to be elected in 1958, terms to6822
begin January 1, 1959, to January 4, 1959; three to be elected in6823
1968, terms to begin January 5, 1969, to January 7, 1969; three to6824
be elected in 1976, terms to begin on successive days beginning6825
January 5, 1977, to January 7, 1977; one to be elected in 1982,6826
term to begin January 8, 1983; one to be elected in 1986, term to6827
begin January 9, 1987; two to be elected in 1990, terms to begin6828
July 1, 1991, and July 2, 1991, respectively; one to be elected in 6829
1996, term to begin January 2, 1997; and one to be elected in 6830
2004, term to begin July 1, 2005;6831

       In Hamilton county, twenty-one judges; eight to be elected in6832
1966, terms to begin January 1, 1967, January 2, 1967, and from6833
February 9, 1967, to February 14, 1967, respectively; five to be6834
elected in 1956, terms to begin from January 1, 1957, to January6835
5, 1957; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 1, 1965;6836
one to be elected in 1974, term to begin January 15, 1975; one to6837
be elected in 1980, term to begin January 16, 1981; two to be6838
elected at large in the general election in 1982, terms to begin6839
April 1, 1983; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin July 1,6840
1991; and two to be elected in 1996, terms to begin January 3,6841
1997, and January 4, 1997, respectively;6842

       In Lucas county, fourteen judges; two to be elected in 1954,6843
terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955,6844
respectively; two to be elected in 1956, terms to begin January 1,6845
1957, and October 29, 1957, respectively; two to be elected in6846
1952, terms to begin January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1953,6847
respectively; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 3,6848
1965; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January 4, 1969;6849
two to be elected in 1976, terms to begin January 4, 1977, and6850
January 5, 1977, respectively; one to be elected in 1982, term to6851
begin January 6, 1983; one to be elected in 1988, term to begin6852
January 7, 1989; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin January6853
2, 1991; and one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 2,6854
1993;6855

       In Mahoning county, seven judges; three to be elected in6856
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, and6857
February 9, 1955, respectively; one to be elected in 1956, term to6858
begin January 1, 1957; one to be elected in 1952, term to begin6859
January 1, 1953; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January6860
2, 1969; and one to be elected in 1990, term to begin July 1,6861
1991;6862

       In Montgomery county, fifteen judges; three to be elected in6863
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, and January6864
3, 1955, respectively; four to be elected in 1952, terms to begin6865
January 1, 1953, January 2, 1953, July 1, 1953, and July 2, 1953,6866
respectively; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 3,6867
1965; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January 3, 1969;6868
three to be elected in 1976, terms to begin on successive days6869
beginning January 4, 1977, to January 6, 1977; two to be elected6870
in 1990, terms to begin July 1, 1991, and July 2, 1991,6871
respectively; and one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January6872
1, 1993.6873

       In Stark county, eight judges; one to be elected in 1958,6874
term to begin on January 2, 1959; two to be elected in 1954, terms6875
to begin on January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively;6876
two to be elected in 1952, terms to begin January 1, 1953, and6877
April 16, 1953, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to6878
begin on January 4, 1967; and two to be elected in 1992, terms to6879
begin January 1, 1993, and January 2, 1993, respectively;6880

       In Summit county, thirteen judges; four to be elected in6881
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, January 3,6882
1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively; three to be elected in6883
1958, terms to begin January 1, 1959, January 2, 1959, and May 17, 6884
1959, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to begin6885
January 4, 1967; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January6886
5, 1969; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin May 1, 1991; one 6887
to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 6, 1993; and two to 6888
be elected in 2008, terms to begin January 5, 2009, and January 6, 6889
2009, respectively.6890

       Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, in any county6891
having two or more judges of the court of common pleas, in which6892
more than one-third of the judges plus one were previously elected6893
at the same election, if the office of one of those judges so6894
elected becomes vacant more than fortyfifty days prior to the 6895
second general election preceding the expiration of that judge's 6896
term, the office that that judge had filled shall be abolished as 6897
of the date of the next general election, and a new office of 6898
judge of the court of common pleas shall be created. The judge who6899
is to fill that new office shall be elected for a six-year term at 6900
the next general election, and the term of that judge shall 6901
commence on the first day of the year following that general6902
election, on which day no other judge's term begins, so that the6903
number of judges that the county shall elect shall not be reduced.6904

       Judges of the probate division of the court of common pleas6905
are judges of the court of common pleas but shall be elected6906
pursuant to sections 2101.02 and 2101.021 of the Revised Code,6907
except in Adams, Harrison, Henry, Morgan, Noble, and Wyandot 6908
counties in which the judge of the court of common pleas elected 6909
pursuant to this section also shall serve as judge of the probate 6910
division, except in Lorain county in which the judges of the 6911
domestic relations division of the Lorain county court of common 6912
pleas elected pursuant to this section also shall perform the 6913
duties and functions of the judge of the probate division from 6914
February 9, 2009, through September 28, 2009, and except in 6915
Morrow county in which the judges of the court of common pleas 6916
elected pursuant to this section also shall perform the duties 6917
and functions of the judge of the probate division.6918

       Sec. 3311.053.  (A) The boards of education of up to five6919
adjoining educational service centers may, by identical 6920
resolutions adopted by a majority of the members of each governing 6921
board within any sixty-day period, combine such educational 6922
service centers into one educational service center. The 6923
resolutions shall state the name of the new center, which may be 6924
styled as a "joint educational service center." The resolutions 6925
shall also indicate whether the governing board of the new 6926
educational service center is to be formed in accordance with 6927
division (B) of this section, in accordance with division (A) of 6928
section 3311.054 of the Revised Code, or in accordance with 6929
section 3311.057 of the Revised Code.6930

       A copy of each resolution shall be filed with the state board 6931
of education. The new educational service center shall be created 6932
and the governing boards of the participating educational service 6933
centers shall be dissolved and a new governing board established 6934
thirty days after the date on which the last resolution was filed 6935
with the state board. 6936

       (B) The initial members of a new governing board established 6937
in accordance with this division shall be appointed as follows:6938

       (1) If two educational service centers combine, each center's 6939
governing board, prior to its dissolution, shall appoint two 6940
members to the new governing board and the four members so 6941
selected shall select a fifth member within ten days of the date 6942
on which the last of the four members is appointed.6943

       (2) If three educational service centers combine, each 6944
center's governing board, prior to its dissolution, shall appoint 6945
one member to the new governing board and the three members so 6946
selected shall select the remaining two members of the governing 6947
board within ten days of the date on which the last of the three 6948
members is appointed.6949

       (3) If four educational service centers combine, each 6950
center's governing board, prior to its dissolution, shall appoint 6951
one member to the new governing board and the four members so 6952
selected shall select the remaining member of the governing board 6953
within ten days of the date on which the last of the four members 6954
is appointed.6955

       (4) If five educational service centers combine, each 6956
center's governing board, prior to its dissolution, shall appoint 6957
one member to the new governing board.6958

       If the members appointed to a new governing board by the 6959
governing boards of the combining educational service centers are 6960
unable to agree on the selection of the remaining members of the 6961
new governing board within ten days, the probate judge of the 6962
county in which the greatest number of pupils under the 6963
supervision of the new educational service center reside shall 6964
appoint the remaining members.6965

       Electors of the new educational service center shall elect a6966
new governing board at the next general election occurring in an6967
odd-numbered year and more than seventy-fiveeighty-five days 6968
after the date of the appointment of the last member to the 6969
initial governing board. Members shall serve for the duration of 6970
the term to which they are elected or until their successors are 6971
elected and qualified. At such election, two members shall be 6972
elected to terms of two years and three members shall be elected 6973
to terms of four years. Thereafter, their successors shall be 6974
elected in the same manner and for the same terms as members of 6975
governing boards of all educational service centers. Each 6976
candidate for election as a member of the educational service 6977
center governing board shall file a nominating petition in 6978
accordance with section 3513.255 of the Revised Code.6979

       (C) The funds of each former educational service center shall6980
be paid over in full to the governing board of the new educational 6981
service center, and the legal title to all property of the former 6982
governing boards shall become vested in the new governing board.6983

       The governing board of an educational service center created 6984
under this section shall honor all contracts made by the former 6985
governing boards.6986

       Sec. 3311.059. The procedure prescribed in this section may 6987
be used in lieu of a transfer prescribed under section 3311.231 of 6988
the Revised Code.6989

       (A) Subject to divisions (B) and (C) of this section, a board 6990
of education of a local school district may by a resolution 6991
approved by a majority of all its members propose to sever that 6992
local school district from the territory of the educational 6993
service center in which the local school district is currently 6994
included and to instead annex the local school district to the 6995
territory of another educational service center, the current 6996
territory of which is adjacent to the territory of the educational 6997
service center in which the local school district is currently 6998
included. The resolution shall promptly be filed with the 6999
governing board of each educational service center affected by the 7000
resolution and with the superintendent of public instruction.7001

       (B) The resolution adopted under division (A) of this section 7002
shall not be effective unless it is approved by the state board of 7003
education. In deciding whether to approve the resolution, the 7004
state board shall consider the impact of an annexation on both the 7005
school district and the educational service center to which the 7006
district is proposed to be annexed, including the ability of that 7007
service center to deliver services in a cost-effective and 7008
efficient manner. The severance of the local school district from 7009
one educational service center and its annexation to another 7010
educational service center under this section shall not be 7011
effective until one year after the first day of July following the 7012
later of the date that the state board of education approves the 7013
resolution or the date the board of elections certifies the 7014
results of the referendum election as provided in division (C) of 7015
this section.7016

       (C) Within sixty days following the date of the adoption of 7017
the resolution under division (A) of this section, the electors of 7018
the local school district may petition for a referendum vote on 7019
the resolution. The question whether to approve or disapprove the 7020
resolution shall be submitted to the electors of such school 7021
district if a number of qualified electors equal to twenty per 7022
cent of the number of electors in the school district who voted 7023
for the office of governor at the most recent general election for 7024
that office sign a petition asking that the question of whether 7025
the resolution shall be disapproved be submitted to the electors. 7026
The petition shall be filed with the board of elections of the7027
county in which the school district is located. If the school 7028
district is located in more than one county, the petition shall be 7029
filed with the board of elections of the county in which the 7030
majority of the territory of the school district is located. The 7031
board shall certify the validity and sufficiency of the signatures 7032
on the petition.7033

       The board of elections shall immediately notify the board of 7034
education of the local school district and the governing board of 7035
each educational service center affected by the resolution that 7036
the petition has been filed.7037

       The effect of the resolution shall be stayed until the board 7038
of elections certifies the validity and sufficiency of the7039
signatures on the petition. If the board of elections determines 7040
that the petition does not contain a sufficient number of valid 7041
signatures and sixty days have passed since the adoption of the 7042
resolution, the resolution shall become effective as provided in 7043
division (B) of this section.7044

       If the board of elections certifies that the petition7045
contains a sufficient number of valid signatures, the board shall 7046
submit the question to the qualified electors of the school 7047
district on the day of the next general or primary election held 7048
at least seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the board of 7049
elections certifies the validity and sufficiency of signatures on 7050
the petition. The election shall be conducted and canvassed and 7051
the results shall be certified in the same manner as in regular 7052
elections for the election of members of a board of education.7053

       If a majority of the electors voting on the question 7054
disapprove the resolution, the resolution shall not become 7055
effective. If a majority of the electors voting on the question 7056
approve the resolution, the resolution shall become effective as 7057
provided in division (B) of this section.7058

       (D) Upon the effective date of the severance of the local 7059
school district from one educational service center and its 7060
annexation to another educational service center as provided in 7061
division (B) of this section, the governing board of each 7062
educational service center shall take such steps for the election 7063
of members of the governing board and for organization of the 7064
governing board as prescribed in Chapter 3313. of the Revised 7065
Code.7066

       (E) If a school district is severed from one educational 7067
service center and annexed to another service center under this 7068
section, the board of education of that school district shall not 7069
propose a subsequent severance and annexation action under this 7070
section that would be effective sooner than five years after the 7071
effective date of the next previous severance and annexation 7072
action under this section.7073

       Sec. 3311.21.  (A) In addition to the resolutions authorized 7074
by sections 5705.194, 5705.199, 5705.21, 5705.212, and 5705.213 of 7075
the Revised Code, the board of education of a joint vocational or 7076
cooperative education school district by a vote of two-thirds of 7077
its full membership may at any time adopt a resolution declaring 7078
the necessity to levy a tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation 7079
for a period not to exceed ten years to provide funds for any one 7080
or more of the following purposes, which may be stated in the 7081
following manner in such resolution, the ballot, and the notice of 7082
election: purchasing a site or enlargement thereof and for the 7083
erection and equipment of buildings; for the purpose of enlarging, 7084
improving, or rebuilding thereof; for the purpose of providing for 7085
the current expenses of the joint vocational or cooperative school 7086
district; or for a continuing period for the purpose of providing 7087
for the current expenses of the joint vocational or cooperative 7088
education school district. The resolution shall specify the amount 7089
of the proposed rate and, if a renewal, whether the levy is to 7090
renew all, or a portion of, the existing levy, and shall specify 7091
the first year in which the levy will be imposed. If the levy 7092
provides for but is not limited to current expenses, the 7093
resolution shall apportion the annual rate of the levy between 7094
current expenses and the other purpose or purposes. Such 7095
apportionment may but need not be the same for each year of the 7096
levy, but the respective portions of the rate actually levied each 7097
year for current expenses and the other purpose or purposes shall 7098
be limited by such apportionment. The portion of any such rate 7099
actually levied for current expenses of a joint vocational or 7100
cooperative education school district shall be used in applying 7101
division (A)(1) of section 3306.01 and division (A) of section 7102
3317.01 of the Revised Code. The portion of any such rate not 7103
apportioned to the current expenses of a joint vocational or 7104
cooperative education school district shall be used in applying 7105
division (B) of this section. On the adoption of such resolution, 7106
the joint vocational or cooperative education school district 7107
board of education shall certify the resolution to the board of 7108
elections of the county containing the most populous portion of 7109
the district, which board shall receive resolutions for filing 7110
and send them to the boards of elections of each county in which7111
territory of the district is located, furnish all ballots for the7112
election as provided in section 3505.071 of the Revised Code, and7113
prepare the election notice; and the board of elections of each7114
county in which the territory of such district is located shall7115
make the other necessary arrangements for the submission of the7116
question to the electors of the joint vocational or cooperative7117
education school district at the next primary or general election7118
occurring not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the 7119
resolution was received from the joint vocational or cooperative 7120
education school district board of education, or at a special 7121
election to be held at a time designated by the district board of 7122
education consistent with the requirements of section 3501.01 of 7123
the Revised Code, which date shall not be earlier than 7124
seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the adoption and 7125
certification of the resolution.7126

       The board of elections of the county or counties in which7127
territory of the joint vocational or cooperative education school7128
district is located shall cause to be published in one or more7129
newspapers of general circulation in that district an7130
advertisement of the proposed tax levy question together with a7131
statement of the amount of the proposed levy once a week for two 7132
consecutive weeks, prior to the election at which the question is 7133
to appear on the ballot, and, if the board of elections operates 7134
and maintains a web site, the board also shall post a similar 7135
advertisement on its web site for thirty days prior to that 7136
election.7137

       If a majority of the electors voting on the question of7138
levying such tax vote in favor of the levy, the joint vocational7139
or cooperative education school district board of education shall7140
annually make the levy within the district at the rate specified7141
in the resolution and ballot or at any lesser rate, and the county 7142
auditor of each affected county shall annually place the levy on 7143
the tax list and duplicate of each school district in the county 7144
having territory in the joint vocational or cooperative education 7145
school district. The taxes realized from the levy shall be 7146
collected at the same time and in the same manner as other taxes 7147
on the duplicate, and the taxes, when collected, shall be paid to 7148
the treasurer of the joint vocational or cooperative education 7149
school district and deposited to a special fund, which shall be 7150
established by the joint vocational or cooperative education 7151
school district board of education for all revenue derived from 7152
any tax levied pursuant to this section and for the proceeds of 7153
anticipation notes which shall be deposited in such fund. After 7154
the approval of the levy, the joint vocational or cooperative 7155
education school district board of education may anticipate a 7156
fraction of the proceeds of the levy and from time to time, during 7157
the life of the levy, but in any year prior to the time when the 7158
tax collection from the levy so anticipated can be made for that 7159
year, issue anticipation notes in an amount not exceeding fifty 7160
per cent of the estimated proceeds of the levy to be collected in 7161
each year up to a period of five years after the date of the 7162
issuance of the notes, less an amount equal to the proceeds of the 7163
levy obligated for each year by the issuance of anticipation 7164
notes, provided that the total amount maturing in any one year 7165
shall not exceed fifty per cent of the anticipated proceeds of the 7166
levy for that year. Each issue of notes shall be sold as provided 7167
in Chapter 133. of the Revised Code, and shall, except for such 7168
limitation that the total amount of such notes maturing in any one 7169
year shall not exceed fifty per cent of the anticipated proceeds 7170
of the levy for that year, mature serially in substantially equal 7171
installments, during each year over a period not to exceed five 7172
years after their issuance.7173

       (B) Prior to the application of section 319.301 of the7174
Revised Code, the rate of a levy that is limited to, or to the7175
extent that it is apportioned to, purposes other than current7176
expenses shall be reduced in the same proportion in which the7177
district's total valuation increases during the life of the levy7178
because of additions to such valuation that have resulted from7179
improvements added to the tax list and duplicate.7180

       (C) The form of ballot cast at an election under division (A) 7181
of this section shall be as prescribed by section 5705.25 of the 7182
Revised Code.7183

       Sec. 3311.213.  (A) With the approval of the board of 7184
education of a joint vocational school district which is in 7185
existence, any school district in the county or counties 7186
comprising the joint vocational school district or any school 7187
district in a county adjacent to a county comprising part of a 7188
joint vocational school district may become a part of the joint 7189
vocational school district. On the adoption of a resolution of 7190
approval by the board of education of the joint vocational school 7191
district, it shall advertise a copy of such resolution in a 7192
newspaper of general circulation in the school district proposing 7193
to become a part of such joint vocational school district once 7194
each week for at least two weeks immediately following the date of 7195
the adoption of such resolution. Such resolution shall not become7196
effective until the later of the sixty-first day after its 7197
adoption or until the board of elections certifies the results of7198
an election in favor of joining of the school district to the 7199
joint vocational school district if such an election is held under 7200
division (B) of this section. 7201

       (B) During the sixty-day period following the date of the 7202
adoption of a resolution to join a school district to a joint 7203
vocational school district under division (A) of this section, the 7204
electors of the school district that proposes joining the joint 7205
vocational school district may petition for a referendum vote on 7206
the resolution. The question whether to approve or disapprove the 7207
resolution shall be submitted to the electors of such school 7208
district if a number of qualified electors equal to twenty per 7209
cent of the number of electors in the school district who voted 7210
for the office of governor at the most recent general election for 7211
that office sign a petition asking that the question of whether 7212
the resolution shall be disapproved be submitted to the electors. 7213
The petition shall be filed with the board of elections of the7214
county in which the school district is located. If the school 7215
district is located in more than one county, the petition shall be 7216
filed with the board of elections of the county in which the 7217
majority of the territory of the school district is located. The 7218
board shall certify the validity and sufficiency of the signatures 7219
on the petition. 7220

       The board of elections shall immediately notify the board of 7221
education of the joint vocational school district and the board of 7222
education of the school district that proposes joining the joint 7223
vocational school district that the petition has been filed. 7224

       The effect of the resolution shall be stayed until the board 7225
of elections certifies the validity and sufficiency of the7226
signatures on the petition. If the board of elections determines 7227
that the petition does not contain a sufficient number of valid 7228
signatures and sixty days have passed since the adoption of the 7229
resolution, the resolution shall become effective. 7230

       If the board of elections certifies that the petition7231
contains a sufficient number of valid signatures, the board shall 7232
submit the question to the qualified electors of the school 7233
district on the day of the next general or primary election held 7234
at least seventy-fiveeighty-five days after but no later than six 7235
months after the board of elections certifies the validity and 7236
sufficiency of signatures on the petition. If there is no general 7237
or primary election held at least seventy-fiveeighty-five days 7238
after but no later than six months after the board of elections 7239
certifies the validity and sufficiency of signatures on the 7240
petition, the board shall submit the question to the electors at a 7241
special election to be held on the next day specified for special 7242
elections in division (D) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code 7243
that occurs at least seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the board7244
certifies the validity and sufficiency of signatures on the 7245
petition. The election shall be conducted and canvassed and the 7246
results shall be certified in the same manner as in regular 7247
elections for the election of members of a board of education.7248

       If a majority of the electors voting on the question 7249
disapprove the resolution, the resolution shall not become 7250
effective.7251

       (C) If the resolution becomes effective, the board of 7252
education of the joint vocational school district shall notify the 7253
county auditor of the county in which the school district becoming 7254
a part of the joint vocational school district is located, who 7255
shall thereupon have any outstanding levy for building purposes, 7256
bond retirement, or current expenses in force in the joint 7257
vocational school district spread over the territory of the school 7258
district becoming a part of the joint vocational school district. 7259
On the addition of a city or exempted village school district or 7260
an educational service center to the joint vocational school 7261
district, pursuant to this section, the board of education of such 7262
joint vocational school district shall submit to the state board 7263
of education a proposal to enlarge the membership of such board by7264
the addition of one or more persons at least one of whom shall be7265
a member of the board of education or governing board of such 7266
additional school district or educational service center, and the 7267
term of each such additional member. On the addition of a local 7268
school district to the joint vocational school district, pursuant 7269
to this section, the board of education of such joint vocational 7270
school district may submit to the state board of education a 7271
proposal to enlarge the membership of such board by the addition 7272
of one or more persons who are members of the educational service 7273
center governing board of such additional local school district. 7274
On approval by the state board of education additional members 7275
shall be added to such joint vocational school district board of 7276
education.7277

       Sec. 3311.22.  A governing board of an educational service 7278
center may propose, by resolution adopted by majority vote of its 7279
full membership, or qualified electors of the area affected equal 7280
in number to at least fifty-five per cent of the qualified 7281
electors voting at the last general election residing within that 7282
portion of a school district, or districts proposed to be 7283
transferred may propose, by petition, the transfer of a part or 7284
all of one or more local school districts to another local school 7285
district or districts within the territory of the educational 7286
service center. Such transfers may be made only to local school 7287
districts adjoining the school district that is proposed to be 7288
transferred, unless the board of education of the district 7289
proposed to be transferred has entered into an agreement pursuant 7290
to section 3313.42 of the Revised Code, in which case such 7291
transfers may be made to any local school district within the 7292
territory of the educational service center.7293

       When a governing board of an educational service center 7294
adopts a resolution proposing a transfer of school territory it 7295
shall forthwith file a copy of such resolution, together with an 7296
accurate map of the territory described in the resolution, with 7297
the board of education of each school district whose boundaries 7298
would be altered by such proposal. A governing board of an 7299
educational service center proposing a transfer of territory under 7300
the provisions of this section shall at its next regular meeting 7301
that occurs not earlier than thirty days after the adoption by the 7302
governing board of a resolution proposing such transfer, adopt a 7303
resolution making the transfer effective at any time prior to the 7304
next succeeding first day of July, unless, prior to the expiration 7305
of such thirty-day period, qualified electors residing in the area 7306
proposed to be transferred, equal in number to a majority of the 7307
qualified electors voting at the last general election, file a 7308
petition of referendum against such transfer.7309

       Any petition of transfer or petition of referendum filed7310
under the provisions of this section shall be filed at the office7311
of the educational service center superintendent. The person 7312
presenting the petition shall be given a receipt containing 7313
thereon the time of day, the date, and the purpose of the 7314
petition.7315

       The educational service center superintendent shall cause the7316
board of elections to check the sufficiency of signatures on any 7317
petition of transfer or petition of referendum filed under this 7318
section and, if found to be sufficient, hethe superintendent7319
shall present the petition to the educational service center 7320
governing board at a meeting of the board which shall occur not 7321
later than thirty days following the filing of the petition.7322

       Upon presentation to the educational service center governing7323
board of a proposal to transfer territory as requested by petition 7324
of fifty-five per cent of the qualified electors voting at the 7325
last general election or a petition of referendum against a 7326
proposal of the county board to transfer territory, the governing 7327
board shall promptly certify the proposal to the board of 7328
elections for the purpose of having the proposal placed on the 7329
ballot at the next general or primary election which occurs not 7330
less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the date of such 7331
certification, or at a special election, the date of which shall 7332
be specified in the certification, which date shall not be less 7333
than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the date of such 7334
certification. Signatures on a petition of transfer or petition of 7335
referendum may be withdrawn up to and including the above 7336
mentioned meeting of the educational service center governing 7337
board only by order of the board upon testimony of the petitioner 7338
concerned under oath before the board that histhe petitioner's7339
signature was obtained by fraud, duress, or misrepresentation.7340

       If a petition is filed with the educational service center7341
governing board which proposes the transfer of a part or all of 7342
the territory included in a resolution of transfer previously 7343
adopted by the educational service center governing board, no 7344
action shall be taken on such petition if within the thirty-day 7345
period after the adoption of the resolution of transfer a 7346
referendum petition is filed. After the election, if the proposed 7347
transfer fails to receive a majority vote, action on such petition 7348
shall then be processed under this section as though originally 7349
filed under the provisions hereof. If no referendum petition is 7350
filed within the thirty-day period after the adoption of the 7351
resolution of transfer, no action shall be taken on such petition.7352

       If a petition is filed with the educational service center7353
governing board which proposes the transfer of a part or all of 7354
the territory included in a petition previously filed by electors 7355
no action shall be taken on such new petition.7356

       Upon certification of a proposal to the board or boards of7357
elections pursuant to this section, the board or boards of7358
elections shall make the necessary arrangements for the submission 7359
of such question to the electors of the county or counties 7360
qualified to vote thereon, and the election shall be conducted and 7361
canvassed and the results shall be certified in the same manner as 7362
in regular elections for the election of members of a board of 7363
education.7364

       The persons qualified to vote upon a proposal are the7365
electors residing in the district or districts containing7366
territory that is proposed to be transferred. If the proposed7367
transfer be approved by at least a majority of the electors voting 7368
on the proposal, the educational service center governing board 7369
shall make such transfer at any time prior to the next succeeding 7370
first day of July. If the proposed transfer is not approved by at 7371
least a majority of the electors voting on the proposal, the 7372
question of transferring any property included in the territory 7373
covered by the proposal shall not be submitted to electors at any 7374
election prior to the first general election the date of which is 7375
at least two years after the date of the original election, or the 7376
first primary election held in an even-numbered year the date of 7377
which is at least two years after the date of the original 7378
election. A transfer shall be subject to the approval of the 7379
receiving board or boards of education, unless the proposal was 7380
initiated by the educational service center governing board, in 7381
which case, if the transfer is opposed by the board of education 7382
offered the territory, the local board may, within thirty days, 7383
following the receipt of the notice of transfer, appeal to the 7384
state board of education which shall then either approve or 7385
disapprove the transfer.7386

       Following an election upon a proposed transfer initiated by a 7387
petition the board of education that is offered territory shall, 7388
within thirty days following receipt of the proposal, either 7389
accept or reject the transfer.7390

       When an entire school district is proposed to be transferred 7391
to two or more school districts and the offer is rejected by any 7392
one of the receiving boards of education, none of the territory 7393
included in the proposal shall be transferred.7394

       Upon the acceptance of territory by the receiving board or7395
boards of education the educational service center governing board 7396
offering the territory shall file with the county auditor and with 7397
the state board of education an accurate map showing the 7398
boundaries of the territory transferred.7399

       Upon the making of such transfer, the net indebtedness of the 7400
former district from which territory was transferred shall be7401
apportioned between the acquiring school district and that portion 7402
of the former school district remaining after the transfer in the 7403
ratio which the assessed valuation of the territory transferred to 7404
the acquiring school district bears to the assessed valuation of 7405
the original school district as of the effective date of the 7406
transfer. As used in this section "net indebtedness" means the 7407
difference between the par value of the outstanding and unpaid 7408
bonds and notes of the school district and the amount held in the 7409
sinking fund and other indebtedness retirement funds for their 7410
redemption.7411

       If an entire district is transferred, any indebtedness of the 7412
former district incurred as a result of a loan made under section 7413
3317.64 of the Revised Code is hereby canceled and such7414
indebtedness shall not be apportioned among any districts7415
acquiring the territory.7416

       Upon the making of any transfer under this section, the funds 7417
of the district from which territory was transferred shall be 7418
divided equitably by the educational service center governing7419
board between the acquiring district and any part of the original 7420
district remaining after the transfer.7421

       If an entire district is transferred the board of education7422
of such district is thereby abolished or if a member of the board7423
of education lives in that part of a school district transferred7424
the member becomes a nonresident of the school district from which 7425
the territory was transferred and hesuch member ceases to be a 7426
member of the board of education of such district.7427

       The legal title of all property of the board of education in 7428
the territory transferred shall become vested in the board of7429
education of the school district to which such territory is7430
transferred.7431

       Subsequent to June 30, 1959, if an entire district is7432
transferred, foundation program moneys accruing to a district7433
accepting school territory under the provisions of this section or 7434
former section 3311.22 of the Revised Code, shall not be less, in 7435
any year during the next succeeding three years following the7436
transfer, than the sum of the amounts received by the districts7437
separately in the year in which the transfer was consummated.7438

       Sec. 3311.231.  A governing board of an educational service 7439
center may propose, by resolution adopted by majority vote of its 7440
full membership, or qualified electors of the area affected equal 7441
in number to not less than fifty-five per cent of the qualified 7442
electors voting at the last general election residing within that 7443
portion of a school district proposed to be transferred may 7444
propose, by petition, the transfer of a part or all of one or more 7445
local school districts within the territory of the center to an7446
adjoining educational service center or to an adjoining city or 7447
exempted village school district.7448

       A governing board of an educational service center adopting a 7449
resolution proposing a transfer of school territory under this 7450
section shall file a copy of such resolution together with an 7451
accurate map of the territory described in the resolution, with 7452
the board of education of each school district whose boundaries 7453
would be altered by such proposal. Where a transfer of territory 7454
is proposed by a governing board of an educational service center 7455
under this section, the governing board shall, at its next regular 7456
meeting that occurs not earlier than the thirtieth day after the 7457
adoption by the governing board of the resolution proposing such 7458
transfer, adopt a resolution making the transfer as originally 7459
proposed, effective at any time prior to the next succeeding first 7460
day of July, unless, prior to the expiration of such thirty-day 7461
period, qualified electors residing in the area proposed to be7462
transferred, equal in number to a majority of the qualified7463
electors voting at the last general election, file a petition of7464
referendum against such transfer.7465

       Any petition of transfer or petition of referendum under the 7466
provisions of this section shall be filed at the office of the 7467
educational service center superintendent. The person presenting 7468
the petition shall be given a receipt containing thereon the time 7469
of day, the date, and the purpose of the petition.7470

       The educational service center superintendent shall cause the7471
board of elections to check the sufficiency of signatures on any 7472
such petition, and, if found to be sufficient, hethe 7473
superintendent shall present the petition to the educational 7474
service center governing board at a meeting of said governing 7475
board which shall occur not later than thirty days following the7476
filing of said petition.7477

       The educational service center governing board shall promptly 7478
certify the proposal to the board of elections of such counties in 7479
which school districts whose boundaries would be altered by such7480
proposal are located for the purpose of having the proposal placed 7481
on the ballot at the next general or primary election which occurs 7482
not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the date of such 7483
certification or at a special election, the date of which shall be 7484
specified in the certification, which date shall not be less than 7485
seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the date of such 7486
certification.7487

       Signatures on a petition of transfer or petition of7488
referendum may be withdrawn up to and including the above7489
mentioned meeting of the educational service center governing7490
board only by order of the governing board upon testimony of the 7491
petitioner concerned under oath before the board that histhe 7492
petitioner's signature was obtained by fraud, duress, or 7493
misrepresentation.7494

       If a petition is filed with the educational service center7495
governing board which proposes the transfer of a part or all of 7496
the territory included either in a petition previously filed by 7497
electors or in a resolution of transfer previously adopted by the 7498
educational service center governing board, no action shall be 7499
taken on such new petition as long as the previously initiated 7500
proposal is pending before the governing board or is subject to an 7501
election.7502

       Upon certification of a proposal to the board or boards of7503
elections pursuant to this section, the board or boards of7504
elections shall make the necessary arrangements for the submission 7505
of such question to the electors of the county or counties 7506
qualified to vote thereon, and the election shall be conducted and 7507
canvassed and the results shall be certified in the same manner as 7508
in regular elections for the election of members of a board of 7509
education.7510

       The persons qualified to vote upon a proposal are the7511
electors residing in the district or districts containing7512
territory that is proposed to be transferred. If the proposed7513
transfer is approved by at least a majority of the electors voting 7514
on the proposal, the educational service center governing board 7515
shall make such transfer at any time prior to the next succeeding 7516
first day of July, subject to the approval of the receiving board 7517
of education in case of a transfer to a city or exempted village7518
school district, and subject to the approval of the educational7519
service center governing board of the receiving center, in case of 7520
a transfer to an educational service center. If the proposed7521
transfer is not approved by at least a majority of the electors 7522
voting on the proposal, the question of transferring any property 7523
included in the territory covered by the proposal shall not be 7524
submitted to electors at any election prior to the first general 7525
election the date of which is at least two years after the date of 7526
the original election, or the first primary election held in an7527
even-numbered year the date of which is at least two years after7528
the date of the original election.7529

       Where a territory is transferred under this section to a city 7530
or exempted village school district, the board of education of 7531
such district shall, and where territory is transferred to an 7532
educational service center the governing board of such educational 7533
service center shall, within thirty days following receipt of the 7534
proposal, either accept or reject the transfer.7535

       Where a governing board of an educational service center 7536
adopts a resolution accepting territory transferred to the7537
educational service center under the provisions of sections 7538
3311.231 and 3311.24 of the Revised Code, the governing board 7539
shall, at the time of the adoption of the resolution accepting the 7540
territory, designate the school district to which the accepted 7541
territory shall be annexed.7542

       When an entire school district is proposed to be transferred 7543
to two or more adjoining school districts and the offer is 7544
rejected by any one of the receiving boards of education, none of 7545
the territory included in the proposal shall be transferred.7546

       Upon the acceptance of territory by the receiving board or7547
boards of education the educational service center governing board 7548
offering the territory shall file with the county auditor of each 7549
county affected by the transfer and with the state board of 7550
education an accurate map showing the boundaries of the territory 7551
transferred.7552

       Upon the making of such transfer, the net indebtedness of the 7553
former district from which territory was transferred shall be7554
apportioned between the acquiring school district and the portion7555
of the former school district remaining after the transfer in the7556
ratio which the assessed valuation of the territory transferred to 7557
the acquiring school district bears to the assessed valuation of 7558
the original school district as of the effective date of the7559
transfer. As used in this section "net indebtedness" means the7560
difference between the par value of the outstanding and unpaid7561
bonds and notes of the school district and the amount held in the7562
sinking fund and other indebtedness retirement funds for their7563
redemption.7564

       If an entire district is transferred, any indebtedness of the 7565
former district incurred as a result of a loan made under section 7566
3317.64 of the Revised Code is hereby canceled and such7567
indebtedness shall not be apportioned among any districts7568
acquiring the territory.7569

       Upon the making of any transfer under this section, the funds 7570
of the district from which territory was transferred shall be 7571
divided equitably by the educational service center governing7572
board, between the acquiring district and any part of the original 7573
district remaining after the transfer.7574

       If an entire district is transferred the board of education7575
of such district is thereby abolished or if a member of the board7576
of education lives in that part of a school district transferred7577
the member becomes a nonresident of the school district from which 7578
the territory was transferred and hesuch member ceases to be a 7579
member of the board of education of such district.7580

       The legal title of all property of the board of education in 7581
the territory transferred shall become vested in the board of7582
education of the school district to which such territory is7583
transferred.7584

       If an entire district is transferred, foundation program7585
moneys accruing to a district receiving school territory under the 7586
provisions of this section shall not be less, in any year during 7587
the next succeeding three years following the transfer, than the 7588
sum of the amounts received by the districts separately in the 7589
year in which the transfer was consummated.7590

       Sec. 3311.25.  (A) Notwithstanding any other provision of7591
this chapter, two or more city, local, or exempted village school7592
districts whose territory is primarily located within the same7593
county may be merged as provided in this section, if the county7594
has a population of less than one hundred thousand, as determined7595
by the most recent federal decennial census.7596

       (B) A petition may be filed with the board of elections7597
proposing that two or more school districts whose territory is7598
primarily located within a county meeting the qualifications of7599
division (A) of this section form a commission to study the7600
proposed merger of the school districts. The petition may be7601
presented in separate petition papers. Each petition paper shall7602
contain, in concise language, the purpose of the petition and the7603
names of five electors of each school district proposed to be7604
merged to serve as commissioners on the merger study commission.7605
The petition shall be governed by the rules of section 3501.38 of7606
the Revised Code.7607

       A petition filed under this section shall contain signatures7608
of electors of each school district proposed to be merged,7609
numbering not less than ten per cent of the number of electors7610
residing in that district who voted for the office of governor at7611
the most recent general election for that office. The petition7612
shall be filed with the board of elections of the county described7613
by division (A) of this section. The board of elections of the7614
county in which the petition is required to be filed shall7615
ascertain the validity of all signatures on the petition and may7616
require the assistance of boards of elections of other counties if7617
any of the school districts proposed to be merged are located7618
partially in a county other than the one in which the petition is7619
required to be filed.7620

       (C)(1) If the board of elections of the county in which the7621
petition is required to be filed determines that the petition is7622
sufficient, the board shall submit the following question for the7623
approval or rejection of the electors of each school district7624
proposed to be merged at the next general election occurring at7625
least seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the date the petition is 7626
filed: "Shall a commission be established to study the proposed 7627
merger of any or all of the school districts in this county and, 7628
if a merger is considered desirable, to draw up a statement of 7629
conditions for that proposed merger?" The ballot shall include, 7630
for each of the school districts proposed to be merged, the names 7631
of the five electors identified in the petition, who shall 7632
constitute the commissioners on behalf of that district.7633

       (2) If any of the school districts for which merger is7634
proposed are located partially in a county other than the one in7635
which the petition is required to be filed, the board of elections7636
of the county in which the petition is required to be filed shall,7637
if the petition is found to be sufficient, certify the sufficiency7638
of that petition and the statement of the issue to be voted on to7639
the boards of elections of those other counties. The boards of7640
those other counties shall submit the question of merging and the7641
names of candidates to be elected to the commission for the7642
approval or rejection of electors in the portions of the school7643
districts proposed to be merged that are located within their7644
respective counties. Upon the holding of the election, those7645
boards shall certify the results to the board of elections of the7646
county in which the petition is required to be filed.7647

       (D) A petition shall not be deemed insufficient for all7648
school districts proposed to be merged if it contains the7649
signatures of less than ten per cent of the electors who voted for7650
the office of governor at the most recent general election for7651
that office in a particular school district. If the petition7652
contains a sufficient number of signatures and is otherwise7653
determined by the board of elections to be sufficient for at least7654
two school districts proposed to be merged, the board shall submit7655
the question of the proposed merger for the approval or rejection7656
of voters under division (C) of this section in each of the7657
districts for which the petition was determined to be sufficient.7658
The board shall not submit the question of the proposed merger for7659
the approval or rejection of voters under division (C) of this7660
section for any school district for which a petition contains an7661
insufficient number of signatures or for which the board otherwise7662
determines the petition to be insufficient.7663

       (E)(1) If the question of forming a merger study commission7664
as provided in division (C) of this section is approved by a7665
majority of those voting on it in at least two school districts,7666
the commission shall be established and the five candidates from7667
each school district in which the question was approved shall be7668
elected to the commission to study the proposed merger and to7669
formulate any conditions of any proposed merger if a merger is7670
considered desirable after study by the commission. Any school7671
district that disapproved of the question of forming a merger7672
study commission by a majority of those voting on it shall not be7673
included in, and its proposed candidates shall not be elected to,7674
the commission.7675

       (2) The first meeting of the commission shall be held in the7676
regular meeting place of the board of county commissioners of the7677
county in which the petition is required to be filed, at nine a.m.7678
on the tenth day after the certification of the election by the7679
last of the respective boards of elections to make such7680
certification, unless that day is a Saturday, Sunday, or a7681
holiday, in which case the first meeting shall be held on the next7682
day thereafter that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday. The7683
president of the school board of the school district with the7684
largest population of the districts that approved the question of7685
forming a merger study commission under division (C) of this7686
section shall serve as temporary chairperson until permanent7687
officers are elected. The commission shall immediately elect its7688
own permanent officers and shall proceed to meet as often as7689
necessary to study the proposed merger, determine whether a7690
proposed merger is desirable, and formulate any conditions for any7691
proposed merger. All meetings of the commission shall be subject7692
to the requirements of section 121.22 of the Revised Code.7693

       (3) The conditions for a proposed merger may provide for the7694
election of school board members for the new school district and7695
any other conditions that a majority of the members of the7696
commission from each school district find necessary. The7697
conditions for the proposed merger also may provide that the7698
merger, if approved, shall not become effective until the date on7699
which any required changes in state law necessary for the school7700
district merger to occur become effective.7701

       (4) As soon as the commission determines that a merger is not7702
desirable or finalizes the conditions for a proposed merger, the7703
commission shall report this fact, and the name of each school7704
district proposed for merger in which the majority of the7705
district's commissioners have agreed to the conditions for merger,7706
to the board of elections of each of the counties in which the7707
school districts proposed for merger are located.7708

       The question shall be submitted to the voters in each school7709
district in which the majority of the district's commissioners7710
have agreed to the conditions for merger at the next general7711
election occurring after the commission is elected. The question7712
shall not be submitted to the voters in any school district in7713
which a majority of that district's commissioners have not agreed7714
to the conditions for merger. The board of elections shall not7715
submit the conditions for merger to the voters in any district if7716
the conditions for merger include the merging of any district in7717
which the majority of that district's commissioners have not7718
agreed to the conditions for merger.7719

       The boards of elections shall submit the conditions of7720
proposed merger for the approval or rejection of the electors in7721
the portions of the school districts proposed to be merged within7722
their respective counties. Upon the holding of that election, the7723
boards of elections shall certify the results to the board of7724
elections of the county in which the petition is required to be7725
filed.7726

       Regardless of whether the commission succeeds in reaching7727
agreement, the commission shall cease to exist on the7728
seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day prior to the next general election 7729
after the commission is elected.7730

       (F) If the conditions of merger agreed upon by the merger7731
commission are disapproved by a majority of those voting on them7732
in any school district proposed to be merged, the merger shall not7733
occur, unless the conditions of merger provide for a merger to7734
occur without the inclusion of that district and the conditions of7735
merger are otherwise met. No district in which the conditions of7736
merger are disapproved by a majority of those voting on them shall7737
be included in any merger resulting from that election. If the7738
conditions of merger are approved by a majority of those voting on7739
them in each school district proposed to be merged, or if the7740
conditions of merger provide for a merger to occur without the7741
inclusion of one or more districts in which the conditions of7742
merger are disapproved by a majority of those voting on them, the7743
merger shall be effective on the date specified in the conditions7744
of the merger, unless the conditions of merger specify changes7745
required to be made in state law for the merger to occur, in which7746
case the merger shall be effective on the date on which those7747
changes to state law become effective.7748

       Sec. 3311.26.  The state board of education may, by7749
resolution adopted by majority vote of its full membership,7750
propose the creation of a new local school district from one or7751
more local school districts or parts thereof, including the7752
creation of a local district with noncontiguous territory from one 7753
or more local school districts if one of those districts has7754
entered into an agreement under section 3313.42 of the Revised7755
Code. Such proposal shall include an accurate map showing the7756
territory affected. After the adoption of the resolution, the 7757
state board shall file a copy of such proposal with the board of7758
education of each school district whose boundaries would be7759
altered by such proposal.7760

        Upon the creation of a new district under this section, the 7761
state board shall at its next regular meeting that occurs not 7762
earlier than thirty days after the adoption by the state board of 7763
the resolution proposing such creation, adopt a resolution making 7764
the creation effective prior to the next succeeding first day of 7765
July, unless, prior to the expiration of such thirty-day period, 7766
qualified electors residing in the area included in such proposed 7767
new district, equal in number to thirty-five per cent of the 7768
qualified electors voting at the last general election, file a 7769
petition of referendum against the creation of the proposed new 7770
district.7771

       A petition of referendum filed under this section shall be7772
filed at the office of the state superintendent of public 7773
instruction. The person presenting the petition shall be given a 7774
receipt containing thereon the time of day, the date, and the 7775
purpose of the petition.7776

       If a petition of referendum is filed, the state board shall, 7777
at the next regular meeting of the state board, certify the 7778
proposal to the board of elections for the purpose of having the 7779
proposal placed on the ballot at the next general or primary 7780
election which occurs not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days7781
after the date of such certification, or at a special election,7782
the date of which shall be specified in the certification, which7783
date shall not be less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after 7784
the date of such certification.7785

       Upon certification of a proposal to the board or boards of7786
elections pursuant to this section, the board or boards of7787
elections shall make the necessary arrangements for the submission 7788
of such question to the electors of the county or counties 7789
qualified to vote thereon, and the election shall be conducted and 7790
canvassed and the results shall be certified in the same manner as 7791
in regular elections for the election of members of a board of 7792
education.7793

       The persons qualified to vote upon a proposal are the7794
electors residing in the proposed new districts.7795

       If the proposed district be approved by at least a majority7796
of the electors voting on the proposal, the state board shall then 7797
create such new district prior to the next succeeding first day of 7798
July.7799

       Upon the creation of such district, the indebtedness of each 7800
former district becoming in its entirety a part of the new7801
district shall be assumed in full by the new district. Upon the7802
creation of such district, that part of the net indebtedness of7803
each former district becoming only in part a part of the new7804
district shall be assumed by the new district which bears the same 7805
ratio to the entire net indebtedness of the former district as the 7806
assessed valuation of the part taken by the new district bears to 7807
the entire assessed valuation of the former district as fixed on 7808
the effective date of transfer. As used in this section, "net 7809
indebtedness" means the difference between the par value of the 7810
outstanding and unpaid bonds and notes of the school district and 7811
the amount held in the sinking fund and other indebtedness 7812
retirement funds for their redemption. Upon the creation of such 7813
district, the funds of each former district becoming in its 7814
entirety a part of the new district shall be paid over in full to 7815
the new district. Upon the creation of such district, the funds of 7816
each former district becoming only in part a part of the new 7817
district shall be divided equitably by the state board between the 7818
new district and that part of the former district not included in 7819
the new district as such funds existed on the effective date of 7820
the creation of the new district.7821

       The state board shall, following the election, file with the 7822
county auditor of each county affected by the creation of a new 7823
district an accurate map showing the boundaries of such newly 7824
created district.7825

       When a new local school district is so created, a board of 7826
education for such newly created district shall be appointed by 7827
the state board. The members of such appointed board of education7828
shall hold their office until their successors are elected and7829
qualified. A board of education shall be elected for such newly7830
created district at the next general election held in an odd7831
numbered year occurring more than thirtyeighty-five days after 7832
the appointment of the board of education of such newly created7833
district. At such election two members shall be elected for a term 7834
of two years and three members shall be elected for a term of four 7835
years, and, thereafter, their successors shall be elected in the 7836
same manner and for the same terms as members of the board of 7837
education of a local school district.7838

       When the new district consists of territory lying in two or 7839
more counties, the state board shall determine to which 7840
educational service center the new district shall be assigned.7841

       The legal title of all property of the board of education in 7842
the territory taken shall become vested in the board of education 7843
of the newly created school district.7844

       Foundation program moneys accruing to a district created7845
under the provisions of this section or previous section 3311.267846
of the Revised Code, shall not be less, in any year during the7847
next succeeding three years following the creation, than the sum7848
of the amounts received by the districts separately in the year in 7849
which the creation of the district became effective.7850

       If, prior to the effective date of this amendmentSeptember 7851
26, 2003, a local school district board of education or a group of 7852
individuals requests the governing board of an educational service 7853
center to consider proposing the creation of a new local school 7854
district, the governing board, at any time during the one-year 7855
period following the date that request is made, may adopt a 7856
resolution proposing the creation of a new local school district 7857
in response to that request and in accordance with the first 7858
paragraph of the version of this section in effect prior to the 7859
effective date of this amendmentSeptember 26, 2003. If the 7860
governing board so proposes within that one-year period, the 7861
governing board may proceed to create the new local school 7862
district as it proposed, in accordance with the version of this 7863
section in effect prior to the effective date of this amendment7864
September 26, 2003, subject to the provisions of that version 7865
authorizing a petition and referendum on the matter.7866

       Consolidations of school districts which include all of the7867
schools of a county and which become effective on or after July 1, 7868
1959, shall be governed and included under this section.7869

       Sec. 3311.37.  The state board of education may conduct7870
studies where there is evidence of need for consolidation of7871
contiguous local, exempted village, or city school districts or 7872
parts of such districts. The possibility of making improvements in 7873
school district organization as well as the desires of the 7874
residents of the affected districts shall be given consideration 7875
in such studies and in any recommendations growing out of such 7876
studies.7877

       After the adoption of recommendations growing out of any such 7878
study, the state board may proceed as follows:7879

       Propose by resolution the creation of a new school district7880
which may consist of all or a part of the territory of two or more 7881
contiguous local, exempted village, or city school districts, or 7882
any combination of such districts.7883

       The state board shall thereupon file a copy of such proposal 7884
with the board of education of each school district whose 7885
boundaries would be altered by the proposal and with the governing 7886
board of any educational service center in which such school 7887
district is located.7888

       The state board may, not less than thirty days following the 7889
adoption of the resolution proposing the creation of a new school 7890
district certify the proposal to the board of elections of the 7891
county or counties in which any of the territory of the proposed 7892
district is located, for the purpose of having the proposal placed 7893
on the ballot at the next general or primary election occurring 7894
not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the7895
certification of such resolution.7896

       If any proposal has been previously initiated pursuant to7897
section 3311.22, 3311.231, or 3311.26 of the Revised Code which7898
affects any of the territory affected by the proposal of the state 7899
board, the proposal of the state board shall not be placed on the 7900
ballot while the previously initiated proposal is subject to an 7901
election.7902

       Upon certification of a proposal to the board of elections of 7903
any county pursuant to this section, the board of elections of7904
such county shall make the necessary arrangements for the7905
submission of such question to the electors of the county7906
qualified to vote thereon, and the election shall be counted and7907
canvassed and the results shall be certified in the same manner as 7908
in regular elections for the election of members of a board of7909
education.7910

       The electors qualified to vote upon a proposal are the7911
electors residing in the local, exempted village, or city school7912
districts, or parts thereof included in the proposed new school7913
district. If a majority of those voting on the proposal vote in7914
favor thereof, the state board shall create the proposed school7915
district prior to the next succeeding July 1.7916

       Upon the creation of such district, the indebtedness of each 7917
former district becoming in its entirety a part of the new7918
district shall be assumed in full by the new district. Upon the7919
creation of such district, the net indebtedness of each original7920
district of which only a part is taken by the new district shall7921
be apportioned between the new district and the original district7922
in the ratio which the assessed valuation of the part taken by the 7923
new district bears to the assessed valuation of the original7924
district as of the effective date of the creation of the new7925
district. As used in this section "net indebtedness" means the7926
difference between the par value of the outstanding and unpaid7927
bonds and notes of the school district and the amount held in the7928
sinking fund and other indebtedness retirement funds for their7929
redemption.7930

       Upon the creation of such district, the funds of each former 7931
district becoming in its entirety a part of the new district shall 7932
be paid over in full to the new district. Upon the creation of 7933
such district the funds of each former district of which only a 7934
part is taken by the new district shall be apportioned equitably 7935
by the state board between the new district and that part of the 7936
original district not included in the new district as such funds 7937
existed on the effective date of the creation of the new district.7938

       When the new district consists of territory lying in two or7939
more counties, the state board shall determine to which 7940
educational service center the new district shall be assigned.7941

       When a new local school district is so created, the state7942
board shall appoint five electors residing in the district to be7943
the members of the board of education of such district, and such7944
members shall hold office until their successors are elected and7945
qualified. A board of education of such district shall be elected 7946
by the electors of the district at the next general election held 7947
in an odd numbered year which occurs not less than ninetyone 7948
hundred days after the appointment of the initial members of the7949
board. At such election two members shall be elected for a term of 7950
two years and three members shall be elected for a term of four 7951
years, and thereafter their successors shall be elected in the 7952
same manner and for the same terms as members of the board of7953
education of a local school district.7954

       When a new city school district is created, the state board7955
shall determine the number of members which will comprise the7956
board of education of the school district, which number shall not7957
conflict with the number set forth in section 3313.02 of the7958
Revised Code. The state board shall then appoint a like number of 7959
persons to be members of the board of education of such district, 7960
and said members shall hold office until their successors are 7961
elected and qualified. A board of education of such district shall 7962
be elected by the electors of the district at the next general 7963
election held in an odd numbered year which occurs not less than 7964
ninetyone hundred days after the appointment of the initial 7965
members of the board. At such election if the number of members of 7966
the board is even, one-half of the number shall be elected for two 7967
years and one-half for four years. If the number of members of the 7968
board is odd, one-half the number less one-half shall be elected 7969
for two years and the remaining number shall be elected for four 7970
years, and thereafter their successors shall be elected in the 7971
manner provided in section 3313.08 of the Revised Code.7972

       Foundation program moneys accruing to a district created7973
under this section shall not be less, in any year during the next7974
succeeding three years following the creation, than the sum of the 7975
amounts received by the districts separately in the year in which 7976
the creation of the district became effective.7977

       Sec. 3311.38.  The state board of education may conduct, or7978
may direct the superintendent of public instruction to conduct,7979
studies where there is evidence of need for transfer of local,7980
exempted village, or city school districts, or parts of any such7981
districts, to contiguous or noncontiguous local, exempted village, 7982
or city school districts. Such studies shall include a study of 7983
the effect of any proposal upon any portion of a school district 7984
remaining after such proposed transfer. The state board, in 7985
conducting such studies and in making recommendations as a result 7986
thereof, shall consider the possibility of improving school 7987
district organization as well as the desires of the residents of 7988
the school districts which would be affected.7989

       (A) After the adoption of recommendations growing out of any 7990
such study, or upon receipt of a resolution adopted by majority 7991
vote of the full membership of the board of any city, local, or 7992
exempted village school district requesting that the entire 7993
district be transferred to another city, local, or exempted 7994
village school district, the state board may propose by resolution 7995
the transfer of territory, which may consist of part or all of the 7996
territory of a local, exempted village, or city school district to 7997
a contiguous local, exempted village, or city school district.7998

       The state board shall thereupon file a copy of such proposal 7999
with the board of education of each school district whose 8000
boundaries would be altered by the proposal and with the governing 8001
board of any educational service center in which such school 8002
district is located.8003

       The state board may, not less than thirty days following the 8004
adoption of the resolution proposing the transfer of territory, 8005
certify the proposal to the board of elections of the county or 8006
counties in which any of the territory of the proposed district is 8007
located, for the purpose of having the proposal placed on the 8008
ballot at the next general election or at a primary election 8009
occurring not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the8010
adoption of such resolution.8011

       If any proposal has been previously initiated pursuant to8012
section 3311.22, 3311.231, or 3311.26 of the Revised Code which8013
affects any of the territory affected by the proposal of the state 8014
board, the proposal of the state board shall not be placed on the 8015
ballot while the previously initiated proposal is subject to an 8016
election.8017

       Upon certification of a proposal to the board of elections of 8018
any county pursuant to this section, the board of elections of8019
such county shall make the necessary arrangements for the8020
submission of such question to the electors of the county8021
qualified to vote thereon, and the election shall be counted and8022
canvassed and the results shall be certified in the same manner as 8023
in regular elections for the election of members of a board of8024
education.8025

       The electors qualified to vote upon a proposal are the8026
electors residing in the local, exempted village, or city school8027
districts, containing territory proposed to be transferred.8028

       If the proposed transfer be approved by a majority of the8029
electors voting on the proposal, the state board, subject to the8030
approval of the board of education of the district to which the8031
territory would be transferred, shall make such transfer prior to8032
the next succeeding July 1.8033

       (B) If a study conducted in accordance with this section8034
involves a school district with less than four thousand dollars of 8035
assessed value for each pupil in the total student count 8036
determined under section 3317.03 of the Revised Code, the state 8037
board of education, with the approval of the educational service 8038
center governing board, and upon recommendation by the state8039
superintendent of public instruction, may by resolution transfer 8040
all or any part of such a school district to any city, exempted 8041
village, or local school district which has more than twenty-five 8042
thousand pupils in average daily membership. Such resolution of 8043
transfer shall be adopted only after the board of education of the 8044
receiving school district has adopted a resolution approving the 8045
proposed transfer. For the purposes of this division, the assessed 8046
value shall be as certified in accordance with section 3317.021 of 8047
the Revised Code.8048

       (C) Upon the making of a transfer of an entire school8049
district pursuant to this section, the indebtedness of the8050
district transferred shall be assumed in full by the acquiring8051
district and the funds of the district transferred shall be paid8052
over in full to the acquiring district, except that any8053
indebtedness of the transferred district incurred as a result of a 8054
loan made under section 3317.64 of the Revised Code is hereby8055
canceled and shall not be assumed by the acquiring district.8056

       (D) Upon the making of a transfer pursuant to this section, 8057
when only part of a district is transferred, the net indebtedness 8058
of each original district of which only a part is taken by the 8059
acquiring district shall be apportioned between the acquiring 8060
district and the original district in the ratio which the assessed 8061
valuation of the part taken by the acquiring district bears to the 8062
assessed valuation of the original district as of the effective 8063
date of the transfer. As used in this section "net indebtedness" 8064
means the difference between the par value of the outstanding and 8065
unpaid bonds and notes of the school district and the amount held 8066
in the sinking fund and other indebtedness retirement funds for 8067
their redemption.8068

       (E) Upon the making of a transfer pursuant to this section, 8069
when only part of a district is transferred, the funds of the 8070
district from which territory was transferred shall be divided 8071
equitably by the state board between the acquiring district and 8072
that part of the former district remaining after the transfer.8073

       (F) If an entire school district is transferred, the board of 8074
education of such district is thereby abolished. If part of a8075
school district is transferred, any member of the board of8076
education who is a legal resident of that part which is8077
transferred shall thereby cease to be a member of that board.8078

       If an entire school district is transferred, foundation8079
program moneys accruing to a district accepting school territory8080
under the provisions of this section shall not be less, in any8081
year during the next succeeding three years following the8082
transfer, than the sum of the amounts received by the districts8083
separately in the year in which the transfer became effective.8084

       Sec. 3311.50.  (A) As used in this section, "county school8085
financing district" means a taxing district consisting of the8086
following territory:8087

       (1) The territory that constitutes the educational service 8088
center on the date that the governing board of that educational 8089
service center adopts a resolution under division (B) of this 8090
section declaring that the territory of the educational service 8091
center is a county school financing district, exclusive of any 8092
territory subsequently withdrawn from the district under division 8093
(D) of this section;8094

       (2) Any territory that has been added to the county school8095
financing district under this section.8096

       A county school financing district may include the territory 8097
of a city, local, or exempted village school district whose 8098
territory also is included in the territory of one or more other 8099
county school financing districts.8100

       (B) The governing board of any educational service center8101
may, by resolution, declare that the territory of the educational 8102
service center is a county school financing district. The 8103
resolution shall state the purpose for which the county school8104
financing district is created which may be for any one or more of8105
the following purposes:8106

       (1) To levy taxes for the provision of special education by 8107
the school districts that are a part of the district, including 8108
taxes for permanent improvements for special education;8109

       (2) To levy taxes for the provision of specified educational 8110
programs and services by the school districts that are a part of 8111
the district, as identified in the resolution creating the 8112
district, including the levying of taxes for permanent 8113
improvements for those programs and services;8114

       (3) To levy taxes for permanent improvements of school8115
districts that are a part of the district.8116

       The governing board of the educational service center that8117
creates a county school financing district shall serve as the8118
taxing authority of the district and may use educational service 8119
center governing board employees to perform any of the functions 8120
necessary in the performance of its duties as a taxing authority. 8121
A county school financing district shall not employ any personnel.8122

       With the approval of a majority of the members of the board8123
of education of each school district within the territory of the8124
county school financing district, the taxing authority of the8125
financing district may amend the resolution creating the district8126
to broaden or narrow the purposes for which it was created.8127

       A governing board of an educational service center may create 8128
more than one county school financing district. If a governing 8129
board of an educational service center creates more than one such 8130
district, it shall clearly distinguish among the districts it 8131
creates by including a designation of each district's purpose in 8132
the district's name.8133

       (C) A majority of the members of a board of education of a8134
city, local, or exempted village school district may adopt a8135
resolution requesting that its territory be joined with the8136
territory of any county school financing district. Copies of the8137
resolution shall be filed with the state board of education and8138
the taxing authority of the county school financing district.8139
Within sixty days of its receipt of such a resolution, the county8140
school financing district's taxing authority shall vote on the8141
question of whether to accept the school district's territory as8142
part of the county school financing district. If a majority of the 8143
members of the taxing authority vote to accept the territory, the 8144
school district's territory shall thereupon become a part of the 8145
county school financing district unless the county school8146
financing district has in effect a tax imposed under section8147
5705.211 of the Revised Code. If the county school financing8148
district has such a tax in effect, the taxing authority shall8149
certify a copy of its resolution accepting the school district's8150
territory to the school district's board of education, which may8151
then adopt a resolution, with the affirmative vote of a majority8152
of its members, proposing the submission to the electors of the8153
question of whether the district's territory shall become a part8154
of the county school financing district and subject to the taxes8155
imposed by the financing district. The resolution shall set forth 8156
the date on which the question shall be submitted to the electors, 8157
which shall be at a special election held on a date specified in 8158
the resolution, which shall not be earlier than seventy-five8159
eighty-five days after the adoption and certification of the8160
resolution. A copy of the resolution shall immediately be8161
certified to the board of elections of the proper county, which8162
shall make arrangements for the submission of the proposal to the8163
electors of the school district. The board of the joining district 8164
shall publish notice of the election in one or more newspapers of 8165
general circulation in the county once a week for two consecutive 8166
weeks prior to the election. Additionally, if the board of 8167
elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of 8168
elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for 8169
thirty days prior to the election. The question appearing on the 8170
ballot shall read:8171

       "Shall the territory within .......... (name of the school8172
district proposing to join the county school financing district)8173
.......... be added to .......... (name) .......... county school8174
financing district, and a property tax for the purposes of8175
......... (here insert purposes) .......... at a rate of taxation8176
not exceeding .......... (here insert the outstanding tax rate)8177
........... be in effect for .......... (here insert the number of 8178
years the tax is to be in effect or "a continuing period of time," 8179
as applicable) ..........?"8180

       If the proposal is approved by a majority of the electors8181
voting on it, the joinder shall take effect on the first day of8182
July following the date of the election, and the county board of8183
elections shall notify the county auditor of each county in which8184
the school district joining its territory to the county school8185
financing district is located.8186

       (D) The board of any city, local, or exempted village school 8187
district whose territory is part of a county school financing 8188
district may withdraw its territory from the county school 8189
financing district thirty days after submitting to the governing 8190
board that is the taxing authority of the district and the state 8191
board a resolution proclaiming such withdrawal, adopted by a 8192
majority vote of its members, but any county school financing8193
district tax levied in such territory on the effective date of the 8194
withdrawal shall remain in effect in such territory until such tax 8195
expires or is renewed. No board may adopt a resolution withdrawing 8196
from a county school financing district that would take effect 8197
during the forty-five days preceding the date of an election at 8198
which a levy proposed under section 5705.215 of the Revised Code 8199
is to be voted upon.8200

       (E) A city, local, or exempted village school district does 8201
not lose its separate identity or legal existence by reason of 8202
joining its territory to a county school financing district under 8203
this section and an educational service center does not lose its8204
separate identity or legal existence by reason of creating a8205
county school financing district that accepts or loses territory8206
under this section.8207

       Sec. 3311.73.  (A) No later than seventy-fiveeighty-five8208
days before the general election held in the first even-numbered 8209
year occurring at least four years after the date it assumed 8210
control of the municipal school district pursuant to division (B) 8211
of section 3311.71 of the Revised Code, the board of education 8212
appointed under that division shall notify the board of elections 8213
of each county containing territory of the municipal school 8214
district of the referendum election required by division (B) of 8215
this section.8216

       (B) At the general election held in the first even-numbered 8217
year occurring at least four years after the date the new board 8218
assumed control of a municipal school district pursuant to 8219
division (B) of section 3311.71 of the Revised Code, the following 8220
question shall be submitted to the electors residing in the school 8221
district:8222

       "Shall the mayor of ..... (here insert the name of the8223
applicable municipal corporation) continue to appoint the members 8224
of the board of education of the ..... (here insert the name of 8225
the municipal school district)?"8226

       The board of elections of the county in which the majority of 8227
the school district's territory is located shall make all8228
necessary arrangements for the submission of the question to the8229
electors, and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and8230
certified in the same manner as regular elections in the district 8231
for the election of county officers, provided that in any such 8232
election in which only part of the electors of a precinct are 8233
qualified to vote, the board of elections may assign voters in 8234
such part to an adjoining precinct. Such an assignment may be made 8235
to an adjoining precinct in another county with the consent and 8236
approval of the board of elections of such other county. Notice of 8237
the election shall be published in a newspaper of general 8238
circulation in the school district once a week for two consecutive 8239
weeks prior to the election, and, if the board of elections 8240
operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall 8241
post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior 8242
to the election. The notice shall state the question on which the 8243
election is being held. The ballot shall be in the form prescribed 8244
by the secretary of state. Costs of submitting the question to the 8245
electors shall be charged to the municipal school district in 8246
accordance with section 3501.17 of the Revised Code.8247

       (C) If a majority of electors voting on the issue proposed in8248
division (B) of this section approve the question, the mayor shall8249
appoint a new board on the immediately following first day of July8250
pursuant to division (F) of section 3311.71 of the Revised Code.8251

       (D) If a majority of electors voting on the issue proposed in 8252
division (B) of this section disapprove the question, a new 8253
seven-member board of education shall be elected at the next 8254
regular election occurring in November of an odd-numbered year. At 8255
such election, four members shall be elected for terms of four 8256
years and three members shall be elected for terms of two years. 8257
Thereafter, their successors shall be elected in the same manner8258
and for the same terms as members of boards of education of a city 8259
school district. All members of the board of education of a 8260
municipal school district appointed pursuant to division (B) of 8261
section 3311.71 of the Revised Code shall continue to serve after 8262
the end of the terms to which they were appointed until their 8263
successors are qualified and assume office in accordance with 8264
section 3313.09 of the Revised Code.8265

       Sec. 3316.08.  During a school district's fiscal emergency8266
period, the auditor of state shall determine annually, or at any 8267
other time upon request of the financial planning and supervision 8268
commission, whether the school district will incur an operating 8269
deficit. If the auditor of state determines that a school district 8270
will incur an operating deficit, the auditor of state shall 8271
certify that determination to the superintendent of public 8272
instruction, the financial planning and supervision commission, 8273
and the board of education of the school district. Upon receiving 8274
the auditor of state's certification, the commission shall adopt a8275
resolution requesting that the board of education work with the 8276
county auditor or tax commissioner to estimate the amount and rate 8277
of a tax levy that is needed under section 5705.194, 5709.199, or 8278
5705.21 or Chapter 5748. of the Revised Code to produce a positive 8279
fund balance not later than the fifth year of the five-year 8280
forecast submitted under section 5705.391 of the Revised Code. 8281

       The board of education shall recommend to the commission 8282
whether the board supports or opposes a tax levy under section 8283
5705.194, 5709.199, or 5705.21 or Chapter 5748. of the Revised 8284
Code and shall provide supporting documentation to the commission 8285
of its recommendation.8286

       After considering the board of education's recommendation and 8287
supporting documentation, the commission shall adopt a resolution 8288
to either submit a ballot question proposing a tax levy or not to 8289
submit such a question.8290

       Except as otherwise provided in this division, the tax shall 8291
be levied in the manner prescribed for a tax levied under section 8292
5705.194, 5709.199, or 5705.21 or under Chapter 5748. of the8293
Revised Code. If the commission decides that a tax should be 8294
levied, the tax shall be levied for the purpose of paying current 8295
operating expenses of the school district. The rate of a tax 8296
levied under section 5705.194, 5709.199, or 5705.21 of the Revised 8297
Code shall be determined by the county auditor, and the rate of a 8298
tax levied under section 5748.02 or 5748.08 of the Revised Code 8299
shall be determined by the tax commissioner, upon the request of 8300
the commission. The commission, in consultation with the board of 8301
education, shall determine the election at which the question of8302
the tax shall appear on the ballot, and the commission shall 8303
submit a copy of its resolution to the board of elections not 8304
later than seventy-fiveeighty-five days prior to the day of that 8305
election. The board of elections conducting the election shall 8306
certify the results of the election to the board of education and 8307
to the financial planning and supervision commission.8308

       Sec. 3318.06. (A) After receipt of the conditional approval8309
of the Ohio school facilities commission, the school district8310
board by a majority of all of its members shall, if it desires to8311
proceed with the project, declare all of the following by8312
resolution:8313

       (1) That by issuing bonds in an amount equal to the school8314
district's portion of the basic project cost the district is8315
unable to provide adequate classroom facilities without assistance8316
from the state;8317

       (2) Unless the school district board has resolved to transfer 8318
money in accordance with section 3318.051 of the Revised Code or 8319
to apply the proceeds of a property tax or the proceeds of an 8320
income tax, or a combination of proceeds from such taxes, as 8321
authorized under section 3318.052 of the Revised Code, that to 8322
qualify for such state assistance it is necessary to do either of 8323
the following:8324

       (a) Levy a tax outside the ten-mill limitation the proceeds8325
of which shall be used to pay the cost of maintaining the8326
classroom facilities included in the project;8327

       (b) Earmark for maintenance of classroom facilities from the8328
proceeds of an existing permanent improvement tax levied under8329
section 5705.21 of the Revised Code, if such tax can be used for8330
maintenance, an amount equivalent to the amount of the additional8331
tax otherwise required under this section and sections 3318.05 and8332
3318.08 of the Revised Code.8333

       (3) That the question of any tax levy specified in a8334
resolution described in division (A)(2)(a) of this section, if8335
required, shall be submitted to the electors of the school8336
district at the next general or primary election, if there be a8337
general or primary election not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five8338
and not more than ninety-fiveone hundred five days after the day 8339
of the adoption of such resolution or, if not, at a special 8340
election to be held at a time specified in the resolution which 8341
shall be not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the day 8342
of the adoption of the resolution and which shall be in accordance8343
with the requirements of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code.8344

       Such resolution shall also state that the question of issuing8345
bonds of the board shall be combined in a single proposal with the8346
question of such tax levy. More than one election under this8347
section may be held in any one calendar year. Such resolution8348
shall specify both of the following:8349

       (a) That the rate which it is necessary to levy shall be at8350
the rate of not less than one-half mill for each one dollar of8351
valuation, and that such tax shall be levied for a period of8352
twenty-three years;8353

       (b) That the proceeds of the tax shall be used to pay the8354
cost of maintaining the classroom facilities included in the8355
project.8356

       (B) A copy of a resolution adopted under division (A) of this 8357
section shall after its passage and not less than seventy-five8358
eighty-five days prior to the date set therein for the election be 8359
certified to the county board of elections.8360

       The resolution of the school district board, in addition to8361
meeting other applicable requirements of section 133.18 of the8362
Revised Code, shall state that the amount of bonds to be issued8363
will be an amount equal to the school district's portion of the8364
basic project cost, and state the maximum maturity of the bonds8365
which may be any number of years not exceeding the term calculated8366
under section 133.20 of the Revised Code as determined by the8367
board. In estimating the amount of bonds to be issued, the board8368
shall take into consideration the amount of moneys then in the8369
bond retirement fund and the amount of moneys to be collected for8370
and disbursed from the bond retirement fund during the remainder8371
of the year in which the resolution of necessity is adopted.8372

       If the bonds are to be issued in more than one series, the8373
resolution may state, in addition to the information required to8374
be stated under division (B)(3) of section 133.18 of the Revised8375
Code, the number of series, which shall not exceed five, the8376
principal amount of each series, and the approximate date each8377
series will be issued, and may provide that no series, or any8378
portion thereof, may be issued before such date. Upon such a8379
resolution being certified to the county auditor as required by8380
division (C) of section 133.18 of the Revised Code, the county8381
auditor, in calculating, advising, and confirming the estimated8382
average annual property tax levy under that division, shall also8383
calculate, advise, and confirm by certification the estimated8384
average property tax levy for each series of bonds to be issued.8385

       Notice of the election shall include the fact that the tax8386
levy shall be at the rate of not less than one-half mill for each8387
one dollar of valuation for a period of twenty-three years, and8388
that the proceeds of the tax shall be used to pay the cost of8389
maintaining the classroom facilities included in the project.8390

       If the bonds are to be issued in more than one series, the8391
board of education, when filing copies of the resolution with the8392
board of elections as required by division (D) of section 133.188393
of the Revised Code, may direct the board of elections to include8394
in the notice of election the principal amount and approximate8395
date of each series, the maximum number of years over which the8396
principal of each series may be paid, the estimated additional8397
average property tax levy for each series, and the first calendar8398
year in which the tax is expected to be due for each series, in8399
addition to the information required to be stated in the notice8400
under divisions (E)(3)(a) to (e) of section 133.18 of the Revised8401
Code.8402

       (C)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(2) of8403
this section, the form of the ballot to be used at such election8404
shall be:8405

       "A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage.8406

       Shall bonds be issued by the ............ (here insert name8407
of school district) school district to pay the local share of8408
school construction under the State of Ohio Classroom Facilities8409
Assistance Program in the principal amount of ............ (here8410
insert principal amount of the bond issue), to be repaid annually8411
over a maximum period of ............ (here insert the maximum8412
number of years over which the principal of the bonds may be paid)8413
years, and an annual levy of property taxes be made outside the8414
ten-mill limitation, estimated by the county auditor to average8415
over the repayment period of the bond issue ............ (here8416
insert the number of mills estimated) mills for each one dollar of8417
tax valuation, which amounts to ............ (rate expressed in8418
cents or dollars and cents, such as "thirty-six cents" or "$0.36")8419
for each one hundred dollars of tax valuation to pay the annual8420
debt charges on the bonds and to pay debt charges on any notes8421
issued in anticipation of the bonds?"8422

and, unless the additional levy
8423

of taxes is not required pursuant
8424

to division (C) of section
8425

3318.05 of the Revised Code,
8426

       "Shall an additional levy of taxes be made for a period of8427
twenty-three years to benefit the ............ (here insert name8428
of school district) school district, the proceeds of which shall8429
be used to pay the cost of maintaining the classroom facilities8430
included in the project at the rate of .......... (here insert the8431
number of mills, which shall not be less than one-half mill) mills8432
for each one dollar of valuation?8433

         8434

    FOR THE BOND ISSUE AND TAX LEVY 8435
    AGAINST THE BOND ISSUE AND TAX LEVY     " 8436

         8437

       (2) If authority is sought to issue bonds in more than one8438
series and the board of education so elects, the form of the8439
ballot shall be as prescribed in section 3318.062 of the Revised8440
Code. If the board of education elects the form of the ballot8441
prescribed in that section, it shall so state in the resolution8442
adopted under this section.8443

       (D) If it is necessary for the school district to acquire a8444
site for the classroom facilities to be acquired pursuant to8445
sections 3318.01 to 3318.20 of the Revised Code, the district8446
board may propose either to issue bonds of the board or to levy a8447
tax to pay for the acquisition of such site, and may combine the8448
question of doing so with the questions specified in division (B)8449
of this section. Bonds issued under this division for the purpose8450
of acquiring a site are a general obligation of the school8451
district and are Chapter 133. securities.8452

       The form of that portion of the ballot to include the8453
question of either issuing bonds or levying a tax for site8454
acquisition purposes shall be one of the following:8455

       (1) "Shall bonds be issued by the ............ (here insert8456
name of the school district) school district to pay costs of8457
acquiring a site for classroom facilities under the State of Ohio8458
Classroom Facilities Assistance Program in the principal amount of8459
.......... (here insert principal amount of the bond issue), to be8460
repaid annually over a maximum period of .......... (here insert8461
maximum number of years over which the principal of the bonds may8462
be paid) years, and an annual levy of property taxes be made8463
outside the ten-mill limitation, estimated by the county auditor8464
to average over the repayment period of the bond issue ..........8465
(here insert number of mills) mills for each one dollar of tax8466
valuation, which amount to .......... (here insert rate expressed8467
in cents or dollars and cents, such as "thirty-six cents" or8468
"$0.36") for each one hundred dollars of valuation to pay the8469
annual debt charges on the bonds and to pay debt charges on any8470
notes issued in anticipation of the bonds?"8471

       (2) "Shall an additional levy of taxes outside the ten-mill8472
limitation be made for the benefit of the .......... (here insert8473
name of the school district) school district for the purpose of8474
acquiring a site for classroom facilities in the sum of .........8475
(here insert annual amount the levy is to produce) estimated by 8476
the county auditor to average ........ (here insert number of 8477
mills) mills for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a8478
period of ......... (here insert number of years the millage is to 8479
be imposed) years?"8480

       Where it is necessary to combine the question of issuing8481
bonds of the school district and levying a tax as described in8482
division (B) of this section with the question of issuing bonds of8483
the school district for acquisition of a site, the question8484
specified in that division to be voted on shall be "For the Bond8485
Issues and the Tax Levy" and "Against the Bond Issues and the Tax8486
Levy."8487

       Where it is necessary to combine the question of issuing8488
bonds of the school district and levying a tax as described in8489
division (B) of this section with the question of levying a tax8490
for the acquisition of a site, the question specified in that8491
division to be voted on shall be "For the Bond Issue and the Tax8492
Levies" and "Against the Bond Issue and the Tax Levies."8493

       Where the school district board chooses to combine the8494
question in division (B) of this section with any of the8495
additional questions described in divisions (A) to (D) of section8496
3318.056 of the Revised Code, the question specified in division8497
(B) of this section to be voted on shall be "For the Bond Issues8498
and the Tax Levies" and "Against the Bond Issues and the Tax8499
Levies."8500

       If a majority of those voting upon a proposition hereunder8501
which includes the question of issuing bonds vote in favor8502
thereof, and if the agreement provided for by section 3318.08 of8503
the Revised Code has been entered into, the school district board8504
may proceed under Chapter 133. of the Revised Code, with the8505
issuance of bonds or bond anticipation notes in accordance with8506
the terms of the agreement.8507

       Sec. 3318.061.  This section applies only to school 8508
districts eligible to receive additional assistance under division 8509
(B)(2) of section 3318.04 of the Revised Code.8510

       The board of education of a school district in which a tax8511
described by division (B) of section 3318.05 and levied under8512
section 3318.06 of the Revised Code is in effect, may adopt a8513
resolution by vote of a majority of its members to extend the term8514
of that tax beyond the expiration of that tax as originally8515
approved under that section. The school district board may include 8516
in the resolution a proposal to extend the term of that tax at the 8517
rate of not less than one-half mill for each dollar of valuation8518
for a period of twenty-three years from the year in which the8519
school district board and the Ohio school facilities commission 8520
enter into an agreement under division (B)(2) of section 3318.04 8521
of the Revised Code or in the following year, as specified in the 8522
resolution. Such a resolution may be adopted at any time before 8523
such an agreement is entered into and before the tax levied 8524
pursuant to section 3318.06 of the Revised Code expires. If the 8525
resolution is combined with a resolution to issue bonds to pay 8526
the school district's portion of the basic project cost, it shall 8527
conform with the requirements of divisions (A)(1), (2), and (3)8528
of section 3318.06 of the Revised Code, except that the resolution8529
also shall state that the tax levy proposed in the resolution is8530
an extension of an existing tax levied under that section. A8531
resolution proposing an extension adopted under this section does8532
not take effect until it is approved by a majority of electors8533
voting in favor of the resolution at a general, primary, or8534
special election as provided in this section.8535

       A tax levy extended under this section is subject to the same8536
terms and limitations to which the original tax levied under8537
section 3318.06 of the Revised Code is subject under that section,8538
except the term of the extension shall be as specified in this8539
section.8540

       The school district board shall certify a copy of the8541
resolution adopted under this section to the proper county board8542
of elections not later than seventy-fiveeighty-five days before 8543
the date set in the resolution as the date of the election at 8544
which the question will be submitted to electors. The notice of 8545
the election shall conform with the requirements of division8546
(A)(3) of section 3318.06 of the Revised Code, except that the8547
notice also shall state that the maintenance tax levy is an8548
extension of an existing tax levy.8549

       The form of the ballot shall be as follows:8550

       "Shall the existing tax levied to pay the cost of maintaining8551
classroom facilities constructed with the proceeds of the8552
previously issued bonds at the rate of .......... (here insert the8553
number of mills, which shall not be less than one-half mill) mills8554
per dollar of tax valuation, be extended until ........ (here8555
insert the year that is twenty-three years after the year in which8556
the district and commission will enter into an agreement under8557
division (B)(2) of section 3318.04 of the Revised Code or the8558
following year)?8559

         8560

    FOR EXTENDING THE EXISTING TAX LEVY 8561
    AGAINST EXTENDING THE EXISTING TAX LEVY   " 8562

         8563

       Section 3318.07 of the Revised Code applies to ballot8564
questions under this section.8565

       Sec. 3318.361.  A school district board opting to qualify for 8566
state assistance pursuant to section 3318.36 of the Revised Code 8567
through levying the tax specified in division (D)(2)(a) or (D)(4) 8568
of that section shall declare by resolution that the question of a 8569
tax levy specified in division (D)(2)(a) or (4), as applicable, of8570
section 3318.36 of the Revised Code shall be submitted to the 8571
electors of the school district at the next general or primary 8572
election, if there be a general or primary election not less than 8573
seventy-fiveeighty-five and not more than ninety-fiveone hundred 8574
five days after the day of the adoption of such resolution or, if 8575
not, at a special election to be held at a time specified in the 8576
resolution which shall be not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five8577
days after the day of the adoption of the resolution and which 8578
shall be in accordance with the requirements of section 3501.01 of 8579
the Revised Code. Such resolution shall specify both of the 8580
following:8581

       (A) That the rate which it is necessary to levy shall be at 8582
the rate of not less than one-half mill for each one dollar of 8583
valuation, and that such tax shall be levied for a period of 8584
twenty-three years;8585

       (B) That the proceeds of the tax shall be used to pay the 8586
cost of maintaining the classroom facilities included in the 8587
project.8588

       A copy of such resolution shall after its passage and not 8589
less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days prior to the date set 8590
therein for the election be certified to the county board of 8591
elections.8592

       Notice of the election shall include the fact that the tax8593
levy shall be at the rate of not less than one-half mill for each 8594
one dollar of valuation for a period of twenty-three years, and 8595
that the proceeds of the tax shall be used to pay the cost of8596
maintaining the classroom facilities included in the project.8597

       The form of the ballot to be used at such election shall be:8598

       "Shall a levy of taxes be made for a period of twenty-three 8599
years to benefit the ............ (here insert name of school 8600
district) school district, the proceeds of which shall be used to 8601
pay the cost of maintaining the classroom facilities included in 8602
the project at the rate of .......... (here insert the number of 8603
mills, which shall not be less than one-half mill) mills for each 8604
one dollar of valuation?8605

        8606

 FOR THE TAX LEVY 8607
 AGAINST THE TAX LEVY  " 8608

        8609

       Sec. 3354.12.  (A) Upon the request by resolution approved by 8610
the board of trustees of a community college district, and upon 8611
certification to the board of elections not less than seventy-five8612
eighty-five days prior to the election, the boards of elections of 8613
the county or counties comprising such district shall place upon 8614
the ballot in their respective counties the question of levying a 8615
tax on all the taxable property in the community college district 8616
outside the ten-mill limitation, for a specified period of years 8617
or for a continuing period of time, to provide funds for any one 8618
or more of the following purposes: the acquisition of sites, the 8619
erection, furnishing, and equipment of buildings, the acquisition, 8620
construction, or improvement of any property which the board of 8621
trustees of a community college district is authorized to acquire, 8622
construct, or improve and which has an estimated life of 8623
usefulness of five years or more as certified by the fiscal 8624
officer, and the payment of operating costs. Not more than two 8625
special elections shall be held in any one calendar year. Levies 8626
for a continuing period of time adopted under this section may be 8627
reduced in accordance with section 5705.261 of the Revised Code.8628

       If such proposal is to be or include the renewal of an8629
existing levy at the expiration thereof, the ballot for such8630
election shall state whether it is a renewal of a tax; a renewal8631
of a stated number of mills and an increase of a stated number of8632
mills, or a renewal of a part of an existing levy with a reduction 8633
of a stated number of mills; the year of the tax duplicate on 8634
which such renewal will first be made; and if earlier, the year of 8635
the tax duplicate on which such additional levy will first be 8636
made, which may include the tax duplicate for the current year 8637
unless the election is to be held after the first Tuesday after 8638
the first Monday in November of the current tax year. The ballot 8639
shall also state the period of years for such levy or that it is 8640
for a continuing period of time. If a levy for a continuing period 8641
of time provides for but is not limited to current expenses, the 8642
resolution of the board of trustees providing for the election on 8643
such levy shall apportion the annual rate of the levy between 8644
current expenses and the other purpose or purposes. Such 8645
apportionment need not be the same for each year of the levy, but 8646
the respective portions of the rate actually levied each year for 8647
current expenses and the other purpose or purposes shall be 8648
limited by such apportionment. The portion of the rate apportioned 8649
to the other purpose or purposes shall be reduced as provided in 8650
division (B) of this section.8651

       If a majority of the electors in such district voting on such 8652
question approve thereof, the county auditor or auditors of the 8653
county or counties comprising such district shall annually, for 8654
the applicable years, place such levy on the tax duplicate in such 8655
district, in an amount determined by the board of trustees, but 8656
not to exceed the amount set forth in the proposition approved by 8657
the electors.8658

       The boards of trustees of a community college district shall 8659
establish a special fund for all revenue derived from any tax 8660
levied pursuant to this section.8661

       The boards of elections of the county or counties comprising 8662
the district shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general 8663
circulation in each such county an advertisement of the proposed 8664
tax levy question once a week for two consecutive weeks prior to 8665
the election at which the question is to appear on the ballot, 8666
and, if a board of elections operates and maintains a web site, 8667
that board also shall post a similar advertisement on its web site 8668
for thirty days prior to that election.8669

       After the approval of such levy by vote, the board of8670
trustees of a community college district may anticipate a fraction 8671
of the proceeds of such levy and from time to time issue8672
anticipation notes having such maturity or maturities that the8673
aggregate principal amount of all such notes maturing in any8674
calendar year shall not exceed seventy-five per cent of the8675
anticipated proceeds from such levy for such year, and that no8676
note shall mature later than the thirty-first day of December of8677
the tenth calendar year following the calendar year in which such8678
note is issued. Each issue of notes shall be sold as provided in8679
Chapter 133. of the Revised Code.8680

       The amount of bonds or anticipatory notes authorized pursuant 8681
to Chapter 3354. of the Revised Code, may include sums to repay 8682
moneys previously borrowed, advanced, or granted and expended for 8683
the purposes of such bond or anticipatory note issues, whether 8684
such moneys were advanced from the available funds of the 8685
community college district or by other persons, and the community 8686
college district may restore and repay to such funds or persons 8687
from the proceeds of such issues the moneys so borrowed, advanced 8688
or granted.8689

       All operating costs of such community college may be paid out 8690
of any gift or grant from the state, pursuant to division (K) of 8691
section 3354.09 of the Revised Code; out of student fees and8692
tuition collected pursuant to division (G) of section 3354.09 of8693
the Revised Code; or out of unencumbered funds from any other8694
source of the community college income not prohibited by law.8695

       (B) Prior to the application of section 319.301 of the8696
Revised Code, the rate of a levy that is limited to, or to the8697
extent that it is apportioned to, purposes other than current8698
expenses shall be reduced in the same proportion in which the8699
district's total valuation increases during the life of the levy8700
because of additions to such valuation that have resulted from8701
improvements added to the tax list and duplicate.8702

       Sec. 3355.02.  (A) The legislative authority of any municipal 8703
corporation having a population of not less than fifty thousand as 8704
determined by the most recent federal decennial census may, by 8705
resolution approved by two-thirds of its members, create a 8706
university branch district, if a branch of a public university has 8707
been in operation in that municipality for at least the full two 8708
years immediately preceding that time.8709

       (B) The board of county commissioners of any county having a 8710
population of not less than fifty thousand as determined by the8711
most recent federal decennial census may, by resolution approved 8712
by two-thirds of its members, create a university branch district 8713
if a branch of a public university has been in operation in that 8714
county for at least the full two years immediately preceding that 8715
time.8716

       (C) The boards of county commissioners of any two or more8717
contiguous counties which together have a combined population of8718
not less than fifty thousand, as determined by the most recent8719
federal decennial census may, by resolution approved by two-thirds 8720
of the members of each such board, together and jointly create a 8721
university branch district, if a branch of a public university has 8722
been in operation in any one of the counties for at least the full 8723
two years immediately preceding that time.8724

       (D) A resolution creating a university branch district shall 8725
set forth the name of such district, and a description of the 8726
territory to be included in the proposed district. The creation of 8727
an authority of this nature by a municipality, county, or group of 8728
counties shall cause this authority to create university branch 8729
districts, to be unavailable to the other units of local 8730
government in the affected county or counties.8731

       (E) In any municipal corporation or county or group of two or 8732
more contiguous counties, having a total population of not less 8733
than fifty thousand as determined by the most recent federal 8734
decennial census, where no university branch district has been 8735
created either by action of the legislative authority of the8736
municipal corporation or by action of the board or boards of8737
county commissioners, the electors in such municipal corporation8738
or county or counties may petition for the creation of a8739
university branch district. Such petition shall be presented to8740
the board of elections of the county or of the most populous8741
county in the proposed university branch district and shall be8742
signed by qualified voters of the territory within the proposed8743
university branch district, not less in number than five per cent8744
of the vote cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. A8745
petition calling for the creation of a university branch district8746
shall set forth the proposed name of such district, the necessity8747
for the district, and a description of the territory to be8748
included in the proposed district.8749

       In a petition submitted by qualified voters, pursuant to this 8750
section, which proposes the creation of a university branch8751
district comprised of two or more counties, the number of valid8752
signatures from each county shall be not less in number than five8753
per cent of the vote cast in the most recent gubernatorial8754
election.8755

       Upon receiving a petition calling for creation of a8756
university branch district, pursuant to this section, the board of 8757
elections of the county of the most populous county in such8758
district shall certify the validity of the signatures and the fact 8759
of such petition to the election boards of the other counties, if 8760
any, to be included in such district, and shall certify to such 8761
other boards that, pursuant to this section, the proposal to 8762
create such district shall be placed on the ballot at the next 8763
primary or general election occurring more than seventy-five8764
eighty-five days after the filing of such petition. If a majority 8765
of the electors voting on the proposition in each county of the 8766
proposed district vote in favor thereof, such district shall be 8767
established.8768

       No county shall be included in the territory of more than one 8769
university branch district.8770

       Sec. 3355.09.  Upon receipt of a request from the university 8771
branch district managing authority, the boards of elections of the 8772
county or counties comprising such district shall place upon the 8773
ballot in the district at the next primary or general election 8774
occurring not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after 8775
submission of such request by such managing authority, the8776
question of levying a tax outside the ten-mill limitation, for a8777
specified period of years, to provide funds for any of the8778
following purposes:8779

       (A) Purchasing a site or enlargement thereof;8780

       (B) The erection and equipment of buildings;8781

       (C) Enlarging, improving, or rebuilding buildings;8782

       (D) The acquisition, construction, or improvement of any8783
property which the university branch district managing authority8784
is authorized to acquire, construct, or improve and which has been 8785
certified by the fiscal officer to have an estimated useful life 8786
of five or more years.8787

       If a majority of the electors in such district voting on such 8788
question approve, the county auditor of the county or counties 8789
comprising such district shall annually place such levy on the tax 8790
duplicate in such district, in the amount set forth in the 8791
proposition approved by the electors.8792

       The managing authority of the university branch district8793
shall establish a special fund pursuant to section 3355.07 of the8794
Revised Code for all revenue derived from any tax levied pursuant8795
to provisions of this section.8796

       The boards of election of the county or counties comprising8797
the district shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general 8798
circulation in each such county an advertisement of the proposed 8799
tax levy question once a week for two consecutive weeks prior to 8800
the election at which the question is to appear on the ballot, 8801
and, if a board of elections operates and maintains a web site, 8802
that board also shall post a similar advertisement on its web site 8803
for thirty days prior to the election.8804

       After the approval of such levy by vote, the managing8805
authority of the university branch district may anticipate a8806
fraction of the proceeds of such levy and from time to time,8807
during the life of such levy, issue anticipation notes in an8808
amount not to exceed seventy-five per cent of the estimated8809
proceeds of such levy to be collected in each year over a period8810
of five years after the date of the issuance of such notes, less8811
an amount equal to the proceeds of such levy previously obligated8812
for such year by the issuance of anticipation notes, provided,8813
that the total amount maturing in any one year shall not exceed8814
seventy-five per cent of the anticipated proceeds of such levy for 8815
that year.8816

       Each issue of notes shall be sold as provided in Chapter 133. 8817
of the Revised Code and shall mature serially in substantially 8818
equal amounts, during each remaining year of the levy, not to 8819
exceed five, after their issuance.8820

       Sec. 3357.02.  A technical college district may be created8821
with the approval of the Ohio board of regents pursuant to8822
standards established by it. Such standards shall take into8823
consideration such factors as the population of the proposed8824
district, the present and potential pupil enrollment, present and8825
potential higher education facilities in the district, and such8826
other factors as may pertain to the educational needs of the8827
district. The Ohio board of regents may undertake a study or8828
contract for a study to be made relative to its establishment or8829
application of such standards.8830

       The attorney general shall be the attorney for each technical 8831
college district and shall provide legal advice in all matters 8832
relating to its powers and duties.8833

       A proposal to create a technical college district may be8834
presented to the Ohio board of regents in any of the following8835
ways:8836

       (A) The board of education of a city school district may by 8837
resolution approved by a majority of its members propose the8838
creation of a technical college district consisting of the whole8839
territory of such district.8840

       (B) The boards of two or more contiguous city, exempted 8841
village, or local school districts or educational service centers 8842
may by resolutions approved by a majority of the members of each8843
participating board propose the creation of a technical college 8844
district consisting of the whole territories of all the 8845
participating school districts and educational service centers.8846

       (C) The governing board of any educational service center may 8847
by resolution approved by a majority of its members propose the 8848
creation of a technical college district consisting of the whole 8849
territory of such educational service center.8850

       (D) The governing boards of any two or more contiguous8851
educational service centers may by resolutions approved by a 8852
majority of the members of each participating board, propose the 8853
creation of a technical college district consisting of the whole 8854
territories of such educational service centers.8855

       (E) Qualified electors residing in a city school district, in 8856
a county, in two or more contiguous school districts, or in two or 8857
more contiguous counties may execute a petition proposing the 8858
creation of a technical college district comprised of the8859
territory of the city school district, educational service center,8860
two or more contiguous school districts or educational service 8861
centers, or two or more contiguous counties, respectively. Such 8862
petition shall be presented to the board of elections of the most 8863
populous county in which the technical college district is 8864
situated and shall bear the signatures of at least two per cent of 8865
the total number of resident electors who voted in the most recent8866
election for governor in the territory of such proposed district. 8867
Such petition shall set forth the necessity for the district, a8868
demonstration that it will be conducive to the public convenience8869
and welfare, and a description of the territory to be included in8870
the proposed district.8871

       Upon receiving a petition duly executed pursuant to division 8872
(E) of this section, the board of elections of the most populous 8873
county shall certify the fact of such petition to the boards of 8874
elections of the other counties, if any, in which any of the 8875
territory of the proposed district is situated. The proposal to 8876
create a technical college district shall be placed on the ballot 8877
by the board of elections and submitted to vote in each affected 8878
city school district, county, or group of contiguous school 8879
districts or counties, at the next primary or general election 8880
occurring more than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the filing 8881
of such petition. If there is no primary or general election 8882
occurring within ninetyone hundred days after the filing of such8883
petition, the board of elections of the most populous county shall 8884
fix the date of a special election to be held in each affected 8885
city school district, county, or group of contiguous school 8886
districts or counties, such date to be not less than seventy-five8887
eighty-five days after the filing of the petition. If a majority 8888
of electors voting on the proposition in the proposed technical 8889
college district vote in favor thereof, the board of elections of 8890
the most populous county in which the proposed district is 8891
situated shall certify such fact to the Ohio board of regents.8892

       Sec. 3357.11.  For the purposes of purchasing a site or8893
enlargement thereof, and for the erection and equipment of8894
buildings, or for the purpose of enlarging, improving, or8895
rebuilding existing facilities, the board of trustees of a8896
technical college district shall determine the amount of bonds to8897
be issued and such other matters as pertain thereto, and may when8898
authorized by the vote of the electors of the district, issue and8899
sell such bonds as provided in Chapter 133. of the Revised Code.8900
Such board of trustees shall have the same authority and be8901
subject to the same procedure as provided in such chapter in the8902
case where the board of education proposes a bond issue for the8903
purposes noted in this section.8904

       At any time the board of trustees of a technical college8905
district by a vote of two-thirds of all its members may declare by 8906
resolution the necessity of a tax outside the ten-mill limitation 8907
for a period of years not to exceed ten years, to provide funds 8908
for one or more of the following purposes: for operation and 8909
maintenance, for purchasing a site or enlargement thereof, for the 8910
erection and construction or equipment of buildings, or for the 8911
purpose of enlarging or improving or rebuilding thereon. A copy of 8912
such resolution shall be certified to the board of elections of 8913
the county or counties in which such technical college district is 8914
situated, for the purpose of placing the proposal on the ballot at 8915
an election to be held at a date designated by such board of 8916
trustees, which date shall be consistent with the requirements of 8917
section 3501.01 of the Revised Code, but shall not be earlier than 8918
seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the adoption and certification 8919
of such resolution. If a majority of the electors in such district 8920
voting on such question vote in favor of such levy, the resolution 8921
shall go into immediate effect. The trustees shall certify their 8922
action to the auditors of the county or counties in which such 8923
technical college district is situated, who shall annually 8924
thereafter place such levy on the tax duplicate in such district 8925
in the amount set forth in the proposition approved by the voters.8926

       After the approval of such levy by vote the board of trustees 8927
of a technical college district may anticipate a fraction of the 8928
proceeds of such levy and from time to time, during the life of 8929
such levy, issue anticipation notes in an amount not to exceed 8930
seventy-five per cent of the estimated proceeds of such levy to be 8931
collected in each year over a period of five years after the date 8932
of the issuance of such notes, less an amount equal to the 8933
proceeds of such levy previously obligated for each year by the 8934
issuance of anticipation notes, provided, that the total amount 8935
maturing in any one year shall not exceed seventy-five per cent of 8936
the anticipated proceeds of such levy for that year.8937

       Each issue of notes shall be sold as provided in Chapter 133. 8938
of the Revised Code and shall mature serially in substantially 8939
equal amounts, during each remaining year of the levy, not to 8940
exceed five, after their issuance.8941

       All necessary expenses for the operation of such technical8942
college may be paid from any gifts, from grants of the state or8943
federal government, from student fees and tuition collected8944
pursuant to division (G) of section 3357.09 of the Revised Code,8945
or from unencumbered funds from any other source of the technical8946
college income, not prohibited by law.8947

       Sec. 3375.19.  In each county there may be created a county8948
library district composed of all the local, exempted village, and8949
city school districts in the county which are not within the8950
territorial boundaries of an existing township, school district,8951
municipal, county district, or county free public library, by one8952
of the following methods:8953

       (A) The board of county commissioners may initiate the8954
creation of such a county library district by adopting a8955
resolution providing for the submission of the question of8956
creating a county library district to the electors of such8957
proposed district. Such resolution shall define the territory to8958
be included in such district by listing the school districts which 8959
will compose the proposed county library district.8960

       (B) The board of county commissioners shall, upon receipt of 8961
a petition signed by no less than ten per cent, or five hundred, 8962
whichever is the lesser, of the qualified electors of the proposed 8963
county library district voting at the last general election, adopt 8964
a resolution providing for the submission of the question of 8965
creating a county library district to the electors of the proposed 8966
district. Such resolution shall define the territory to be 8967
included in such district by listing the school districts which 8968
will compose the proposed county library district.8969

       Upon adoption of such a resolution authorized in either8970
division (A) or (B) of this section the board of county8971
commissioners shall cause a certified copy of it to be filed with8972
the board of elections of the county prior to the fifteenth day of 8973
Septembereighty-fifth day before the day of the election at which 8974
the question will appear on the ballot. The board of elections 8975
shall submit the question of the creation of such county library 8976
district to the electors of the territory comprising such proposed 8977
district at the succeeding November election.8978

       If a majority of the electors, voting on the question of8979
creating such proposed district, vote in the affirmative such8980
district shall be created.8981

       Sec. 3375.201.  The taxing authority of a subdivision 8982
maintaining a free public library which is providing approved 8983
library service and whose board of library trustees therefore is 8984
qualified under section 3375.20 of the Revised Code to request the 8985
formation of a county library district shall, upon receipt of a 8986
petition signed by not less than ten per cent, or five hundred, 8987
whichever is the lesser, of the qualified electors of the 8988
subdivision voting at the last general election, adopt a 8989
resolution providing for the submission of the question, "Shall 8990
the free public library of the subdivision become a county8991
district library?". The taxing authority shall cause a certified 8992
copy of it to be filed with the board of elections of the county 8993
prior to the fifteenth day of Septembereighty-fifth day before 8994
the day of the election at which the question will appear on the 8995
ballot. The board of elections shall submit the question of the8996
creation of such county district library to the electors of the 8997
subdivision maintaining said free public library at the succeeding 8998
November election.8999

       If a majority of the electors, voting on the question of 9000
creating such county district library, vote in the affirmative, 9001
the board of trustees of the library and the taxing authority of 9002
the subdivision shall establish a county library district in the 9003
manner prescribed in section 3375.20 of the Revised Code, by 9004
adopting and approving the resolution so authorized.9005

       Sec. 3375.211.  The taxing authority of any subdivision9006
maintaining a free public library for the inhabitants thereof and9007
whose board of library trustees is qualified under section 3375.21 9008
of the Revised Code to request inclusion of the subdivision in a 9009
county library district shall, upon receipt of a petition signed 9010
by qualified electors equal in number to at least ten per cent of 9011
the qualified electors of the subdivision voting at the last 9012
general election, adopt a resolution providing for the submission 9013
of the question of the inclusion of the subdivision in such county 9014
library district to the electors of the subdivision.9015

       The taxing authority shall cause a certified copy of the9016
resolution to be filed with the board of elections of the county9017
prior to the fifteenth day of Septembereighty-fifth day before 9018
the day of the election at which the question will appear on the 9019
ballot. The board of elections shall submit the question of the 9020
inclusion of the subdivision in such county library district to 9021
the electors of the subdivision at the succeeding November 9022
election.9023

       If a majority of the electors, voting on the question of9024
including the subdivision in such county library district, vote in 9025
the affirmative, the taxing authority of the subdivision and the 9026
board of trustees of the free public library shall include the 9027
subdivision in the county library district in the manner9028
prescribed in section 3375.20 of the Revised Code by adopting and9029
approving the resolutions so authorized.9030

       Unless more than thirty per cent of the votes cast on the9031
question of including the subdivision in the county library9032
district are in the affirmative, the same issue shall not be9033
submitted to the electors of the subdivision for three years9034
following an election in which the question was defeated.9035

       Sec. 3375.212.  The board of public library trustees of a9036
county library district, appointed under section 3375.22 of the9037
Revised Code, may consolidate with another subdivision in the9038
county maintaining a free public library. Such consolidation may9039
be accomplished by one of the following procedures:9040

       (A) The board of public library trustees of the county9041
library district may submit a resolution to the board of library9042
trustees of such subdivision requesting such consolidation. The9043
library trustees of the subdivision within thirty days of receipt9044
of the resolution shall approve or reject such resolution; and, if 9045
approved shall forward the resolution together with a9046
certification of its action to the taxing authority of said9047
subdivision. Said taxing authority within thirty days of receipt9048
of such resolution and certification shall approve or reject it9049
and so notify the board of library trustees of the county district 9050
library and the board of county commissioners.9051

       (B) Upon receipt of such resolution, under division (A) of9052
this section the board of library trustees of the subdivision may9053
request the taxing authority of the subdivision to adopt a9054
resolution providing for the submission of the question of9055
consolidation to the electors of the subdivision.9056

       The taxing authority in turn shall adopt such a resolution9057
and shall cause a certified copy of the resolution to be filed9058
with the board of elections of the county prior to the fifteenth9059
day of Septembereighty-fifth day before the day of the election 9060
at which the question will appear on the ballot. The board of 9061
elections shall submit the question to the electors of the 9062
subdivision at the succeeding November election.9063

       (C) The board of county commissioners and the taxing9064
authority of the subdivision, upon receipt of petitions signed by9065
not less than ten per cent, or five hundred, whichever is the9066
lesser, of the qualified electors in the county library district9067
and not less than ten per cent, or five hundred, whichever is the9068
lesser, of the qualified electors of the subdivision, voting at9069
the last general election, shall adopt resolutions providing for9070
the submission of the question of consolidation to the electors of 9071
the county library district and of the subdivision.9072

       Each taxing authority in turn shall cause a certified copy of 9073
its resolution to be filed with the board of elections of the9074
county prior to the fifteenth day of Septembereighty-fifth day 9075
before the day of the election at which the question will appear 9076
on the ballot. The board of elections shall submit the question of 9077
the consolidation of the county library district and the 9078
subdivision to the electors of the county library district and of 9079
the subdivision at the succeeding November election.9080

       If under division (A) of this section the board of library9081
trustees and the taxing authority of said subdivision approve the9082
request for consolidation, or if under division (B) of this9083
section a majority of the electors of the subdivision vote in9084
favor of the consolidation, or if under division (C) of this9085
section a majority of the electors of the county library district9086
and a majority of the electors of the subdivision vote in favor of 9087
the consolidation, such consolidation shall take place. The taxing 9088
authority of the subdivision or the board of elections, whichever 9089
the case may be, shall notify the county commissioners and the 9090
respective library boards.9091

       The board of library trustees of the county library district, 9092
the board of library trustees of the subdivision and their 9093
respective taxing authorities shall take appropriate action during 9094
the succeeding December, transferring all title and interest in 9095
all property, both real and personal, held in the names of said 9096
library boards to the board of trustees of the consolidated county 9097
library district, effective the second Monday of the succeeding 9098
January.9099

       The board of library trustees of the county library district 9100
and the board of library trustees of the subdivision shall meet 9101
jointly on the second Monday of the succeeding January.9102

       Acting as a board of the whole, the two boards shall become9103
the interim board of library trustees of the consolidated county9104
library district whose terms shall expire the second Monday of the 9105
second January succeeding the election at which the consolidation 9106
was approved. The board shall organize itself under section 9107
3375.32 of the Revised Code and shall have the same powers, 9108
rights, and limitations in law as does a board of library trustees 9109
appointed under section 3375.22 of the Revised Code. In the event 9110
of a vacancy on the interim board the appointment shall be made by 9111
the same taxing authority which appointed the trustee whose place 9112
had become vacant and shall be only for the period in which the 9113
interim board is in existence.9114

       At least thirty days prior to the second Monday of the second 9115
January succeeding the election at which the consolidation was 9116
approved, the board shall request the county commissioners and the 9117
judges of the court of common pleas to appoint a regular board of 9118
library trustees of seven members under the provisions of section 9119
3375.22 of the Revised Code. The terms of said trustees shall 9120
commence on the second Monday of the January last referred to 9121
above. The control and management of such consolidated county 9122
library district shall continue to be under section 3375.22 of the 9123
Revised Code.9124

       For the purposes of this section, whenever a county library9125
district is consolidated with a subdivision other than a school9126
district, the area comprising the school district in which the9127
main library of said subdivision is located shall become a part of 9128
the county library district.9129

       Sec. 3501.01.  As used in the sections of the Revised Code 9130
relating to elections and political communications: 9131

       (A) "General election" means the election held on the first 9132
Tuesday after the first Monday in each November. 9133

       (B) "Regular municipal election" means the election held on 9134
the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each 9135
odd-numbered year. 9136

       (C) "Regular state election" means the election held on the 9137
first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each 9138
even-numbered year. 9139

       (D) "Special election" means any election other than those 9140
elections defined in other divisions of this section. A special 9141
election may be held only on the first Tuesday after the first 9142
Monday in February, May, August, or November, or on the day 9143
authorized by a particular municipal or county charter for the 9144
holding of a primary election, except that in any year in which a 9145
presidential primary election is held, no special election shall 9146
be held in February or May, except as authorized by a municipal or 9147
county charter, but may be held on the first Tuesday after the 9148
first Monday in March. 9149

       (E)(1) "Primary" or "primary election" means an election held 9150
for the purpose of nominating persons as candidates of political 9151
parties for election to offices, and for the purpose of electing 9152
persons as members of the controlling committees of political 9153
parties and as delegates and alternates to the conventions of 9154
political parties. Primary elections shall be held on the first 9155
Tuesday after the first Monday in May of each year except in years 9156
in which a presidential primary election is held. 9157

       (2) "Presidential primary election" means a primary election 9158
as defined by division (E)(1) of this section at which an election 9159
is held for the purpose of choosing delegates and alternates to 9160
the national conventions of the major political parties pursuant 9161
to section 3513.12 of the Revised Code. Unless otherwise 9162
specified, presidential primary elections are included in 9163
references to primary elections. In years in which a presidential 9164
primary election is held, all primary elections shall be held on 9165
the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March except as 9166
otherwise authorized by a municipal or county charter. 9167

       (F) "Political party" means any group of voters meeting the 9168
requirements set forth in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code for 9169
the formation and existence of a political party. 9170

       (1) "Major political party" means any political party 9171
organized under the laws of this state whose candidate for any of 9172
the offices of governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, 9173
treasurer of state, attorney general, or United States senator or 9174
nominees for presidential electors received no less than twenty 9175
per cent of the total vote cast for such officeany of those 9176
offices at either of the two most recent regular state election9177
elections. 9178

       (2) "Intermediate political party" means any political party 9179
organized under the laws of this state whose candidate for 9180
governor or nominees for presidential electors received less than 9181
twenty per cent but not less than ten per cent of the total vote 9182
cast for such office at the most recent regular state election.9183

       (3) "Minor political party" means any political party 9184
organized under the laws of this state whose candidate for any of 9185
the offices of governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, 9186
treasurer of state, attorney general, or United States senator or 9187
nominees for presidential electors received less than tentwenty9188
per cent but not less than fiveone per cent of the total vote 9189
cast for such officeany of those offices at either of the two9190
most recent regular state electionelections or which has filed 9191
with the secretary of state, subsequent to any electiontwo 9192
successive regular state elections in which it received less than 9193
fiveone per cent of suchthe vote for any of those offices, a 9194
petition signed by qualified electors equal in number to at least 9195
one-quarter of one per cent of the total vote cast for suchthe9196
office of governor in the last preceding regular state election, 9197
except that a newly formed political party shall be known as a 9198
minor political party until the time of the first regular state9199
election for governor or president whichthat occurs not less than 9200
twelve months subsequent to the formation of such party, after 9201
which election the status of such party as either a major or minor 9202
political party shall be determined by the vote for the office9203
percentage received by the party's candidate for any of the 9204
offices of governor or president, secretary of state, auditor of 9205
state, treasurer of state, attorney general, or United States 9206
senator, or nominees for presidential electors. 9207

       (G) "Dominant party in a precinct" or "dominant political 9208
party in a precinct" means that political party whose candidate 9209
for election to the office of governor at the most recent regular 9210
state election at which a governor was elected received more votes 9211
than any other person received for election to that office in such 9212
precinct at such election. 9213

       (H) "Candidate" means any qualified person certified in 9214
accordance with the provisions of the Revised Code for placement 9215
on the official ballot of a primary, general, or special election 9216
to be held in this state, or any qualified person who claims to be 9217
a write-in candidate, or who knowingly assents to being 9218
represented as a write-in candidate by another at either a 9219
primary, general, or special election to be held in this state. 9220

       (I) "Independent candidate" means any candidate who claims 9221
not to be affiliated with a political party, and whose name has 9222
been certified on the office-type ballot at a general or special 9223
election through the filing of a statement of candidacy and 9224
nominating petition, as prescribed in section 3513.257 of the 9225
Revised Code. 9226

       (J) "Nonpartisan candidate" means any candidate whose name is 9227
required, pursuant to section 3505.04 of the Revised Code, to be 9228
listed on the nonpartisan ballot, including all candidates for 9229
judicial office, for member of any board of education, for 9230
municipal or township offices in which primary elections are not 9231
held for nominating candidates by political parties, and for 9232
offices of municipal corporations having charters that provide for 9233
separate ballots for elections for these offices. 9234

       (K) "Party candidate" means any candidate who claims to be a 9235
member of a political party, whose name has been certified on the 9236
office-type ballot at a general or special election through the 9237
filing of a declaration of candidacy and petition of candidate, 9238
and who has won the primary election of the candidate's party for 9239
the public office the candidate seeks, is nominated pursuant to 9240
section 3513.02 of the Revised Code, or is selected by party 9241
committee in accordance with section 3513.31 of the Revised Code. 9242

       (L) "Officer of a political party" includes, but is not 9243
limited to, any member, elected or appointed, of a controlling 9244
committee, whether representing the territory of the state, a 9245
district therein, a county, township, a city, a ward, a precinct, 9246
or other territory, of a major, intermediate, or minor political 9247
party. 9248

       (M) "Question or issue" means any question or issue certified 9249
in accordance with the Revised Code for placement on an official 9250
ballot at a general or special election to be held in this state. 9251

       (N) "Elector" or "qualified elector" means a person having 9252
the qualifications provided by law to be entitled to vote. 9253

       (O) "Voter" means an elector who votes at an election. 9254

       (P) "Voting residence" means that place of residence of an 9255
elector which shall determine the precinct in which the elector 9256
may vote. 9257

       (Q) "Precinct" means a district within a county established 9258
by the board of elections of such county within which all 9259
qualified electors having a voting residence therein may vote at 9260
the same polling place. 9261

       (R) "Polling place" means that place provided for each 9262
precinct at which the electors having a voting residence in such 9263
precinct may vote. 9264

       (S) "Board" or "board of elections" means the board of 9265
elections appointed in a county pursuant to section 3501.06 of the 9266
Revised Code. 9267

       (T) "Political subdivision" means a county, township, city, 9268
village, or school district. 9269

       (U) "Election officer" or "election official" means any of 9270
the following: 9271

       (1) Secretary of state; 9272

       (2) Employees of the secretary of state serving the division 9273
of elections in the capacity of attorney, administrative officer, 9274
administrative assistant, elections administrator, office manager, 9275
or clerical supervisor; 9276

       (3) Director of a board of elections; 9277

       (4) Deputy director of a board of elections; 9278

       (5) Member of a board of elections; 9279

       (6) Employees of a board of elections; 9280

       (7) Precinct polling place judges; 9281

       (8) Employees appointed by the boards of elections on a 9282
temporary or part-time basis. 9283

       (V) "Acknowledgment notice" means a notice sent by a board of 9284
elections, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, 9285
informing a voter registration applicant or an applicant who 9286
wishes to change the applicant's residence or name of the status 9287
of the application; the information necessary to complete or 9288
update the application, if any; and if the application is 9289
complete, the precinct in which the applicant is to vote. 9290

       (W) "Confirmation notice" means a notice sent by a board of 9291
elections, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, to a 9292
registered elector to confirm the registered elector's current 9293
address. 9294

       (X) "Designated agency" means an office or agency in the 9295
state that provides public assistance or that provides 9296
state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to 9297
persons with disabilities and that is required by the National 9298
Voter Registration Act of 1993 to implement a program designed and 9299
administered by the secretary of state for registering voters, or 9300
any other public or government office or agency that implements a 9301
program designed and administered by the secretary of state for 9302
registering voters, including the department of job and family 9303
services, the program administered under section 3701.132 of the 9304
Revised Code by the department of health, the department of mental 9305
health, the department of developmental disabilities, the 9306
rehabilitation services commission, and any other agency the 9307
secretary of state designates. "Designated agency" does not 9308
include public high schools and vocational schools, public 9309
libraries, or the office of a county treasurer. 9310

       (Y) "National Voter Registration Act of 1993" means the 9311
"National Voter Registration Act of 1993," 107 Stat. 77, 42 9312
U.S.C.A. 1973gg. 9313

       (Z) "Voting Rights Act of 1965" means the "Voting Rights Act 9314
of 1965," 79 Stat. 437, 42 U.S.C.A. 1973, as amended. 9315

       (AA) "Photo identification" means a document that meets each 9316
of the following requirements:9317

        (1) It shows the name of the individual to whom it was 9318
issued, which shall conform to the name in the poll list or 9319
signature pollbook.9320

        (2) It shows the current address of the individual to whom it 9321
was issued, which shall conform to the address in the poll list or 9322
signature pollbook, except for a driver's license or a state 9323
identification card issued under section 4507.50 of the Revised 9324
Code, which may show either the current or former address of the 9325
individual to whom it was issued, regardless of whether that 9326
address conforms to the address in the poll list or signature 9327
pollbook.9328

        (3) It shows a photograph of the individual to whom it was 9329
issued.9330

        (4) It includes an expiration date that has not passed.9331

        (5) It was issued by the government of the United States or 9332
this state."Identification" means either of the following:9333

       (1) A photographic identification that meets all of the 9334
following requirements:9335

       (a) It lists the elector's name in a manner that 9336
substantially conforms to the elector's name in the elector's 9337
voter registration records;9338

       (b) It was issued by one of the following:9339

       (i) The state or any of its agencies or subdivisions;9340

       (ii) A public, private, or proprietary institution of higher 9341
education; or9342

       (iii) The government of the United States.9343

       (c) It is current and valid.9344

       (2) An affirmation as to the voter's identification, made 9345
under penalty of election falsification, that meets all of the 9346
following requirements:9347

       (a) The elector has signed the affirmation, which signature 9348
substantially conforms to the elector's signature in the elector's 9349
voter registration records;9350

       (b) The elector has placed the elector's name on the 9351
affirmation, which name substantially conforms to the elector's 9352
name in the elector's voter registration records;9353

       (c) The elector has placed the elector's date of birth on the 9354
affirmation, which day of birth substantially conforms to the 9355
elector's date of birth in the elector's voter registration 9356
records; and9357

       (d) The elector has placed on the affirmation at least one of 9358
the following:9359

       (i) The last four digits of the elector's social security 9360
number;9361

       (ii) The elector's Ohio driver's license number or the 9362
identification number of the elector's Ohio identification card.9363

       (BB) "First-time mail-in registrant" means an individual who 9364
submitted a voter registration application by mail, who has not 9365
previously voted in a federal election in this state, and who did 9366
not include any of the following with the voter registration 9367
application:9368

       (1) The applicant's driver's license number;9369

       (2) At least the last four digits of the applicant's social 9370
security number;9371

       (3) A copy of a current and valid photo identification that 9372
shows the name and address of the applicant; or9373

       (4) A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, 9374
government check, paycheck, or other government document that 9375
shows the name and address of the applicant.9376

       (CC) "First-time mail-in registrant identification" means a 9377
current and valid photo identification or a copy of a current 9378
utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other 9379
government document that shows the name and address of the 9380
elector.9381

       Sec. 3501.012.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised 9382
Code to the contrary, the secretary of state or a board of 9383
elections shall not refuse to accept and process an otherwise 9384
valid voter registration application, absent voter's ballot 9385
application, uniformed services and overseas absent voter's ballot 9386
application, returned absent voter's ballot, returned uniformed 9387
services and overseas absent voter's ballot, or federal write-in 9388
absentee ballot due to any requirements regarding notarization, 9389
paper type, paper weight and size, envelope type, or envelope 9390
weight and size.9391

       Sec. 3501.02.  General elections in the state and its 9392
political subdivisions shall be held as follows: 9393

       (A) For the election of electors of president and 9394
vice-president of the United States, in the year of 1932 and every 9395
four years thereafter; 9396

       (B) For the election of a member of the senate of the United 9397
States, in the years 1932 and 1934, and every six years after each 9398
of such years; except as otherwise provided for filling vacancies; 9399

       (C) For the election of representatives in the congress of 9400
the United States and of elective state and county officers 9401
including elected members of the state board of education, in the 9402
even-numbered years; except as otherwise provided for filling 9403
vacancies; 9404

       (D) For municipal and township officers, members of boards of 9405
education, judges and clerks of municipal courts, in the 9406
odd-numbered years; 9407

       (E) Proposed constitutional amendments or proposed measures 9408
submitted by the general assembly or by initiative or referendum 9409
petitions to the voters of the state at large may be submitted to9410
at the general election in any year occurring at least sixtyone 9411
hundred twenty-five days, in case of a referendum, and ninetyone 9412
hundred twenty-five days, in the case of an initiated measure, 9413
subsequent to the filing of the petitions therefor. Proposed 9414
constitutional amendments submitted by the general assembly to 9415
the voters of the state at large may be submitted at a special 9416
election occurring on the day in any year specified by division 9417
(E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code for the holding of a 9418
primary election, when a special election on that date is 9419
designated by the general assembly in the resolution adopting the 9420
proposed constitutional amendment. 9421

       No special election shall be held on a day other than the day 9422
of a general election, unless a law or charter provides 9423
otherwise, regarding the submission of a question or issue to 9424
the voters of a county, township, city, village, or school 9425
district. 9426

       (F) AnyNotwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to 9427
the contrary, any question or issue, except a candidacy, to be 9428
voted upon at an election shall be certified, for placement upon 9429
the ballot, to the board of elections not later than four p.m. of 9430
the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the day of the 9431
election. 9432

       Sec. 3501.03. (A) At least ten days before the time for 9433
holding an election the board of elections shall give public 9434
notice by a proclamation, posted in a conspicuous place in the 9435
courthouse and city hall, or by one insertion in a newspaper 9436
published in the county, but if no newspaper is published in such 9437
county, then in a newspaper of general circulation therein. 9438

       (B) In the case of an election by mail held under Chapter 9439
3507. of the Revised Code, the board shall give the notice 9440
required by division (A) of this section at least ten days before 9441
the date on which the board mails the absent voter's ballots 9442
pursuant to section 3507.02 of the Revised Code. The notice shall 9443
indicate that a person who is a qualified elector may vote at the 9444
office of the board if the person moves from one precinct to 9445
another or changes the person's name on or prior to the day 9446
before the election and has not filed with the board a notice of 9447
change of residence or change of name, respectively.9448

       (C) The board shall have authority to publicize information 9449
relative to registration or elections. 9450

       Sec. 3501.05.  The secretary of state shall do all of the 9451
following: 9452

       (A) Appoint all members of boards of elections; 9453

       (B) Issue instructions by directives and advisories in 9454
accordance with section 3501.053 of the Revised Code to members of 9455
the boards as to the proper methods of conducting elections.;9456

       (C) Prepare rules and instructions for the conduct of 9457
elections; 9458

       (D) Publish and furnishProvide to the boards from time to 9459
time a sufficient number of indexed copies ofan electronic link 9460
to all election laws then in force; 9461

       (E) Edit and issue all pamphlets concerning proposed laws or 9462
amendments required by law to be submitted to the voters; 9463

       (F) Prescribe the form of registration cards, blanks, and 9464
records; 9465

       (G) Determine and prescribe the forms of ballots and the 9466
forms of all blanks, cards of instructions, pollbooks, tally 9467
sheets, certificates of election, and forms and blanks required by 9468
law for use by candidates, committees, and boards; 9469

       (H) Prepare the ballot title or statement to be placed on the 9470
ballot for any proposed law or amendment to the constitution to be 9471
submitted to the voters of the state; 9472

       (I) Except as otherwise provided in section 3519.08 of the 9473
Revised Code, certify to the several boards the forms of ballots 9474
and names of candidates for state offices, and the form and 9475
wording of state referendum questions and issues, as they shall 9476
appear on the ballot; 9477

       (J) Except as otherwise provided in division (I)(2)(b) of 9478
section 3501.38 of the Revised Code, give final approval to ballot 9479
language for any local question or issue approved and transmitted 9480
by boards of elections under section 3501.11 of the Revised Code; 9481

       (K) Receive all initiative and referendum petitions on state 9482
questions and issues and determine and certify to the sufficiency 9483
of those petitions; 9484

       (L) Require such reports from the several boards as are 9485
provided by law, or as the secretary of state considers necessary; 9486

       (M) Compel the observance by election officers in the several 9487
counties of the requirements of the election laws; 9488

       (N)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (N)(2) of 9489
this section, investigate the administration of election laws, 9490
frauds, and irregularities in elections in any county, and report 9491
violations of election laws to the attorney general or prosecuting 9492
attorney, or both, for prosecution; 9493

       (2) On and after August 24, 1995, report a failure to comply 9494
with or a violation of a provision in sections 3517.08 to 3517.13, 9495
3517.17, 3517.18, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03, or 3599.031 of the 9496
Revised Code, whenever the secretary of state has or should have 9497
knowledge of a failure to comply with or a violation of a 9498
provision in one of those sections, by filing a complaint with the 9499
Ohio elections commission under section 3517.153 of the Revised 9500
Code; 9501

       (O) Make an annual report to the governor containing the 9502
results of elections, the cost of elections in the various 9503
counties, a tabulation of the votes in the several political 9504
subdivisions, and other information and recommendations relative 9505
to elections the secretary of state considers desirable; 9506

       (P) Prescribe and distribute to boards of elections a list of 9507
instructions indicating all legal steps necessary to petition 9508
successfully for local option elections under sections 4301.32 to 9509
4301.41, 4303.29, 4305.14, and 4305.15 of the Revised Code; 9510

       (Q) Adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code 9511
for the removal by boards of elections of ineligible voters from 9512
the statewide voter registration database and, if applicable, 9513
from the poll list or signature pollbook used in each precinct, 9514
which rules shall provide for all of the following: 9515

       (1) A process for the removal of voters who have changed 9516
residence, which shall be uniform, nondiscriminatory, and in 9517
compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the National 9518
Voter Registration Act of 1993, including a program that uses the 9519
national change of address service provided by the United States 9520
postal system through its licensees; 9521

        (2) A process for the removal of ineligible voters under 9522
section 3503.21 of the Revised Code; 9523

       (3) A uniform system for marking or removing the name of a 9524
voter who is ineligible to vote from the statewide voter 9525
registration database and, if applicable, from the poll list or 9526
signature pollbook used in each precinct and noting the reason 9527
for that mark or removal. 9528

       (R) Prescribe a general program for registering voters or 9529
updating voter registration information, such as name and 9530
residence changes, by boards of elections, designated agencies, 9531
offices of deputy registrars of motor vehicles, public high 9532
schools and vocational schools, public libraries, and offices of 9533
county treasurers consistent with the requirements of section9534
sections 3503.09 to 3503.11 of the Revised Code; 9535

       (S) Prescribe a program of distribution of voter 9536
registration forms through boards of elections, designated 9537
agencies, offices of the registrar and deputy registrars of motor 9538
vehicles, public high schools and vocational schools, public 9539
libraries, and offices of county treasurers; 9540

       (T) To the extent feasible, provide copies, at no cost and 9541
upon request, of the voter registration form in post offices in 9542
this state; 9543

       (U) Adopt rules pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised 9544
Code for the purpose of implementing the program for registering 9545
voters through boards of elections, designated agencies, and the 9546
offices of the registrar and deputy registrars of motor vehicles 9547
consistent with this chapter and the requirements of sections 9548
3503.09 to 3503.11 of the Revised Code; 9549

       (V) Establish the full-time position of Americans with 9550
Disabilities Act coordinator within the office of the secretary of 9551
state to do all of the following: 9552

       (1) Assist the secretary of state with ensuring that there is 9553
equal access to polling places for persons with disabilities; 9554

       (2) Assist the secretary of state with ensuring that each 9555
voter may cast the voter's ballot in a manner that provides the 9556
same opportunity for access and participation, including privacy 9557
and independence, as for other voters; 9558

       (3) Advise the secretary of state in the development of 9559
standards for the certification of voting machines, marking 9560
devices, and automatic tabulating equipment. 9561

       (W) Establish and maintain a computerized statewide database 9562
of all legally registered voters under section 3503.15 of the 9563
Revised Code that complies with the requirements of the "Help 9564
America Vote Act of 2002," Pub. L. No. 107-252, 116 Stat. 1666, 9565
and provide training in the operation of that system; 9566

       (X) Ensure that all directives, advisories, other 9567
instructions, or decisions issued or made during or as a result of 9568
any conference or teleconference call with a board of elections to 9569
discuss the proper methods and procedures for conducting 9570
elections, to answer questions regarding elections, or to discuss 9571
the interpretation of directives, advisories, or other 9572
instructions issued by the secretary of state are posted on a web 9573
site of the office of the secretary of state as soon as is 9574
practicable after the completion of the conference or 9575
teleconference call, but not later than the close of business on 9576
the same day as the conference or teleconference call takes 9577
place.;9578

       (Y) Publish a report on a web site of the office of the 9579
secretary of state not later than one month after the completion 9580
of the canvass of the election returns for each primary and 9581
general election, identifying, by county, the number of absent 9582
voter's ballots cast and the number of those ballots that were 9583
counted, and the number of provisional ballots cast and the number 9584
of those ballots that were counted, for that election. The 9585
secretary of state shall maintain the information on the web site 9586
in an archive format for each subsequent election. 9587

       (Z) Conduct voter education outlining voter identification, 9588
absent voters ballot, provisional ballot, and other voting 9589
requirements; 9590

       (AA) Establish a procedure by which a registered elector may 9591
make available to a board of elections a more recent signature 9592
to be used in the poll list or signature pollbook produced by 9593
the board of elections of the county in which the elector 9594
resides; 9595

       (BB) Disseminate information, which may include all or part 9596
of the official explanations and arguments, by means of direct 9597
mail or other written publication, broadcast, or other means or 9598
combination of means, as directed by the Ohio ballot board under 9599
division (F) of section 3505.062 of the Revised Code, in order to 9600
inform the voters as fully as possible concerning each proposed 9601
constitutional amendment, proposed law, or referendum; 9602

       (CC) Perform other duties required by law. 9603

       Whenever a primary election is held under section 3513.32 of 9604
the Revised Code or a special election is held under section 9605
3521.03 of the Revised Code to fill a vacancy in the office of 9606
representative to congress, the secretary of state shall establish 9607
a deadline, notwithstanding any other deadline required under the 9608
Revised Code, by which any or all of the following shall occur: 9609
the filing of a declaration of candidacy and petitions or a 9610
statement of candidacy and nominating petition together with the 9611
applicable filing fee; the filing of protests against the 9612
candidacy of any person filing a declaration of candidacy or 9613
nominating petition; the filing of a declaration of intent to be a 9614
write-in candidate; the filing of campaign finance reports; the 9615
preparation of, and the making of corrections or challenges to, 9616
precinct voter registration lists; the receipt of applications for 9617
absent voter's ballots or armed service absent voter's ballots; 9618
the supplying of election materials to precincts by boards of 9619
elections; the holding of hearings by boards of elections to 9620
consider challenges to the right of a person to appear on a voter 9621
registration list; and the scheduling of programs to instruct or 9622
reinstruct election officers. 9623

       In the performance of the secretary of state's duties as the 9624
chief election officer, the secretary of state may administer 9625
oaths, issue subpoenas, summon witnesses, compel the production of 9626
books, papers, records, and other evidence, and fix the time and 9627
place for hearing any matters relating to the administration and 9628
enforcement of the election laws. 9629

       In any controversy involving or arising out of the adoption 9630
of registration or the appropriation of funds for registration, 9631
the secretary of state may, through the attorney general, bring an 9632
action in the name of the state in the court of common pleas of 9633
the county where the cause of action arose or in an adjoining 9634
county, to adjudicate the question. 9635

       In any action involving the laws in Title XXXV of the Revised 9636
Code wherein the interpretation of those laws is in issue in such 9637
a manner that the result of the action will affect the lawful 9638
duties of the secretary of state or of any board of elections, the 9639
secretary of state may, on the secretary of state's motion, be 9640
made a party. 9641

       The secretary of state may apply to any court that is hearing 9642
a case in which the secretary of state is a party, for a change of 9643
venue as a substantive right, and the change of venue shall be 9644
allowed, and the case removed to the court of common pleas of an 9645
adjoining county named in the application or, if there are cases 9646
pending in more than one jurisdiction that involve the same or 9647
similar issues, the court of common pleas of Franklin county. 9648

       Public high schools and vocational schools, public libraries, 9649
and the office of a county treasurer shall implement voter 9650
registration programs as directed by the secretary of state 9651
pursuant to this section. 9652

       Sec. 3501.07.  At a meeting held not more than sixty nor less 9653
than fifteen days before the expiration date of the term of office 9654
of a member of the board of elections, or within fifteen days 9655
after a vacancy occurs in the board, the county executive 9656
committee of the major political party entitled to the appointment 9657
may make and file a recommendation with the secretary of state for 9658
the appointment of a qualified elector. The secretary of state 9659
shall appoint such elector, unless hethe secretary of state has 9660
reason to believe that the elector would not be a competent member 9661
of such board. In such cases the secretary of state shall so state 9662
in writing to the chairmanchairperson of such county executive 9663
committee, with the reasons therefor, and such committee may 9664
either recommend another elector or may apply for a writ of 9665
mandamus to the supreme court to compel the secretary of state to 9666
appoint the elector so recommended. In such action the burden of 9667
proof to show the qualifications of the person so recommended 9668
shall be on the committee making the recommendation. If no such 9669
recommendation is made or if a writ of mandamus has not been 9670
granted, the secretary of state shall make the appointment, and 9671
that decision shall be final. If a recommendation is made, the 9672
secretary shall appoint that elector unless the secretary of state 9673
has reason to believe that the elector would not be a competent 9674
member of the board. In that case, the secretary of state shall so 9675
state in writing to the chairperson of the county executive 9676
committee and shall make the appointment. That decision shall be 9677
final. 9678

       If a vacancy on the board of elections is to be filled by a 9679
minor or an intermediate political party, authorized officials of 9680
that party may within fifteen days after the vacancy occurs 9681
recommend a qualified person to the secretary of state for 9682
appointment to such vacancymake and file with the secretary of 9683
state a recommendation for the appointment of a qualified elector. 9684
The secretary of state shall appoint that elector unless the 9685
secretary of state has reason to believe that the elector would 9686
not be a competent member of the board. In that case, the 9687
secretary of state shall so state in writing to the authorized 9688
party officials, with the reasons therefor, and the party 9689
officials may either recommend another elector or may apply for a 9690
writ of mandamus to the supreme court to compel the secretary of 9691
state to appoint the elector so recommended. In such action the 9692
burden of proof to show the qualifications of the person so 9693
recommended shall be on the party officials making the 9694
recommendation. If no such recommendation is made or such writ of 9695
mandamus has not been granted, the secretary of state shall make 9696
the appointment. If a recommendation is made, the secretary shall 9697
appoint such elector, unless the secretary of state has reason to 9698
believe that the elector would not be a competent member of such 9699
board. In such cases the secretary of state shall so state in 9700
writing to the authorized party officials, and shall make the 9701
appointment. That decision shall be final. 9702

       Sec. 3501.10.  (A) The board of elections shall, as an 9703
expense of the board, provide suitable rooms for its offices and 9704
records and the necessary and proper furniture and supplies for 9705
those rooms. The board may lease such offices and rooms, necessary 9706
to its operation, for the length of time and upon the terms the 9707
board deems in the best interests of the public, provided that the 9708
term of any such lease shall not exceed fifteen years. 9709

       Thirty days prior to entering into such a lease, the board 9710
shall notify the board of county commissioners in writing of its 9711
intent to enter into the lease. The notice shall specify the terms 9712
and conditions of the lease. Prior to the thirtieth day after 9713
receiving that notice and before any lease is entered into, the 9714
board of county commissioners may reject the proposed lease by a 9715
majority vote. After receiving written notification of the 9716
rejection by the board of county commissioners, the board of 9717
elections shall not enter into the lease that was rejected, but 9718
may immediately enter into additional lease negotiations, subject 9719
to the requirements of this section. 9720

       The board of elections in any county may, by resolution, 9721
request that the board of county commissioners submit to the 9722
electors of the county, in accordance with section 133.18 of the 9723
Revised Code, the question of issuing bonds for the acquisition of 9724
real estate and the construction on it of a suitable building with 9725
necessary furniture and equipment for the proper administration of 9726
the duties of the board of elections. The resolution declaring the 9727
necessity for issuing such bonds shall relate only to the 9728
acquisition of real estate and to the construction, furnishing, 9729
and equipping of a building as provided in this division. 9730

       (B) The board of elections in each county shall keep its 9731
offices, or one or more of its branch registration offices, open 9732
for the performance of its duties until nine p.m. on the last day 9733
of registration before a general or primary election. At all other 9734
times during each week, the board shall keep its offices and rooms 9735
open for a period of time that the board considers necessary for 9736
the performance of its duties. 9737

       (C) The board of elections may maintain permanent or 9738
temporary branch offices at any place within the county, provided 9739
that, if the board of elections permits electors to vote at a 9740
branch office, electors shall not be permitted to vote at any 9741
other branch office or any other office of the board of elections. 9742
The board shall not employ more than four such locations for the 9743
purpose of allowing voters to cast absent voter's ballots in 9744
person at an election.9745

       The board may employ such locations for all or part of the 9746
period established under section 3509.01 of the Revised Code 9747
during which voters may cast absent voter's ballots in person at 9748
an election. The board shall determine the time period during 9749
which those locations shall be employed at the time the board 9750
votes to establish those locations.9751

       A majority vote of the board is required to establish more 9752
than one location at which voters may cast absent voter's ballots 9753
in person at an election. That vote shall take place not later 9754
than sixty days prior to the day of any election other than a 9755
special election. In the case of a tie vote or disagreement in 9756
the board, the board shall submit the matter to the secretary of 9757
state in accordance with division (X) of section 3501.11 of the 9758
Revised Code.9759

       Prior to establishing more than one location at which voters 9760
may cast absent voter's ballots in person at an election, the 9761
board of elections shall send a notice to the board of county 9762
commissioners expressing its intent to establish more than one 9763
such location. The notice shall include information on the number 9764
of additional locations that the board of elections plans to 9765
establish, the name and location of each of the proposed sites, 9766
the duration for which such locations will be used, and an 9767
estimate of the cost to operate each of the additional locations.9768

       The board of elections shall file with the secretary of 9769
state and the board of county commissioners the final 9770
determination of the board of elections regarding the 9771
establishment of those voting locations.9772

        (D) The secretary of state shall adopt rules under Chapter 9773
119. of the Revised Code regarding the siting of additional 9774
locations for the purpose of allowing voters to cast absent 9775
voter's ballots in person at an election. The rules shall ensure 9776
the equitable distribution of such locations, including 9777
distribution with respect to a county's unique geography, 9778
population distribution, minority voter access, and ease of voter 9779
access to the locations. The rules shall ensure, to the extent 9780
practical, that the distribution will not unduly favor any 9781
political party.9782

       Sec. 3501.11.  Each board of elections shall exercise by a 9783
majority vote all powers granted to the board by Title XXXV of the 9784
Revised Code, shall perform all the duties imposed by law, and 9785
shall do all of the following: 9786

       (A) Establish, define, provide, rearrange, and combine 9787
election precincts in accordance with section 3501.18 of the 9788
Revised Code and any rules adopted by the secretary of state; 9789

       (B) Fix and provide the places for registration and for 9790
holding primaries and elections; 9791

       (C) Provide for the purchase, preservation, and maintenance 9792
of booths, ballot boxes, books, maps, flags, blanks, cards of 9793
instructions, and other forms, papers, and equipment used in 9794
registration, nominations, and elections; 9795

       (D) Appoint and remove its director, deputy director, and 9796
employees and all registrars, judges, and other officers of 9797
elections, fill vacancies, and designate the ward or district and 9798
precinct in which each shall serve; 9799

       (E) Make and issue rules and instructions, not inconsistent 9800
with law or the rules, directives, or advisories issued by the 9801
secretary of state, as it considers necessary for the guidance of 9802
election officers and voters; 9803

       (F) Advertise and contract for the printing of all ballots 9804
and other supplies used in registrations and elections, or provide 9805
for the acquisition of those supplies through the department of 9806
administrative services; 9807

       (G) Provide for the issuance of all notices, advertisements, 9808
and publications concerning elections, except as otherwise 9809
provided in division (G) of section 3501.17 and divisions (F) and 9810
(G) of section 3505.062 of the Revised Code; 9811

       (H) Provide for the delivery of ballots, pollbooks, and other 9812
required papers and material to the polling places; 9813

       (I) Cause the polling places to be suitably provided with 9814
voting machines, marking devices, automatic tabulating equipment, 9815
stalls, and other required supplies. In fulfilling this duty, each 9816
board of a county that uses voting machines, marking devices, or 9817
automatic tabulating equipment shall conduct a full vote of the 9818
board during a public session of the board onprovide for the 9819
allocation and distribution of voting machines, marking devices, 9820
and automatic tabulating equipment for each precinct in the 9821
countyin accordance with section 3506.12 of the Revised Code. 9822

       (J) Investigate irregularities, nonperformance of duties, or 9823
violations of Title XXXV of the Revised Code by election officers 9824
and other persons; administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summon 9825
witnesses, and compel the production of books, papers, records, 9826
and other evidence in connection with any such investigation; and 9827
report the facts to the prosecuting attorney or the secretary of 9828
state; 9829

       (K) Review, examine, and certify the sufficiency and validity 9830
of petitions and nomination papers, and, after certification, 9831
return to the secretary of state all petitions and nomination 9832
papers that the secretary of state forwarded to the board; 9833

       (L) Receive the returns of elections, canvass the returns, 9834
make abstracts of them, and transmit those abstracts to the proper 9835
authorities; 9836

       (M) Issue certificates of election on forms to be prescribed 9837
by the secretary of state; 9838

       (N) Make an annual report to the secretary of state, on the 9839
form prescribed by the secretary of state, containing a statement 9840
of the number of voters registered, elections held, votes cast, 9841
appropriations received, expenditures made, and other data 9842
required by the secretary of state; 9843

       (O) Prepare and submit to the proper appropriating officer a 9844
budget estimating the cost of elections for the ensuing fiscal 9845
year; 9846

       (P) Perform other duties as prescribed by law or the rules, 9847
directives, or advisories of the secretary of state; 9848

       (Q) Investigate and determine the residence qualifications of 9849
electors; 9850

       (R) Administer oaths in matters pertaining to the 9851
administration of the election laws; 9852

       (S) Prepare and submit to the secretary of state, whenever 9853
the secretary of state requires, a report containing the names and 9854
residence addresses of all incumbent county, municipal, township, 9855
and board of education officials serving in their respective 9856
counties; 9857

       (T) Establish and maintain a voter registration database of 9858
all qualified electors in the county who offer to register; 9859

       (U) Maintain voter registration records, make reports 9860
concerning voter registration as required by the secretary of 9861
state, and remove ineligible electors from voter registration 9862
lists in accordance with law and directives of the secretary of 9863
state; 9864

       (V) Give approval to ballot language for any local question 9865
or issue and transmit the language to the secretary of state for 9866
the secretary of state's final approval; 9867

       (W) Prepare and cause the following notice to be displayed in 9868
a prominent location in every polling place: 9869

"NOTICE
9870

       Ohio law prohibits any person from voting or attempting to 9871
vote more than once at the same election. 9872

       Violators are guilty of a felony of the fourth degree and 9873
shall be imprisoned and additionally may be fined in accordance 9874
with law." 9875

       (X) In all cases of a tie vote or a disagreement in the 9876
board, if no decision can be arrived at, the director or 9877
chairperson shall submit the matter in controversy, not later than 9878
fourteen days after the tie vote or the disagreement, to the 9879
secretary of state, who shall summarily decide the question, and 9880
the secretary of state's decision shall be final.;9881

       (Y) Assist each designated agency, deputy registrar of motor 9882
vehicles, public high school and vocational school, public 9883
library, and office of a county treasurer in the implementation of 9884
a program for registering voters at all voter registration 9885
locations as prescribed by the secretary of state. Under this 9886
program, each board of elections shall direct to the appropriate 9887
board of elections any voter registration applications for persons 9888
residing outside the county where the board is located within five 9889
days after receiving the applications. 9890

       (Z) On any day on which an elector may vote in person at the 9891
office of the board or at another site designated by the board, 9892
consider the board or other designated site a polling place for 9893
that day. All requirements or prohibitions of law that apply to a 9894
polling place shall apply to the office of the board or other 9895
designated site on that day. 9896

       Sec. 3501.17.  (A) The expenses of the board of elections 9897
shall be paid from the county treasury, in pursuance of 9898
appropriations by the board of county commissioners, in the same 9899
manner as other county expenses are paid. If the board of county 9900
commissioners fails to appropriate an amount sufficient to provide 9901
for the necessary and proper expenses of the board of elections 9902
pertaining to the conduct of elections, the board of elections 9903
may apply to the court of common pleas within the county, which 9904
shall fix the amount necessary to be appropriated and the amount 9905
shall be appropriated. Payments shall be made upon vouchers of the 9906
board of elections certified to by its chairperson or acting 9907
chairperson and the director or deputy director, upon warrants of 9908
the county auditor.9909

       The board of elections shall not incur any obligation 9910
involving the expenditure of money unless there are moneys 9911
sufficient in the funds appropriated therefor to meet the 9912
obligation. If the board of elections requests a transfer of funds 9913
from one of its appropriation items to another, the board of 9914
county commissioners shall adopt a resolution providing for the 9915
transfer except as otherwise provided in section 5705.40 of the 9916
Revised Code. The expenses of the board of elections shall be 9917
apportioned among the county and the various subdivisions as 9918
provided in this section, and the amount chargeable to each 9919
subdivision shall be paid as provided in division (L) of this 9920
section or withheld by the auditor from the moneys payable 9921
thereto at the time of the next tax settlement. At the time of 9922
submitting budget estimates in each year, the board of elections 9923
shall submit to the taxing authority of each subdivision, upon 9924
the request of the subdivision, an estimate of the amount to be 9925
paid or withheld from the subdivision during the current or next 9926
fiscal year.9927

       (B) Except as otherwise provided in divisiondivisions (C) 9928
and (F) of this section, the compensation of the members of the 9929
board of elections and of the director, deputy director, and 9930
regular employees in the board's offices, other than compensation 9931
for overtime worked; the expenditures for the rental, furnishing, 9932
and equipping of the office of the board and for the necessary 9933
office supplies for the use of the board; the expenditures for 9934
the acquisition, repair, care, and custody of the polling places, 9935
booths, guardrails, and other equipment for polling places; the 9936
cost of tally sheets, maps, flags, ballot boxes, and all other 9937
permanent records and equipment; the cost of all elections held 9938
in and for the state and county; and all other expenses of the 9939
board which are not chargeable to a political subdivision in 9940
accordance with this section shall be paid in the same manner as 9941
other county expenses are paid.9942

       (C) The compensation for overtime worked by the director, 9943
deputy director, and regular employees in the office of a board 9944
of elections to prepare for and conduct the primary or election; 9945
the compensation of judges of elections and intermittent 9946
employees in the board's offices; the cost of renting, moving, 9947
heating, and lighting polling places and of placing and removing 9948
ballot boxes and other fixtures and equipment thereof, including 9949
voting machines, marking devices, and automatic tabulating 9950
equipment; the cost of printing and delivering ballots, cards of 9951
instructions, registration lists required under section 3503.23 9952
of the Revised Code, and other election supplies, including the 9953
supplies required to comply with division (H) of section 3506.01 9954
of the Revised Code; the cost of contractors engaged by the 9955
board to prepare, program, test, and operate voting machines, 9956
marking devices, and automatic tabulating equipment; and all 9957
other expenses of conducting primaries and elections in the9958
odd-numbered years shall be charged to the subdivisions in and9959
for which such primaries or elections are held. The charge for9960
each primary or general election in odd-numbered years for each9961
subdivision shall be determined in the following manner: first,9962
the total cost of all chargeable items used in conducting such9963
elections shall be ascertained; second, the total charge shall be9964
divided by the number of precincts participating in such9965
election, in order to fix the cost per precinct; third, the cost9966
per precinct shall be prorated by the board of elections to the9967
subdivisions conducting elections for the nomination or election9968
of offices in such precinct; fourth, the total cost for each9969
subdivision shall be determined by adding the charges prorated to9970
it in each precinct within the subdivision.9971

       (D) The entire cost of preparing for and conducting special 9972
elections held on a day other than the day of a primary or general 9973
election, both in odd-numbered or in even-numbered years, shall be 9974
charged to the subdivision. Where a special election is held on 9975
the same day as a primary or general election in an even-numbered 9976
year, the subdivision submitting the special election shall be 9977
charged only for the cost of ballots and advertising. Where a 9978
special election is held on the same day as a primary or general 9979
election in an odd-numbered year, the subdivision submitting the 9980
special election shall be charged for the cost of ballots and 9981
advertising for such special election, in addition to the charges 9982
prorated to such subdivision for the election or nomination of 9983
candidates in each precinct within the subdivision, as set forth 9984
in the preceding paragraph.9985

       (E) Where a special election is held on the day specified by9986
division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code for the9987
holding of a primary election, for the purpose of submitting to9988
the voters of the state constitutional amendments proposed by the9989
general assembly, and a subdivision conducts a special election on 9990
the same day, the entire cost of preparing for and conducting the 9991
special election shall be divided proportionally between the state 9992
and the subdivision based upon a ratio determined by the number 9993
of issues placed on the ballot by each, except as otherwise 9994
provided in division (G) of this section. Such proportional 9995
division of cost shall be made only to the extent funds are 9996
available for such purpose from amounts appropriated by the 9997
general assembly to the secretary of state. If a primary election 9998
is also being conducted in the subdivision, the costs shall be 9999
apportioned as otherwise provided in this section.10000

       (F) When a precinct is open during a general, primary, or 10001
special election solely for the purpose of submitting to the 10002
voters a statewide ballot issue, the state shall bear the entire 10003
cost of the election in that precinct and shall reimburse the 10004
county for all expenses incurred in opening the precinct.10005

       (G)(1) The state shall bear the entire cost of advertising in10006
newspapers statewide ballot issues, explanations of those issues, 10007
and arguments for or against those issues, as required by Section10008
1g of Article II and Section 1 of Article XVI, Ohio Constitution, 10009
and any other section of law. Appropriations made to the 10010
controlling board shall be used to reimburse the secretary of 10011
state for all expenses the secretary of state incurs for such 10012
advertising under division (G) of section 3505.062 of the 10013
Revised Code.10014

       (2) There is hereby created in the state treasury the 10015
statewide ballot advertising fund. The fund shall receive 10016
transfers approved by the controlling board, and shall be used by 10017
the secretary of state to pay the costs of advertising state 10018
ballot issues as required under division (G)(1) of this section. 10019
Any such transfers may be requested from and approved by the 10020
controlling board prior to placing the advertising, in order to 10021
facilitate timely provision of the required advertising.10022

       (H) The cost of renting, heating, and lighting registration10023
places; the cost of the necessary books, forms, and supplies for10024
the conduct of registration; and the cost of printing and posting10025
precinct registration lists shall be charged to the subdivision in 10026
which such registration is held.10027

       (I) At the request of a majority of the members of the board 10028
of elections, theThe secretary of state shall adopt rules under 10029
Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to establish a depreciation 10030
schedule and an associated flat depreciation fee to be charged 10031
for all special elections held in this state. Before adopting 10032
such rules, the secretary of state shall consult with 10033
representatives from educational organizations, boards of 10034
elections, boards of county commissioners, county auditors, and 10035
any other person the secretary determines appropriate. A board of 10036
elections shall charge the state or a political subdivision 10037
placing an issue on the ballot at a special election the flat 10038
depreciation fee for that year established by rule of the 10039
secretary of state by including that flat depreciation fee in the 10040
costs of the election charged to the state or political 10041
subdivision under division (D), (E), or (F) of this section.10042

       (J)(1) The board of county commissioners may, by resolution,10043
shall establish ana single elections revenue fund. Except as 10044
otherwise provided in this division, the purpose of the fund shall 10045
be to accumulate revenue withheld by or paid to the county under 10046
this section for the payment of any expense related to the duties 10047
of the board of elections specified in section 3501.11 of the 10048
Revised Code, upon approval of a majority of the members of the 10049
board of elections. The fund shall not accumulate any revenue 10050
withheld by or paid to the county under this section for the 10051
compensation of the members of the board of elections or of the 10052
director, deputy director, or other regular employees in the 10053
board's offices, other than compensation for overtime worked.10054

        Notwithstanding sections 5705.14, 5705.15, and 5705.16 of the 10055
Revised Code, theThe board of county commissioners may, by 10056
resolution, transferappropriate money to the elections revenue 10057
fund from any other fund of the political subdivisioncounty from 10058
which such paymentsappropriation lawfully may be made. Following 10059
an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board of 10060
elections, the board of county commissioners may, by resolution, 10061
rescind an elections revenue fund established under this 10062
division. If an elections revenue fund is rescinded, money that 10063
has accumulated in the fund shall be transferred to the county 10064
general fund.10065

       (J)(2) The board of county commissioners may, by resolution, 10066
establish an elections capital improvement fund. The board of 10067
county commissioners may, by resolution, appropriate money to the 10068
fund from any other fund of the county from which such 10069
appropriations lawfully may be made. Except as otherwise provided 10070
in this division, the purpose of the fund shall be to accumulate 10071
revenue withheld by or paid to the county under this section for 10072
payment of a flat depreciation fee, which funds shall be 10073
accumulated for the purchase of new equipment necessary to prepare 10074
for or administer an election, upon approval of a majority of the 10075
members of the board of elections and subsequent appropriation by 10076
the board of county commissioners. If the board of county 10077
commissioners establishes an elections capital improvement fund, 10078
the board of county commissioners may transfer from the elections 10079
revenue fund to the elections capital improvement fund any amount 10080
deposited into the elections revenue fund as a result of the state 10081
or a political subdivision paying a flat depreciation fee in 10082
accordance with division (I) of this section.10083

       Following an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of 10084
the board of elections, the board of county commissioners may, by 10085
resolution, rescind an elections capital improvement fund 10086
established under this division. If an elections capital 10087
improvement fund is rescinded, money that has accumulated in the 10088
fund shall be transferred to the county general fund.10089

       (3) At the end of each fiscal year, the board of county 10090
commissioners shall do one of the following with any remaining 10091
unencumbered moneys in the elections revenue fund:10092

       (a) Transfer those moneys to the county general revenue fund; 10093
or10094

       (b) Transfer those moneys to the elections capital 10095
improvement fund, if one has been established under division 10096
(J)(2) of this section.10097

       (4) Transfers made pursuant to division (J) of this section 10098
are not subject to section 5705.14, 5705.15, or 5705.16 of the 10099
Revised Code.10100

       (K)(1) Not less than fifteen business days before the 10101
deadline for submitting a question or issue for placement on the 10102
ballot at a special election, the board of elections shall prepare 10103
and file with the board of county commissioners and the office of 10104
the secretary of state the estimated cost, based on the factors 10105
enumerated in this section, for preparing for and conducting an 10106
election on one question or issue, one nomination for office, or 10107
one election to office in each precinct in the county at that 10108
special election and shall divide that cost by the number of 10109
registered voters in the county.10110

       (2) The board of elections shall provide to a political 10111
subdivision seeking to submit a question or issue, a nomination 10112
for office, or an election to office for placement on the ballot 10113
at a special election with the estimated cost for preparing for 10114
and conducting that election, which shall be calculated by 10115
multiplying the number of registered voters in the political 10116
subdivision with the cost calculated under division (K)(1) of this 10117
section. A political subdivision submitting a question or issue, a 10118
nomination for office, or an election to office for placement on 10119
the ballot at that special election shall pay to the county 10120
elections revenue fund sixty-five per cent of the estimated cost 10121
of the election not less than ten business days after the deadline 10122
for submitting a question or issue for placement on the ballot for 10123
that special election.10124

       (3) Not later than sixty days after the date of a special 10125
election, the board of elections shall provide to each political 10126
subdivision the true and accurate cost for the question or issue, 10127
nomination for office, or election to office that the subdivision 10128
submitted to the voters on the special election ballots. If the 10129
board of elections determines that a subdivision paid less for the 10130
cost of preparing and conducting a special election under division 10131
(K)(2) of this section than the actual cost calculated under this 10132
division, the subdivision shall remit to the county elections 10133
revenue fund the difference between the payment made under 10134
division (K)(2) of this section and the final cost calculated 10135
under this division within thirty days after being notified of the 10136
final cost. If the board of elections determines that a 10137
subdivision paid more for the cost of preparing and conducting a 10138
special election under division (K)(2) of this section than the 10139
actual cost calculated under this division, the board of elections 10140
promptly shall notify the board of county commissioners of that 10141
difference. The board of county commissioners shall remit from the 10142
county elections revenue fund to the political subdivision the 10143
difference between the payment made under division (K)(2) of this 10144
section and the final cost calculated under this division within 10145
thirty days after receiving that notification.10146

       (L) As used in this section:10147

       (1) "Political subdivision" and "subdivision" mean any board 10148
of county commissioners, board of township trustees, legislative 10149
authority of a municipal corporation, board of education, or any 10150
other board, commission, district, or authority that is empowered 10151
to levy taxes or permitted to receive the proceeds of a tax levy, 10152
regardless of whether the entity receives tax settlement moneys as 10153
described in division (A) of this section;10154

        (2) "Statewide ballot issue" means any ballot issue, whether 10155
proposed by the general assembly or by initiative or referendum, 10156
that is submitted to the voters throughout the state.10157

       Sec. 3501.18.  (A) The board of elections may divide a 10158
political subdivision within its jurisdiction into precincts, 10159
establish, define, divide, rearrange, and combine the several 10160
election precincts within its jurisdiction, andor change the 10161
location of the polling place for each precinct when it is 10162
necessary to maintain the requirements as to the number of voters 10163
in a precinct and to provide for the convenience of the voters 10164
and the proper conduct of elections. Any change in the number of 10165
precincts or in precinct boundaries shall be made in accordance 10166
with any rules the secretary of state may adopt under Chapter 119. 10167
of the Revised Code and, if applicable, division (C) of this 10168
section. No change in the number of precincts or in precinct 10169
boundaries shall be made during the twenty-five days immediately 10170
preceding a primary or general election or between the first day 10171
of January and the day on which the members of county central 10172
committees are elected in the years in which those committees are 10173
elected. Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this 10174
section, each precinct shall contain a number of electors, not to 10175
exceed one thousand four hundred, that the board of elections 10176
determines to be a reasonable number after taking into 10177
consideration the type and amount of available equipment, prior 10178
voter turnout, the size and location of each selected polling 10179
place, available parking, availability of an adequate number of 10180
poll workers, and handicap accessibility and other accessibility 10181
to the polling place. 10182

       If the board changes the boundaries of a precinct after the 10183
filing of a local option election petition pursuant to sections 10184
4301.32 to 4301.41, 4303.29, or 4305.14 of the Revised Code that 10185
calls for a local option election to be held in that precinct, the 10186
local option election shall be held in the area that constituted 10187
the precinct at the time the local option petition was filed, 10188
regardless of the change in the boundaries. 10189

       If the board changes the boundaries of a precinct in order to 10190
meet the requirements of division (B)(1) of this section in a 10191
manner that causes a member of a county central committee to no 10192
longer qualify as a representative of an election precinct in the 10193
county, of a ward of a city in the county, or of a township in the 10194
county, the member shall continue to represent the precinct, ward, 10195
or township for the remainder of the member's term, regardless of 10196
the change in boundaries. 10197

       In an emergency, the board may provide more than one polling 10198
place in a precinct. In order to provide for the convenience of 10199
the voters, the board may locate polling places for voting or 10200
registration outside the boundaries of precincts, provided that 10201
the nearest public school or public building shall be used if the 10202
board determines it to be available and suitable for use as a 10203
polling place. Except in an emergency, no change in the number or 10204
location of the polling places in a precinct shall be made during 10205
the twenty-five days immediately preceding a primary or general 10206
election. 10207

       Electors who have failed to respond within thirty days to any 10208
confirmation notice shall not be counted in determining the size 10209
of any precinct under this section. 10210

       (B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of 10211
this section, a board of elections shall determineset all 10212
precinct boundaries using geographical units used by the United 10213
States department of commerce, bureau of the census, in reporting 10214
the decennial census of Ohio. 10215

        (2) The board of elections may apply to the secretary of 10216
state for a waiver from the requirement of division (B)(1) of this 10217
section whenif it is not feasible to comply with that requirement 10218
because of unusual physical boundaries or residential development 10219
practices that would cause unusual hardship for voters. The board 10220
shall identify the affected precincts and census units, explain 10221
the reason for the waiver request, and include a map illustrating 10222
where the census units will be split because of the requested 10223
waiver. If the secretary of state approves the waiver and so 10224
notifies the board of elections in writing, the board may change 10225
a precinct boundary as necessary under this section, 10226
notwithstanding the requirement in division (B)(1) of this 10227
section. 10228

       (C) The board of elections may apply to the secretary of 10229
state for a waiver from the requirement of division (A) of this 10230
section regarding the number of electors in a precinct when the 10231
use of geographical units used by the United States department of 10232
commerce, bureau of the census, will cause a precinct to contain 10233
more than one thousand four hundred electors. The board shall 10234
identify the affected precincts and census units, explain the 10235
reason for the waiver request, and include a map illustrating 10236
where census units will be split because of the requested waiver. 10237
If the secretary of state approves the waiver and so notifies the 10238
board of elections in writing, the board may change a precinct 10239
boundary as necessary to meet the requirements of division (B)(1) 10240
of this section. 10241

       Sec. 3501.21.  When the board of elections considers it 10242
necessary to change, divide, or combinechanges, divides, or 10243
combines any precinct or to relocaterelocates a polling place in 10244
accordance with section 3501.18 of the Revised Code, it shall 10245
notify, prior to the next election, each of the registrants in the 10246
precinct of the change by mail. On and after August 1, 2000, when 10247
Within five days after the board approves changes to the 10248
boundaries of any precinct or relocation of a polling place, it 10249
shall notify the secretary of state of the change not later than 10250
forty-five days after making the change. 10251

       Sec. 3501.22.  (A) On or before the fifteenth day of 10252
September in each year, the board of elections by a majority vote 10253
shall, after careful examination and investigation as to their 10254
qualifications, appoint for each election precinct four residents 10255
of the county in which the precinct is located, as judges. Except 10256
as otherwise provided in division (C) of this section, all 10257
judges of election shall be qualified electors. The judges shall 10258
constitute the election officers of the precinct. Not more than 10259
one-half of the total number of judges shall be members of the 10260
same political party. The term of such precinct officers shall be 10261
for one year. The board may, at any time, designate any number of 10262
election officers, not more than one-half of whom shall be members 10263
of the same political party, to perform their duties at any 10264
precinct in any election. The board may appoint additional 10265
officials, equally divided between the two major political 10266
parties,judges when necessary to expedite voting, but such 10267
appointments shall not, when taken together with regular judges, 10268
allow more than one-half of the total number of judges to be 10269
members of the same political party. 10270

       Vacancies for unexpired terms shall be filled by the board. 10271
When new precincts have been created, the board shall appoint 10272
judges for those precincts for the unexpired term. Any judge may 10273
be summarily removed from office at any time by the board for 10274
neglect of duty, malfeasance, or misconduct in office or for any 10275
other good and sufficient reason. 10276

       Precinct election officials shall perform all of the duties 10277
provided by law for receiving the ballots and supplies, opening 10278
and closing the polls, and overseeing the casting of ballots 10279
during the time the polls are open, and any other duties required 10280
by section 3501.26 of the Revised Code. 10281

       A board of elections may designate two precinct election 10282
officials as counting officials to count and tally the votes cast 10283
and certify the results of the election at each precinct, and 10284
perform other duties as provided by law. To expedite the counting 10285
of votes at each precinct, the board may appoint additional 10286
officials, not more than one-half of whom shall be members of the 10287
same political party. 10288

       The board shall designate one of the precinct election 10289
officials who is a member of the dominant political party to serve 10290
as a presiding judge, whose duty it is to deliver the returns of 10291
the election and all supplies to the office of the board. For 10292
these services, the presiding judge shall receive additional 10293
compensation in an amount, consistent with section 3501.28 of the 10294
Revised Code, determined by the board of elections. 10295

       The board shall issue to each precinct election official a 10296
certificate of appointment, which the official shall present to 10297
the presiding judge at the time the polls are opened. 10298

       (B) If the board of elections determines that not enough 10299
qualified electors in a precinct are available to serve as 10300
precinct officers, it may appoint persons to serve as precinct 10301
officers at a primary, special, or general election who are at 10302
least seventeen years of age and are registered to vote in 10303
accordance with section 3503.07 of the Revised Code. 10304

       (C)(1) A board of elections, in conjunction with the board 10305
of education of a city, local, or exempted village school 10306
district, the governing authority of a community school 10307
established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, or the chief 10308
administrator of a nonpublic school may establish a program 10309
permitting certain high school students to apply and, if appointed 10310
by the board of elections, to serve as precinct officers at a 10311
primary, special, or general election. 10312

       In addition to the requirements established by division 10313
(C)(2) of this section, a board of education, governing 10314
authority, or chief administrator that establishes a program under 10315
this division in conjunction with a board of elections may 10316
establish additional criteria that students shall meet to be 10317
eligible to participate in that program. 10318

       (2)(a) To be eligible to participate in a program established 10319
under division (C)(1) of this section, a student shall be a 10320
United States citizen, a resident of the county, at least 10321
seventeen years of age, and enrolled in the senior year of high 10322
school. 10323

       (b) Any student applying to participate in a program 10324
established under division (C)(1) of this section, as part of the 10325
student's application process, shall declare the student's 10326
political party affiliation with the board of elections. 10327

       (3) No student appointed as a precinct officer pursuant to a 10328
program established under division (C)(1) of this section shall 10329
be designated as a presiding judge. 10330

       (4) Any student participating in a program established under 10331
division (C)(1) of this section shall be excused for that 10332
student's absence from school on the day of an election at which 10333
the student is serving as a precinct officer. 10334

       (D) In any precinct with six or more precinct officers, up 10335
to two students participating in a program established under 10336
division (C)(1) of this section who are under eighteen years of 10337
age may serve as precinct officers. Not more than one precinct 10338
officer in any given precinct with fewer than six precinct 10339
officers shall be under eighteen years of age. 10340

       (E)(1) Each board of elections shall adopt a policy to either 10341
allow or disallow split shift schedules for any person, other than 10342
the presiding judge, who is compensated for working at a precinct 10343
polling location or a location for the casting of absent voter's 10344
ballots in person. If the board of elections allows split shifts, 10345
the board shall adopt a policy to do both of the following:10346

       (a) Ensure that an adequate number of precinct officers are 10347
in each precinct;10348

       (b) Address inadequate numbers of precinct officers in any 10349
precinct due to the failure of split-shift precinct officers to 10350
arrive for their scheduled shifts.10351

       (2) Each portion of a split shift shall consist of not less 10352
than one-third nor more than two-thirds of the hours of work 10353
required for a precinct officer's full shift and such hours shall 10354
be worked consecutively. A precinct officer completing a split 10355
shift shall be paid a percentage, based on the number of hours 10356
worked in relation to a precinct officer's full shift, of the 10357
per-day compensation provided for in section 3501.28 of the 10358
Revised Code.10359

       Sec. 3501.38.  All declarations of candidacy, nominating 10360
petitions, or other petitions presented to or filed with the 10361
secretary of state or a board of elections or with any other 10362
public office for the purpose of becoming a candidate for any 10363
nomination or office or for the holding of an election on any 10364
issue shall, in addition to meeting the other specific 10365
requirements prescribed in the sections of the Revised Code 10366
relating to them, be governed by the following rules: 10367

       (A) Only electors qualified to vote a regular ballot on the 10368
candidacy or issue which is the subject of the petition shall 10369
sign a petition. Each signer shall be a registered elector 10370
pursuant to section 3503.11 of the Revised Code. The facts of 10371
qualification shall be determined as of the date when the petition 10372
is filed. 10373

       (B) Signatures shall be affixed in ink. Each signer may also 10374
print the signer's name, so as to clearly identify the signer's 10375
signature. 10376

       (C) Each signer shall place on the petition after the 10377
signer's name the date of signing and the location of the signer's 10378
voting residence, including the street and number if in a 10379
municipal corporation or the rural route number, post office 10380
address, or township if outside a municipal corporation. The 10381
voting address given on the petition shall be the address 10382
appearing in the registration records at the board of elections. 10383

       (D) Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the 10384
Revised Code, no person shall write any name other than the 10385
person's own on any petition. Except as otherwise provided in 10386
section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, no person may authorize 10387
another to sign for the person. If a petition contains the 10388
signature of an elector two or more times, only the first 10389
signature shall be counted. 10390

       (E)(1) On each petition paper, the circulator shall indicate 10391
the number of signatures contained on it, and shall sign a 10392
statement made under penalty of election falsification that the 10393
circulator witnessed the affixing of every signature, that all 10394
signers were to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief 10395
qualified to sign, and that every signature is to the best of the 10396
circulator's knowledge and belief the signature of the person 10397
whose signature it purports to be or of an attorney in fact acting 10398
pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code. On the 10399
circulator's statement for a declaration of candidacy or 10400
nominating petition for a person seeking to become a statewide 10401
candidate or for a statewide initiative or a statewide referendum10402
petition paper, the circulator shall identify the circulator's 10403
name, the address of the circulator's permanent residence, and the 10404
name and address of the person employing the circulator to 10405
circulate the petition, if any. 10406

       (2) As used in division (E) of this section, "statewide 10407
candidate" means the joint candidates for the offices of governor 10408
and lieutenant governor or a candidate for the office of secretary 10409
of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney 10410
general.10411

       (F) Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the 10412
Revised Code, if a circulator knowingly permits an unqualified 10413
person to sign a petition paper or permits a person to write a 10414
name other than the person's own on a petition paper, that 10415
petition paper is invalid; otherwise, the signature of a person 10416
not qualified to sign shall be rejected but shall not invalidate 10417
the other valid signatures on the paper. 10418

       (G) The circulator of a petition may, before filing it in a 10419
public office, strike from it any signature the circulator does 10420
not wish to present as a part of the petition. 10421

       (H) Any signer of a petition or an attorney in fact acting 10422
pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code on behalf of a 10423
signer may remove the signer's signature from that petition at any 10424
time before the petition is filed in a public office by striking 10425
the signer's name from the petition; no signature may be removed 10426
after the petition is filed in any public office. 10427

       (I)(1) No alterations, corrections, or additions may be made 10428
to a petition after it is filed in a public office. 10429

       (2)(a) No declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, or 10430
other petition for the purpose of becoming a candidate may be 10431
withdrawn after it is filed in a public office. Nothing in this 10432
division prohibits a person from withdrawing as a candidate as 10433
otherwise provided by law. 10434

       (b) No petition presented to or filed with the secretary of 10435
state, a board of elections, or any other public office for the 10436
purpose of the holding of an election on any question or issue may 10437
be resubmitted after it is withdrawn from a public office. Nothing 10438
in this division prevents a question or issue petition from being 10439
withdrawn by the filing of a written notice of the withdrawal by a 10440
majority of the members of the petitioning committee with the same 10441
public office with which the petition was filed prior to the 10442
sixtieth day before the election at which the question or issue is 10443
scheduled to appear on the ballot. 10444

       (J) All declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, or 10445
other petitions under this section shall be accompanied by the 10446
following statement in boldface capital letters: WHOEVER COMMITS 10447
ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE. 10448

       (K) All separate petition papers shall be filed at the same 10449
time, as one instrument. 10450

       (L) If a board of elections distributes for use a petition 10451
form for a declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, or any 10452
type of question or issue petition that does not satisfy the 10453
requirements of law as of the date of that distribution, the board 10454
shall not invalidate the petition on the basis that the petition 10455
form does not satisfy the requirements of law, if the petition 10456
otherwise is valid. Division (L) of this section applies only if 10457
the candidate received the petition from the board within ninety 10458
days of when the petition is required to be filed. 10459

       Sec. 3501.39.  (A) The secretary of state or a board of10460
elections shall accept any petition described in section 3501.3810461
of the Revised Code unless one of the following occurs:10462

       (1) A written protest against the petition or candidacy,10463
naming specific objections, is filed, a hearing is held, and a10464
determination is made by the election officials with whom the10465
protest is filed that the petition is invalid, in accordance with10466
any section of the Revised Code providing a protest procedure.10467

       (2) A written protest against the petition or candidacy,10468
naming specific objections, is filed, a hearing is held, and a10469
determination is made by the election officials with whom the10470
protest is filed that the petition violates any requirement10471
established by law.10472

       (3) The candidate's candidacy or the petition violates the10473
requirements of this chapter, Chapter 3513. of the Revised Code,10474
or any other requirements established by law.10475

       (B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this 10476
section or section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, a board of 10477
elections shall not invalidate any declaration of candidacy or 10478
nominating petition under division (A)(3) of this section after 10479
the fiftiethsixtieth day prior to the election at which the 10480
candidate seeks nomination to office, if the candidate filed a 10481
declaration of candidacy, or election to office, if the candidate 10482
filed a nominating petition.10483

       (C)(1) If a petition is filed for the nomination or election 10484
of a candidate in a charter municipal corporation with a filing 10485
deadline that occurs after the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day 10486
before the day of the election, a board of elections may 10487
invalidate the petition within fifteen days after the date of that 10488
filing deadline.10489

       (2) If a petition for the nomination or election of a 10490
candidate is invalidated under division (C)(1) of this section, 10491
that person's name shall not appear on the ballots for any office 10492
for which the person's petition has been invalidated. If the 10493
ballots have already been prepared, the board of elections shall 10494
remove the name of that person from the ballots to the extent 10495
practicable in the time remaining before the election. If the name 10496
is not removed from the ballots before the day of the election, 10497
the votes for that person are void and shall not be counted.10498

       Sec. 3501.40.  (A) The secretary of state shall adopt rules 10499
specifying the manner in which elections shall be conducted in 10500
this state in the event of an emergency.10501

       (B)(1) Not later than December 31, 2011, each board of 10502
elections shall establish and submit to the secretary of state an 10503
emergency preparedness plan for the conduct of elections in the 10504
applicable county. A board of elections shall review its plan and 10505
submit an updated plan to the secretary of state at the 10506
commencement of each new term of office of the secretary of state.10507

       (2) The secretary of state shall establish, by rule, the form 10508
and content of emergency preparedness plans required to be 10509
submitted by a board of elections under division (B)(1) of this 10510
section.10511

       (C) As used in this section, "emergency" means any period 10512
during which the governor has declared or proclaimed that an 10513
emergency exists.10514

       Sec. 3501.90. (A) As used in this section:10515

       (1) "Harassment in violation of the election law" means 10516
either of the following:10517

       (a) Any of the following types of conduct in or about a 10518
polling place or, a place of registration or election, or a place 10519
where an elector is casting an absent voter's ballot: obstructing 10520
access of an elector to a polling place; another improper practice 10521
or attempt tending to obstruct, intimidate, or interfere with an 10522
elector in registering or voting at a place of registration or 10523
election; molesting or otherwise engaging in violence against 10524
observers in the performance of their duties at a place of 10525
registration or election; or participating in a riot, violence, 10526
tumult, or disorder in and about a place of registration or 10527
election;10528

       (b) A violation of division (A)(1), (2), (3), or (5) or 10529
division (B) of section 3501.35 of the Revised Code.10530

       (2) "Person" has the same meaning as in division (C) of 10531
section 1.59 of the Revised Code and also includes any 10532
organization that is not otherwise covered by that division.10533

       (3) "Trier of fact" means the jury or, in a nonjury action, 10534
the court.10535

       (B) An elector who has experienced harassment in violation of 10536
the election law has a cause of action against each person that 10537
committed the harassment in violation of the election law. In any 10538
civil action based on this cause of action, the elector may seek a 10539
declaratory judgment, an injunction, or other appropriate 10540
equitable relief. The civil action may be commenced by an elector 10541
who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law 10542
either alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23.10543

       (C)(1) In addition to the equitable relief authorized by 10544
division (B) of this section, an elector who has experienced 10545
harassment in violation of the election law may be entitled to 10546
relief under division (C)(2) or (3) of this section.10547

        (2) If the harassment in violation of the election law 10548
involved intentional or reckless threatening or causing of bodily 10549
harm to the elector while the elector was attempting to register 10550
to vote, to obtain an absent voter's ballot, or to vote, the 10551
elector may seek, in a civil action based on the cause of action 10552
created by division (B) of this section, monetary damages as 10553
prescribed in this division. The civil action may be commenced by 10554
the elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the 10555
election law either alone or as a party to a class action under 10556
Civil Rule 23. Upon proof by a preponderance of the evidence in 10557
the civil action that the harassment in violation of the election 10558
law involved intentional or reckless threatening or causing of 10559
bodily harm to the elector, the trier of fact shall award the 10560
elector the greater of three times of the amount of the elector's 10561
actual damages or one thousand dollars. The court also shall award 10562
a prevailing elector reasonable attorney's fees and court costs.10563

        (3) Whether a civil action on the cause of action created by 10564
division (B) of this section is commenced by an elector who has 10565
experienced harassment in violation of the election law alone or 10566
as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23, if the defendant 10567
in the action is an organization that has previously been 10568
determined in a court of this state to have engaged in harassment 10569
in violation of the election law, the elector may seek an order of 10570
the court granting any of the following forms of relief upon proof 10571
by a preponderance of the evidence:10572

        (a) Divestiture of the organization's interest in any 10573
enterprise or in any real property;10574

        (b) Reasonable restrictions upon the future activities or 10575
investments of the organization, including, but not limited to, 10576
prohibiting the organization from engaging in any harassment in 10577
violation of the election law;10578

        (c) The dissolution or reorganization of the organization;10579

        (d) The suspension or revocation of any license, permit, or 10580
prior approval granted to the organization by any state agency;10581

        (e) The revocation of the organization's authorization to do 10582
business in this state if the organization is a foreign 10583
corporation or other form of foreign entity.10584

        (D) It shall not be a defense in a civil action based on the 10585
cause of action created by division (B) of this section, whether 10586
commenced by an elector who has experienced harassment in 10587
violation of the election law alone or as a party to a class 10588
action under Civil Rule 23, that no criminal prosecution was 10589
commenced or conviction obtained in connection with the conduct 10590
alleged to be the basis of the civil action.10591

        (E) In a civil action based on the cause of action created by 10592
division (B) of this section, whether commenced by an elector who 10593
has experienced harassment in violation of the election law alone 10594
or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23, the elector 10595
may name as defendants each individual who engaged in conduct 10596
constituting harassment in violation of the election law as well 10597
as any person that employs, sponsors, or uses as an agent any such 10598
individual or that has organized a common scheme to cause 10599
harassment in violation of the election law.10600

       (F) A board of elections shall place on all absent voter's 10601
materials a telephone number through which a voter may report 10602
alleged harassment in violation of the election law.10603

       Sec. 3503.01.  (A) Every citizen of the United States who is 10604
of the age of eighteen years or over and, who haswill have been a 10605
resident of the state for thirty days immediately preceding the 10606
day of an election at which the citizen offers to vote, who is a 10607
resident of the county and precinct in which the citizen offers 10608
to vote, and haswho will have been registered to vote for 10609
thirty days by the day of an election, has the qualifications of 10610
an elector and may vote at all elections in the precinct in 10611
which the citizen resides. 10612

       (B) When only a portion of a precinct is included within the 10613
boundaries of an election district, the board of elections may 10614
assign the electors residing in such portion of a precinct to the 10615
nearest precinct or portion of a precinct within the boundaries 10616
of such election district for the purpose of voting at any 10617
special election held in such district. In any election in which 10618
only a part of the electors in a precinct is qualified to vote, 10619
the board may assign voters in such part to an adjoining 10620
precinct. Such assignment may be made to an adjoining precinct 10621
in another county with the consent and approval of the board of 10622
elections of such other county if the number of voters assigned 10623
to vote in a precinct in another county is two hundred or less. 10624

       The board shall notify all such electors so assigned, at 10625
least ten days prior to the holding of any such election, of the 10626
location of the polling place where they are entitled to vote at 10627
such election. 10628

       As used in division (B) of this section, "election district" 10629
means a school district, municipal corporation, township, or other 10630
political subdivision that includes territory in more than one 10631
precinct or any other district or authority that includes 10632
territory in more than one precinct and that is authorized by law 10633
to place an issue on the ballot at a special election. 10634

       Sec. 3503.04.  Persons who are inmates of a public or private 10635
institution who are citizens of the United States and have resided 10636
in this state thirty days immediately preceding the election, and 10637
who are otherwise qualified as to age and residence within the 10638
county shall have their lawful residence in the county, city, 10639
village and township in which saidbe permitted to register to 10640
vote at the address of that institution is located provided, that 10641
the lawful residence of a qualified elector who is an inmate in 10642
such an institution for a temporary treatmentpurpose only, shall 10643
be the residence from which hethe elector entered such 10644
institution. 10645

       For the purpose of this section, "a temporary purpose" means 10646
remaining an inmate of a public or private institution for less 10647
than ninety days. 10648

       Sec. 3503.06. (A) No person shall be entitled to vote at any 10649
election, or to sign or circulate any declaration of candidacy or 10650
any nominating, or recall petition, unless the person is 10651
registered as an elector and will have resided in the county and 10652
precinct where the person is registered for at least thirty days 10653
at the time of the next election. 10654

       (B)(1)No person shall be entitled to sign any petition, 10655
unless the person is registered as an elector and resides in a 10656
precinct in which the candidacy or issue that is the subject of 10657
the petition will appear on the ballot.10658

       (C) No person shall be entitled to circulate any initiative 10659
or referendum petition unless the person is a resident of this 10660
stateat least eighteen years of age. 10661

       (2) All election officials, in determining the residence of a 10662
person circulating a petition under division (B)(1) of this 10663
section, shall be governed by the following rules:10664

       (a) That place shall be considered the residence of a person 10665
in which the person's habitation is fixed and to which, whenever 10666
the person is absent, the person has the intention of returning.10667

       (b) A person shall not be considered to have lost the 10668
person's residence who leaves the person's home and goes into 10669
another state for temporary purposes only, with the intention of 10670
returning.10671

       (c) A person shall not be considered to have gained a 10672
residence in any county of this state into which the person comes 10673
for temporary purposes only, without the intention of making that 10674
county the permanent place of abode.10675

       (d) If a person removes to another state with the intention 10676
of making that state the person's residence, the person shall be 10677
considered to have lost the person's residence in this state.10678

       (e) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2)(f) of 10679
this section, if a person removes from this state and continuously 10680
resides outside this state for a period of four years or more, the 10681
person shall be considered to have lost the person's residence in 10682
this state, notwithstanding the fact that the person may entertain 10683
an intention to return at some future period.10684

       (f) If a person removes from this state to engage in the 10685
services of the United States government, the person shall not be 10686
considered to have lost the person's residence in this state 10687
during the period of that service, and likewise should the person 10688
enter the employment of the state, the place where that person 10689
resided at the time of the person's removal shall be considered to 10690
be the person's place of residence.10691

       (g) If a person goes into another state and, while there, 10692
exercises the right of a citizen by voting, the person shall be 10693
considered to have lost the person's residence in this state.10694

       (C) No person shall be entitled to sign any initiative or 10695
referendum petition unless the person is registered as an elector 10696
and will have resided in the county and precinct where the person 10697
is registered for at least thirty days at the time of the next 10698
election.10699

       Sec. 3503.10.  (A) Each designated agency shall designateThe 10700
secretary of state shall be the chief elections official who 10701
coordinates Ohio's responsibilities under section 7 of the 10702
National Voter Registration Act of 1993. To fulfill that 10703
responsibility, not later than one hundred twenty days after the 10704
effective date of this amendment or not later than one hundred 10705
twenty days after an agency is determined to be a designated 10706
agency in accordance with division (X) of section 3501.01 of the 10707
Revised Code, the secretary of state shall enter into a 10708
memorandum of understanding with the head of the state agency 10709
with supervisory authority over each designated agency for the 10710
purpose of prescribing a general program for registering voters 10711
or updating voter registration information, such as name and 10712
residence changes, consistent with the National Voter 10713
Registration Act of 1993. The secretary of state and the head of 10714
each applicable state agency shall enter into a new memorandum of 10715
understanding for the purpose of complying with section 7 of the 10716
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 every four years 10717
thereafter beginning on December 1, 2011.10718

       The head of the agency with supervisory authority over each 10719
designated agency shall agree that the state agency and any agency 10720
under its authority shall do all of the following, at a minimum, 10721
in the memorandum of understanding that it enters into with the 10722
secretary of state under this section:10723

       (1) Affirm its agreement to comply with the requirements of 10724
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993;10725

       (2) Create and submit, within ninety days after the agency 10726
and the secretary of state enter into the memorandum of 10727
understanding, an agency plan for implementing the general program 10728
for registering voters or updating voter registration information 10729
prescribed by the secretary of state; transmit that plan and any 10730
subsequent amendments to the secretary of state within five 10731
business days after the plan is approved by the head of the 10732
agency; post the plan on the agency's web site, if available, and 10733
at the agency's office; and update the plan within ninety days 10734
after entering into any future memorandum of understanding or 10735
whenever the agency considers such an update to be necessary;10736

       (3) Implement the general program for registering voters or 10737
updating voter registration information prescribed by the 10738
secretary of state and agree that the secretary of state may 10739
administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summon witnesses, compel the 10740
production of books, papers, records, and other evidence, and fix 10741
the time and place for hearing any matters relating to the 10742
administration and enforcement of this chapter and the memorandum 10743
of understanding;10744

       (4) Designate one person within that agency to serve as 10745
coordinator for the voter registration program within the agency 10746
and its departments, divisions, and programs. The designated 10747
person shall be trained under a program designed by the secretary 10748
of state and shall be responsible for administering all aspects 10749
of the voter registration program for that agency as prescribed 10750
by the secretary of state. The designated person shall receive no 10751
additional compensation for performing such duties. 10752

       (5) Prominently place signs, prescribed by the secretary of 10753
state, in all designated agency offices alerting clients that they 10754
must be offered the opportunity to register to vote or to update 10755
their voter registration;10756

       (6) Beginning within one hundred eighty days after the 10757
effective date of the initial memorandum of understanding, report 10758
quarterly to the secretary of state all of the following:10759

       (a) The number of new registrations received by the agency 10760
during the previous quarter; 10761

       (b) The number of updated registrations received by the 10762
agency during the previous quarter; and10763

       (c) The total number of clients served by the agency during 10764
the previous quarter.10765

       (7) Allow an individual to register a complaint to either the 10766
designated agency or, if available, to a central complaint hotline 10767
about an agency's failure to offer to clients the opportunity to 10768
register to vote or update their voter registrations;10769

       (8) Agree that the secretary of state has the authority to 10770
initiate a mandamus action before the supreme court if the 10771
agency does not correct any deficiency in compliance with this 10772
chapter or the memorandum of understanding within forty-five 10773
days after receiving written notice of the deficiency from the 10774
secretary of state;10775

       (9) Provide electronic registration updates to the secretary 10776
of state, if applicable, upon request.10777

       Not later than sixty days after the effective date of this 10778
amendment, the secretary of state shall provide to each designated 10779
agency such information as may be necessary for the agency to 10780
comply with the provisions required to be included in the 10781
memorandum of understanding entered into under this section, 10782
including, but not limited to, prescribed forms and signs, 10783
guidance for submitting required reports, and guidance for 10784
processing complaints.10785

       (B) Every designated agency, public high school and 10786
vocational school, public library, and office of a county 10787
treasurer shall provide in each of its offices or locations voter 10788
registration applications and assistance in the registration of 10789
persons qualified to register to vote, in accordance with this 10790
chapter. 10791

       (C) Every designated agency shall distribute to its 10792
applicants, prior to or in conjunction with distributing a voter 10793
registration application, a form prescribed by the secretary of 10794
state that includes all of the following: 10795

       (1) The question, "Do you wantIf you are not registered to 10796
vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to 10797
vote or update your current voter registrationhere 10798
today?"--followed by boxes for the applicant to indicate whether 10799
the applicant would like to register or decline to register to 10800
vote, and the statement, highlighted in bold print, "If you do not 10801
check either box, you will be considered to have decided not to 10802
register to vote at this time."; 10803

       (2) If the agency provides public assistance, the statement, 10804
"Applying to register or declining to register to vote will not 10805
affect the amount of assistance that you will be provided by this 10806
agency."; 10807

       (3) The statement, "If you would like help in filling out the 10808
voter registration application form, we will help you. The 10809
decision whether to seek or accept help is yours. You may fill out 10810
the application form in private."; 10811

       (4) The statement, "If you believe that someone has 10812
interfered with your right to register or to decline to register 10813
to vote, your right to privacy in deciding whether to register or 10814
in applying to register to vote, or your right to choose your own 10815
political party or other political preference, you may file a 10816
complaint with the prosecuting attorney of your county or with the 10817
secretary of state," with the address and telephone number for 10818
each such official's office. 10819

       (D) Each designated agency shall distribute a voter 10820
registration form prescribed by the secretary of state to each 10821
applicant with each application for service or assistance, and 10822
with each written application or form for recertification, 10823
renewal, or change of address. 10824

       (E) Each designated agency shall do all of the following: 10825

       (1) Have employees trained to administer the voter 10826
registration program in order to provide to each applicant who 10827
wishes to register to vote and who accepts assistance, the same 10828
degree of assistance with regard to completion of the voter 10829
registration application as is provided by the agency with regard 10830
to the completion of its own form; 10831

       (2) Accept completed voter registration applications, voter 10832
registration change of residence forms, and voter registration 10833
change of name forms, regardless of whether the application or 10834
form was distributed by the designated agency, for transmittal to 10835
the office of the board of elections in the county in which the 10836
agency is located. Each designated agency and the appropriate 10837
board of elections shall establish a method by which the voter 10838
registration applications and other voter registration forms are 10839
transmitted to that board of elections within five business days 10840
after being accepted by the agency. 10841

       (3) If the designated agency is one that is primarily engaged 10842
in providing services to persons with disabilities under a 10843
state-funded program, and that agency provides services to a 10844
person with disabilities at a person's home, provide the services 10845
described in divisions (E)(1) and (2) of this section at the 10846
person's home; 10847

       (4) Keep as confidential, except as required by the secretary 10848
of state for record-keeping purposes, the identity of an agency 10849
through which a person registered to vote or updated the person's 10850
voter registration records, and information relating to a 10851
declination to register to vote made in connection with a voter 10852
registration application issued by a designated agency. 10853

       (F) The secretary of state shall prepare and transmit written 10854
instructions on the implementation of the voter registration 10855
program within each designated agency, public high school and 10856
vocational school, public library, and office of a county 10857
treasurer. The instructions shall include directions as follows: 10858

       (1) That each person designated to assist with voter 10859
registration maintain strict neutrality with respect to a person's 10860
political philosophies, a person's right to register or decline to 10861
register, and any other matter that may influence a person's 10862
decision to register or not register to vote; 10863

       (2) That each person designated to assist with voter 10864
registration not seek to influence a person's decision to register 10865
or not register to vote, not display or demonstrate any political 10866
preference or party allegiance, and not make any statement to a 10867
person or take any action the purpose or effect of which is to 10868
lead a person to believe that a decision to register or not 10869
register has any bearing on the availability of services or 10870
benefits offered, on the grade in a particular class in school, or 10871
on credit for a particular class in school; 10872

       (3) Regarding when and how to assist a person in completing 10873
the voter registration application, what to do with the completed 10874
voter registration application or voter registration update form, 10875
and when the application must be transmitted to the appropriate 10876
board of elections; 10877

       (4) Regarding what records must be kept by the agency and 10878
where and when those records should be transmitted to satisfy 10879
reporting requirements imposed on the secretary of state under the 10880
National Voter Registration Act of 1993; 10881

       (5) Regarding whom to contact to obtain answers to questions 10882
about voter registration forms and procedures. 10883

       (G) If the voter registration activity is part of an in-class 10884
voter registration program in a public high school or vocational 10885
school, whether prescribed by the secretary of state or 10886
independent of the secretary of state, the board of education 10887
shall do all of the following: 10888

       (1) Establish a schedule of school days and hours during 10889
these days when the person designated to assist with voter 10890
registration shall provide voter registration assistance; 10891

       (2) Designate a person to assist with voter registration from 10892
the public high school's or vocational school's staff; 10893

       (3) Make voter registration applications and materials 10894
available, as outlined in the voter registration program 10895
established by the secretary of state pursuant to section 3501.05 10896
of the Revised Code; 10897

       (4) Distribute the statement, "applying to register or 10898
declining to register to vote will not affect or be a condition of 10899
your receiving a particular grade in or credit for a school course 10900
or class, participating in a curricular or extracurricular 10901
activity, receiving a benefit or privilege, or participating in a 10902
program or activity otherwise available to pupils enrolled in this 10903
school district's schools."; 10904

       (5) Establish a method by which the voter registration 10905
application and other voter registration forms are transmitted to 10906
the board of elections within five days after being accepted by 10907
the public high school or vocational school. 10908

       (H) Any person employed by the designated agency, public high 10909
school or vocational school, public library, or office of a county 10910
treasurer may be designated to assist with voter registration 10911
pursuant to this section. The designated agency, public high 10912
school or vocational school, public library, or office of a county 10913
treasurer shall provide the designated person, and make available 10914
such space as may be necessary, without charge to the county or 10915
state. 10916

       (I) The secretary of state shall prepare and cause to be 10917
displayeddesignated agencies shall display in a prominent 10918
location in each designated agency a notice that identifies the 10919
person designated to assist with voter registration, the nature of 10920
that person's duties, and where and when that person is available 10921
for assisting in the registration of voters. 10922

       A designated agency may furnish additional supplies and 10923
services to disseminate information to increase public awareness 10924
of the existence of a person designated to assist with voter 10925
registration in every designated agency. 10926

       (J) This section does not limit any authority a board of 10927
education, superintendent, or principal has to allow, sponsor, or 10928
promote voluntary election registration programs within a high 10929
school or vocational school, including programs in which pupils 10930
serve as persons designated to assist with voter registration, 10931
provided that no pupil is required to participate. 10932

       (K) Each public library and office of the county treasurer 10933
shall establish a method by which voter registration forms are 10934
transmitted to the board of elections within five days after being 10935
accepted by the public library or office of the county treasurer. 10936

       (L) The department of job and family services and its 10937
departments, divisions, and programs shall limit administration of 10938
the aspects of the voter registration program for the department 10939
to the requirements prescribed by the secretary of state and the 10940
requirements of this section and the National Voter Registration 10941
Act of 1993.(1) The secretary of state may do any of the 10942
following to effect compliance with this chapter:10943

       (a) Administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summon witnesses, 10944
compel the production of books, papers, records, and other 10945
evidence, and fix the time and place for hearing any matters 10946
relating to the administration and enforcement of this chapter and 10947
the memorandum of understanding required under this section;10948

       (b) Initiate a mandamus action before the supreme court if 10949
the state office of a designated agency fails, by the applicable 10950
deadline, to enter into the memorandum of understanding required 10951
by this section; 10952

       (c) Initiate a mandamus action against the state office of a 10953
designated agency before the supreme court if a designated agency 10954
does not correct any deficiency in compliance with this chapter 10955
or the memorandum of understanding within forty-five days after 10956
receiving written notice of the deficiency from the secretary of 10957
state. 10958

       (2) The head of a state agency with supervisory authority 10959
over a designated agency may do any of the following to effect 10960
compliance with this chapter:10961

       (a) Initiate a mandamus action before the supreme court if 10962
the secretary of state fails, by the applicable deadline, to enter 10963
into the memorandum of understanding required by this section; 10964

       (b) Initiate a mandamus action before the supreme court if 10965
the secretary of state does not correct any deficiency in the 10966
proper exercise of the duties of the secretary of state under this 10967
chapter or the memorandum of understanding within forty-five days 10968
after receiving written notice of the deficiency from the state 10969
office of the designated agency;10970

       (c) Initiate a mandamus action before the supreme court if 10971
the county office of that designated agency does not correct any 10972
deficiency in compliance with this chapter or the memorandum of 10973
understanding within forty-five days after receiving written 10974
notice of the deficiency from the state office of that designated 10975
agency. 10976

       Sec. 3503.11. When any person applies for(A)(1) The 10977
secretary of state, in consultation with the Ohio bureau of motor 10978
vehicles, shall adopt rules that require any change of address 10979
form submitted to change a person's address for a driver's 10980
license, commercial driver's license, a state of Ohio 10981
identification card issued under section 4507.50 of the Revised 10982
Code, or motorcycle operator's license or endorsement, or for the 10983
renewal or duplicate of any license or endorsement under Chapter 10984
4506. or 4507. of the Revised Code, the registrar of motor 10985
vehicles or deputy registrar shall offer the applicant the 10986
opportunity to register to vote or to update the applicant's 10987
voter registrationto also serve as notification of change of 10988
address for voter registration purposes unless the person states 10989
on the form that the change of address is not for voter 10990
registration purposes or the person is not a registered voter. 10991
The registrar of motor vehicles or deputy registrar also shall 10992
make available to all other customers voter registration 10993
applications and change of residence and change of name, forms, 10994
but is not required to offer assistance to these customers in 10995
completing a voter registration application or other form. 10996

       The registrar or deputy registrar shall send any completed 10997
registration application or any completed change of residence or 10998
change of name form to the board of elections of the county in 10999
which the office of the registrar or deputy registrar is located, 11000
within five business days after accepting the application or other 11001
form. 11002

       (2) The registrar shall collect from each deputy registrar 11003
through the reports filed under division (J) of section 4503.03 of 11004
the Revised Code and transmit to the secretary of state 11005
information on the number of voter registration applications and 11006
change of residence or change of name forms completed or declined, 11007
and any additional information required by the secretary of state 11008
to comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. No 11009
information relating to an applicant's decision to decline to 11010
register or update the applicant's voter registration at the 11011
office of the registrar or deputy registrar may be used for any 11012
purpose other than voter registration record-keeping required by 11013
the secretary of state, and all such information shall be kept 11014
confidential. 11015

       (3) The secretary of state shall prescribe voter registration 11016
applications and change of residence and change of name forms for 11017
use by the bureau of motor vehicles. The bureau of motor vehicles 11018
shall supply all of its deputy registrars with a sufficient 11019
number of voter registration applications and change of residence 11020
and change of name forms. 11021

       (B)(1) Not later than December 31, 2010, the secretary of 11022
state shall establish a secure internet web site to permit 11023
individuals who meet the qualifications of an elector and who 11024
possess a current and valid Ohio driver's license or 11025
identification card issued by the Ohio bureau of motor vehicles to 11026
do any of the following:11027

       (a) Submit a voter registration application to register;11028

       (b) Change the individual's name, address, or other 11029
information in the individual's current voter registration record;11030

       (c) Determine the status of the individual's previously 11031
submitted voter registration application and, if applicable, 11032
correct an error or omission on that application.11033

       (2) The internet-based voter registration application 11034
established under division (B) of this section shall include the 11035
same information, warnings, and disclaimers as required for paper 11036
voter registration applications. The application also shall 11037
require an applicant to provide the number of the applicant's 11038
current and valid Ohio driver's license or state identification 11039
card.11040

       (3) When an individual submits an application under division 11041
(B) of this section, the information submitted by the applicant 11042
shall be compared with the information in the database of the 11043
registrar of motor vehicles. 11044

       (a) If the information submitted by the applicant 11045
substantially matches the information in the database of the 11046
registrar of motor vehicles, the application shall be provided to 11047
and processed by the applicable board of elections as a 11048
registration by mail, in accordance with section 3503.19 of the 11049
Revised Code. The bureau also shall transmit to the board of 11050
elections the digitized signature of the applicant on file with 11051
the bureau. 11052

       (b) If the information submitted by the applicant does not 11053
substantially match the information in the database of the 11054
registrar of motor vehicles, or if the bureau cannot otherwise 11055
verify that the individual possesses a current and valid Ohio 11056
driver's license or state identification card, the bureau shall 11057
notify the board of elections of that fact when the bureau 11058
provides the application to the board. The board shall notify the 11059
individual of the error and provide the individual with the 11060
opportunity to correct the application in accordance with 11061
division (C)(2) of section 3503.19 of the Revised Code. 11062

       (4) Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the 11063
contrary, a digitized signature transmitted by the Ohio bureau of 11064
motor vehicles to a board of elections under division (B) of this 11065
section shall be considered an original signature on a voter 11066
registration application.11067

       (5) A person who registers to vote under division (B) of this 11068
section shall be considered to have registered by mail for the 11069
purpose of Title XXXV of the Revised Code and federal election 11070
law.11071

       (6) The secretary of state may adopt rules under Chapter 119. 11072
of the Revised Code to implement division (B) of this section. 11073

       (7) The secretary of state shall establish a task force 11074
comprised of individuals designated by the Ohio bureau of motor 11075
vehicles to implement the requirements of division (B) of this 11076
section. The purpose of the task force shall be to develop a 11077
memorandum of understanding between the secretary of state and the 11078
bureau of motor vehicles. The memorandum of understanding shall 11079
identify the responsibilities of the secretary of state and the 11080
bureau to provide for the orderly implementation and maintenance 11081
of the voter registration process established by division (B) of 11082
this section. 11083

       Expenses incurred by the task force are the responsibility of 11084
the secretary of state. The operation of the task force ceases 11085
upon the completion of the tasks necessary to provide for the 11086
implementation of division (B) of this section. The secretary of 11087
state at any time may form a new task force to address the 11088
maintenance of or changes to the implementation process for 11089
division (B) of this section.11090

       Sec. 3503.14.  (A) The secretary of state shall prescribe 11091
the form and content of the registration, change of residence, and 11092
change of name forms used in this state. The forms shall meet the 11093
requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and 11094
shall include spaces for all of the following: 11095

       (1) The voter's name; 11096

       (2) The voter's address; 11097

       (3) The current date; 11098

       (4) The voter's date of birthbirthdate; 11099

       (5) The voter to provide one or more of the following: 11100

       (a) The voter's Ohio driver's license number, if any; 11101

       (b) The last four digits of the voter's social security 11102
number, if any; 11103

       (c) A copy of a current and valid photo identification, a 11104
copy of a military identification, or a copy of a current 11105
utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or 11106
other government document, other than a notice of an election 11107
mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the 11108
Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a 11109
board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, 11110
that shows the voter's name and addressThe voter's 11111
identification. 11112

       (6) The voter's signature. 11113

       The registration form shall include a space on which the 11114
person registering an applicant shall sign the person's name and 11115
provide the person's address and a space on which the person 11116
registering an applicant shall name the employer who is employing 11117
that person to register the applicant. 11118

       The registration form shall include a space, which shall be 11119
labeled as "Recommended," in which the person submitting the 11120
application may record a contact phone number, an electronic mail 11121
address, or both.11122

       Except for forms prescribed by the secretary of state under 11123
section 3503.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall 11124
permit boards of elections to produce forms that have subdivided 11125
spaces for each individual alphanumeric character of the 11126
information provided by the voter so as to accommodate the 11127
electronic reading and conversion of the voter's information to 11128
data and the subsequent electronic transfer of that data to the 11129
statewide voter registration database established under section 11130
3503.15 of the Revised Code. 11131

        (B) None of the following persons who are registering an 11132
applicant in the course of that official's or employee's normal 11133
duties shall sign the person's name, provide the person's address, 11134
or name the employer who is employing the person to register an 11135
applicant on a form prepared under this section: 11136

       (1) An election official; 11137

       (2) A county treasurer; 11138

       (3) A deputy registrar of motor vehicles; 11139

       (4) An employee of a designated agency; 11140

       (5) An employee of a public high school; 11141

       (6) An employee of a public vocational school; 11142

       (7) An employee of a public library; 11143

       (8) An employee of the office of a county treasurer; 11144

       (9) An employee of the bureau of motor vehicles; 11145

       (10) An employee of a deputy registrar of motor vehicles; 11146

       (11) An employee of an election official. 11147

        (C) Except as provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised 11148
Code, any applicant who is unable to sign the applicant's own name 11149
shall make an "X," if possible, which shall be certified by the 11150
signing of the name of the applicant by the person filling out the 11151
form, who shall add the person's own signature. If an applicant is 11152
unable to make an "X," the applicant shall indicate in some manner 11153
that the applicant desires to register to vote or to change the 11154
applicant's name or residence. The person registering the 11155
applicant shall sign the form and attest that the applicant 11156
indicated that the applicant desired to register to vote or to 11157
change the applicant's name or residence. 11158

       (D) No registration, change of residence, or change of name 11159
form shall be rejected solely on the basis that a person 11160
registering an applicant failed to sign the person's name or 11161
failed to name the employer who is employing that person to 11162
register the applicant as required under division (A) of this 11163
section. 11164

       (E) As used in this section, "registering an applicant" 11165
includes any effort, for compensation, to provide voter 11166
registration forms or to assist persons in completing or returning 11167
those forms. 11168

       Sec. 3503.141. (A) A board of elections that receives a voter 11169
registration application by mail shall determine whether the 11170
applicant has previously voted at a federal election in Ohio and 11171
whether the application includes any of the following information:11172

       (1) The applicant's Ohio driver's license number;11173

       (2) The last four digits of the applicant's social security 11174
number; or11175

       (3) A copy of a first-time mail-in registrant identification.11176

       (B) The board of elections shall cause the voter's name in 11177
the county's voter registration records and in the poll list or 11178
signature pollbook for the applicable precinct to be marked to 11179
indicate that the voter shall be required to provide first-time 11180
mail-in registrant identification when the voter appears to vote, 11181
if both of the following apply:11182

       (1) The application does not contain any of the forms of 11183
identification specified in division (A) of this section.11184

       (2) The applicant has not previously voted at a federal 11185
election in Ohio.11186

       (C) At the first election at which a voter whose name has 11187
been marked under division (B) of this section appears to vote, 11188
the voter shall be required to provide first-time mail-in 11189
registrant identification.11190

       (1) If the voter does not have or does not provide first-time 11191
mail-in registrant identification at that election, the voter 11192
shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot under section 11193
3505.181 of the Revised Code.11194

       (2) If the voter provides first-time mail-in registrant 11195
identification at that election, the board shall remove the 11196
indication that first-time mail-in registrant identification is 11197
required from the county's voter registration records and the poll 11198
list or signature pollbook, and the voter shall be permitted to 11199
vote a regular ballot.11200

       Sec. 3503.142. The secretary of state shall coordinate with 11201
boards of elections to identify, collect, and distribute best 11202
practices for processing voter registrations, including, but not 11203
limited to, best practices for data entry and quality assurance. 11204
The secretary of state shall issue best practice instructions to 11205
boards of elections at least once every two years.11206

       Sec. 3503.15.  (A) The secretary of state shall establish and 11207
maintain a statewide voter registration database that shall be 11208
continuously available to each board of elections and to other 11209
agencies as authorized by law. 11210

       (B) The statewide voter registration database established 11211
under this section shall be the official list of registered voters 11212
for all elections conducted in this state. 11213

       (C) The statewide voter registration database established 11214
under this section shall, at a minimum, include all of the 11215
following: 11216

       (1) An electronic network that connects all board of 11217
elections offices with the office of the secretary of state and 11218
with the offices of all other boards of elections; 11219

       (2) A computer program that harmonizes the records contained 11220
in the database with records maintained by each board of 11221
elections; 11222

       (3) An interactive computer program that allows access to the 11223
records contained in the database by each board of elections and 11224
by any persons authorized by the secretary of state to add, 11225
delete, modify, or print database records, and to conduct updates 11226
of the database; 11227

       (4) A search program capable of verifying registered voters 11228
and their registration information by name, driver's license 11229
number, birth date, social security number, or current address; 11230

       (5) Safeguards and components to ensure that the integrity, 11231
security, and confidentiality of the voter registration 11232
information is maintained. 11233

       (D) The secretary of state shall adopt rules pursuant to 11234
Chapter 119. of the Revised Code doing all of the following: 11235

       (1) Specifying the manner in which existing voter 11236
registration records maintained by boards of elections shall be 11237
converted to electronic files for inclusion in the statewide voter 11238
registration database; 11239

       (2) Establishing a uniform method for entering voter 11240
registration records into the statewide voter registration 11241
database on an expedited basis, but not less than once per day, if 11242
new registration information is received; 11243

       (3) Establishing a uniform method for purging canceled voter 11244
registration records from the statewide voter registration 11245
database in accordance with section 3503.21 of the Revised Code; 11246

       (4) Specifying the persons authorized to add, delete, modify, 11247
or print records contained in the statewide voter registration 11248
database and to make updates of that database; 11249

       (5) Establishing a process for annually auditing the 11250
information contained in the statewide voter registration 11251
database. 11252

       (E) A board of elections promptly shall purge a voter's name 11253
and voter registration information from the statewide voter 11254
registration database in accordance with the rules adopted by the 11255
secretary of state under division (D)(3) of this section after the 11256
cancellation of a voter's registration under section 3503.21 of 11257
the Revised Code. 11258

       (F) The secretary of state shall provide training in the 11259
operation of the statewide voter registration database to each 11260
board of elections and to any persons authorized by the secretary 11261
of state to add, delete, modify, or print database records, and to 11262
conduct updates of the database. 11263

       (G)(1) The statewide voter registration database established 11264
under this section shall be made available on a web site of the 11265
office of the secretary of state as follows: 11266

       (a) Except as otherwise provided in division (G)(1)(b) of 11267
this section, only the following information from the statewide 11268
voter registration database regarding a registered voter shall be 11269
made available on the web site: 11270

       (i) The voter's name; 11271

       (ii) The voter's address; 11272

       (iii) The voter's precinct number; 11273

       (iv) The voter's voting history. 11274

       (b) During the thirty days before the day of a primary or 11275
general election, the web site interface of the statewide voter 11276
registration database shall permit a voter to search for the 11277
polling location at which that voter may cast a ballot. 11278

       (2) The secretary of state shall establish, by rule adopted 11279
under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, a process for boards of 11280
elections to notify the secretary of state of changes in the 11281
locations of precinct polling places for the purpose of updating 11282
the information made available on the secretary of state's web 11283
site under division (G)(1)(b) of this section. Those rules shall 11284
require a board of elections, during the thirty days before the 11285
day of a primary or general election, to notify the secretary of 11286
state within one business day of any change to the location of a 11287
precinct polling place within the county. 11288

       (3) During the thirty days before the day of a primary or 11289
general election, not later than one business day after receiving 11290
a notification from a county pursuant to division (G)(2) of this 11291
section that the location of a precinct polling place has changed, 11292
the secretary of state shall update that information on the 11293
secretary of state's web site for the purpose of division 11294
(G)(1)(b) of this section. 11295

       (H)(1) The secretary of state and the registrar of motor 11296
vehicles shall enter into an agreement to match information in the 11297
statewide voter registration database with information in the 11298
database of the registrar of motor vehicles to the extent required 11299
to enable each such official to verify the accuracy of the 11300
information provided on applications for voter registration, as 11301
required under 42 U.S.C. 15483.11302

       (2) The secretary of state shall establish, by rule adopted 11303
under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, a process for notifying 11304
boards of elections of any relevant nonmatch that the secretary 11305
of state receives under division (H)(1) of this section.11306

        (3) The secretary of state shall establish, by rule adopted 11307
under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, procedures for boards of 11308
elections to process relevant nonmatches.11309

        (4) Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the 11310
contrary, a nonmatch shall not be the sole reason for any of the 11311
following:11312

       (a) Failing to add a voter to the statewide voter 11313
registration database;11314

       (b) Challenging or upholding a challenge to a person's voter 11315
registration, a person's right to cast a regular or absent voter's 11316
ballot, or a person's completed regular, provisional, or absent 11317
voter's ballot;11318

       (c) Canceling a person's voter registration;11319

       (d) Requiring a person to vote a provisional ballot; or11320

       (e) Failing to provide a regular ballot or absent voter's 11321
ballot to an otherwise eligible voter.11322

        (5) As used in division (H) of this section, "nonmatch" 11323
means an individual's voter registration record in which any of 11324
the following data fields are not substantially the same when the 11325
secretary of state matches information in the statewide voter 11326
registration database with information in the database of the 11327
registrar of motor vehicles to the extent required to enable 11328
each such official to verify the accuracy of the information 11329
provided on applications for voter registration, as required 11330
under 42 U.S.C. 15483:11331

        (a) Ohio driver's license number, if provided by the 11332
individual;11333

        (b) Last four digits of social security number if the 11334
individual did not provide an Ohio driver's license number and did 11335
provide the last four digits of the individual's social security 11336
number;11337

        (c) Birthdate;11338

       (d) Name (first name or derivative, and last name). 11339

       Sec. 3503.16.  (A) Whenever a registered elector changes the 11340
place of residence of that registered elector from one precinct to 11341
another within a county or from one county to another, or has a 11342
change of name, that registered elector shall report the change by 11343
delivering a change of residence or change of name form, whichever 11344
is appropriate, as prescribed by the secretary of state under 11345
section 3503.14 of the Revised Code to the state or local office 11346
of a designated agency, a public high school or vocational school, 11347
a public library, the office of the county treasurer, the office 11348
of the secretary of state, any office of the registrar or deputy 11349
registrar of motor vehicles, or any office of a board of elections 11350
in person or by a third person. Any voter registration, change of 11351
address, or change of name application, returned by mail, may be 11352
sent only to the secretary of state or the office of a board of 11353
elections. 11354

       A registered elector also may update the registration of that 11355
registered elector by filing a change of residence or change of 11356
name form on the day of a special, primary, or general election at 11357
the polling place in the precinct in which that registered elector 11358
resides or at the board of elections or at another site designated 11359
by the board. 11360

       (B)(1)(a) Any registered elector who moves within a precinct 11361
on or prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election 11362
and has not filed a notice of change of residence with the board 11363
of elections may vote in that election pursuant to division (G) of 11364
this section or by going to that registered elector's assigned 11365
polling place, completing and signing a notice of change of 11366
residence, showing identification in the form of a current and 11367
valid photo identification, a military identification, or a copy 11368
of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, 11369
paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of 11370
an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 11371
of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by 11372
a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, 11373
that shows the name and current address of the elector, and 11374
casting a ballot. If the elector provides either a driver's 11375
license or a state identification card issued under section 11376
4507.50 of the Revised Code that does not contain the elector's 11377
current residence address, the elector shall provide the last 11378
four digits of the elector's driver's license number or state 11379
identification card number, and the precinct election official 11380
shall mark the poll list or signature pollbook to indicate that 11381
the elector has provided a driver's license or state 11382
identification card number with a former address and record the 11383
last four digits of the elector's driver's license number or 11384
state identification card number.11385

       (b) Any registered elector who changes the name of that 11386
registered elector and remains within a precinct on or prior to 11387
the day of a general, primary, or special election and has not 11388
filed a notice of change of name with the board of elections may 11389
vote in that election by going to that registered elector's 11390
assigned polling place, completing and signing a notice of a 11391
change of name, and casting a provisional ballot under section 11392
3505.181 of the Revised Code.11393

       (2) Any registered elector who moves from one precinct to 11394
another within a county or moves from one precinct to another and 11395
changes the name of that registered elector on or prior to the day 11396
of a general, primary, or special election and has not filed a 11397
notice of change of residence or change of name, whichever is 11398
appropriate, with the board of elections may vote in that election 11399
if that registered elector complies with division (G) of this 11400
section or does all of the following: 11401

       (a) Appears at anytime during regular business hours on or11402
after the twenty-eighth day prior to the election in which that 11403
registered elector wishes to vote or, if the election is held on 11404
the day of a presidential primary election, the twenty-fifth day 11405
prior to the election, through noon of the Saturday prior to the 11406
election at the office of the board of elections, appears at any 11407
time during regular business hours on the Monday prior to the11408
close of voter registration for that election at the office of the 11409
board of elections or at another location if pursuant to division 11410
(C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has 11411
designated one or more other locations in the county at which 11412
registered electors may vote, or appears on the day of the 11413
election at either of the following locations: 11414

       (i) The polling place in the precinct in which that 11415
registered elector resides; 11416

       (ii) The office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to 11417
division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has 11418
designated another locationone or more other locations in the 11419
county at which registered electors may vote, at thatsuch other 11420
location instead of the office of the board of elections. 11421

       (b) Completes and signs, under penalty of election 11422
falsification, a notice of change of residence or change of name, 11423
whichever is appropriate, and files it with election officials at 11424
the polling place, at the office of the board of elections, or, if 11425
pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code 11426
the board has designated another locationone or more other 11427
locations in the county at which registered electors may vote, at 11428
thatsuch other location instead of the office of the board of 11429
elections, whichever is appropriate; 11430

       (c) VotesCasts a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 11431
of the Revised Code at the polling place, at the office of the 11432
board of elections, or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 11433
3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another 11434
locationone or more other locations in the county at which 11435
registered electors may vote, at thatsuch other location 11436
instead of the office of the board of elections, whichever is 11437
appropriate, using the address to which that registered elector 11438
has moved or the name of that registered elector as changed, 11439
whichever is appropriate; 11440

       (d) Completes and signs, under penalty of election 11441
falsification, a statement attesting that that registered elector 11442
moved or had a change of name, whichever is appropriate, on or 11443
prior to the day of the election, has voted a provisional ballot11444
at the polling place in the precinct in which that registered 11445
elector resides, at the office of the board of elections, or, if 11446
pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code 11447
the board has designated another locationone or more other 11448
locations in the county at which registered electors may vote, at 11449
thatsuch other location instead of the office of the board of 11450
elections, whichever is appropriate, and will not vote or attempt 11451
to vote at any other location for that particular election. The 11452
statement required under division (B)(2)(d) of this section shall 11453
be included on the notice of change of residence or change of 11454
name, whichever is appropriate, required under division (B)(2)(b) 11455
of this section. 11456

       (C) Any registered elector who moves from one county to 11457
another county within the state on or prior to the day of a 11458
general, primary, or special election and has not registered to 11459
vote in the county to which that registered elector moved may vote 11460
in that election if that registered elector complies with division 11461
(G) of this section or does all of the following: 11462

       (1) Appears at any time during regular business hours on or11463
after the twenty-eighth day prior to the election in which that 11464
registered elector wishes to vote or, if the election is held on 11465
the day of a presidential primary election, the twenty-fifth day 11466
prior to the election, through noon of the Saturday prior to the 11467
election at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant 11468
to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board 11469
has designated another location in the county at which registered 11470
electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of 11471
the board of elections, appears during regular business hours on 11472
the Monday prior to theclose of voter registration for that11473
election at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant 11474
to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board 11475
has designated another locationone or more other locations in the 11476
county at which registered electors may vote, at thatsuch other 11477
location instead of the office of the board of elections, or 11478
appears on the day of the election at the office of the board of 11479
elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of 11480
the Revised Code the board has designated another locationone or 11481
more other locations in the county at which registered electors 11482
may vote, at thatsuch other location instead of the office of 11483
the board of elections; 11484

       (2) Completes and signs, under penalty of election 11485
falsification, a notice of change of residence and files it with 11486
election officials at the board of elections or, if pursuant to 11487
division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has 11488
designated another locationone or more other locations in the 11489
county at which registered electors may vote, at thatsuch other 11490
location instead of the office of the board of elections; 11491

       (3) VotesCasts a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 11492
of the Revised Code at the office of the board of elections or, 11493
if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised 11494
Code the board has designated another locationone or more other 11495
locations in the county at which registered electors may vote, 11496
at thatsuch other location instead of the office of the board 11497
of elections, using the address to which that registered elector 11498
has moved; 11499

       (4) Completes and signs, under penalty of election 11500
falsification, a statement attesting that that registered elector 11501
has moved from one county to another county within the state on or 11502
prior to the day of the election, has voted at the office of the 11503
board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 11504
3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another 11505
locationone or more other locations in the county at which 11506
registered electors may vote, at thatsuch other location instead 11507
of the office of the board of elections, and will not vote or 11508
attempt to vote at any other location for that particular 11509
election. The statement required under division (C)(4) of this 11510
section shall be included on the notice of change of residence 11511
required under division (C)(2) of this section. 11512

       (D) A person who votes by absent voter's ballots pursuant to 11513
division (G) of this section shall not make written application 11514
for the ballots pursuant to Chapter 3509. of the Revised Code. 11515
Ballots cast pursuant to division (G) of this section shall be set 11516
aside in a special envelope and counted during the official 11517
canvass of votes in the manner provided for in sections 3505.32 11518
and 3509.06 of the Revised Code insofar as that manner is 11519
applicable. The board shall examine the pollbooks to verify that 11520
no ballot was cast at the polls or by absent voter's ballots under 11521
Chapter 3509. or 3511. of the Revised Code by an elector who has 11522
voted by absent voter's ballots pursuant to division (G) of this 11523
section. Any ballot determined to be insufficient for any of the 11524
reasons stated above or stated in section 3509.07 of the Revised 11525
Code shall not be counted. 11526

       Subject to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised 11527
Code, a board of elections may lease or otherwise acquire a site 11528
different from the office of the board at which registered 11529
electors may vote pursuant to division (B) or (C) of this section. 11530
(1) Any registered elector who changes the elector's name on or 11531
prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election and 11532
has not filed a notice of change of name with the board of 11533
elections may vote in that election if that registered elector 11534
complies with division (G) of this section or does all of the 11535
following:11536

       (a) Appears at anytime during regular business hours after 11537
the close of voter registration for that election at the office of 11538
the board of elections or at another location if pursuant to 11539
division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has 11540
designated one or more other locations in the county at which 11541
registered electors may vote, or appears on the day of the 11542
election at either of the following locations: 11543

       (i) The polling place in the precinct in which that 11544
registered elector resides; 11545

       (ii) The office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to 11546
division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has 11547
designated one or more other locations in the county at which 11548
registered electors may vote, at such other location instead of 11549
the office of the board of elections.11550

       (b) Completes and signs, under penalty of election 11551
falsification, a notice of change of name and files it with 11552
election officials at the polling place, at the office of the 11553
board of elections, or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 11554
3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated one or more 11555
other locations in the county at which registered electors may 11556
vote, at such other location instead of the office of the board of 11557
elections, whichever is appropriate; 11558

       (c) Casts a ballot at the polling place, at the office of the 11559
board of elections, or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 11560
3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated one or more 11561
other locations in the county at which registered electors may 11562
vote, at such other location instead of the office of the board of 11563
elections, whichever is appropriate, using the name of that 11564
registered elector as changed; 11565

       (d) Completes and signs, under penalty of election 11566
falsification, a statement attesting that the registered elector 11567
changed the elector's name prior to the day of the election, has 11568
voted at the polling place in the precinct in which that 11569
registered elector resides, at the office of the board of 11570
elections, or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of 11571
the Revised Code the board has designated one or more other 11572
locations in the county at which registered electors may vote, at 11573
such other location instead of the office of the board of 11574
elections, whichever is appropriate, and will not vote or attempt 11575
to vote at any other location for that particular election. The 11576
statement required under division (D)(1)(d) of this section shall 11577
be included on the notice of change of name required under 11578
division (D)(1)(b) of this section. 11579

       (2) A registered elector who moves from one precinct to 11580
another within a county and changes the elector's name, on or 11581
prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election and 11582
has not filed a notice of change of residence and a notice of 11583
change of name with the board of elections prior to the thirtieth 11584
day before the day of the election may vote in that election if 11585
the registered elector complies with division (G) of this section 11586
or does both of the following:11587

       (a) Complies with the procedures specified in division (B)(2) 11588
of this section for electors who move from one precinct to another 11589
within a county before an election; and11590

       (b) Files the notice of change of name specified in division 11591
(D)(1)(b) of this section in addition to any change of residence 11592
required under division (B)(2) of this section.11593

       (3) A registered elector who moves from one county to another 11594
county and changes the elector's name on or prior to the day of a 11595
general, primary, or special election and has not filed a notice 11596
of change of residence and a notice of change of name with the 11597
board of elections prior to the thirtieth day before the day of 11598
the election may vote in that election if the registered elector 11599
complies with division (G) of this section or does both of the 11600
following:11601

       (a) Complies with the procedures specified in division (C) of 11602
this section for electors who move from one county to another 11603
before an election; and 11604

       (b) Files the notice of change of name specified in division 11605
(D)(1)(b) of this section in addition to any notice of change of 11606
residence required under division (C) of this section.11607

       (E) Upon receiving a change of residence or change of name 11608
form, the board of elections shall immediatelypromptly send the 11609
registrant an acknowledgment notice. If the change of residence 11610
or change of name form is valid, the board shall update the 11611
voter's registration as appropriate. If that form is incomplete, 11612
the board shall inform the registrant in the acknowledgment 11613
notice specified in this division of the information necessary to 11614
complete or update that registrant's registration. 11615

       (F) Change of residence and change of name forms shall be 11616
available at each polling place, and when these forms are 11617
completed, noting changes of residence or name, as appropriate, 11618
they shall be filed with election officials at the polling place. 11619
Election officials shall return completed forms, together with the 11620
pollbooks and tally sheets, to the board of elections. 11621

       The board of elections shall provide change of residence and 11622
change of name forms to the probate court and court of common 11623
pleas. The court shall provide the forms to any person eighteen 11624
years of age or older who has a change of name by order of the 11625
court or who applies for a marriage license. The court shall 11626
forward all completed forms to the board of elections within five 11627
days after receiving them. 11628

       (G) A registered elector who otherwise would qualify to vote 11629
under division (B) or, (C), or (D) of this section but is unable 11630
to appear at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant 11631
to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board 11632
has designated another locationone or more other locations in 11633
the county at which registered electors may vote, at thatsuch11634
other location, on account of personal illness, physical 11635
disability, or infirmity, may vote on the day of thein that11636
election if that registered elector does all of the following: 11637

       (1) Makes a written application that includes all of the 11638
information required under section 3509.03 of the Revised Code to 11639
the appropriate board for an absent voter's ballot on or after the 11640
twenty-seventhtwenty-eighth day prior to the election in which 11641
the registered elector wishes to vote through noon of the 11642
Saturday prior to that election and requests that the absent 11643
voter's ballot be sent to the address to which the registered 11644
elector has moved if the registered elector has moved or moved 11645
and changed the elector's name, or to the address of thata11646
registered elector who has not moved but has had a change of 11647
name; 11648

       (2) Declares that the registered elector has moved or, had a 11649
change of name, whichever is appropriateor both, and otherwise 11650
is qualified to vote under the circumstances described in 11651
division (B) or (C) of this section, whichever is appropriate,11652
but that the registered elector is unable to appear at the board 11653
of elections because of personal illness, physical disability, or 11654
infirmity; 11655

       (3) Completes and returns along with the completed absent 11656
voter's ballot a notice of change of residence indicating the 11657
address to which the registered elector has moved, or a notice of 11658
change of name, or both, whichever is appropriate; 11659

       (4) Completes and signs, under penalty of election 11660
falsification, a statement attesting that the registered elector 11661
has moved or, had a change of name, or both, on or prior to the 11662
day before the election, has voted by absent voter's ballot 11663
because of personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity 11664
that prevented the registered elector from appearing at the board 11665
of elections, and will not vote or attempt to vote at any other 11666
location or by absent voter's ballot mailed to any other location 11667
or address for that particular election. 11668

       Sec. 3503.19.  (A) Persons qualified to register or to change 11669
their registration because of a change of address or change of 11670
name may register or change their registration in person at any 11671
state or local office of a designated agency, at the office of the 11672
registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, at a public 11673
high school or vocational school, at a public library, at the 11674
office of a county treasurer, or at a branch office established 11675
by the board of elections, or in person, through another person, 11676
or by mail at the office of the secretary of state or at the 11677
office of a board of elections. A registered elector may also 11678
change the elector's registration on election day at any polling 11679
place where the elector is eligible to vote, in the manner 11680
provided under section 3503.16 of the Revised Code. 11681

       Any state or local office of a designated agency, the office 11682
of the registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, a 11683
public high school or vocational school, a public library, or the 11684
office of a county treasurer shall transmit any voter registration 11685
application or change of registration form that it receives to the 11686
board of elections of the county in which the state or local 11687
office is located, within five business days after receiving the 11688
voter registration application or change of registration form. 11689

       An otherwise valid voter registration application that is 11690
returned to the appropriate office other than by mail must be 11691
received by a state or local office of a designated agency, the 11692
office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, 11693
a public high school or vocational school, a public library, the 11694
office of a county treasurer, the office of the secretary of 11695
state, or the office of a board of elections no later than the 11696
thirtieth day preceding a primary, special, or general election 11697
for the person to qualify as an elector eligible to vote at that 11698
election. An otherwise valid registration application received 11699
after that day entitles the elector to vote at all subsequent 11700
elections. 11701

       Any state or local office of a designated agency, the office 11702
of the registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, a 11703
public high school or vocational school, a public library, or the 11704
office of a county treasurer shall date stamp a registration 11705
application or change of name or change of address form it 11706
receives using a date stamp that does not disclose the identity of 11707
the state or local office that receives the registration. 11708

       Voter registration applications, if otherwise valid, that are 11709
returned by mail to the office of the secretary of state or to the 11710
office of a board of elections must be postmarked no later than 11711
the thirtieth day preceding a primary, special, or general 11712
election in order for the person to qualify as an elector eligible 11713
to vote at that election. If an otherwise valid voter registration 11714
application that is returned by mail does not bear a postmark or a 11715
legible postmark, the registration shall be valid for that 11716
election if received by the office of the secretary of state or 11717
the office of a board of elections no later than twenty-five days 11718
preceding any special, primary, or general election. 11719

       (B)(1) Any person may apply in person, by telephone, by mail, 11720
or through another person for voter registration forms to the 11721
office of the secretary of state or the office of a board of 11722
elections or may apply for voter registration forms by electronic 11723
means to the office of the secretary of state or, if the 11724
secretary of state has established procedures pursuant to 11725
division (B) of section 3503.191 of the Revised Code, to the 11726
board of elections.11727

       (2)(a) An applicant may return the applicant's completed 11728
registration form in person or by mail to any state or local 11729
office of a designated agency, to a public high school or 11730
vocational school, to a public library, or to the office of a 11731
county treasurer, or in person or by mail to the office of the 11732
secretary of state, or to the office of a board of elections, or 11733
electronically to the office of the secretary of state or, if the 11734
secretary of state has established procedures pursuant to 11735
division (B) of section 3503.191 of the Revised Code, to the 11736
board of elections.11737

       (b) Subject to division (B)(2)(c) of this section, an 11738
applicant may return the applicant's completed registration form 11739
through another person to any board of elections or the office of 11740
the secretary of state. 11741

       (c) A person who receives compensation for registering a 11742
voter shall return any registration form entrusted to that person 11743
by an applicant to any board of elections or to the office of the 11744
secretary of state. 11745

       (d) If a board of elections or the office of the secretary of 11746
state receives a registration form under division (B)(2)(b) or (c) 11747
of this section before the thirtieth day before an election, the 11748
board or the office of the secretary of state, as applicable, 11749
shall forward the registration to the board of elections of the 11750
county in which the applicant is seeking to register to vote 11751
within ten days after receiving the application. If a board of 11752
elections or the office of the secretary of state receives a 11753
registration form under division (B)(2)(b) or (c) of this section 11754
on or after the thirtieth day before an election, the board or the 11755
office of the secretary of state, as applicable, shall forward the 11756
registration to the board of elections of the county in which the 11757
applicant is seeking to register to vote within thirty days after 11758
that election. 11759

       (e) If the office of the secretary of state receives a voter 11760
registration application electronically on or before the thirtieth 11761
day before the day of an election, the office of the secretary of 11762
state shall forward the application to the board of elections of 11763
the county in which the applicant is seeking to register within 11764
ten days after receiving the application. If the office of the 11765
secretary of state receives a voter registration application 11766
electronically after the thirtieth day before the day of an 11767
election, the office of the secretary of state shall forward the 11768
application to the board of elections of the county in which the 11769
applicant is seeking to register within thirty days after that 11770
election.11771

       (f) A completed registration application that is received 11772
electronically shall be processed in the same manner as a 11773
registration form that is received in person or by mail.11774

       (C)(1) A board of elections that receives a voter 11775
registration application and is satisfied as to the truth of the 11776
statements made in the registration form shall register the 11777
applicant not later than twenty business days after receiving the 11778
application, unless that application is receivedsubmitted during 11779
the thirty days immediately preceding the day of an electionend 11780
of the voter registration period for an election, in which case 11781
the board of elections shall register the applicant not later 11782
than ten business days after receiving the voter registration 11783
application. The board shall promptly notify the applicant in 11784
writing of each of the following: 11785

       (a) The applicant's registration; 11786

       (b) The precinct in which the applicant is to vote; 11787

       (c) In bold type as follows: 11788

       "Voters must bring identification to the polls in order to 11789
verify identity. Identification may include either a current and 11790
valid photo identification issued by the state or an agency or 11791
political subdivision of the state, an institution of higher 11792
education, or the United States government, or an affirmation of 11793
the voter's identity. Identification for a first-time voter who 11794
registered to vote by mail, did not include proper 11795
identification with the registration application, and has not 11796
previously voted in a federal election in Ohio may include a 11797
current and valid photo identification, a military 11798
identification, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank 11799
statement, government check, paycheck, or other government 11800
document, other than this notification or a notification of an 11801
election mailed by a board of elections, that shows the voter's 11802
name and current address. Voters who do not have or who do not11803
provide one of these documents will still be able to vote by 11804
providing the last four digits of the voter's social security 11805
number and by casting a provisional ballot. Voters who do not 11806
have any of the above forms of identification, including a 11807
social security number, will still be able to vote by signing an 11808
affirmation swearing to the voter's identity under penalty of 11809
election falsification and by casting a provisional ballot." 11810

        The notification shall be by nonforwardable mail. If the mail 11811
is returned to the board, it shall investigate and cause the 11812
notification to be delivered to the correct address. 11813

       (2) Except as otherwise provided in this division, if the 11814
board finds that the applicant failed to provide all of the 11815
required information, but provided enough information on the form 11816
to enable the board to identify and contact the applicant, the 11817
board shall immediately notify the applicant of the error and 11818
give the applicant an opportunity to correct the form. If the 11819
application was submitted after the end of the voter registration 11820
period for an election, the board of elections may notify the 11821
applicant of the error not later than twenty days after 11822
completion of the official canvass for that election. 11823

       The applicant may provide the required information by mail, 11824
electronic mail, telephone, or facsimile transmission, through the 11825
internet, or in person at the office of the board of elections. If 11826
the application is missing a signature, the applicant may provide 11827
a signed statement that the applicant submitted the application. A 11828
signature provided on a signed statement under this division shall 11829
be considered the applicant's signature on the application for the 11830
purposes of processing an otherwise valid application for voter 11831
registration. 11832

       The secretary of state shall prescribe uniform standards for 11833
processing additional information by mail, electronic mail, 11834
telephone, facsimile transmission, through the internet, or in 11835
person at the office of the board of elections under this 11836
division. 11837

       If the applicant corrects the application not less than 11838
fifteen days before the day of an election and is determined by 11839
the board of elections to be eligible to vote, the applicant shall 11840
be considered registered as of the date the application was 11841
submitted, and the board shall permit such an otherwise eligible 11842
elector to vote a regular ballot at that election. 11843

       If the board of elections finds that an applicant failed to 11844
correct the application at least fifteen days before the day of 11845
an election, voted a provisional ballot at that election, and 11846
provided on the provisional ballot affirmation information 11847
sufficient to correct the voter registration application, the 11848
applicant shall be considered registered as of the date the 11849
application was submitted, and the board shall count the otherwise 11850
valid provisional ballot.11851

       (3) If, after investigating as required under division (C)(1) 11852
of this section, the board is unable to verify the voter's correct 11853
address, it shall cause the voter's name in the official 11854
registration list and in the poll list or signature pollbook to be 11855
marked to indicate that the voter's notification was returned to 11856
the board. 11857

       At the first election at which a voter whose name has been so 11858
marked appears to vote, the voter shall be required to provide 11859
identification to the election officials and to vote by 11860
provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. If 11861
the provisional ballot is counted pursuant to division (B)(3) of 11862
section 3505.183 of the Revised CodeBased on the provided 11863
identification, the board shall correct that voter's 11864
registration, if needed, and shall remove the indication that the 11865
voter's notification was returned from that voter's name on the 11866
official registration list and on the poll list or signature 11867
pollbook. If the provisional ballot is not counted pursuant to 11868
division (B)(4)(a)(i), (v), or (vi) of section 3505.183 of the 11869
Revised Code, the voter's registration shall be canceled. The 11870
board shall notify the voter by United States mail of the 11871
cancellation.11872

       (3)(4) If a notice of the disposition of an otherwise valid 11873
registration application is sent by nonforwardable mail and is 11874
returned undelivered, the person shall be registered as provided 11875
in division (C)(2)(3) of this section and sent a confirmation 11876
notice by forwardable mail. If the person fails to respond to the 11877
confirmation notice, update the person's registration, or vote by 11878
provisional ballot as provided in division (C)(2) of this section11879
in any election during the period of two federal elections 11880
subsequent to the mailing of the confirmation notice, the person's 11881
registration shall be canceled. 11882

       Sec. 3503.191.  (A)(1) The secretary of state shall 11883
establish, not later than August 30, 2010, procedures that allow 11884
any person to request voter registration forms electronically from 11885
the office of the secretary of state.11886

       (2) The procedures shall allow any person to express a 11887
preference for the manner in which the person will receive the 11888
requested voter registration forms, whether by mail, 11889
electronically, or in person. The registration forms shall be 11890
transmitted by the preferred method. If the requestor does not 11891
express a preferred method, the registration forms shall be 11892
delivered via standard mail.11893

       (3) The appropriate state or local election official shall 11894
establish and maintain reasonable procedures necessary to protect 11895
the security, confidentiality, and integrity of personal 11896
information collected, stored, or otherwise used in the electronic 11897
voter registration form request process established under this 11898
section. To the extent practicable, the procedures shall protect 11899
the security and integrity of the electronic voter registration 11900
form request process and protect the privacy of the identity and 11901
personal data of the person when such forms are requested, 11902
processed, and sent.11903

       (4) In establishing procedures under this section, the 11904
secretary of state shall designate at least one means of 11905
electronic communication for use by persons to request voter 11906
registration forms, for use by the state to send voter 11907
registration forms to those who have requested electronic 11908
delivery, and for providing public election and voting 11909
information. Such designated means of electronic communication 11910
shall be identified on all information and instructional materials 11911
that accompany balloting materials.11912

       (B) The secretary of state may establish procedures that 11913
allow any person to request voter registration forms 11914
electronically from a board of elections. The procedures must meet 11915
all the requirements of division (A) of this section.11916

       Sec. 3503.20.  (A) Not later than August 1, 2012, all Ohioans 11917
who meet the qualifications of an elector and do any of the 11918
following shall be automatically registered to vote, provided that 11919
each individual shall have the ability to opt out of voter 11920
registration:11921

       (1) Graduates from a public, private, or community high 11922
school;11923

       (2) Registers for or updates their services with any 11924
designated agency under the National Voter Registration Act or 11925
under rules promulgated by the secretary of state; or11926

       (3) Applies for, renews, or updates a driver's license, state 11927
identification, or vehicle registration issued by the Ohio bureau 11928
of motor vehicles.11929

       (B) A person who registers to vote under this section shall 11930
be considered to have registered by mail for the purpose of Title 11931
XXXV of the Revised Code and federal election law.11932

       (C) The secretary of state shall adopt rules under Chapter 11933
119. of the Revised Code to implement this section. 11934

       (D) Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the 11935
contrary, a digitized signature on a voter registration 11936
application that is transmitted by an entity listed under division 11937
(A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section shall be considered an 11938
original signature on a voter registration application.11939

       (E) The secretary of state shall establish a task force 11940
comprised of individuals designated by the designated agencies, 11941
the Ohio department of education, and the Ohio bureau of motor 11942
vehicles to implement the requirements of division (A) of this 11943
section. The purpose of the task force shall be to develop a 11944
memorandum of understanding between the secretary of state and the 11945
participating entities. The memorandum of understanding shall 11946
identify the responsibilities of the secretary of state and the 11947
responsibilities of each participating entity to provide for the 11948
orderly implementation and maintenance of the voter registration 11949
process established by this section. 11950

       Expenses incurred by the task force are the responsibility of 11951
the secretary of state. The operation of the task force ceases 11952
upon completion of the tasks necessary to provide for 11953
implementation of this section. The secretary of state at any 11954
time may form a new task force to address the maintenance of or 11955
changes to the implementation process for this section.11956

       Sec. 3503.21.  (A) The registration of a registered elector 11957
shall be canceled upon the occurrence of any of the following:11958

       (1) The filing by a registered elector of a written request 11959
with a board of elections, on a form prescribed by the secretary 11960
of state and signed by the elector, that the registration be 11961
canceled. The filing of such a request does not prohibit an 11962
otherwise qualified elector from reregistering to vote at any 11963
time. For the purpose of this division, a registered elector shall 11964
be considered to have made such a request if the elector submits a 11965
signed voter registration form at any place outside the elector's 11966
current county of registration, and that form is provided to the 11967
secretary of state or a board of elections.11968

        (2) The filing of a notice of the death of the registered 11969
elector as provided in division (F) of this section or the filing 11970
of an official notice of death of the registered elector with the 11971
board of elections by the chief health officer of a jurisdiction 11972
outside of Ohio;11973

       (3) The conviction of the registered elector of a felony11974
under the laws of this state, any other state, or the United11975
States as provided in section 2961.01 of the Revised Code;11976

       (3)(4) The adjudication of incompetency of the registered11977
elector for the purpose of voting as provided in section 5122.30111978
of the Revised Code;11979

       (5) The change of residence of the registered elector to a11980
location outside the county of registration in accordance with11981
division (B) of this section;11982

       (6) The failure of the registered elector, after having been 11983
mailed a confirmation notice, to do either of the following:11984

       (a) Respond to such a notice and vote at least once during a 11985
period of four consecutive years, which period shall include two 11986
general federal elections;11987

       (b) Update the elector's registration and vote at least once 11988
during a period of four consecutive years, which period shall 11989
include two general federal elections.11990

       (B)(1) The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures to11991
identify and cancel the registration in a prior county of11992
residence of any registrant who changes the registrant's voting 11993
residence to a location outside the registrant's current county of11994
registration. Any procedures prescribed in this division shall be 11995
uniform and nondiscriminatory, and shall comply with the Voting 11996
Rights Act of 1965. The secretary of state may prescribe 11997
procedures under this division that include the use of the 11998
national change of address service provided by the United States 11999
postal system through its licensees. Any program so prescribed 12000
shall be completed not later than ninety days prior to the date of 12001
any primary or general election for federal office.12002

       (2) The registration of any elector identified as having12003
changed the elector's voting residence to a location outside the 12004
elector's current county of registration shall not be canceled 12005
unless the registrant is sent a confirmation notice on a form 12006
prescribed by the secretary of state and the registrant fails to 12007
respond to the confirmation notice or otherwise update the 12008
registration and fails to vote in any election during the period 12009
of two federal elections subsequent to the mailing of the 12010
confirmation notice.12011

       (C) The registration of a registered elector shall not be12012
canceled except as provided in this section, division (Q) of 12013
section 3501.05 of the Revised Code, division (C)(2) of section 12014
3503.19 of the Revised Code, or division (C)(E) of section 3503.24 12015
of the Revised Code.12016

       (D) Boards of elections shall send their voter registration 12017
information to the secretary of state as required under section 12018
3503.15 of the Revised Code. In the first quarter of each 12019
odd-numbered year, the secretary of state shall send the 12020
information to the national change of address service described in 12021
division (B) of this section and request that service to provide 12022
the secretary of state with a list of any voters sent by the12023
secretary of state who have moved within the last thirty-six12024
months. The secretary of state shall transmit to each appropriate 12025
board of elections whatever lists the secretary of state receives 12026
from that service. The board shall send a notice to each person on12027
the list transmitted by the secretary of state requesting12028
confirmation of the person's change of address, together with a12029
postage prepaid, preaddressed return envelope containing a form on 12030
which the voter may verify or correct the change of address12031
information.12032

       (E) The registration of a registered elector described in 12033
division (A)(6) or (B)(2) of this section shall be canceled not 12034
later than one hundred twenty days after the date of the second 12035
general federal election in which the elector fails to vote or not 12036
later than one hundred twenty days after the expiration of the 12037
four-year period in which the elector fails to vote or respond to 12038
a confirmation notice, whichever is later.12039

       (F)(1) The chief health officer of each political subdivision 12040
and the state director of health shall file with the board of 12041
elections, at least once each month, the names, dates of birth, 12042
dates of death, and residence addresses of all Ohio residents, 12043
over eighteen years of age, who have been reported as deceased 12044
within such subdivision or within this state or another state, 12045
respectively, within such month.12046

       (2) At least once each month the probate judge shall file 12047
with the board of elections the names and residence addresses of 12048
all persons over eighteen years of age who have been adjudicated 12049
incompetent for the purpose of voting, as provided in section 12050
5122.301 of the Revised Code.12051

       (3) At least once each month the clerk of the court of 12052
common pleas shall file with the board of elections the names and 12053
residence addresses of all persons who, in the previous month, 12054
have been convicted of crimes under the laws of this state and 12055
thus scheduled for incarceration. The board of elections shall 12056
compile from that filing a list of persons who have been convicted 12057
and incarcerated for crimes under the laws of this state that 12058
disenfranchise an elector under section 2961.01 of the Revised 12059
Code. Reports of conviction and incarceration of crimes under 12060
the laws of the United States that would disenfranchise an 12061
elector and that are provided to the secretary of state by any 12062
United States attorney shall be forwarded by the secretary of 12063
state to the appropriate board of elections.12064

       (4) Upon receipt of any report described in division (F)(1), 12065
(2), or (3) of this section, the board of elections shall 12066
promptly cancel the registration of the elector and record the 12067
reason for the cancellation. If the report contains a residence 12068
address of an elector in a county other than the county in 12069
which the board of elections is located, the director shall 12070
promptly send a copy of the report to the appropriate board of 12071
elections, which shall cancel the registration and record the 12072
reason for the cancellation.12073

       Sec. 3503.22.  (A) Sixty days prior to the day of a general 12074
election and sixty days prior to the day of a primary election in 12075
an even-numbered year, each board of elections shall send to the 12076
secretary of state a list of all individuals in the county who 12077
failed to respond to a confirmation notice or whose voter 12078
registration was canceled in the previous twelve months. The list 12079
shall include, at a minimum, the full name, address, including 12080
city, county, state, and zip code, and precinct for each 12081
individual voter, along with the reason that the individual is 12082
included on the list. 12083

       (B) Not less than fifty days before the day of the election, 12084
the secretary of state shall aggregate the information provided by 12085
boards of elections under division (A) of this section and make 12086
the aggregated information available for public inspection on the 12087
secretary of state's web site. 12088

       (C) The secretary of state may establish uniform categories 12089
for lists prepared under division (A) of this section and uniform 12090
standards for sending those lists to the secretary of state, which 12091
boards of elections shall follow in compiling and sending those 12092
lists.12093

       Sec. 3503.24. (A) Application for the correction of any 12094
precinct registration list or a challenge of the right to vote of 12095
any registered elector may be made by any qualified elector of the 12096
county at the office of the board of elections not later than 12097
twenty days prior to the election. The applicationsapplication or 12098
challengeschallenge, with the reasons for the application or 12099
challenge, shall be filed with the board on a form prescribed by 12100
the secretary of state and shall be signed under penalty of 12101
election falsification. 12102

       (B) A challenge to an elector's right to vote shall be 12103
considered by the board of elections only if the elector is being 12104
challenged on any of the following grounds:12105

       (1) That the person is not a resident of the precinct in 12106
which the person is registered to vote;12107

       (2) That the person is not a citizen of the United States;12108

       (3) That the person is not eighteen years of age or older;12109

        (4) That the person is not a qualified elector for that 12110
election;12111

       (5) That the person is not the elector that the person 12112
purports to be.12113

       Challenges shall be made only if the challenger knows or 12114
reasonably believes that the challenged elector is not qualified 12115
and entitled to vote. 12116

       (C) On receiving an application or challenge filed under this 12117
section, the board of elections promptly shall review the board's 12118
records. If the board is able to determine that an application or12119
a challenge should be granted or denied solely on the basis of the 12120
records maintained by the board, the board immediately shall vote 12121
to grant or deny that application or challenge. 12122

       If the board is not able to determine whether an application 12123
or challenge should be granted or denied solely on the basis of 12124
the records maintained by the boardIf the board is able to 12125
determine that an application for the correction of any precinct 12126
registration list should be granted solely on the basis of the 12127
records maintained by the board, the board immediately shall vote 12128
to grant that application.12129

       Otherwise, the director shall promptly set a time and date 12130
for a hearing before the board. Except as otherwise provided in 12131
division (D) of this section, theThe hearing shall be held, and 12132
the application or challenge shall be decided, no later than ten 12133
days after the board receives the application or challenge. The 12134
director shall send written notice to any elector whose right to 12135
vote is challenged and to any person whose name is alleged to have 12136
been omitted from a registration list. The notice shall inform the 12137
person of the time and date of the hearing, and of the person's 12138
right to appear and testify, call witnesses, and be represented by 12139
counsel. Theall of the following:12140

       (1) That an application for the correction of a precinct 12141
registration list or a challenge of the right to vote of the 12142
registered elector has been made;12143

       (2) The name of the person submitting the application or 12144
challenge, as applicable, which shall be accompanied by a copy of 12145
the application or challenge form submitted to the board;12146

       (3) The time, date, and place of the hearing;12147

       (4) That the elector has a right to appear and testify at the 12148
public hearing and present evidence relevant to the challenge or 12149
application;12150

       (5) That the elector has a right to call and subpoena 12151
witnesses to appear at the hearing;12152

       (6) That the elector has a right to be represented by counsel 12153
at the hearing and may cross-examine witnesses;12154

       (7) That, at the conclusion of the hearing, the cancellation 12155
of the voter's registration or correction of the precinct 12156
registration list requires a majority vote of the members of the 12157
board of elections.12158

       The notice shall be sent by first class mail no later than 12159
threeseven days before the day of any scheduled hearing. The 12160
director shall also provide the person who filed the application 12161
or challenge with suchthe same written notice of the date and 12162
time of the hearing. 12163

       At the request of either party or any member of the board, 12164
the board shall issue subpoenas to witnesses to appear and testify 12165
before the board at a hearing held under this section. All 12166
witnesses shall testify under oath. The12167

       (D) The board shall reach a decision on all applications and 12168
challenges immediately after hearing. A public vote of three 12169
members of the board shall be necessary to uphold a challenge on 12170
a person's right to vote or to correct a precinct registration 12171
list under this section. In the case of a tie vote or 12172
disagreement in the board, the board shall submit the matter and 12173
all related materials to the secretary of state in accordance 12174
with division (X) of section 3501.11 of the Revised Code.12175

       (C)(E) If the board decides that any such person is not 12176
entitled to have the person's name on the registration list, the 12177
person's name shall be removed from the list and the person's 12178
registration forms canceled. If the board decides that the name of 12179
any such person should appear on the registration list, it shall 12180
be added to the list, and the person's registration forms placed 12181
in the proper registration files. All such corrections and 12182
additions shall be made on a copy of the precinct lists, which 12183
shall constitute the poll lists, to be furnished to the respective 12184
precincts with other election supplies on the day preceding the 12185
election, to be used by the election officials in receiving the 12186
signatures of voters and in checking against the registration 12187
forms. 12188

       (D)(1) If an application or challenge for which a hearing is 12189
required to be conducted under division (B) of this section is 12190
filed after the thirtieth day before the day of an election, the 12191
board of elections, in its discretion, may postpone that hearing 12192
and any notifications of that hearing until after the day of the 12193
election. Any hearing postponed under this division shall be 12194
conducted not later than ten days after the day of the election.12195

       (2) The board of elections shall cause the name of any 12196
registered elector whose registration is challenged and whose 12197
challenge hearing is postponed under division (D)(1) of this 12198
section to be marked in the official registration list and in the 12199
poll list or signature pollbook for that elector's precinct to 12200
indicate that the elector's registration is subject to challenge.12201

       (3) Any elector who is the subject of an application or 12202
challenge hearing that is postponed under division (D)(1) of this 12203
section shall be permitted to vote a provisional ballot under 12204
section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The validity of a 12205
provisional ballot cast pursuant to this section shall be 12206
determined in accordance with section 3505.183 of the Revised 12207
Code, except that no such provisional ballot shall be counted 12208
unless the hearing conducted under division (B) of this section 12209
after the day of the election results in the elector's inclusion 12210
in the official registration list.12211

       (F) The person challenging an elector's right to vote bears 12212
the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the 12213
challenged elector's registration should be canceled.12214

       Sec. 3503.28.  (A) The secretary of state shall develop an 12215
information brochure regarding voter registration. The brochure 12216
shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following 12217
information: 12218

       (1) The applicable deadlines for registering to vote or for 12219
returning an applicant's completed registration form; 12220

       (2) The applicable deadline for returning an applicant's 12221
completed registration form if the person returning the form is 12222
being compensated for registering voters; 12223

       (3) The locations to which a person may return an applicant's 12224
completed registration form; 12225

       (4) The location to which a person who is compensated for 12226
registering voters may return an applicant's completed 12227
registration form; 12228

       (5) The registration and affirmation requirements applicable 12229
to persons who are compensated for registering voters under 12230
section 3503.29 of the Revised Code; 12231

       (6) A notice, which shall be written in bold type, stating as 12232
follows: 12233

       "Voters must bring identification to the polls in order to 12234
verify identity. Identification may include a current and valid 12235
photo identification issued by the state or an Ohio agency or 12236
political subdivision of the state, an institution of higher 12237
education, or the United States government, or an affirmation of 12238
the voter's identity. Identification for a first-time voter who 12239
registered to vote by mail, did not include proper identification 12240
with the registration application, and has not previously voted in 12241
a federal election in Ohio may include a current and valid photo 12242
identification, a military identification, or a copy of a current 12243
utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or 12244
other government document, other than a notice of an election or 12245
a voter registration notification sent by a board of elections,12246
that shows the voter's name and current address. Voters who do 12247
not have or who do not provide one of these documents will still 12248
be able to vote by providing the last four digits of the voter's 12249
social security number and by casting a provisional ballot. 12250
Voters who do not have any of the above forms of identification, 12251
including a social security number, will still be able to vote by 12252
signing an affirmation swearing to the voter's identity under 12253
penalty of election falsification and by casting a provisional 12254
ballot." 12255

       (B) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this 12256
section, a board of elections, designated agency, public high 12257
school, public vocational school, public library, office of a 12258
county treasurer, or deputy registrar of motor vehicles shall 12259
distribute a copy of the brochure developed under division (A) of 12260
this section to any person who requests more than two voter 12261
registration forms at one time. 12262

       (C)(1) The secretary of state shall provide the information 12263
required to be included in the brochure developed under division 12264
(A) of this section to any person who prints a voter registration 12265
form that is made available on a web site of the office of the 12266
secretary of state. 12267

       (2) If a board of elections operates and maintains a web 12268
site, the board shall provide the information required to be 12269
included in the brochure developed under division (A) of this 12270
section to any person who prints a voter registration form that is 12271
made available on that web site. 12272

       (D) A board of elections shall not be required to distribute 12273
a copy of a brochure under division (B) of this section to any of 12274
the following officials or employees who are requesting more than 12275
two voter registration forms at one time in the course of the 12276
official's or employee's normal duties: 12277

       (1) An election official; 12278

       (2) A county treasurer; 12279

       (3) A deputy registrar of motor vehicles; 12280

       (4) An employee of a designated agency; 12281

       (5) An employee of a public high school; 12282

       (6) An employee of a public vocational school; 12283

       (7) An employee of a public library; 12284

       (8) An employee of the office of a county treasurer; 12285

       (9) An employee of the bureau of motor vehicles; 12286

       (10) An employee of a deputy registrar of motor vehicles; 12287

       (11) An employee of an election official. 12288

       (E) As used in this section, "registering voters" includes 12289
any effort, for compensation, to provide voter registration forms 12290
or to assist persons in completing or returning those forms. 12291

       Sec. 3505.01. (A)(1) Except as otherwise provided in section 12292
3519.08 of the Revised Code, on the sixtiethseventieth day before 12293
the day of the next general election, the secretary of state shall 12294
certify to the board of elections of each county the forms of the 12295
official ballots to be used at that general election, together 12296
with the names of the candidates to be printed on those ballots 12297
whose candidacy is to be submitted to the electors of the entire 12298
state. In the case of the presidential ballot for a general 12299
election, that certification shall be made on the fifty-fifth day 12300
before the day of the general election. On the seventy-fifth12301
seventieth day before a special election to be held on the day 12302
specified by division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code 12303
for the holding of a primary election, designated by the general 12304
assembly for the purpose of submitting to the voters of the state 12305
constitutional amendments proposed by the general assembly, the 12306
secretary of state shall certify to the board of elections of each 12307
county the forms of the official ballots to be used at that 12308
election.12309

       (2) The board of the most populous county in each district12310
comprised of more than one county but less than all of the12311
counties of the state, in which there are candidates whose12312
candidacies are to be submitted to the electors of that district,12313
shall, on the sixtiethseventieth day before the day of the next 12314
general election, certify to the board of each county in the 12315
district the names of those candidates to be printed on such 12316
ballots.12317

       (3) The board of a county in which the major portion of a12318
subdivision, located in more than one county, is located shall, on 12319
the sixtiethseventieth day before the day of the next general 12320
election, certify to the board of each county in which other 12321
portions of that subdivision are located the names of candidates 12322
whose candidacies are to be submitted to the electors of that12323
subdivision, to be printed on such ballots.12324

       (B) If, subsequently to the sixtiethseventieth day before, 12325
or in the case of a presidential ballot for a general election the 12326
fifty-fifth day before, and prior to the tenth day before the day 12327
of a general election, a certificate is filed with the secretary 12328
of state to fill a vacancy caused by the death of a candidate, the 12329
secretary of state shall forthwith make a supplemental 12330
certification to the board of each county amending and correcting 12331
the secretary of state's original certification provided for in 12332
the first paragraph of this section. If, within that time, such a 12333
certificate is filed with the board of the most populous county in 12334
a district comprised of more than one county but less than all of 12335
the counties of the state, or with the board of a county in which 12336
the major portion of the population of a subdivision, located in 12337
more than one county, is located, the board with which the 12338
certificate is filed shall forthwith make a supplemental 12339
certification to the board of each county in the district or to 12340
the board of each county in which other portions of the 12341
subdivision are located, amending and correcting its original 12342
certification provided for in the second and third paragraphs12343
division (A)(2) or (3) of this section. If, at the time such 12344
supplemental certification is received by a board, ballots 12345
carrying the name of the deceased candidate have been printed, the 12346
board shall cause strips of paper bearing the name of the 12347
candidate certified to fill the vacancy to be printed and pasted 12348
on those ballots so as to cover the name of the deceased12349
candidate, except that in voting places using marking devices, the 12350
board shall cause strips of paper bearing the revised list of12351
candidates for the office, after certification of a candidate to12352
fill the vacancy, to be printed and pasted on the ballot cards so 12353
as to cover the names of candidates shown prior to the new12354
certification, before such ballots are delivered to electors.12355

       Sec. 3505.03.  On the office type ballot shall be printed the 12356
names of all candidates for election to offices, except judicial 12357
offices, who were nominated at the most recent primary election as 12358
candidates of a political party or who were nominated in 12359
accordance with section 3513.02 of the Revised Code, and the names 12360
of all candidates for election to offices who were nominated by 12361
nominating petitions, except candidates for judicial offices, for 12362
member of the state board of education, for member of a board of 12363
education, for municipal offices, and for township offices. 12364

       The face of the ballot below the stub shall be substantially 12365
in the following form: 12366

"
OFFICIAL OFFICE TYPE BALLOT
Official Office Type Ballot
12367

       (A) To vote for a candidate record, mark your vote in the 12368
manner providedchoice next to the candidate's name of such 12369
candidate. 12370

       (B) If you tear, soil, deface, or erroneously mark this 12371
ballot, return it to the precinct election officers or, if you 12372
cannot return it, notify the precinct election officers, and 12373
obtain another ballotmake a mistake or want to change your vote, 12374
ask an election official for a new ballot. You may ask for a new 12375
ballot up to two times." 12376

       The order in which the offices shall be listed on the ballot 12377
shall be prescribed by, and certified to each board of elections 12378
by, the secretary of state; provided that for state, district, and 12379
county offices the order from top to bottom shall be as follows: 12380
governor and lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor of 12381
state, secretary of state, treasurer of state, United States 12382
senator, representative to congress, state senator, state 12383
representative, county commissioner, county auditor, prosecuting 12384
attorney, clerk of the court of common pleas, sheriff, county 12385
recorder, county treasurer, county engineer, and coroner. The 12386
offices of governor and lieutenant governor shall be printed on 12387
the ballot in a manner that requires a voter to cast one vote 12388
jointly for the candidates who have been nominated by the same 12389
political party or petition. 12390

       The names of all candidates for an office shall be arranged 12391
in a group under the title of that office, and, except for 12392
absenteeabsent voter's ballots or when the number of candidates 12393
for a particular office is the same as the number of candidates to 12394
be elected for that office, shall be rotated from one precinct to 12395
another. On absenteeabsent voter's ballots, the names of all 12396
candidates for an office shall be arranged in a group under the 12397
title of that office and shall be so alternated that each name 12398
shall appear, insofar as may be reasonably possible, substantially 12399
an equal number of times at the beginning, at the end, and in each 12400
intermediate place, if any, of the group in which such name 12401
belongs, unless the number of candidates for a particular office 12402
is the same as the number of candidates to be elected for that 12403
office. 12404

       The method of printing the ballots to meet the rotation 12405
requirement of this section shall be as follows: the least common 12406
multiple of the number of names in each of the several groups of 12407
candidates shall be used, and the number of changes made in the 12408
printer's forms in printing the ballots shall correspond with that 12409
multiple. The board of elections shall number all precincts in 12410
regular serial sequence. In the first precinct, the names of the 12411
candidates in each group shall be listed in alphabetical order. In 12412
each succeeding precinct, the name in each group that is listed 12413
first in the preceding precinct shall be listed last, and the name 12414
of each candidate shall be moved up one place. In each precinct 12415
using paper ballots, the printed ballots shall then be assembled 12416
in tablets. Under12417

       The title of each office and the name of each candidate shall 12418
be printed flush left and shall not be centered on the ballot or 12419
in any column appearing on the ballot. The name of each candidate 12420
shall be printed using standard capitalization in accordance with 12421
instructions provided by the secretary of state and shall not be 12422
printed using all capital letters.12423

       Except as otherwise provided in any section of the Revised 12424
Code, the names of candidates for nomination or election to the 12425
same office shall not appear on different pages of a printed 12426
ballot. To the extent practical, the names of candidates for 12427
nomination or election to the same office shall not appear in 12428
different columns on the same page.12429

       Except as otherwise provided in any section of the Revised 12430
Code, the names of candidates for nomination or election to the 12431
same office shall not appear on different ballot screens on direct 12432
recording electronic voting machines. To the extent practical, the 12433
names of candidates for the same office shall not appear in 12434
different columns on the same screen.12435

       Under the name of each candidate nominated at a primary 12436
election and each candidatenominated pursuant to section 3513.02 12437
of the Revised Code, or certified by a party committee to fill a 12438
vacancy under section 3513.31 of the Revised Code shall be 12439
printed, in less prominent type face than that in which the 12440
candidate's name is printed, the name of the political party by 12441
which the candidate was nominated or certified. Under the name of 12442
each candidate appearing on the ballot who filed a nominating 12443
petition and requested a ballot designation as a nonparty 12444
candidate under section 3513.257 of the Revised Code shall be 12445
printed, in less prominent type face than that in which the 12446
candidate's name is printed, the designation of "nonparty 12447
candidate." Under the name of each candidate appearing on the 12448
ballot who filed a nominating petition and requested a ballot 12449
designation as an other-party candidate under section 3513.257 of 12450
the Revised Code shall be printed, in less prominent type face 12451
than that in which the candidate's name is printed, the 12452
designation of "other-party candidate." No designation shall 12453
appear under the name of a candidate appearing on the ballot who 12454
filed a nominating petition and requested that no ballot 12455
designation appear under the candidate's name under section 12456
3513.257 of the Revised Code, or who filed a nominating petition 12457
and failed to request a ballot designation either as a nonparty 12458
candidate or as an other-party candidate under that section. 12459

       Except as provided in this section, no words, designations, 12460
or emblems descriptive of a candidate or the candidate's political 12461
affiliation, or indicative of the method by which the candidate 12462
was nominated or certified, shall be printed under or after a 12463
candidate's name that is printed on the ballot. 12464

       Sec. 3505.04.  On the nonpartisan ballot shall be printed the 12465
names of all nonpartisan candidates for election to judicial 12466
office, office of member of the state board of education, office 12467
of member of a board of education, municipal or township offices 12468
for municipal corporations and townships in which primary 12469
elections are not held for nomination of candidates by political 12470
parties, and municipal offices of municipal corporations having 12471
charters which provide for separate ballots for elections for such 12472
municipal offices. 12473

       Such ballots shall have printed across the top, and below the 12474
stubs, "Official Nonpartisan Ballot." 12475

       The order in which the offices are listed on the ballot shall 12476
be prescribed by, and certified to each board of elections by, the 12477
secretary of state; provided that the office of member of the 12478
state board of education shall be listed first on the ballot, then 12479
state, district, and county judicial offices shall be listed on 12480
the ballot in such order, followed by municipal and township 12481
offices, and by offices of member of a board of education, in the 12482
order stated. 12483

       Within the rectangular space within which the title of each 12484
judicial office is printed on the ballot and immediately below 12485
such title shall be printed the date of the commencement of the 12486
term of the office, if a full term, as follows: "Full term 12487
commencing .......(Date).......," or the date of the end of the 12488
term of the office, if an unexpired term, as follows: "Unexpired 12489
term ending .......(Date)........" 12490

       The secretary of state shall prescribe the information and 12491
directions to the voter to be printed on the ballot within the 12492
rectangular space in which the title of office of member of the 12493
state board of education appears. 12494

       Within the rectangular space within which the title of each 12495
office for member of a board of education is printed on the ballot 12496
shall be printed "For Member of Board of Education," and the 12497
number to be elected, directions to the voter as to voting for 12498
one, two, or more, and, if the office to be voted for is member of 12499
a board of education of a city school district, words shall be 12500
printed in said space on the ballot to indicate whether candidates 12501
are to be elected from subdistricts or at large. 12502

       The names of all nonpartisan candidates for an office shall 12503
be arranged in a group under the title of that office, and shall 12504
be rotated and printed on the ballot as provided in section 12505
3505.03 of the Revised Code. 12506

       The title of each office and the name of each candidate shall 12507
be printed flush left and shall not be centered on the ballot or 12508
in any column appearing on the ballot. The name of each candidate 12509
shall be printed using standard capitalization in accordance with 12510
instructions provided by the secretary of state and shall not be 12511
printed using all capital letters. No name or designation of any 12512
political party nor any words, designations, or emblems 12513
descriptive of a candidate or histhe candidate's political 12514
affiliation, or indicative of the method by which such candidate 12515
was nominated or certified, shall be printed under or after any 12516
nonpartisan candidate's name which is printed on the ballot. 12517

       Sec. 3505.06.  (A) On the questions and issues ballot shall 12518
be printed all questions and issues to be submitted at any one 12519
election together with the percentage of affirmative votes 12520
necessary for passage as required by law. Such ballot shall have 12521
printed across the top thereof, and below the stubs, "Official 12522
Questions and Issues Ballot." 12523

       (B)(1) Questions and issues shall be grouped together on the 12524
ballot from top to bottom as provided in division (B)(1) of this 12525
section, except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of this 12526
section. State questions and issues shall always appear as the top 12527
group of questions and issues. In calendar year 1997, the 12528
following questions and issues shall be grouped together on the 12529
ballot, in the following order from top to bottom, after the state 12530
questions and issues: 12531

       (a) County questions and issues; 12532

       (b) Municipal questions and issues; 12533

       (c) Township questions and issues; 12534

       (d) School or other district questions and issues. 12535

       In each succeeding calendar year after 1997, each group of 12536
questions and issues described in division (B)(1)(a) to (d) of 12537
this section shall be moved down one place on the ballot except 12538
that the group that was last on the ballot during the immediately 12539
preceding calendar year shall appear at the top of the ballot 12540
after the state questions and issues. The rotation shall be 12541
performed only once each calendar year, beginning with the first 12542
election held during the calendar year. The rotation of groups of 12543
questions and issues shall be performed during each calendar year 12544
as required by division (B)(1) of this section, even if no 12545
questions and issues from any one or more such groups appear on 12546
the ballot at any particular election held during that calendar 12547
year. 12548

       (2) Questions and issues shall be grouped together on the 12549
ballot, from top to bottom, in the following order when it is not 12550
practicable to group them together as required by division (B)(1) 12551
of this section because of the type of voting machines used by the 12552
board of elections: state questions and issues, county questions 12553
and issues, municipal questions and issues, township questions and 12554
issues, and school or other district questions and issues. The 12555
particular order in which each of a group of state questions or 12556
issues is placed on the ballot shall be determined by, and 12557
certified to each board of elections by, the secretary of state. 12558

       (3) Failure of the board of elections to rotate questions and 12559
issues as required by division (B)(1) of this section does not 12560
affect the validity of the election at which the failure occurred, 12561
and is not grounds for contesting an election under section 12562
3515.08 of the Revised Code. 12563

       (C) The particular order in which each of a group of county, 12564
municipal, township, or school district questions or issues is 12565
placed on the ballot shall be determined by the board providing 12566
the ballots. 12567

       (D) The printed matter pertaining to each question or issue 12568
on the ballot shall be enclosed at the top and bottom thereof by a 12569
heavy horizontal line across the width of the ballot. Immediately 12570
below such top line shall be printed a brief title descriptive of 12571
the question or issue below it, such as "Proposed Constitutional 12572
Amendment," "Proposed Bond Issue," "Proposed Annexation of 12573
Territory," "Proposed Increase in Tax Rate," or such other brief 12574
title as will be descriptive of the question or issue to which it 12575
pertains, together with a brief statement of the percentage of 12576
affirmative votes necessary for passage, such as "A sixty-five per 12577
cent affirmative vote is necessary for passage," "A majority vote 12578
is necessary for passage," or such other brief statement as will 12579
be descriptive of the percentage of affirmative votes required. 12580

       (E)(1) The questions and issues ballot need not contain the 12581
full text of the proposal to be voted upon. A condensed text that 12582
will properly describe the question, issue, or an amendment 12583
proposed by other than the general assembly shall be used as 12584
prepared and certified by the secretary of state for state-wide 12585
questions or issues or by the board for local questions or issues. 12586
If other than a full text is used, the full text of the proposed 12587
question, issue, or amendment together with the percentage of 12588
affirmative votes necessary for passage as required by law shall 12589
be posted in each polling place in some spot that is easily 12590
accessible to the voters. 12591

       (2)(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (E)(2)(b) of 12592
this section, ballot language for any state or local question, 12593
issue, or amendment shall not exceed three hundred words.12594

       (b) Division (E)(2)(a) of this section shall not apply to any 12595
question, issue, or amendment if the Revised Code or a municipal 12596
or county charter specifies a ballot form or ballot language for 12597
that question, issue, or amendment, and the ballot form or 12598
ballot language specified in the Revised Code or a municipal or 12599
county charter exceeds three hundred words.12600

       (F) Each question and issue appearing on the questions and 12601
issues ballot may be consecutively numbered. The question or issue 12602
determined to appear at the top of the ballot may be designated on 12603
the face thereof by the Arabic numeral "1" and all questions and 12604
issues placed below on the ballot shall be consecutively numbered. 12605
Such numeral shall be placed below the heavy top horizontal line 12606
enclosing such question or issue and to the left of the brief 12607
title thereof. 12608

       Sec. 3505.062.  The Ohio ballot board shall do all of the 12609
following: 12610

       (A) Examine, within ten days after its receipt, each written 12611
initiative petition received from the attorney general under 12612
section 3519.01 of the Revised Code to determine whether it 12613
contains only one proposed law or constitutional amendment so as 12614
to enable the voters to vote on a proposal separately. If the 12615
board so determines, it shall certify its approval to the attorney 12616
general, who then shall file with the secretary of state in 12617
accordance with division (A) of section 3519.01 of the Revised 12618
Code a verified copy of the proposed law or constitutional 12619
amendment together with its summary and the attorney general's 12620
certification of it. 12621

       If the board determines that the initiative petition contains 12622
more than one proposed law or constitutional amendment, the board 12623
shall divide the initiative petition into individual petitions 12624
containing only one proposed law or constitutional amendment so as 12625
to enable the voters to vote on each proposal separately and 12626
certify its approval to the attorney general. If the board so 12627
divides an initiative petition and so certifies its approval to 12628
the attorney general, the petitioners shall resubmit to the 12629
attorney general appropriate summaries for each of the individual 12630
petitions arising from the board's division of the initiative 12631
petition, and the attorney general then shall review the 12632
resubmissions as provided in division (A) of section 3519.01 of 12633
the Revised Code. 12634

       (B) Prescribe the ballot language for constitutional 12635
amendments proposed by the general assembly to be printed on the 12636
questions and issues ballot, which language shall properly 12637
identify the substance of the proposal to be voted upon but shall 12638
not exceed three hundred words; 12639

       (C) Prepare an explanation of each constitutional amendment 12640
proposed by the general assembly, which explanation may include 12641
the purpose and effects of the proposed amendment; 12642

       (D) Certify the ballot language and explanation, if any, to 12643
the secretary of state no later than seventy-five days before the 12644
election at which the proposed question or issue is to be 12645
submitted to the voters; 12646

       (E) Prepare, or designate a group of persons to prepare, 12647
arguments in support of or in opposition to a constitutional 12648
amendment proposed by a resolution of the general assembly, a 12649
constitutional amendment or state law proposed by initiative 12650
petition, or a state law, or section or item of state law, subject 12651
to a referendum petition, if the persons otherwise responsible for 12652
the preparation of those arguments fail to timely prepare and file 12653
them; 12654

       (F) Direct the means by which the secretary of state shall 12655
disseminate information concerning proposed constitutional 12656
amendments, proposed laws, and referenda to the voters; 12657

       (G) Direct the secretary of state to contract for the 12658
publication in a newspaper of general circulation in each county 12659
in the state of the ballot language, explanations, and arguments 12660
regarding each of the following: 12661

        (1) A constitutional amendment or law proposed by initiative 12662
petition under Section 1g of Article II of the Ohio Constitution; 12663

        (2) A law, section, or item of law submitted to the electors 12664
by referendum petition under Section 1g of Article II of the Ohio 12665
Constitution; 12666

        (3) A constitutional amendment submitted to the electors by 12667
the general assembly under Section 1 of Article XVI of the Ohio 12668
Constitution. 12669

       Sec. 3505.08. (A) Ballots shall be provided by the board of 12670
elections for all general and special elections. The ballots shall 12671
be printed with black ink on No. 2 white book paper fifty pounds 12672
in weight per ream assuming such ream to consist of five hundred 12673
sheets of such paper twenty-five by thirty-eight inches in size. 12674
Each ballot shall have attached at the top two stubs, each of the 12675
width of the ballot and not less than one-half inch in length, 12676
except that, if the board of elections has an alternate method to 12677
account for the ballots that the secretary of state has 12678
authorized, each ballot may have only one stub that shall be the 12679
width of the ballot and not less than one-half inch in length. In 12680
the case of ballots with two stubs, the stubs shall be separated 12681
from the ballot and from each other by perforated lines. The top 12682
stub shall be known as Stub B and shall have printed on its face 12683
"Stub B." The other stub shall be known as Stub A and shall have 12684
printed on its face "Stub A." Each stub shall also have printed on 12685
its face "Consecutive Number .........." 12686

       Each ballot of each kind of ballot provided for use in each 12687
precinct shall be numbered consecutively beginning with number 1 12688
by printing such number upon both of the stubs attached to the 12689
ballot. On ballots bearing the names of candidates, each 12690
candidate's name shall be printed in twelve point boldface upper 12691
case type in an enclosed rectangular space, and an enclosed blank 12692
rectangular space shall be provided at the left of the candidate's 12693
name. The name of the political party of a candidate nominated at 12694
a primary election or certified by a party committee shall be 12695
printed in ten point lightface upper and lower case type and shall 12696
be separated by a two point blank space. The name of each 12697
candidate shall be indented one space within the enclosed 12698
rectangular space, and the name of the political party shall be 12699
indented two spaces within the enclosed rectangular space.12700

       The title of each office on the ballots shall be printed in 12701
twelve point boldface upper and lower case type in a separate 12702
enclosed rectangular space. A four point rule shall separate the 12703
name of a candidate or a group of candidates for the same office 12704
from the title of the office next appearing below on the ballot; a 12705
two point rule shall separate the title of the office from the 12706
names of candidates; and a one point rule shall separate names of 12707
candidates. Headings shall be printed in display Roman type. When 12708
the names of several candidates are grouped together as candidates 12709
for the same office, there shall be printed on the ballots 12710
immediately below the title of the office and within the separate 12711
rectangular space in which the title is printed "Vote for not more 12712
than ........," in six point boldface upper and lower case filling 12713
the blank space with that number which will indicate the number of 12714
persons who may be lawfully elected to the office.12715

       Columns on ballots shall be separated from each other by a 12716
heavy vertical border or solid line at least one-eighth of an inch 12717
wide, and a similar vertical border or line shall enclose the left 12718
and right side of ballots. Ballots shall be trimmed along the 12719
sides close to such lines.12720

       The ballots provided for by this section shall be comprised 12721
of four kinds of ballots designated as follows: office type 12722
ballot; nonpartisan ballot; questions and issues ballot; and 12723
presidential ballot. 12724

       On the back of each office type ballot shall be printed 12725
"Official Office Type Ballot;" on the back of each nonpartisan 12726
ballot shall be printed "Official Nonpartisan Ballot;" on the back 12727
of each questions and issues ballot shall be printed "Official 12728
Questions and Issues Ballot;" and on the back of each presidential 12729
ballot shall be printed "Official Presidential Ballot." On the 12730
back of every ballot also shall be printed the date of the 12731
election at which the ballot is used and the facsimile signatures 12732
of the members of the board of the county in which the ballot is 12733
used. For the purpose of identifying the kind of ballot, the back 12734
of every ballot may be numbered in the order the board shall 12735
determine. The numbers shall be printed in not less than 12736
thirty-six point type above the words "Official Office Type 12737
Ballot," "Official Nonpartisan Ballot," "Official Questions and 12738
Issues Ballot," or "Official Presidential Ballot," as the case may 12739
be. Ballot boxes bearing corresponding numbers shall be furnished 12740
for each precinct in which the above-described numbered ballots 12741
are used. 12742

       On the back of every ballot used, there shall be a solid 12743
black line printed opposite the blank rectangular space that is 12744
used to mark the choice of the voter. This line shall be printed 12745
wide enough so that the mark in the blank rectangular space will 12746
not be visible from the back side of the ballot. 12747

       Sample ballots may be printed by the board of elections for 12748
all general elections. The ballots shall be printed on colored 12749
paper, and "Sample Ballot" shall be plainly printed in boldface 12750
type on the face of each ballot. In counties of less than one 12751
hundred thousand population, the board may print not more than 12752
five hundred sample ballots; in all other counties, it may print 12753
not more than one thousand sample ballots. The sample ballots 12754
shall not be distributed by a political party or a candidate, nor 12755
shall a political party or candidate cause their title or name to 12756
be imprinted on sample ballots. 12757

       (B) Notwithstanding division (A) of this section, in 12758
approving the form of an official ballot, the secretary of state 12759
may authorize the use of fonts, type face settings, and ballot 12760
formats other than those prescribed in that division. 12761

       Sec. 3505.10. (A) On the presidential ballot below the stubs 12762
at the top of the face of the ballot shall be printed "Official 12763
Presidential Ballot." centered between the side edges of the 12764
ballot. Below "Official Presidential Ballot" shall be printed a 12765
heavy line centered between the side edges of the ballot. Below 12766
the line shall be printed "Instructioninstructions to Voters" 12767
centered between the side edges of the ballot, and below those 12768
words shall be printed the following instructionsvoters, which 12769
shall be substantially as follows: 12770

       "(1) To vote for the candidates for president and 12771
vice-president whose names are printed below, record your vote in 12772
the manner provided next to the names of such candidates. That 12773
recording of the vote will be counted as a vote for each of the 12774
candidates for presidential elector whose names have been 12775
certified to the secretary of state and who are members of the 12776
same political party as the nominees for president and 12777
vice-president. A recording of the vote for independent candidates 12778
for president and vice-president shall be counted as a vote for 12779
the presidential electors filed by such candidates with the 12780
secretary of state.12781

       (2) To vote for candidates for president and vice-president 12782
in the blank space below, record your vote in the manner provided 12783
and write the names of your choice for president and 12784
vice-president under the respective headings provided for those 12785
offices. Such write-in will be counted as a vote for the 12786
candidates' presidential electors whose names have been properly 12787
certified to the secretary of state.12788

       (3) If you tear, soil, deface, or erroneously mark this 12789
ballot, return it to the precinct election officers or, if you 12790
cannot return it, notify the precinct election officers, and 12791
obtain another ballot."12792

       "To vote for President and Vice-president, mark your choice 12793
next to the joint candidates' names."12794

       (B) Below those instructions to the voter shall be printed a 12795
single vertical column of enclosed rectangular spaces equal in 12796
number to the number of presidential candidates plus one 12797
additional space for write-in candidates. Each of those 12798
rectangular spaces shall be enclosed by a heavy line along each of 12799
its four sides, and such spaces shall be separated from each other 12800
by one-half inch of open space. 12801

       In each of those enclosed rectangular spaces, except the 12802
space provided for write-in candidates, shall be printed the names 12803
of the candidates for president and vice-president certified to 12804
the secretary of state or nominated in one of the following 12805
manners: 12806

       (1) Nominated by the national convention of a political party 12807
to which delegates and alternates were elected in this state at 12808
the next preceding primary election. A political party certifying 12809
candidates so nominated shall certify the names of those 12810
candidates to the secretary of state on or before the sixtieth12811
eighty-fifth day before the day of the general election. 12812

       (2) Nominated by nominating petition in accordance with 12813
section 3513.257 of the Revised Code. Such a petition shall be 12814
filed on or before the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the 12815
day of the general election to provide sufficient time to verify 12816
the sufficiency and accuracy of signatures on it. 12817

       (3) Certified to the secretary of state for placement on the 12818
presidential ballot by authorized officials of an intermediate or12819
a minor political party that has held a state or national 12820
convention for the purpose of choosing those candidates or that 12821
may, without a convention, certify those candidates in accordance 12822
with the procedure authorized by its party rules. The officials 12823
shall certify the names of those candidates to the secretary of 12824
state on or before the sixtietheighty-fifth day before the day 12825
of the general election. The certification shall be accompanied 12826
by a designation of a sufficient number of presidential 12827
electors to satisfy the requirements of law. 12828

        The names of candidates for electors of president and 12829
vice-president shall not be placed on the ballot, but shall be 12830
certified to the secretary of state as required by sections 12831
3513.11 and 3513.257 of the Revised Code. A vote for any 12832
candidates for president and vice-president shall be a vote for 12833
the electors of those candidates whose names have been certified 12834
to the secretary of state. 12835

       (C) The arrangement of the printing in each of the enclosed 12836
rectangular spaces shall be substantially as follows: Near the top 12837
and centered within the rectangular space shall be printed "For 12838
President" in ten-point boldface upper and lower case type. Below 12839
"For President" shall be printed the name of the candidate for 12840
president in twelve-point boldface upper and lower case type. 12841
Below the name of the candidate for president shall be printed the 12842
name of the political party by which that candidate for president 12843
was nominated in eight-point lightface upper and lower case type. 12844
Below the name of such political party shall be printed "For 12845
Vice-President" in ten-point boldface upper and lower case type. 12846
Below "For Vice-President" shall be printed the name of the 12847
candidate for vice-president in twelve-point boldface upper and 12848
lower case type. Below the name of the candidate for 12849
vice-president shall be printed the name of the political party by 12850
which that candidate for vice-president was nominated in 12851
eight-point lightface upper and lower case type. No political 12852
identification or name of any political party shall be printed 12853
below the names of presidential and vice-presidential candidates 12854
nominated by petition. The title of each office and the name of 12855
each candidate shall be printed flush left and shall not be 12856
centered on the ballot or in any column appearing on the ballot. 12857

       The rectangular spaces on the ballot described in this 12858
section shall be rotated and printed as provided in section 12859
3505.03 of the Revised Code. 12860

       Sec. 3505.11.  (A)(1) The ballots, with the stubs attached, 12861
shall be bound into tablets for each precinct, which tablets shall12862
contain at least one per cent more ballots than the total12863
registration in the precinctthe following minimum number of 12864
ballots, except as otherwise provided in divisiondivisions (A)(2) 12865
and (B) of this section. Upon:12866

       (a) For regular state elections when the office of the 12867
president of the United States appears on the ballot, ballots 12868
equal to at least one hundred one per cent of the total 12869
registration in the precinct;12870

       (b) For regular state elections when the office of governor 12871
appears on the ballot, ballots equal to at least one hundred one 12872
per cent of the total registration in the precinct;12873

       (c) For regular municipal elections, ballots equal to at 12874
least eighty per cent of the total registration in the precinct;12875

       (d) For primary elections and special elections held on the 12876
day of a primary election in an even-numbered year:12877

       (i) For partisan primaries, ballots equal to at least one 12878
hundred fifty per cent of the number of voters who voted in that 12879
party's primary election in the previous applicable primary 12880
election in that precinct held in an even-numbered year, or if the 12881
political party has not held a primary election in that precinct 12882
within the previous four years, ballots equal to at least fifty 12883
per cent of the number of voters who voted in any other party's 12884
primary election in the previous applicable primary election in 12885
that precinct held in an even-numbered year;12886

       (ii) For ballots containing only questions and issues, 12887
ballots equal to at least one hundred fifty per cent of the number 12888
of voters who voted only a questions and issues ballot in the 12889
previous applicable special election held on the day of a primary 12890
election held in the precinct in an even-numbered year;12891

       (e) For primary elections and special elections held on the 12892
day of a primary election in an odd-numbered year:12893

       (i) For partisan primaries, ballots equal to at least one 12894
hundred fifty per cent of the number of voters who voted in that 12895
party's primary election in the previous applicable primary 12896
election in that precinct held in an odd-numbered year, or if the 12897
political party has not held a primary election in that precinct 12898
within the previous four years, ballots equal to at least fifty 12899
per cent of the number of voters who voted in any other party's 12900
primary election in the previous applicable primary election in 12901
that precinct held in an odd-numbered year;12902

       (ii) For ballots containing only questions and issues, 12903
ballots equal to at least one hundred fifty per cent of the number 12904
of voters who voted only a questions and issues ballot in the 12905
previous applicable special election held on the day of a primary 12906
election held in the precinct in an odd-numbered year;12907

       (f) For special elections held on a day other than the day of 12908
a primary or general election, ballots equal to at least sixty per 12909
cent of the total registration in the precinct.12910

       (2) If the board of elections finds that the minimum number 12911
of ballots required for a precinct under division (A)(1) of this 12912
section is less than the number of ballots cast in that precinct 12913
in the previous applicable election, the board of elections shall 12914
provide for that precinct ballots equal to not less than one 12915
hundred twenty-five per cent of the number of ballots cast in that 12916
previous applicable election or ballots equal to not less than one 12917
hundred one per cent of the total registration in that precinct, 12918
whichever is less.12919

       If, after the board complies with the requirements of 12920
division (A)(1) of this section, the precinct election officials 12921
determine that the precinct will not have sufficient ballots to 12922
enable all the qualified electors in the precinct who wish to vote 12923
at a particular election to do so, the officials shall request 12924
that the board provide additional ballots, and the board shall 12925
provide enough additional ballots, to that precinct in a timely 12926
manner so that all qualified electors in that precinct who wish to 12927
vote at that election may do so.12928

       (3) Upon the covers of the tablets shall be written, printed, 12929
or stamped the designation of the precinct for which the ballots 12930
have been prepared. All official ballots shall be printed 12931
uniformly upon the same kind and quality of paper and shall be of 12932
the same shape, size, and type.12933

       Electors who have failed to respond within thirty days to any 12934
confirmation notice shall not be counted in determining the number 12935
of ballots to be printed under this section.12936

       (B)(1) A board of elections may choose to provide ballots on12937
demand. If a board so chooses, the board shall have prepared for 12938
each precinct at least fiveten per cent more ballots for an 12939
election than the number specified below for that kind of 12940
election:12941

       (a) For a primary election or a special election held on the 12942
day of a primary election, the total number of electors in that 12943
precinct who voted in the primary election held four years 12944
previously;12945

       (b) For a general election or a special election held on the 12946
day of a general election, the total number of electors in that 12947
precinct who voted in the general election held four years 12948
previously;12949

       (c) For a special election held at any time other than on the 12950
day of a primary or general election, the total number of electors 12951
in that precinct who voted in the most recent primary or general 12952
election, whichever of those elections occurred in the precinct 12953
most recently.12954

       (2) If, after the board complies with the requirements of 12955
division (B)(1) of this section, the election officials of a 12956
precinct determine that the precinct will not have enough ballots 12957
to enable all the qualified electors in the precinct who wish to 12958
vote at a particular election to do so, the officials shall 12959
request that the board provide additional ballots, and the board 12960
shall provide enough additional ballots, to that precinct in a 12961
timely manner so that all qualified electors in that precinct who 12962
wish to vote at that election may do so.12963

       (3) If a board of elections decides to print ballots on 12964
demand, in addition to meeting the requirements of division (B)(1) 12965
of this section, the board shall have ready for use an amount of 12966
ballot printing paper that would allow the board to print a total 12967
number of ballots for that election equal to eighty per cent of 12968
the number of ballots required to be printed and available under 12969
division (A) of this section if the county had not decided to 12970
print ballots on demand.12971

       (C) Nothing in this section precludes a board of elections 12972
from providing more than the minimum number of ballots required 12973
for a precinct or polling location if the board of elections 12974
determines that any precinct or polling location will not have 12975
enough ballots to enable all the qualified electors in the 12976
precinct who wish to vote at a particular election to do so.12977

       Sec. 3505.12.  The board of elections shall cause to be 12978
printed in English in twelve-point type on paper or cardboard 12979
instructions as issued by the secretary of state for the guidance 12980
of electors in marking their ballots. Such instructions shall 12981
inform the voters as to how to prepare the ballots for voting, how 12982
to obtain a new ballot in case of accidentally spoiling one, and, 12983
in a smaller type, a summary of the important sections of the 12984
penal law relating to crimes against the elective franchise. The, 12985
which shall be substantially as follows:12986

       "To vote, mark your choice next to the candidate's name or 12987
answer of your choice.12988

       If you make a mistake or want to change your vote, ask an 12989
election official for a new ballot. You may ask for a new ballot 12990
up to two times."12991

       The precinct election officials shall cause to be posted 12992
immediately in front of or on the polling place and in each voting 12993
shelf one or more of such cards of instructions. 12994

       Sec. 3505.13.  A contract for the printing of ballots 12995
involving a cost in excess of tentwenty-five thousand dollars 12996
shall not be let until after five days' notice published once in a 12997
leading newspaper published in the county or upon notice given by 12998
mail by the board of elections, addressed to the responsible 12999
printing offices within the state. Except as otherwise provided in 13000
this section, each bid for such printing must be accompanied by a 13001
bond with at least two sureties, or a surety company, satisfactory 13002
to the board, in a sum double the amount of the bid, conditioned 13003
upon the faithful performance of the contract for such printing as 13004
is awarded and for the payment as damages by such bidder to the 13005
board of any excess of cost over the bid which it may be obliged 13006
to pay for such work by reason of the failure of the bidder to 13007
complete the contract. No bid unaccompanied by such bond shall be 13008
considered by the board. The board may, however, waive the 13009
requirement that each bid be accompanied by a bond if the cost of 13010
the contract is tentwenty-five thousand dollars or less. The 13011
contract shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder in the 13012
state. All ballots shall be printed within the state. 13013

       Sec. 3505.18. (A)(1) When an elector appears in a polling 13014
place to vote, the elector shall announce to the precinct election 13015
officials the elector's full name and current address and provide 13016
proof of the elector's identity in the form of a current and 13017
valid photoidentification. If the elector's voter registration 13018
record is marked pursuant to section 3503.141 of the Revised Code, 13019
the elector shall provide first-time mail-in registrant13020
identification, a military identification, or a copy of a 13021
current utility bill, bank statement, government check, 13022
paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of 13023
an election mailed by a board of elections under section 13024
3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration 13025
mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the 13026
Revised Code, that shows the name and current address of the 13027
elector. If the elector provides either a driver's license or a 13028
state identification card issued under section 4507.50 of the 13029
Revised Code that does not contain the elector's current 13030
residence address, the elector shall provide the last four 13031
digits of the elector's driver's license number or state 13032
identification card number, and the precinct election official 13033
shall mark the poll list or signature pollbook to indicate that 13034
the elector has provided a driver's license or state 13035
identification card number with a former address and record the 13036
last four digits of the elector's driver's license number or 13037
state identification card number.13038

       (2) If an elector has but is unable to provide to the 13039
precinct election officials any of the forms of identification 13040
required under division (A)(1) of this section, but has a social 13041
security number, the elector may provide the last four digits of 13042
the elector's social security number. Upon providing the social 13043
security number information, the elector may cast a provisional 13044
ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code, the envelope of 13045
which ballot shall include that social security number 13046
information.13047

       (3) If an elector has but is unable to provide to the 13048
precinct election officials any of the forms of identification 13049
required under division (A)(1) of this section and if the elector 13050
has a social security number but is unable to provide the last 13051
four digits of the elector's social security number, the elector 13052
may cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the 13053
Revised Code.13054

       (4) If an elector does not have any of the forms of 13055
identification required under division (A)(1) of this section and 13056
cannot provide the last four digits of the elector's social 13057
security number because the elector does not have a social 13058
security number, the elector may execute an affirmation under 13059
penalty of election falsification that the elector cannot provide 13060
the identification required under that division or the last four 13061
digits of the elector's social security number for those reasons. 13062
Upon signing the affirmation, the elector may cast a provisional 13063
ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The secretary 13064
of state shall prescribe the form of the affirmation, which shall 13065
include spaces for all of the following:13066

       (a) The elector's name;13067

       (b) The elector's address;13068

       (c) The current date;13069

       (d) The elector's date of birth;13070

       (e) The elector's signature.13071

       (5) If an elector does not have any of the forms of 13072
identification required under division (A)(1) of this section and 13073
cannot provide the last four digits of the elector's social 13074
security number because the elector does not have a social 13075
security number, and if the elector declines to execute an 13076
affirmation under division (A)(4) of this section, the elector may 13077
cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised 13078
Code, the envelope of which ballot shall include the elector's 13079
name.13080

       (6) If an elector has butdoes not have or declines to 13081
provide to the precinct election officials any of the forms of13082
identification required under division (A)(1) of this section or 13083
the elector has a social security number but declines to provide 13084
to the precinct election officials the last four digits of the 13085
elector's social security number, the elector may cast a 13086
provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. 13087

       (B) After the elector has announced the elector's full name 13088
and current address and provided any of the forms of13089
identification required under division (A)(1) of this section, the 13090
elector shall writeconfirm the elector's name and address by 13091
signing the elector's name at the proper place in the poll list 13092
or signature pollbook provided for the purpose, except that if, 13093
for any reason, an elector is unable to writesign the elector's 13094
name and current address in the poll list or signature pollbook, 13095
the elector may make the elector's mark at the place intended for 13096
the elector's name, and a precinct election official shall write 13097
the name of the elector at the proper place on the poll list or 13098
signature pollbook following the elector's mark. The making of 13099
such a mark shall be attested by the precinct election official, 13100
who shall evidence the same by signing the precinct election 13101
official's name on the poll list or signature pollbook as a 13102
witness to the mark. Alternatively, if applicable, an attorney in 13103
fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code may 13104
sign the elector's signature in the poll list or signature 13105
pollbook in accordance with that section. 13106

       The elector's signature in the poll list or signature 13107
pollbook then shall be compared with the elector's signature on 13108
the elector's registration form or a digitized signature list as 13109
provided for in section 3503.13 of the Revised Code, and if, in 13110
the opinion of a majority of the precinct election officials, the 13111
signatures are the signatures of the same person, the election 13112
officials shall enter the date of the election on the registration 13113
form or shall record the date by other means prescribed by the 13114
secretary of state. The validity of an attorney in fact's 13115
signature on behalf of an elector shall be determined in 13116
accordance with section 3501.382 of the Revised Code. 13117

       If the right of the elector to vote is not then challenged, 13118
or, if being challenged, the elector establishes the elector's 13119
right to vote, the elector shall be allowed to proceed to use the 13120
voting machine. If voting machines are not being used in that 13121
precinct, the judge in charge of ballots shall then detach the 13122
next ballots to be issued to the elector from Stub B attached to 13123
each ballot, leaving Stub A attached to each ballot, hand the 13124
ballots to the elector, and call the elector's name and the stub 13125
number on each of the ballots. The judge shall enter the stub 13126
numbers opposite the signature of the elector in the pollbook. The 13127
elector shall then retire to one of the voting compartments to 13128
mark the elector's ballots. No mark shall be made on any ballot 13129
which would in any way enable any person to identify the person 13130
who voted the ballot. 13131

       Sec. 3505.181.  (A) All of the following individuals shall be 13132
permitted to cast a provisional ballot at an election: 13133

       (1) An individual who declares that the individual is a 13134
registered voter in the jurisdiction in which the individual 13135
desires to vote and that the individual is eligible to vote in an 13136
election, but the name of the individual does not appear on the 13137
official list of eligible voters for the polling place or an 13138
election official asserts that the individual is not eligible to 13139
vote; 13140

       (2) An individual who has a social security number and 13141
provides to the election officials the last four digits of the 13142
individual's social security number as permitted by division 13143
(A)(2) of section 3505.18 of the Revised Code;13144

       (3) An individual who has but is unable todoes not have or 13145
declines to provide to the election officials any of the forms of13146
identification required under division (A)(1) of section 3505.18 13147
of the Revised Code and who has a social security number but is 13148
unable to provide the last four digits of the individual's social 13149
security number as permitted under division (A)(2) of that 13150
section; 13151

       (4) An individual who does not have any of the forms of 13152
identification required under division (A)(1) of section 3505.18 13153
of the Revised Code, who cannot provide the last four digits of 13154
the individual's social security number under division (A)(2) of 13155
that section because the individual does not have a social 13156
security number, and who has executed an affirmation as permitted 13157
under division (A)(4) of that section;13158

       (5)(3) An individual whose name in the poll list or signature 13159
pollbook has been marked under section 3509.09 or 3511.13 of the 13160
Revised Code as having requested an absent voter's ballot or an 13161
armed service absent voter's ballot for that election and who 13162
appears to vote at the polling place;13163

       (6) An individual whose notification of registration has been 13164
returned undelivered to the board of elections and whose name in 13165
the official registration list and in the poll list or signature 13166
pollbook has been marked under division (C)(2) of section 3503.19 13167
of the Revised Code;13168

       (7) An individual who is challenged under section 3505.20 of 13169
the Revised Code and the election officials determine that the 13170
person is ineligible to vote or are unable to determine the 13171
person's eligibility to vote;13172

       (8) An individual whose application or challenge hearing has 13173
been postponed until after the day of the election under division 13174
(D)(1) of section 3503.24 of the Revised Code;13175

       (9) An individual who changes the individual's name and 13176
remains within the precinct, moves from one precinct to another 13177
within a county, moves from one precinct to another and changes 13178
the individual's name, or moves from one county to another within 13179
the state, and completes and signs the required forms and 13180
statements under division (B) or (C) of section 3503.16 of the 13181
Revised Code;13182

       (10) An individual whose signature, in the opinion of the 13183
precinct officers under section 3505.22 of the Revised Code, is 13184
not that of the person who signed that name in the registration 13185
forms;13186

       (11) An individual who is challenged under section 3513.20 of 13187
the Revised Code who refuses to make the statement required under 13188
that section, who a majority of the precinct officials find lacks 13189
any of the qualifications to make the individual a qualified 13190
elector, or who a majority of the precinct officials find is not 13191
affiliated with or a member of the political party whose ballot 13192
the individual desires to vote;13193

       (12) An individual who does not have any of the forms of 13194
identification required under division (A)(1) of section 3505.18 13195
of the Revised Code, who cannot provide the last four digits of 13196
the individual's social security number under division (A)(2) of 13197
that section because the person does not have a social security 13198
number, and who declines to execute an affirmation as permitted 13199
under division (A)(4) of that section;13200

       (13) An individual who has but declines to provide to the 13201
precinct election officials any of the forms of identification 13202
required under division (A)(1) of section 3501.18 of the Revised 13203
Code or who has a social security number but declines to provide 13204
to the precinct election officials the last four digits of the 13205
individual's social security number.13206

       (B) Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the 13207
contrary, no person who is deemed ineligible to cast a regular 13208
ballot shall be denied, for any reason, the opportunity to cast a 13209
provisional ballot under this section at any polling location.13210

       (C) An individual who is eligible to cast a provisional 13211
ballot under divisiondivisions (A) and (B) of this section shall 13212
be permitted to cast a provisional ballot as follows: 13213

       (1) An election official at the polling place shall notify 13214
the individual that the individual may cast a provisional ballot 13215
in that election. 13216

       (2) The individual shall be permitted to cast a provisional 13217
ballot at that polling place upon the execution of a written 13218
affirmation by the individual before an election official at the 13219
polling place stating that the individual is both of the 13220
following:13221

       (a) A registered voter in the jurisdiction in which the 13222
individual desires to vote;13223

       (b) Eligible to vote in that election. 13224

       (3)An election official shall provide the individual with a 13225
provisional ballot envelope containing the affirmation required 13226
under section 3505.182 of the Revised Code.13227

       (3) The individual shall complete the voter's portion of the 13228
affirmation. If the individual is unable to physically complete 13229
the voter's portion of the affirmation, an election official shall 13230
complete the voter's portion of the affirmation for the individual 13231
at the direction of the individual.13232

       (4) The election official shall review the affirmation to 13233
determine if the voter's portion of the affirmation has been 13234
completed. If the election official finds that the voter's portion 13235
of the affirmation has been completed, the election official shall 13236
provide the individual with a provisional ballot. If the election 13237
official finds that the voter's portion of the affirmation has not 13238
been completed, the official shall direct the individual to 13239
properly complete the affirmation. If the individual refuses to 13240
complete the affirmation, the election official shall do all of 13241
the following:13242

       (a) Write the individual's name on the affirmation in the 13243
space for the individual's name;13244

       (b) Indicate on the affirmation form that the individual 13245
refused to complete the affirmation;13246

       (c) Notify the individual that the provisional ballot will 13247
only be counted if the individual signs the affirmation;13248

       (d) Provide the individual with a provisional ballot.13249

       (5) The voter shall place the voted provisional ballot in the 13250
completed envelope, seal the envelope, and return the envelope to 13251
the election official. 13252

       (6) An election official at the polling place shall transmit 13253
the voter's sealed provisional ballot cast by the individual, the 13254
voter information contained in the written affirmation executed 13255
by the individual under division (B)(2) of this section, or the 13256
individual's name if the individual declines to execute such an 13257
affirmationenvelope to an appropriate local election official 13258
for verification under division (B)(4) of this sectionsection 13259
3505.183 of the Revised Code. 13260

       (4) If the appropriate local election official to whom the 13261
ballot or voter or address information is transmitted under 13262
division (B)(3) of this section determines that the individual is 13263
eligible to vote, the individual's provisional ballot shall be 13264
counted as a vote in that election. 13265

       (5)(7)(a) At the time that an individual casts a provisional 13266
ballot, the appropriate local election official shall give the 13267
individual written information that states that any individual who 13268
casts a provisional ballot will be able to ascertain under the 13269
system established under division (B)(5)(C)(7)(b) of this section 13270
whether the vote was counted, and, if the vote was not counted, 13271
the reason that the vote was not counted. 13272

       (b) The appropriate state or local election official shall 13273
establish a free access system, in the form of a toll-free 13274
telephone number, that any individual who casts a provisional 13275
ballot may access to discover whether the vote of that individual 13276
was counted, and, if the vote was not counted, the reason that the 13277
vote was not counted. The free access system established under 13278
this division also shall provide to an individual whose 13279
provisional ballot was not counted information explaining how that 13280
individual may contact the board of elections to register to vote 13281
or to resolve problems with the individual's voter registration. 13282

       The appropriate state or local election official shall 13283
establish and maintain reasonable procedures necessary to protect 13284
the security, confidentiality, and integrity of personal 13285
information collected, stored, or otherwise used by the free 13286
access system established under this division. Access to 13287
information about an individual ballot shall be restricted to the 13288
individual who cast the ballot. 13289

       (6) If, at the time that an individual casts a provisional 13290
ballot, the individual provides identification in the form of a 13291
current and valid photo identification, a military identification, 13292
or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government 13293
check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a 13294
notice of an election mailed by a board of elections under 13295
section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter 13296
registration mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 13297
of the Revised Code, that shows the individual's name and current 13298
address, or provides the last four digits of the individual's 13299
social security number, or executes an affirmation that the 13300
elector does not have any of those forms of identification or the 13301
last four digits of the individual's social security number 13302
because the individual does not have a social security number, or 13303
declines to execute such an affirmation, the appropriate local 13304
election official shall record the type of identification 13305
provided, the social security number information, the fact that 13306
the affirmation was executed, or the fact that the individual 13307
declined to execute such an affirmation and include that 13308
information with the transmission of the ballot or voter or 13309
address information under division (B)(3) of this section. If the 13310
individual declines to execute such an affirmation, the 13311
appropriate local election official shall record the individual's 13312
name and include that information with the transmission of the 13313
ballot under division (B)(3) of this section.13314

       (7) If an individual casts a provisional ballot pursuant to 13315
division (A)(3), (7), (8), (12), or (13) of this section, the 13316
election official shall indicate, on the provisional ballot 13317
verification statement required under section 3505.182 of the 13318
Revised Code, that the individual is required to provide 13319
additional information to the board of elections or that an 13320
application or challenge hearing has been postponed with respect 13321
to the individual, such that additional information is required 13322
for the board of elections to determine the eligibility of the 13323
individual who cast the provisional ballot.13324

       (8) During the ten days after the day of an election, an 13325
individual who casts a provisional ballot pursuant to division 13326
(A)(3), (7), (12), or (13) of this section shall appear at the 13327
office of the board of elections and provide to the board any 13328
additional information necessary to determine the eligibility of 13329
the individual who cast the provisional ballot.13330

       (a) For a provisional ballot cast pursuant to division 13331
(A)(3), (12), or (13) of this section to be eligible to be 13332
counted, the individual who cast that ballot, within ten days 13333
after the day of the election, shall do any of the following:13334

       (i) Provide to the board of elections proof of the 13335
individual's identity in the form of a current and valid photo 13336
identification, a military identification, or a copy of a current 13337
utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or 13338
other government document, other than a notice of an election 13339
mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the 13340
Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a board 13341
of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that 13342
shows the individual's name and current address;13343

       (ii) Provide to the board of elections the last four digits 13344
of the individual's social security number;13345

       (iii) In the case of a provisional ballot executed pursuant 13346
to division (A)(12) of this section, execute an affirmation as 13347
permitted under division (A)(4) of section 3505.18 of the Revised 13348
Code.13349

       (b) For a provisional ballot cast pursuant to division (A)(7) 13350
of this section to be eligible to be counted, the individual who 13351
cast that ballot, within ten days after the day of that election, 13352
shall provide to the board of elections any identification or 13353
other documentation required to be provided by the applicable 13354
challenge questions asked of that individual under section 3505.20 13355
of the Revised Code.13356

       (C)(D)(1) If an individual declares that the individual is 13357
eligible to vote in a jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction in 13358
which the individual desires to vote, or if, upon review of the 13359
precinct voting location guide using the residential street 13360
address provided by the individual, an election official at the 13361
polling place at which the individual desires to vote determines 13362
that the individual is not eligibleregistered to vote in that 13363
jurisdictionprecinct, the election official shall direct the 13364
individual to the polling place for the jurisdictionprecinct in 13365
which the individual appears to be eligibleregistered to vote, 13366
explain that the individual may cast a provisional ballot at the 13367
current location but the ballot will not be counted if it is cast 13368
in the wrong precinctcounty, and provide the telephone number 13369
of the board of elections in case the individual has additional 13370
questions. 13371

       (2) If the individual refuses to travel to the polling place 13372
for the correct jurisdiction or to the office of the board of 13373
elections to cast a ballot, the individual shall be permitted to 13374
vote a provisional ballot at that jurisdiction in accordance with 13375
division (B)(C) of this section. If any of the following apply, 13376
the provisional ballot cast by that individual shall not be 13377
opened or counted:13378

       (a) The individual is not properly registered in that 13379
jurisdiction. 13380

       (b) The individual is not eligible to vote in that election 13381
in that jurisdiction. 13382

       (c) The individual's eligibility to vote in that jurisdiction 13383
in that election cannot be established upon examination of the 13384
records on file with the board of elections. 13385

       (D)(E) The appropriate local election official shall cause 13386
voting information to be publicly posted at each polling place on 13387
the day of each election. 13388

       (E)(F) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form and 13389
content of provisional ballot envelopes. The provisional ballot 13390
envelopes prescribed under this division shall include the 13391
affirmation required by section 3505.182 of the Revised Code.13392

       The provisional ballot envelopes used by each board of 13393
elections in conducting provisional voting within a county shall 13394
conform to the form and content prescribed by the secretary of 13395
state under this division.13396

       (G) As used in this section and sections 3505.182 and 13397
3505.183 of the Revised Code: 13398

       (1) "Jurisdiction" means the precinctcounty in which a 13399
person is a legally qualified elector. 13400

       (2) "Precinct voting location guide" means either of the 13401
following: 13402

        (a) An electronic or paper record that lists the correct 13403
jurisdictionprecinct and polling place for either each specific 13404
residential street address in the county or the range of 13405
residential street addresses located in each neighborhood block in 13406
the county; 13407

        (b) Any other method that a board of elections creates that 13408
allows a precinct election official or any elector who is at a 13409
polling place in that county to determine the correct jurisdiction13410
precinct and polling place of any qualified elector who resides in 13411
the county. 13412

        (3) "Voting information" means all of the following: 13413

       (a) A sample version of the ballot that will be used for that 13414
election; 13415

       (b) Information regarding the date of the election and the 13416
hours during which polling places will be open; 13417

       (c) Instructions on how to vote, including how to cast a vote 13418
and how to cast a provisional ballot; 13419

       (d) Instructions for mail-in registrants and first-time 13420
voters under applicable federal and state laws; 13421

       (e) General information on voting rights under applicable 13422
federal and state laws, including information on the right of an 13423
individual to cast a provisional ballot and instructions on how to 13424
contact the appropriate officials if these rights are alleged to 13425
have been violated; 13426

       (f) General information on federal and state laws regarding 13427
prohibitions against acts of fraud and misrepresentation. 13428

       (4) The "signature" of an individual on a provisional voter's 13429
affirmation includes all of the following:13430

       (a) An individual's mark attested by an election official who 13431
shall write the individual's name on the affirmation and sign the 13432
election official's name as a witness to the mark, if the 13433
individual is unable to physically sign the affirmation;13434

       (b) The attestation of two election officials who shall write 13435
the individual's name on the affirmation and sign the election 13436
officials' names, if the individual is unable to physically make 13437
any mark; and13438

       (c) The signature of an attorney in fact made pursuant to 13439
section 3501.382 of the Revised Code.13440

       Sec. 3505.182. Each individual who casts a provisional 13441
ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code shall execute a 13442
written affirmation. The form of the written affirmation shall be 13443
printed upon the face of the provisional ballot envelope andThe 13444
secretary of state shall prescribe the form and content of a 13445
provisional voter's affirmation, which shall be substantially as 13446
follows: 13447

"Provisional
Ballot
Voter's
Affirmation
13448

STATE OF OHIO 13449

TO BE COMPLETED BY PROVISIONAL BALLOT VOTER 13450

Voter's Provisional Ballot Affirmation 13451

       Please review the following statement and sign. 13452

       Your provisional ballot will be counted only if you sign this 13453
affirmation.13454

       "I, .................... (Name of provisional voter),13455
solemnly swear or affirm that I am a registered voter in the 13456
jurisdiction in whichcounty where I am votingoffering to vote13457
this provisional ballot and that I am eligible to vote in the 13458
election in which I am voting this provisional ballot. 13459

       I understand that, if the above-provided information is not 13460
fully completed and correct, if the board of elections determines 13461
that I am not registered to vote, a resident of this precinct, or 13462
eligible to vote in this election, or if the board of elections 13463
determines that I have already voted in this election, my 13464
provisional ballot will not be counted. I further understand that 13465
knowingly providing false information is a violation of law and 13466
subjects me to possible criminal prosecution.13467

       I hereby declare, under penalty of election falsification, 13468
that the above statements are true and correct to the best of my 13469
knowledge and belief."13470

13471
(Signature of Voter) 13472
13473
(Voter's date of birth) 13474

The last four digits of the voter's social security number 13475
13476
(To be provided if the voter is unable to provide a current and valid photo identification, a military identification, 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) 13477

SIGNATURE OF VOTER (required):............................. 13478

PRINT FIRST AND LAST NAME:................................. 13479

ADDRESS: .................................................. 13480

       WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY 13481
OF THE FIFTH DEGREE. 13482

Additional Information For Determining Ballot Validity
13483

(May be completed at voter's discretion)
13484

Voter's current address: 13485
Voter's former address if photo identification does not contain voter's current address 13486
Voter's driver's license number or, if not provided above, the last four digits of voter's social security number 13487
(Please circle number type) 13488
(Voter may attach a copy of any of the following for identification purposes: a current and valid photo identification, a military identification, 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.) 13489
Reason for voting provisional ballot (Check one): 13490
     ..... Requested, but did not receive, absent voter's ballot 13491
     ..... Other 13492

Verification Statement
13493

(To be completed by election official)
13494

RECOMMENDED VOTER INFORMATION
13495

       The following optional information may be helpful for the 13496
board of elections in processing your provisional ballot. However, 13497
none of the following information may be the only reason for 13498
invalidating your provisional ballot.13499

       Name: ................................................13500

       Address: .............................................13501

       Birthdate: .......................................13502

       Ohio driver's license number: ........................13503

       Last four digits of your Social Security Number ......13504

       Are you a United States citizen? YES/NO (circle one)13505

       Will you be at least eighteen years of age on or before the 13506
next general election? YES/NO (circle one)13507

       For identification purposes, you may attach a copy of either 13508
a current and valid photo identification issued by the state or an 13509
agency or political subdivision of the state, an institution of 13510
higher education, or the United States government, or an 13511
affirmation of your identity.13512

TO BE COMPLETED BY ELECTION OFFICIAL AFTER VOTER RETURNS BALLOT 13513

       The following must be completed by the election official 13514
assisting the voter with the provisional ballot.13515

       REASON THE VOTER RECEIVED A PROVISIONAL BALLOT (check one):13516

       ..... Previously requested an absent voter's ballot or a 13517
regular ballot13518

       ..... Name does not appear in the pollbook or poll list13519

       ..... Did not present valid identification 13520

       The Provisional BallotVoter's Affirmation printed above was 13521
subscribed and affirmed before me this .......... day of 13522
.......... (Month), .......... (Year). 13523

       (If applicable, the election official must check the 13524
following true statement concerning additional information needed 13525
to determine the eligibility of the provisional voter.)13526

       ...... The provisional voter is required to provide 13527
additional information to the board of elections.13528

       ...... An application or challenge hearing regarding this 13529
voter has been postponed until after the election.13530

       (The election official must check the following true 13531
statement concerning identification provided by the provisional 13532
voter, if any.)13533

       ...... The provisional voter provided a current and valid 13534
photo identification.13535

       ...... The provisional voter provided a current valid photo 13536
identification, other than a driver's license or a state 13537
identification card, with the voter's former address instead of 13538
current address and has provided the election official both the 13539
current and former addresses.13540

       ...... The provisional voter provided a military 13541
identification or a copy of a current utility bill, bank 13542
statement, government check, paycheck, or other government 13543
document, other than a notice of an election mailed by a board of 13544
elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice 13545
of voter registration mailed by a board of elections under 13546
section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, with the voter's name and 13547
current address.13548

       ...... The provisional voter provided the last four digits of 13549
the voter's social security number.13550

       ...... The provisional voter is not able to provide a current 13551
and valid photo identification, a military identification, or a 13552
copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, 13553
paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an 13554
election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of 13555
the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a 13556
board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, 13557
with the voter's name and current address but does have one of 13558
these forms of identification. The provisional voter must provide 13559
one of the foregoing items of identification to the board of 13560
elections within ten days after the election.13561

       ..... The provisional voter is not able to provide a current 13562
and valid photo identification, a military identification, or a 13563
copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, 13564
paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of an 13565
election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of 13566
the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by a 13567
board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, 13568
with the voter's name and current address but does have one of 13569
these forms of identification. Additionally, the provisional 13570
voter does have a social security number but is not able to 13571
provide the last four digits of the voter's social security 13572
number before voting. The provisional voter must provide one of 13573
the foregoing items of identification or the last four digits of 13574
the voter's social security number to the board of elections 13575
within ten days after the election.13576

       ..... The provisional voter does not have a current and valid 13577
photo identification, a military identification, a copy of a 13578
current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, 13579
or other government document with the voter's name and current 13580
address, or a social security number, but has executed an 13581
affirmation.13582

       ..... The provisional voter does not have a current and valid 13583
photo identification, a military identification, a copy of a 13584
current utility bill, bank statement, government check, 13585
paycheck, or other government document with the voter's name 13586
and current address, or a social security number, and has 13587
declined to execute an affirmation.13588

       ..... The provisional voter declined to provide a current and 13589
valid photo identification, a military identification, a copy of a 13590
current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, 13591
or other government document with the voter's name and current 13592
address, or the last four digits of the voter's social security 13593
number but does have one of these forms of identification or a 13594
social security number. The provisional voter must provide one 13595
of the foregoing items of identification or the last four 13596
digits of the voter's social security number to the board of 13597
elections within ten days after the election.13598

       I have notified the voter that the voter MUST/MUST NOT 13599
(circle one) provide additional information to the board of 13600
elections within 10 days after Election Day for this provisional 13601
ballot to be counted.13602

       (LIST INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED, if applicable: .....)13603

13604
(Signature of Election Official)" 13605

       In addition to any information required to be included on the 13606
written affirmation, anAn individual casting a provisional ballot 13607
may provide additional information to the election official to 13608
assist the board of elections in determining the individual's 13609
eligibility to vote in that election, including the date and 13610
location at which the individual registered to vote, if known. Any 13611
information so provided shall not be the sole basis for 13612
invalidating the individual's provisional ballot.13613

       If the individual declines to execute the affirmation, an 13614
appropriate local election official shall comply with division 13615
(B)(6) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.13616

       Sec. 3505.183.  (A) When the ballot boxes are delivered to 13617
the board of elections from the precincts, the board shall 13618
separate the provisional ballot envelopes from the rest of the 13619
ballots. Teams of employees of the board consisting of one member 13620
of each major political party shall place the sealed provisional 13621
ballot envelopes in a secure location within the office of the 13622
board. The sealed provisional ballot envelopes shall remain in 13623
that secure location until the validity of those ballots is 13624
determined under division (B) of this section. While the 13625
provisional ballot is stored in that secure location, and prior to 13626
the counting of the provisional ballots, if the board receives 13627
information regarding the validity of a specific provisional 13628
ballot under division (B) of this section, the board mayshall13629
note, on the sealed provisional ballot envelope for that ballot, 13630
whether the ballot is valid and entitled to be counted. 13631

       (B)(1) To determineIn determining whether a provisional 13632
ballot is valid and entitled to be counted, the board shall 13633
examine its registration records and determine whether the 13634
individual who cast the provisional ballot is registered and 13635
eligible to vote in the applicable election. The board shall 13636
examine the information contained in the written affirmation 13637
executed by the individual who cast the provisional ballot under 13638
division (B)(2) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. If the 13639
individual declines to execute such an affirmation, the 13640
individual's name, written by either the individual or the 13641
election official at the direction of the individual, shall be 13642
included in a written affirmation in order for the provisional 13643
ballot to be eligible to be counted; otherwise, the following 13644
information shall be included in the written affirmation in order 13645
for the provisional ballot to be eligible to be counted:13646

       (a) The individual's name and signature;13647

       (b) A statement that the individual is a registered voter in 13648
the jurisdiction in which the provisional ballot is being voted;13649

       (c) A statement that the individual is eligible to vote in 13650
the election in which the provisional ballot is being voted.13651

       (2)In addition to the information required to be included in 13652
an affirmation under division (B)(1) of this section, in 13653
determining whether a provisional ballot is valid and entitled to 13654
be counted, the board also shall examine any additional13655
information for determining ballot validity provided by the 13656
provisional voter on the affirmation, provided by the provisional 13657
voter to an election official under section 3505.182 of the 13658
Revised Code, or provided to the board of elections during the ten 13659
days after the day of the election under division (B)(8) of 13660
section 3505.181 of the Revised Code, to assist the board in 13661
determining the individual's eligibility to vote. 13662

       (3)If, in examining a provisional ballot affirmation and 13663
additional information, the board determines that the individual 13664
failed to sign the affirmation, but provided enough information on 13665
the affirmation to enable the board of elections to identify and 13666
contact the individual, the board of elections shall immediately 13667
notify the individual, by whatever means of contact the individual 13668
has provided on the affirmation or using any available contact 13669
information in the board's records, that the affirmation is 13670
missing a signature and provide the individual an opportunity to 13671
correct the affirmation not later than ten days after the day of 13672
an election. 13673

       The individual may provide the required information by mail, 13674
electronic mail, telephone, or facsimile transmission, through the 13675
internet, or in person at the office of the board of elections. If 13676
the affirmation is missing a signature, the individual may provide 13677
a signed statement that the applicant submitted the application. A 13678
signature provided on a signed statement under this division shall 13679
be considered the individual's signature on the affirmation for 13680
the purposes of processing an otherwise valid provisional ballot 13681
affirmation.13682

       The secretary of state shall prescribe uniform standards for 13683
processing additional information by mail, electronic mail, 13684
telephone, facsimile transmission, through the internet, or in 13685
person at the office of the board of elections under this 13686
division.13687

       (2) If, in examining a provisional ballot affirmation and 13688
additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this 13689
section, the board determines that all of the following apply, 13690
the provisional ballot envelope shall be opened, and the ballot 13691
shall be placed in a ballot box to be counted: 13692

       (a) A signature has been provided on the provisional ballot 13693
affirmation. 13694

       (b) The individual's voter registration record is located 13695
based on the signature and other information provided on the 13696
affirmation, and the signature provided on the affirmation 13697
substantially conforms to the signature in the individual's voter 13698
registration record. 13699

       (c) The individual named on the affirmation is properly 13700
registered to vote. 13701

       (b)(d) The individual named on the affirmation is eligible to 13702
cast a ballot in the precinct and for the election in which the 13703
individual cast the provisional ballot. 13704

       (c) The individual provided all of the information required 13705
under division (B)(1) of this section in the affirmation that the 13706
individual executed at the time the individual cast the 13707
provisional ballot.13708

       (d) If applicable, the individual provided any additional 13709
information required under division (B)(8) of section 3505.181 of 13710
the Revised Code within ten days after the day of the election.13711

       (e) If applicable, the hearing conducted under division (B) 13712
of section 3503.24 of the Revised Code after the day of the 13713
election resulted in the individual's inclusion in the official 13714
registration list.13715

       (4)(a)(3) If, in examining a provisional ballot affirmation 13716
and additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this 13717
section, the board determines that any of the following applies, 13718
the provisional ballot envelope shall not be opened, and the 13719
ballot shall not be counted: 13720

       (i)(a) The individual's signature does not appear on the 13721
affirmation and the individual does not provide the missing 13722
signature not later than ten days after the day of an election, 13723
or the signature provided does not substantially conform to the 13724
signature in the individual's voter registration record.13725

       (b) The individual named on the affirmation is not qualified 13726
to vote or is not properly registered to vote. 13727

       (ii) The individual named on the affirmation is not eligible 13728
to cast a ballot in the precinct or for the election in which the 13729
individual cast the provisional ballot.13730

       (iii) The individual did not provide all of the information 13731
required under division (B)(1) of this section in the affirmation 13732
that the individual executed at the time the individual cast the 13733
provisional ballot.13734

       (iv)(c) The individual has already cast a ballot for the 13735
election in which the individual cast the provisional ballot. 13736

       (v) If applicable, the individual did not provide any 13737
additional information required under division (B)(8) of section 13738
3505.181 of the Revised Code within ten days after the day of the 13739
election.13740

       (vi) If applicable, the hearing conducted under division (B) 13741
of section 3503.24 of the Revised Code after the day of the 13742
election did not result in the individual's inclusion in the 13743
official registration list.13744

       (vii) The individual failed to provide a current and valid 13745
photo identification, a military identification, a copy of a 13746
current utility bill, bank statement, government check, 13747
paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of 13748
an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 13749
of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by 13750
a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, 13751
with the voter's name and current address, or the last four 13752
digits of the individual's social security number or to execute 13753
an affirmation under division (A) of section 3505.18 or division 13754
(B) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.13755

       (b) If, in examining a provisional ballot affirmation and 13756
additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this 13757
section, the board is unable to determine either of the following, 13758
the provisional ballot envelope shall not be opened, and the 13759
ballot shall not be counted:13760

       (i) Whether the individual named on the affirmation is 13761
qualified or properly registered to vote;13762

       (ii) Whether the individual named on the affirmation is 13763
eligible to cast a ballot in the precinct or for the election in 13764
which the individual cast the provisional ballot.13765

       (C) If, in examining a provisional ballot affirmation and 13766
additional information that may have been provided by the 13767
provisional voter, the board determines that the individual named 13768
on the affirmation is a qualified elector but that the individual 13769
is registered to vote in a different precinct than the precinct 13770
in which the individual cast the provisional ballot, the board 13771
shall remake the provisional ballot on a ballot for the 13772
appropriate precinct to reflect the offices, questions, and 13773
issues for which the provisional voter was eligible to cast a 13774
ballot and for which the provisional voter attempted to cast a 13775
provisional ballot. The remade ballot shall be counted for each 13776
office, question, and issue for which the provisional voter was 13777
eligible to vote.13778

       (D)(1) For each provisional ballot rejected under division 13779
(B)(4)(3) of this section, the board shall record the name of the 13780
provisional voter who cast the ballot, the identification number 13781
of the provisional ballot envelope, the names of the election 13782
officials who determined the validity of that ballot, the date and 13783
time that the determination was made, and the reason that the 13784
ballot was not counted. 13785

       (2) Provisional ballots that are rejected under division 13786
(B)(4)(3) of this section shall not be counted but shall be 13787
preserved in their provisional ballot envelopes unopened until 13788
the time provided by section 3505.31 of the Revised Code for the 13789
destruction of all other ballots used at the election for which 13790
ballots were provided, at which time they shall be destroyed. 13791

       (D)(E) Provisional ballots that the board determines are 13792
eligible to be counted under division (B)(3)(2) of this section 13793
shall be counted in the same manner as provided for other 13794
ballots under section 3505.27 of the Revised Code. No provisional 13795
ballots shall be counted in a particular county until the board 13796
determines the eligibility to be counted of all provisional 13797
ballots cast in that county under division (B) of this section 13798
for that election. Observers, as provided in section 3505.21 of 13799
the Revised Code, may be present at all times that the board is 13800
determining the eligibility of provisional ballots to be counted 13801
and counting those provisional ballots determined to be eligible. 13802
No person shall recklessly disclose the count or any portion of 13803
the count of provisional ballots in such a manner as to 13804
jeopardize the secrecy of any individual ballot. 13805

       (E)(F)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (E)(F)(2) 13806
of this section, nothing in this section shall prevent a board 13807
of elections from examining provisional ballot affirmations and 13808
additional information under divisionsdivision (B)(1) and (2) of 13809
this section to determine the eligibility of provisional ballots 13810
to be counted during the ten days after the day of an election. 13811

       (2) A board of elections shall not examine the provisional 13812
ballot affirmation and additional information under divisions 13813
(B)(1) and (2) of this section of any provisional ballot for which 13814
an election official has indicated under division (B)(7) of 13815
section 3505.181 of the Revised Code that additional information 13816
is required for the board of elections to determine the 13817
eligibility of the individual who cast that provisional ballot 13818
until the individual provides any information required under 13819
division (B)(8) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code, until any 13820
hearing required to be conducted under section 3503.24 of the 13821
Revised Code with regard to the provisional voter is held, or 13822
untilvote not earlier than the eleventh day after the day of the 13823
election, whichever is earlierto certify the validity of any 13824
provisional ballot. 13825

       (G) Not later than twenty-four hours after the unofficial 13826
results for an election have been determined, the board of 13827
elections shall make available for public inspection the names of 13828
provisional voters and the precincts in which they voted. However, 13829
no election official, observer, or other person shall knowingly 13830
disclose personal information about an individual provisional 13831
ballot, including information provided on the provisional ballot 13832
affirmation form and information as to whether the ballot was 13833
counted to any person other than the voter who cast the 13834
provisional ballot.13835

       Sec. 3505.20. (A) Any person offering to vote may be 13836
challenged at the polling place by any judge of elections on any 13837
of the following grounds:13838

       (1) That the person is not a citizen of the United States;13839

       (2) That the person is not a resident of the precinct in 13840
which the person offers to vote;13841

       (3) That the person is not eighteen years of age or older;13842

       (4) That the person is not a qualified elector for that 13843
election;13844

       (5) That the person is not the elector that the person 13845
purports to be.13846

       Challenges shall be made only if the challenger knows or 13847
reasonably believes that the challenged elector is not qualified 13848
and entitled to vote. If the board of elections has ruled on the 13849
question presented by a challenge prior to election day, its 13850
finding and decision shall be final, and the presiding judge 13851
shall be notified in writing, and the judges of elections shall 13852
not challenge the elector on that ground. If the board has not 13853
ruled, the question shall be determined as set forth in this 13854
section. If any person is so challenged as unqualified to vote, 13855
the presiding judge shall tender the person the following oath: 13856
"You do swear or affirm under penalty of election falsification 13857
that you will fully and truly answer all of the following 13858
questions put to you concerning your qualifications as an elector 13859
at this election." 13860

       A challenge may be upheld only if a majority of the judges of 13861
elections for the precinct at which the person offers to vote find 13862
by clear and convincing evidence that the person challenged is not 13863
eligible to vote a regular ballot on the grounds so challenged.13864

       (A)(B) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the 13865
ground that the person is not a citizen, the judges shall put the 13866
following questions:13867

       (1)question, "Are you a citizen of the United States? 13868

       (2) Are you a native or naturalized citizen?13869

       (3) Where were you born?13870

       (4) What official documentation do you possess to prove your 13871
citizenship? Please provide that documentation."13872

       If the person offering to vote claims to be a naturalized 13873
citizen of the United States, the person shall, before the vote is 13874
received, produce for inspection of the judges a certificate of 13875
naturalization and declare under oath that the person is the 13876
identical person named in the certificate. If the person states 13877
under oath that, by reason of the naturalization of the person's 13878
parents or one of them, the person has become a citizen of the 13879
United States, and when or where the person's parents were 13880
naturalized, the certificate of naturalization need not be 13881
produced. If the person is unable to provide a certificate of 13882
naturalization on the day ofanswers in the affirmative, the 13883
challenge shall be denied. If the judges are unable to verify the 13884
person's eligibility to cast a ballot in the election, the judges 13885
shall provide to the person, and the person may vote, a 13886
provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. 13887
The provisional ballot shall not be counted unless it is properly 13888
completed and the board of elections determines that the voter is 13889
properly registered and eligible to vote in the election.13890

       (B) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground 13891
that the person has not resided in this state for thirty days 13892
immediately preceding the election, the judges shall put the 13893
following questions:13894

       (1) Have you resided in this state for thirty days 13895
immediately preceding this election? If so, where have you 13896
resided?13897

       (2) Did you properly register to vote?13898

       (3) Can you provide some form of identification containing 13899
your current mailing address in this precinct? Please provide that 13900
identification.13901

       (4) Have you voted or attempted to vote at any other location 13902
in this or in any other state at this election?13903

       (5) Have you applied for an absent voter's ballot in any 13904
state for this election?13905

       If the judges are unable to verify the person's eligibility 13906
to cast a ballot in the election, the judges shall provide to the 13907
person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under 13908
section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The provisional ballot shall 13909
not be counted unless it is properly completed and the board of 13910
elections determines that the voter is properly registered and 13911
eligible to vote in the election.13912

       (C) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground 13913
that the person is not a resident of the precinct where the 13914
person offers to vote, the judges shall put the following 13915
questions: 13916

       (1) Do you reside in this precinct? 13917

       (2) When did you move into this precinct? 13918

       (3) When you came into this precinct, did you come for a 13919
temporary purpose merely or for the purpose of making it your 13920
home? 13921

       (4) What is your current mailing address? 13922

       (5) Do you have some official identification containing your 13923
current address in this precinct? Please provide that 13924
identification. 13925

       (6) Have you voted or attempted to vote at any other location 13926
in this or in any other state at this election? 13927

       (7) Have you applied for any absent voter's ballot in any 13928
state for this election? 13929

       The judges shall direct an individual who is not in the 13930
appropriate polling place to the appropriate polling place. If the 13931
individual refuses to go to the appropriate polling place, or if 13932
the judges are unable to verify the person's eligibility to cast a 13933
ballot in the election, the judges shall provide to the person, 13934
and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under section 13935
3505.181 of the Revised Code. The provisional ballot shall not be 13936
counted unless it is properly completed and the board of elections 13937
determines that the voter is properly registered and eligible to 13938
vote in the election.13939

       (D) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground 13940
that the person is not of legal voting age, the judges shall put 13941
the following questions: 13942

       (1) Are you eighteen years of age or more? 13943

       (2) What is your date of birth? 13944

       (3) Do you have some official identification verifying your 13945
age? Please provide that identification. 13946

       If the judges are unable to verify the person's age and 13947
eligibility to cast a ballot in the election, the judges shall 13948
provide to the person, and the person may vote, a provisional 13949
ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The provisional 13950
ballot shall not be counted unless it is properly completed and 13951
the board of elections determines that the voter is properly 13952
registered and eligible to vote in the election.13953

       The presiding judge shall put such other questions to the 13954
person challenged as are necessary to determine the person's 13955
qualifications as an elector at the election. If a person 13956
challenged refuses to answer fully any question put to the person, 13957
is unable to answer the questions as they were answered on the 13958
registration form by the person under whose name the person offers 13959
to vote, or refuses to sign the person's name or make the person's 13960
mark, or if for any other reason a majority of the judges believes 13961
the person is not entitled to vote, the judges shall provide to 13962
the person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under 13963
section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The provisional ballot shall 13964
not be counted unless it is properly completed and the board of 13965
elections determines that the voter is properly registered and 13966
eligible to vote in the election.13967

       (E) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground 13968
that the person is not a qualified elector for the applicable 13969
election, the judges shall put the following questions:13970

       (1) Have you resided in this state for thirty days 13971
immediately preceding the day of this election? If so, where have 13972
you resided? 13973

       (2) Did you properly register to vote?13974

       (3) Can you provide some form of identification containing 13975
your current mailing address in this precinct? Please provide that 13976
identification.13977

       (4) Have you voted or attempted to vote at any other location 13978
in this or in any other state at this election? 13979

       (5) Have you applied for an absent voter's ballot in any 13980
state for this election? 13981

       If the judges are unable to verify the person's eligibility 13982
to cast a ballot in the election, the judges shall provide to the 13983
person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under 13984
section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. 13985

       (F) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground 13986
that the person is not the elector that the person purports to 13987
be, the judges shall put the following questions:13988

       (1) What is your full name, date of birth, and address for 13989
voting purposes?13990

       (2) Can you sign your name on this paper so that we can 13991
compare it with the voter registration records? Please sign this 13992
paper.13993

       If the judges are unable to verify the person's eligibility 13994
to cast a ballot in the election, the judges shall provide to the 13995
person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under 13996
section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.13997

       (G) The person challenging an elector's right to vote bears 13998
the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the 13999
challenged elector's registration should be canceled.14000

       (H) A qualified citizen who has certified the citizen's 14001
intention to vote for president and vice-president as provided by 14002
Chapter 3504. of the Revised Code shall be eligible to receive 14003
only the ballot containingfor presidential and vice-presidential 14004
candidates. 14005

       However, prior to the nineteenth day before the day of an 14006
election and in accordance with section 3503.24 of the Revised 14007
Code, any person qualified to vote may challenge the right of any 14008
other person to be registered as a voter, or the right to cast an 14009
absent voter's ballot, or to make application for such ballot. 14010
Such challenge shall be made in accordance with section 3503.24 of 14011
the Revised Code, and the board of elections of the county in 14012
which the voting residence of the challenged voter is situated 14013
shall make a final determination relative to the legality of such 14014
registration or application.14015

       Sec. 3505.21. (A) As used in this section, "during the 14016
casting of the ballots" includes any time during which a board of 14017
elections permits an elector to receive, complete, and return an 14018
absent voter's ballot in person at the office of the board or at 14019
another site designated by the board under division (C) of 14020
section 3501.10 of the Revised Code and any time ballots may be 14021
cast in a precinct polling place on the day of an election.14022

       (B) At any primary, special, or general election, any 14023
political party supporting candidates to be voted upon at such 14024
election and any group of five or more candidates may appoint to 14025
the board of elections or to any of the precincts in the county or 14026
city one person, a qualified elector, who shall serve as observer 14027
for such party or such candidates during the casting of the 14028
ballots and during the counting of the ballots; provided that 14029
separate observers may be appointed to serve during the casting 14030
and during the counting of the ballots. No candidate, no uniformed 14031
peace officer as defined by section 2935.01 of the Revised Code, 14032
no uniformed state highway patrol trooper, no uniformed member of 14033
any fire department, no uniformed member of the armed services, no 14034
uniformed member of the organized militia, no person wearing any 14035
other uniform, and no person carrying a firearm or other deadly 14036
weapon shall serve as an observer, nor shall any candidate be 14037
represented by more than one observer at any one precinct or other 14038
voting location except that a candidate who is a member of a party 14039
controlling committee, as defined in section 3517.03 of the 14040
Revised Code, may serve as an observer. Any14041

       (C) Any political party or group of candidates appointing 14042
observers shall notify the board of elections of the names and 14043
addresses of its appointees and the precinctseach precinct or 14044
other location at which they shall serve. Notification of 14045
observers appointed to serve on the day of an election shall take 14046
place not less than eleven days before the day of the election on 14047
forms prescribed by the secretary of state and may be amended by 14048
filing an amendment with the board of elections at any time until 14049
four p.m. of the day before the election. Notification of 14050
observers appointed to serve at the office of the board or at 14051
another location during the time absent voter's ballots may be 14052
cast in person shall take place not less than eleven days before 14053
absent voter's ballots are required to be ready for use pursuant 14054
to section 3509.01 of the Revised Code on forms prescribed by the 14055
secretary of state and may be amended by filing an amendment with 14056
the board of elections at any time until four p.m. of the day 14057
before the observer is appointed to serve. The observer serving on 14058
behalf of a political party shall be appointed in writing by the 14059
chairperson and secretary of the respective controlling party 14060
committee. Observers serving for any five or more candidates shall 14061
have their certificates signed by those candidates. Observers 14062
appointed to a precinct may file their certificates of appointment 14063
with the presiding judge of the precinct at the meeting on the 14064
evening prior to the election, or with the presiding judge of the 14065
precinct on the day of the election. UponObservers appointed to 14066
the office of the board or another designated location to observe 14067
the casting of absent voter's ballots in person prior to the day 14068
of the election may file their certificates with the director of 14069
the board of elections, or, if pursuant to division (C) of 14070
section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated one 14071
or more other locations in the county at which registered electors 14072
may vote, with the election officials at such other location, 14073
whichever is appropriate, on the day that the observers are 14074
scheduled to serve at the office of the board or other designated 14075
location.14076

       Upon the filing of a certificate, the person named as 14077
observer in the certificate shall be permitted to be in and about 14078
the applicable polling place for the precinct during the casting 14079
of the ballots and shall be permitted to watch every proceeding of 14080
the judges of elections from the time of the opening until the 14081
closing of the polls. The observer also may inspect the counting 14082
of all ballots in the polling place or board of elections from the 14083
time of the closing of the polls until the counting is completed 14084
and the final returns are certified and signed. Observers 14085
appointed to serve at the board of elections on the day of an 14086
election under this section may observe at the board of elections 14087
and may observe at any precinct in the county. The judges of 14088
elections shall protect such observers in all of the rights and 14089
privileges granted to them by Title XXXV of the Revised Code. 14090

       (D) No persons other than the judges of elections, the 14091
observers, a police officer, other persons who are detailed to any 14092
precinct on request of the board of elections, or the secretary of 14093
state or the secretary of state's legal representative shall be 14094
admitted to the polling place, or any room in which a board of 14095
elections is counting ballots, after the closing of the polls 14096
until the counting, certifying, and signing of the final returns 14097
of each election have been completed. 14098

       (E) Not later than four p.m. of the twentieth day prior to an 14099
election at which questions are to be submitted to a vote of the 14100
people, any committee that in good faith advocates or opposes a 14101
measure may file a petitionan application with the board of any 14102
county asking that the petitionersapplicants be recognized as 14103
the committee entitled to appoint observers to the count at the 14104
election. If more than one committee alleging themselves to 14105
advocate or oppose the same measure file such a petitionan 14106
application, the board shall decide and announce by registered 14107
mail tonotify each committee not less than twelve days 14108
immediately preceding the election which committee is recognized 14109
as being entitled to appoint observers. The decision shall not be 14110
final, but any aggrieved party may institute mandamus proceedings 14111
in the court of common pleas of the county in which the board has 14112
jurisdiction to compel the judges of elections to accept the 14113
appointees of such aggrieved party. Any such recognized committee 14114
may appoint an observer to the count in each precinct. Committees 14115
appointing observers shall notify the board of elections of the 14116
names and addresses of its appointees and the precincts at which 14117
they shall serve. Notification shall take place not less than 14118
eleven days before the election on forms prescribed by the 14119
secretary of state and may be amended by filing an amendment with 14120
the board of elections at any time until four p.m. on the day 14121
before the election. A person so appointed shall file the person's 14122
certificate of appointment with the presiding judge in the 14123
precinct in which the person has been appointed to serve. 14124
Observers shall file their certificates before the polls are 14125
closed. In no case shall more than sixfour observers for such 14126
recognized committees be appointed for any one election in any 14127
one precinct. If more than threetwo questions are to be voted 14128
on, the committees which have appointed observers may agree upon 14129
not to exceed sixfour observers, and the judges of elections 14130
shall appoint such observers. If such committees fail to agree, 14131
the judges of elections shall appoint sixfour observers from the 14132
appointees so certified, in such manner that each side of the 14133
several questions shall be represented. 14134

       (F) No person shall serve as an observer at any precinct or 14135
other voting location unless the board of elections of the county 14136
in which such observer is to serve has first been notified of the 14137
name, address, and precinct or other location at which such 14138
observer is to serve. Notification to the board of elections shall 14139
be given by the political party, group of candidates, or committee 14140
appointing such observer as prescribed in this section. No such 14141
observers shall receive any compensation from the county, 14142
municipal corporation, or township, and they shall take the 14143
following oath, to be administered by one of the judges of 14144
elections: 14145

       "You do solemnly swear that you will faithfully and 14146
impartially discharge the duties as an official observer, assigned 14147
by law; that you will not cause any delay to persons offering to 14148
vote; and that you will not disclose or communicate to any person 14149
how any elector has voted at such election." 14150

       (G)(1) An observer who serves during the casting of the 14151
ballots shall only be permitted to do the following:14152

        (a) Watch and listen to the activities conducted by the 14153
precinct election officials and the interactions between precinct 14154
election officials and voters, as long as the precinct election 14155
officials are not delayed in performing the officials' prescribed 14156
duties and voters are not delayed in casting their ballots;14157

        (b) Document the observer's observations;14158

       (c) Discuss with the election officials any alleged 14159
violations of Title XXXV of the Revised Code, any provision of 14160
federal election law, or any directive or advisory issued by the 14161
secretary of state.14162

        (2)(a) No observer who serves during the casting of the 14163
ballots shall interact with any voter while the observer is 14164
inside the polling place, within the area between the polling 14165
place and the small flags of the United States placed on the 14166
thoroughfares and walkways leading to the polling place, or 14167
within ten feet of any elector in line waiting to vote, if the 14168
line of electors waiting to vote extends beyond those small 14169
flags.14170

       (b) An observer does not violate division (G)(2)(a) of this 14171
section as a result of an incidental interaction with a voter, 14172
such as an exchange of greetings or directing a voter to an 14173
election official.14174

       (3) Each person who serves as an observer during the casting 14175
of ballots shall display a name tag or badge upon which may only 14176
be stated "Observer" followed by the first and last name of the 14177
observer.14178

       (H) The secretary of state shall prescribe uniform observer 14179
training materials, which shall be made available on the secretary 14180
of state's web site not less than sixty days before the day of an 14181
election. A board of elections shall provide to each political 14182
party, group of five candidates, or committee appointing observers 14183
an electronic link to those training materials, and the political 14184
party, group of five candidates, or committee shall make its best 14185
effort to provide the link to all observers it appoints.14186

       (I) The board of elections shall provide for each observer 14187
and each election official a brief overview of the rules and 14188
responsibilities for election officials and observers, which shall 14189
be prescribed by the secretary of state.14190

       Sec. 3505.23.  No voter shall be allowed to occupy a voting 14191
compartment or use a voting machine more than fiveten minutes 14192
when all the voting compartments or machines are in use and 14193
voters are waiting to occupy them. Except as otherwise provided 14194
by section 3505.24 of the Revised Code, no voter shall occupy a 14195
voting compartment or machine with another person or speak to 14196
anyone, nor shall anyone speak to the voter, while the voter is 14197
in a voting compartment or machine. 14198

       In precincts that do not use voting machines the following 14199
procedure shall be followed: 14200

       If a voter tears, soils, defaces, or erroneously marks a 14201
ballot the voter may return it to the precinct election officials 14202
and a second ballot shall be issued to the voter. Before returning 14203
a torn, soiled, defaced, or erroneously marked ballot, the voter 14204
shall fold it so as to conceal any marks the voter made upon it, 14205
but the voter shall not remove Stub A therefrom. If the voter 14206
tears, soils, defaces, or erroneously marks such second ballot, 14207
the voter may return it to the precinct election officials, and a 14208
third ballot shall be issued to the voter. In no case shall more 14209
than three ballots be issued to a voter. Upon receiving a returned 14210
torn, soiled, defaced, or erroneously marked ballot the precinct 14211
election officials shall detach Stub A therefrom, write "Defaced" 14212
on the back of such ballot, and place the stub and the ballot in 14213
the separate containers provided therefor. 14214

       No elector shall leave the polling place until the elector 14215
returns to the precinct election officials every ballot issued to 14216
the elector with Stub A on each ballot attached thereto, 14217
regardless of whether the elector has or has not placed any marks 14218
upon the ballot. 14219

       Before leaving the voting compartment, the voter shall fold 14220
each ballot marked by the voter so that no part of the face of 14221
the ballot is visible, and so that the printing thereon 14222
indicating the kind of ballot it is and the facsimile signatures 14223
of the members of the board of elections are visible. The voter 14224
shall then leave the voting compartment, deliver the voter's 14225
ballots, and state the voter's name to the judge having charge 14226
of the ballot boxes, who shall announce the name, detach Stub A 14227
from each ballot, and announce the number on the stubs. The 14228
judges in charge of the poll lists or poll books shall check to 14229
ascertain whether the number so announced is the number on Stub 14230
B of the ballots issued to such voter, and if no discrepancy 14231
appears to exist, the judge in charge of the ballot boxes shall, 14232
in the presence of the voter, deposit each such ballot in the 14233
proper ballot box and shall place Stub A from each ballot in the 14234
container provided therefor. The voter shall then immediately 14235
leave the polling place. 14236

       No ballot delivered by a voter to the judge in charge of the 14237
ballot boxes with Stub A detached therefrom, and only ballots 14238
provided in accordance with Title XXXV of the Revised Code, shall 14239
be voted or deposited in the ballot boxes. 14240

       In marking a presidential ballot, the voter shall record the 14241
vote in the manner provided on the ballot next to the names of the 14242
candidates for the offices of president and vice-president. Such 14243
ballot shall be considered and counted as a vote for each of the 14244
candidates for election as presidential elector whose names were 14245
certified to the secretary of state by the political party of such 14246
nominees for president and vice-president. 14247

       In marking an office type ballot or nonpartisan ballot, the 14248
voter shall record the vote in the manner provided on the ballot 14249
next to the name of each candidate for whom the voter desires to 14250
vote. 14251

       In marking a primary election ballot, the voter shall record 14252
the vote in the manner provided on the ballot next to the name of 14253
each candidate for whom the voter desires to vote. If the voter 14254
desires to vote for the nomination of a person whose name is not 14255
printed on the primary election ballot, the voter may do so by 14256
writing such person's name on the ballot in the proper place 14257
provided for such purpose. 14258

       In marking a questions and issues ballot, the voter shall 14259
record the vote in the manner provided on the ballot at the left 14260
or at the right of "YES" or "NO" or other words of similar import 14261
which are printed on the ballot to enable the voter to indicate 14262
how the voter votes in connection with each question or issue upon 14263
which the voter desires to vote. 14264

       In marking any ballot on which a blank space has been 14265
provided wherein an elector may write in the name of a person for 14266
whom the elector desires to vote, the elector shall write such 14267
person's name in such blank space and on no other place on the 14268
ballot. Unless specific provision is made by statute, no blank 14269
space shall be provided on a ballot for write-in votes, and any 14270
names written on a ballot other than in a blank space provided 14271
therefor shall not be counted or recorded. 14272

       Sec. 3505.28.  No ballot shall be counted which is marked 14273
contrary to law, except that no ballot shall be rejected for any 14274
technical error unless it is impossible to determine the voter's 14275
choice. If two or more ballots are found folded together among the 14276
ballots removed from a ballot box, they shall be deemed to be 14277
fraudulent. Such ballots shall not be counted. They shall be 14278
marked "Fraudulent" and shall be placed in an envelope indorsed 14279
"Not Counted" with the reasons therefor, and such envelope shall 14280
be delivered to the board of elections together with other 14281
uncounted ballots. 14282

       No ballot shall be rejected because of being marked with ink 14283
or by any writing instrument other than one of the pencils 14284
provided by the board of elections. 14285

       Sec. 3505.30.  When the results of the ballots have been 14286
ascertained, such results shall be embodied in a summary statement 14287
to be prepared by the judges in duplicate, on forms provided by 14288
the board of elections. One copy shall be certified by the judges 14289
and posted on the front of the polling place, and one copy, 14290
similarly certified, shall be transmitted without delay to the 14291
board in a sealed envelope along with the other returns of the 14292
election. The board shall, immediately upon receipt of such 14293
summary statements, compile and prepare an unofficial count and 14294
upon its completion shall transmit prepaid, immediately by 14295
telephone, facsimile machine, or other telecommunications device, 14296
the results of such unofficial count to the secretary of state, or 14297
to the board of the most populous county of the district which is 14298
authorized to canvass the returns. Such count, in no event, shall 14299
be made later than twelve noon on the day following the election. 14300
The board shall also, at the same time, certify the results 14301
thereof to the secretary of state by certified mail. The board 14302
shall remain in session from the time of the opening of the polls, 14303
continuously, until the results of the election are received from 14304
every precinct in the county and such results are communicated to 14305
the secretary of state. 14306

       Sec. 3505.32.  (A) Except as otherwise provided in division14307
(D) of this section, not earlier than the eleventh day or later14308
than the fifteenth day after a general or special election or, if14309
a special election was held on the day of a presidential primary14310
election, not earlier than the twenty-first day or later than the14311
twenty-fifth day after the special election, the board of14312
elections shall begin to canvass the election returns from the14313
precincts in which electors were entitled to vote at that14314
election. It shall continue the canvass daily until it is14315
completed and the results of the voting in that election in each14316
of the precincts are determined.14317

       The board shall complete the canvass not later than the 14318
twenty-first day after the day of the election, or if a special 14319
election was held on the day of a presidential primary election, 14320
not later than the thirty-first day after the day of the special 14321
election. Eighty-one days after the day of the election, or 14322
ninety-one days after the day of a special election held on the 14323
day of the presidential primary election, the canvass of election 14324
returns shall be deemed final, and no amendments to the canvass 14325
may be made after that date. The secretary of state may specify an 14326
earlier date upon which the canvass of election returns shall be 14327
deemed final, and after which amendments to the final canvass may 14328
not be made, if so required by federal law.14329

       (B) The county executive committee of each political party,14330
each committee designated in a petition nominating an independent14331
or nonpartisan candidate for election at an election, each14332
committee designated in a petition to represent the petitioners14333
pursuant to which a question or issue was submitted at an14334
election, and any committee opposing a question or issue submitted14335
at an election that was permitted by section 3505.21 of the14336
Revised Code to have a qualified elector serve as an observer 14337
during the counting of the ballots at each polling place at an 14338
election may designate a qualified elector who may be present and 14339
may observe the making of the official canvass.14340

       (C) The board shall first open all envelopes containing14341
uncounted ballots and shall count and tally them.14342

       In connection with its investigation of any apparent or14343
suspected error or defect in the election returns from a polling14344
place, the board may cause subpoenas to be issued and served14345
requiring the attendance before it of the election officials of14346
that polling place, and it may examine them under oath regarding14347
the manner in which the votes were cast and counted in that14348
polling place, or the manner in which the returns were prepared14349
and certified, or as to any other matters bearing upon the voting14350
and the counting of the votes in that polling place at that14351
election.14352

       Finally, the board shall open the sealed container containing14353
the ballots that were counted in the polling place at the election14354
and count those ballots, during the official canvass, in the14355
presence of all of the members of the board and any other persons14356
who are entitled to witness the official canvass.14357

       (D) Prior to the tenth day after a primary, general, or14358
special election, the board may examine the pollbooks, poll lists,14359
and tally sheets received from each polling place for its files14360
and may compare the results of the voting in any polling place14361
with the summary statement received from the polling place. If the 14362
board finds that any of these records or any portion of them is 14363
missing, or that they are incomplete, not properly certified, or14364
ambiguous, or that the results of the voting in the polling place 14365
as shown on the summary statement from the polling place are14366
different from the results of the voting in the polling place as14367
shown by the pollbook, poll list, or tally sheet from the polling14368
place, or that there is any other defect in the records, the board14369
may make whatever changes to the pollbook, poll list, or tally14370
sheet it determines to be proper in order to correct the errors or14371
defects.14372

       Sec. 3505.331.  Not later than thirty days after the 14373
certification of the results of an election in accordance with 14374
section 3505.33 of the Revised Code, each board of elections shall 14375
send to the secretary of state any statistics or information 14376
regarding that election that the secretary of state requires, in 14377
addition to the following information, which shall be compiled by 14378
precinct:14379

       (A) The number of registered voters eligible to cast a ballot 14380
in that election;14381

       (B) The total number of ballots cast and total number of 14382
ballots counted;14383

       (C) The number of provisional ballots cast prior to election 14384
day; the reason for the voter receiving a provisional ballot, 14385
which shall be sorted by category as prescribed by the secretary 14386
of state; the number of provisional ballots cast on election day; 14387
and the number of provisional ballots counted, not counted, and 14388
the reason such ballots were not counted, which shall be sorted by 14389
category as prescribed by the secretary of state;14390

       (D) The number of absent voter's ballots requested in person; 14391
the number of such ballots provided; the number of such ballots 14392
cast; and the number of such ballots counted, not counted, and the 14393
reason such ballots were not counted, which shall be sorted by 14394
category as prescribed by the secretary of state;14395

       (E) The number of absent voter's ballots requested by mail, 14396
the number of such ballots provided, the number of such ballots 14397
cast, and the number of such ballots counted, and not counted; and14398

       (F) The number of armed service absent voter's ballots 14399
requested; the number of such ballots provided; the number of such 14400
ballots cast, and the number of such ballots counted and not 14401
counted.14402

       Sec. 3506.02.  Voting machines, marking devices, and 14403
automatic tabulating equipment may be adopted for use in elections 14404
in any county in the following manner:14405

       (A) By the board of elections;14406

       (B) By the board of county commissioners of such county on 14407
the recommendation of the board of elections;14408

       (C) By the affirmative vote of a majority of the electors of 14409
such county voting upon the question of the adoption of such 14410
equipment in such county.14411

       If a petition signed by electors equal in number to two per 14412
cent of the total votes cast in the county for the office of 14413
governor at the most recent general election for that office is 14414
filed with the board of elections, such board shall submit to the 14415
electors of such county at the next general election occurring not 14416
less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days thereafter the question 14417
"Shall voting machines, marking devices, and automatic tabulating 14418
equipment be adopted in the county of ........................?" 14419
Upon the filing of such petition, the board of elections shall 14420
forthwith notify the board of county commissioners, and the board 14421
of county commissioners shall forthwith determine whether it would14422
prefer to purchase or lease such equipment in whole or in part for 14423
cash and if so whether it will be necessary or advisable to issue 14424
bonds to provide funds for the purchase of such equipment, if 14425
adopted. If the board of county commissioners determines that it 14426
is necessary or advisable to issue bonds therefor, it shall by 14427
resolution provide for the submission on the same ballot, but as a 14428
separate issue, the question of issuing such bonds. The question 14429
of issuing such bonds shall be submitted as required by division 14430
(A) of section 3506.03 of the Revised Code.14431

       Sec. 3506.11.  The names of all candidates for an office 14432
shall be arranged in a group under the title of the office and 14433
printed on labels so that they may be rotated on the voting 14434
machine as provided in section 3505.03 of the Revised Code. The 14435
title of each office and the name of each candidate shall be 14436
printed flush left and shall not be centered on the ballot, in any 14437
column appearing on the ballot, or in any column appearing on the 14438
voting machine. The name of each candidate shall be printed using 14439
standard capitalization in accordance with instructions provided 14440
by the secretary of state and shall not be printed using all 14441
capital letters. Under the name of each candidate nominated at a 14442
primary election or certified by a party committee to fill a 14443
vacancy under section 3513.31 of the Revised Code, the name of 14444
the political party that nominated or certified the candidate 14445
shall be printed in less prominent typeface than that in which 14446
the candidate's name is printed. 14447

       Sec. 3506.12.  In counties where marking devices, automatic 14448
tabulating equipment, voting machines, or any combination of these 14449
are in use or are to be used, the board of electionsboth of the 14450
following apply: 14451

       (A) MayA board of elections may combine, rearrange, and 14452
enlarge precincts; but the board shall arrange for a sufficient 14453
number of these devices to accommodate the number of electors in 14454
each precinct as determined by the number of votes cast in that 14455
precinct at the most recent election for the office of governor, 14456
taking into consideration the size and location of each selected 14457
polling place, available parking, handicap accessibility and other 14458
accessibility to the polling place, and the number of candidates 14459
and issues to be voted onby calculating the minimum number of 14460
devices required for each precinct. The board of elections shall 14461
calculate that minimum number of devices by taking into account 14462
the number of registered voters in the precinct, the voter 14463
turnout in the precinct at the most recent similar election, and 14464
the estimated length of time for an average voter to complete the 14465
voter's ballot in the election. The board may exclude from the 14466
number of voters those individuals who have failed to respond 14467
within thirty days to any confirmation notice and those voters who 14468
requested an absent voter's ballot for the most recent similar 14469
election.14470

       After establishing a minimum number of voting machines for 14471
each precinct, the board of elections shall consider the following 14472
criteria when allocating additional devices:14473

       (1) The historic voter turnout in the precinct;14474

       (2) Any increase or decrease in the number of registered 14475
voters in the precinct since the last previous election;14476

       (3) Whether voters in the precinct have historically had 14477
longer-than-average wait times to use voting equipment;14478

       (4) The historic level of requests for absent voter's ballots 14479
in the precinct;14480

       (5) The length of the ballot in a particular precinct for the 14481
applicable election;14482

       (6) The number of registered voters in the precinct; and14483

       (7) The number of voting machines needed by the board of 14484
elections for delivery on the day of election in the case of an 14485
emergency, except that the board shall adopt a specific policy 14486
governing the delivery of such emergency voting machines.14487

       The board shall post the draft voting equipment distribution 14488
plan for public comment at the office of the board of elections 14489
and, if the board of elections maintains a web site, on that web 14490
site, not later than fifteen days before the date of the election 14491
for not less than five business days. After the conclusion of the 14492
public comment period, the board of elections shall conduct a full 14493
vote of the board during a public session of the board on the 14494
allocation of voting machines, marking devices, and automatic 14495
tabulating equipment for each precinct in the county. 14496
Notwithstanding section 3501.22 of the Revised Code, the board may 14497
appoint more than four precinct officers to each precinct if this 14498
is made necessary by the number of voting machines to be used in 14499
that precinct. 14500

       (B) Except as otherwise provided in this division, a board of 14501
elections shall establish one or more counting stations to receive 14502
voted ballots and other precinct election supplies after the 14503
precinct polling precinctslocations are closed. Those stations 14504
shall be under the supervision and direction of the board of 14505
elections. Processing and counting of voted ballots, and the 14506
preparation of summary sheets, shall be done in the presence of 14507
observers approved by the board. A certified copy of the summary 14508
sheet for the precinct shall be posted at each counting station 14509
immediately after completion of the summary sheet. 14510

       In counties where punch card ballots are used, one or more 14511
counting stations, located at the board of elections, shall be 14512
established, at which location all punch card ballots shall be 14513
counted.14514

       As used in this division, "punch card ballot" has the same 14515
meaning as in section 3506.16 of the Revised Code.14516

       Sec. 3506.21. (A) As used in this section, "optical scan 14517
ballot" means a ballot that is marked by using a specified writing 14518
instrument to fill in a designated position to record a voter's 14519
candidate, question, or issue choice and that can be scanned and 14520
electronically read in order to tabulate the vote. 14521

       (B)(1) In addition to marks that can be scanned and 14522
electronically read by automatic tabulating equipment, any of the 14523
following marks, if a majority of those marks are made in a 14524
consistent manner throughout an optical scan ballot, shall be 14525
counted as a valid vote: 14526

       (a) A candidate, question, or issue choice that has been 14527
circled by the voter; 14528

       (b) An oval beside the candidate, question, or issue choice 14529
that has been circled by the voter; 14530

       (c) An oval beside the candidate, question, or issue choice 14531
that has been marked by the voter with an "x," a check mark, or 14532
other recognizable mark; 14533

       (d) A candidate, question, or issue choice that has been 14534
marked with a writing instrument that cannot be recognized by 14535
automatic tabulating equipment. 14536

       (2) Marks made on an optical scan ballot in accordance with 14537
division (B)(1) of this section shall be counted as valid votes 14538
only if that optical scan ballot contains no marks that can be 14539
scanned and electronically read by automatic tabulating equipment. 14540

       (3) IfSubject to division (E) of this section, if automatic 14541
tabulating equipment detects that more marks were made on an 14542
optical scan ballot for a particular office, question, or issue 14543
than the number of selections that a voter is allowed by law to 14544
make for that office, question, or issue, the voter's ballot 14545
shall be invalidated for that office, question, or issue. The 14546
ballot shall not be invalidated for any other office, question, 14547
or issue for which the automatic tabulating equipment detects a 14548
vote to have been cast, in accordance with the law. 14549

       (C) The secretary of state may adopt rules under Chapter 119. 14550
of the Revised Code to authorize additional types of optical scan 14551
ballots and to specify the types of marks on those ballots that 14552
shall be counted as a valid vote to ensure consistency in the 14553
counting of ballots throughout the state. 14554

       (D)(1) A board of elections of a county that uses optical 14555
scan ballots and automatic tabulating equipment as the primary 14556
voting system for the county shall not tabulate the unofficial 14557
results of optical scan ballots voted on election day at a central 14558
location. 14559

       (2) A board of elections that provides for the tabulation at 14560
each precinct of voted ballots, and then, at a central location, 14561
combines those precinct ballot totals with ballot totals from 14562
other precincts, including optical scan ballots voted by absent 14563
voters, shall not be considered to be tabulating the unofficial 14564
results of optical scan ballots at a central location for the 14565
purpose of division (D)(1) of this section. 14566

       (E) If a voter has marked a ballot for a particular 14567
candidate and also has written in the same candidate's name as a 14568
write-in candidate for the same office, the ballot shall not be 14569
invalidated with respect to that office. The ballot shall be 14570
separated from the remainder of the ballots and preserved so that 14571
the ballot can be remade and tabulated for the official canvass of 14572
the election returns and for any subsequent recount or 14573
postelection audit. 14574

       The election officials shall remake any such ballot by 14575
properly marking a replacement ballot with a vote for the named 14576
candidate. Ballots remade under this division shall be tabulated 14577
in the same manner as other ballots for the official canvass of 14578
the election returns and for any subsequent recount or 14579
postelection audit. The original ballot shall be marked as having 14580
been remade and shall be retained separately by the board of 14581
elections.14582

       Sec. 3507.01. (A) Notwithstanding any provision of the 14583
Revised Code to the contrary, a board of elections of a county may 14584
conduct the following elections held within the county as an 14585
election by mail:14586

       (1) A special election held on a day other than the day of a 14587
primary or general election;14588

       (2) An election to fill a vacancy in a nomination pursuant to 14589
section 3513.312 of the Revised Code or a vacancy in an elective 14590
office pursuant to section 3521.03 of the Revised Code;14591

       (3) Any election at which no nominations for or elections to 14592
office appear on the ballot.14593

       (B) The secretary of state shall adopt rules under Chapter 14594
119. of the Revised Code governing the holding of an election by 14595
mail when the district or area within which the election is being 14596
conducted includes territory in more than one county.14597

       Sec. 3507.02.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, 14598
if a board of elections conducts an election by mail, the board 14599
shall mail an absent voter's ballot application on or before the 14600
forty-fifth day before the day of the election, to each 14601
qualified elector of the county who is entitled to vote on the 14602
office, question, or issue certified for placement on the 14603
ballot. A board of elections shall not mail an absent voter's 14604
ballot application to an elector under this section if the 14605
elector has previously submitted an application for annual 14606
absent voter's ballot for that year and instead shall mail 14607
absent voter's ballots for the election by mail to such an 14608
elector.14609

       Sec. 3507.03.  If a board of elections conducts an election 14610
by mail, the board shall open its office from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 14611
p.m. on the day of the election to allow qualified voters to 14612
vote in person and to receive completed absent voter's ballots. 14613
The board shall place a notice at all polling places in the 14614
jurisdiction in which the election by mail is being conducted that 14615
were used at the last regular state election stating the 14616
location of the office of the board of elections, that absent 14617
voter's ballots may be delivered to the office of the board of 14618
elections, and that absent voter's ballots may be cast in person 14619
at the office of the board of elections from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 14620
p.m. No other polling places shall be open on the day of the 14621
election conducted as an election by mail.14622

       Sec. 3509.01. (A) The board of elections of each county shall 14623
provide absent voter's ballots for use at every primary and 14624
general election, or special election to be held on the day 14625
specified by division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code 14626
for the holding of a primary election, designated by the general 14627
assembly for the purpose of submitting constitutional amendments 14628
proposed by the general assembly to the voters of the state. Those 14629
ballots shall be the same size, shall be printed on the same kind 14630
of paper, and shall be in the same form as has been approved for 14631
use at the election for which those ballots are to be voted; 14632
except that, in counties using marking devices, ballot cards may 14633
be used for absent voter's ballots, and those absent voters shall 14634
be instructed to record the vote in the manner provided on the 14635
ballot cards. In counties where punch card ballots are used, those 14636
absent voters shall be instructed to examine their marked ballot 14637
cards and to remove any chads that remain partially attached to 14638
them before returning them to election officials.The secretary 14639
of state shall prescribe uniform standards for absent voter's 14640
ballot materials, forms, and content. The boards of elections 14641
shall adhere to the standards prescribed by the secretary of 14642
state in preparing absent voter's ballots under this chapter.14643

       (B) The rotation of names of candidates and questions and 14644
issues shall be substantially complied with on absent voter's 14645
ballots, within the limitation of time allotted. Those ballots 14646
shall be designated as "Absent Voter's Ballots." andExcept as 14647
otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, those ballots14648
shall be printed and ready for use as follows:14649

        (1) For overseas voters and absent uniformed services voters 14650
eligible to vote under the "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens 14651
Absentee Voting Act," Pub. L. No. 99-410, 100 Stat. 924, 42 U.S.C. 14652
1973ff, et seq., as amended, ballots shall be printed and ready 14653
for use on the thirty-fifthforty-fifth day before the day of the 14654
election, except that those ballots shall be printed and ready 14655
for use on the twenty-fifth day before the day of a presidential 14656
primary election;14657

        (2) For all voters, other than overseas voters and absent 14658
uniformed services voters, who are applying to vote absent voter's 14659
ballots, ballots shall be printed and ready for use beginning on 14660
the twenty-eighth day before the day of the election and shall 14661
continue to be available for use through noon on the last Monday 14662
before the day of the election.14663

       (C) Absent voter's ballots provided for use at a general or 14664
primary election, or special election to be held on the day 14665
specified by division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code 14666
for the holding of a primary election, designated by the general 14667
assembly for the purpose of submitting constitutional amendments 14668
proposed by the general assembly to the voters of the state, shall 14669
include only those questions, issues, and candidacies that have 14670
been lawfully ordered submitted to the electors voting at that 14671
election. 14672

       (D) Absent voter's ballots for special elections held on 14673
days other than the day on which general or primary elections are 14674
held shall be ready for use as many days before the day of the 14675
election as reasonably possible under the laws governing the 14676
holding of that special election. 14677

       (E) A copy of the absent voter's ballots shall be forwarded 14678
by the director of the board in each county to the secretary of 14679
state at least twenty-five days before the election. 14680

       As used in this section, "chad" and "punch card ballot" have 14681
the same meanings as in section 3506.16 of the Revised Code.14682

       Sec. 3509.02.  (A) Any qualified elector may vote by absent 14683
voter's ballots at an election. 14684

       (B) Any qualified elector who is unable to appear at the 14685
office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) 14686
of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated 14687
another locationone or more other locations in the county at 14688
which registered electors may vote, at thatsuch other location on 14689
account of personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity, 14690
and who moves from one precinct to another within a county, 14691
changes the elector's name and moves from one precinct to another 14692
within a county, or moves from one county to another county within 14693
the state, changes the elector's name, changes the elector's name 14694
and moves from one precinct to another within a county, or changes 14695
the elector's name and moves from one county to another county 14696
within the state, on or prior to the day of a general, primary, or 14697
special election and has not filed a notice of change of residence 14698
or, change of name, or both, as applicable, may vote by absent 14699
voter's ballots in that election as specified in division (G) of 14700
section 3503.16 of the Revised Code. 14701

       Sec. 3509.03. (A) Except as provided in section 3509.031 or 14702
division (B) of section 3509.08 of the Revised Code, any 14703
qualified elector desiring to vote absent voter's ballots at an 14704
election shall make written application for those ballots to the 14705
director of elections of the county in which the elector's 14706
voting residence is located. The written application may be 14707
submitted in person, by mail, by facsimile transmission, by 14708
electronic mail, or by other electronic means via the internet.14709
The application need not be in any particular form but shall 14710
contain all of the following:14711

       (A)(1) The elector's name; 14712

       (B)(2) The elector's signature or, if the application is 14713
transmitted electronically, an image of the elector's signature; 14714

       (C)(3) The address at which the elector is registered to 14715
vote; 14716

       (D)(4) The elector's date of birthbirthdate; 14717

       (E)(5) One of the following, unless the elector is a 14718
first-time mail-in registrant: 14719

       (1)(a) The elector's Ohio driver's license number; 14720

       (2)(b) The last four digits of the elector's social security 14721
number; 14722

       (3)(c) A copy of the elector's current and valid photo 14723
identification, a copy of a military identification, or a copy of 14724
a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, 14725
paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of 14726
an election mailed by a board of elections under section 14727
3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration 14728
mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the 14729
Revised Code, that shows the name and address of the elector14730
identification. 14731

       (F)(6) A statement identifying the election for which absent 14732
voter's ballots are requested; 14733

       (G)(7) A statement that the person requesting the ballots is 14734
a qualified elector; 14735

       (H)(8) If the request is for primary election ballots, the 14736
elector's party affiliation; 14737

       (I)(9) If the elector desires ballots to be mailed to the 14738
elector, the address to which those ballots shall be mailed;14739

       (10) If the elector is a first-time mail-in registrant, a 14740
copy of the elector's first-time mail-in registrant 14741
identification. 14742

       A voter who will be outside the United States on the day of 14743
any election during a calendar year may use a single federal 14744
post card application to apply for absent voter's ballots. Those 14745
ballots shall be sent to the voter for use at the primary and 14746
general elections in that year and any special election to be held 14747
on the day in that year specified by division (E) of section 14748
3501.01 of the Revised Code for the holding of a primary election, 14749
designated by the general assembly for the purpose of submitting 14750
constitutional amendments proposed by the general assembly to the 14751
voters of the state unless the voter reports a change in the 14752
voter's voting status to the board of elections or the voter's 14753
intent to vote in any such election in the precinct in this state 14754
where the voter is registered to vote. A single federal postcard 14755
application shall be processed by the board of elections pursuant 14756
to section 3509.04 of the Revised Code the same as if the voter 14757
had applied separately for absent voter's ballots for each 14758
election. When mailing absent voter's ballots to a voter who 14759
applied for them by single federal post card application, the 14760
board shall enclose notification to the voter that the voter must 14761
report to the board subsequent changes in the voter's voting 14762
status or the voter's subsequent intent to vote in any such 14763
election in the precinct in this state where the voter is 14764
registered to vote. Such notification shall be in a form 14765
prescribed by the secretary of state. As used in this section, 14766
"voting status" means the voter's name at the time the voter 14767
applied for absent voter's ballots by single federal post card 14768
application and the voter's address outside the United States to 14769
which the voter requested that those ballots be sent.14770

       Each(B)(1) An elector may make a single request for absent 14771
voter's ballots for all elections at which the elector is eligible 14772
to vote during a calendar year. The application shall contain the 14773
information specified in division (A) of this section and also 14774
shall specify that the elector is requesting absent voter's 14775
ballots for each election during that year. If the elector wishes 14776
to vote primary election ballots, the elector shall state the 14777
elector's party affiliation in the application.14778

       If an elector applies for annual absent voter's ballots under 14779
this division, the application shall be processed by the board of 14780
elections pursuant to section 3509.04 of the Revised Code the same 14781
as if the elector had applied separately for absent voter's 14782
ballots for each election during the applicable calendar year. 14783
Absent voter's ballots shall be sent to the elector for use at 14784
each election during the applicable calendar year for which the 14785
elector is eligible to cast a ballot. When sending absent voter's 14786
ballots to an elector who applied for them under this division, 14787
the board shall enclose notification to the elector that the 14788
elector must report to the board subsequent changes in the 14789
elector's voting status, changes in the elector's address, or the 14790
elector's intent to vote at a polling location in the jurisdiction 14791
in this state where the elector is registered to vote. Such 14792
notification shall be in a form prescribed by the secretary of 14793
state.14794

       If an absent voter's ballot or any official response to an 14795
application for an annual absent voter's ballot is returned 14796
undeliverable to the board of elections, the board shall attempt 14797
to contact the elector to verify the elector's mailing address 14798
using any available contact information in the elector's voter 14799
registration record including the elector's telephone number, 14800
facsimile transmission number, or electronic mail address. If the 14801
board is unable to contact the elector, the board shall not send 14802
absent voter's ballots for any subsequent election to that 14803
elector until the elector submits another application and the 14804
information in that application is verified. The board shall 14805
remove from the poll list or signature pollbook any notation that 14806
the elector requested an absent voter's ballot. The elector may 14807
cast a regular ballot if the elector appears to vote in person on 14808
the day of the election or the elector may cast an absent voter's 14809
ballot in person at the board of elections or if pursuant to 14810
division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has 14811
designated one or more other locations in the county at which 14812
registered electors may cast an absent voter's ballot in person, 14813
at such other location.14814

       (2) Not later than the fifteenth day of December of each 14815
year, the board of elections shall send an application for annual 14816
absent voter's ballots for the following calendar year to each 14817
person who requested annual absent voter's ballots under division 14818
(B)(1) of this section for the current year and cast such ballots 14819
in the general election. An elector who completes and returns 14820
such an application shall be eligible to receive annual absent 14821
voter's ballots under division (B)(1) of this section for the 14822
applicable year.14823

       (C) Except for annual applications for absent voter's ballots 14824
submitted under division (B)(2) of this section, each application 14825
for absent voter's ballots shall be delivered to the director not 14826
earlier than the first day of January of the year of the elections 14827
for which the absent voter's ballots are requested or not earlier 14828
than ninety days before the day of the election at which the 14829
ballots are to be voted, whichever is earlier, and not later than 14830
twelve noon of the third day before the day of the election at 14831
which the ballots are to be voted, or not later than the close of 14832
regular business hoursnoon on the day before the day of the 14833
election at which the ballots are to be voted if the application 14834
is delivered in person to the office of the board. 14835

       Sec. 3509.031. (A) Any qualified elector who is a member of 14836
the organized militia called to active duty within the state and 14837
who will be unable to vote on election day on account of that 14838
active duty may make written application for absent voter's 14839
ballots to the director of elections for the county in which the 14840
elector's voting residence is located. The elector may personally 14841
deliver the application to the director or may mail it, send it by 14842
facsimile machine, send it by electronic mail, send it by other 14843
electronic means via the internet, or otherwise send it to the 14844
director. The application need not be in any particular form but 14845
shall contain all of the following: 14846

       (1) The elector's name; 14847

       (2) The elector's signature or, if the application is 14848
transmitted electronically, an image of the elector's signature; 14849

       (3) The address at which the elector is registered to vote; 14850

       (4) The elector's date of birthbirthdate; 14851

       (5) One of the following, unless the elector is a first-time 14852
mail-in registrant: 14853

       (a) The elector's Ohio driver's license number; 14854

       (b) The last four digits of the elector's social security 14855
number; 14856

       (c) A copy of the elector's current and valid photo 14857
identification, a copy of a military identification, or a copy of 14858
a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, 14859
paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of 14860
an election mailed by a board of elections under section 14861
3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration 14862
mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the 14863
Revised Code, that shows the name and address of the elector14864
identification. 14865

       (6) A statement identifying the election for which absent 14866
voter's ballots are requested; 14867

       (7) A statement that the person requesting the ballots is a 14868
qualified elector; 14869

       (8) A statement that the elector is a member of the organized 14870
militia serving on active duty within the state; 14871

       (9) If the request is for primary election ballots, the 14872
elector's party affiliation; 14873

       (10) If the elector desires ballots to be mailed to the 14874
elector, the address to which those ballots shall be mailed; 14875

       (11) If the elector desires ballots to be sent to the elector 14876
by facsimile machine, the telephone number to which they shall be 14877
so sent;14878

       (12) If the elector is a first-time mail-in registrant, a 14879
copy of the elector's first-time mail-in registrant 14880
identification. 14881

       (B) Application to have absent voter's ballots mailed or,14882
sent by facsimile machine, or otherwise sent to a qualified 14883
elector who is a member of the organized militia called to active 14884
duty within the state and who will be unable to vote on election 14885
day on account of that active duty may be made by the spouse of 14886
the militia member or the father, mother, father-in-law, 14887
mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother or sister of the 14888
whole blood or half blood, son, daughter, adopting parent, 14889
adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or 14890
niece of the militia member. The application shall be in writing 14891
upon a blank form furnished only by the director. The form of the 14892
application shall be prescribed by the secretary of state. The 14893
director shall furnish that blank form to any of the relatives 14894
specified in this division desiring to make the application, only 14895
upon the request of such a relative in person at the office of 14896
the board or upon the written request of such a relative mailed, 14897
sent by facsimile transmission, sent by electronic mail, or sent 14898
by other electronic means via the internet to the office of the 14899
board. The application, subscribed and sworn to by the applicant, 14900
shall contain all of the following: 14901

        (1) The full name of the elector for whom ballots are 14902
requested; 14903

        (2) A statement that such person is a qualified elector in 14904
the county; 14905

        (3) The address at which the elector is registered to vote; 14906

       (4) The elector's date of birthbirthdate; 14907

       (5) One of the following, unless the elector is a first-time 14908
mail-in registrant: 14909

       (a) The elector's Ohio driver's license number; 14910

       (b) The last four digits of the elector's social security 14911
number; 14912

       (c) A copy of the elector's current and valid photo 14913
identification, a copy of a military identification, or a copy of 14914
a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, 14915
paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of 14916
an election mailed by a board of elections under section 14917
3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration 14918
mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the 14919
Revised Code, that shows the name and address of the elector14920
identification. 14921

       (6) A statement identifying the election for which absent 14922
voter's ballots are requested; 14923

       (7) A statement that the elector is a member of the organized 14924
militia serving on active duty within the state; 14925

        (8) If the request is for primary election ballots, the 14926
elector's party affiliation; 14927

       (9) A statement that the applicant bears a relationship to 14928
the elector as specified in division (B) of this section; 14929

        (10) The address to which ballots shall be mailed or 14930
telephone number to which ballots shall be sent by facsimile 14931
machine; 14932

        (11) The signature or, if the application is transmitted 14933
electronically, an image of the signature and the address of the 14934
person making the application;14935

       (12) If the elector is a first-time mail-in registrant, a 14936
copy of the elector's first-time mail-in registrant 14937
identification. 14938

       (C) Applications (1) An elector who is a member of the 14939
organized militia may make a single request for absent voter's 14940
ballots for all elections at which the elector is eligible to vote 14941
during a calendar year. The application shall contain the 14942
information specified in division (A) of this section and also 14943
shall specify that the elector is requesting absent voter's 14944
ballots for each election during that year. If the elector wishes 14945
to vote primary election ballots, the elector shall state the 14946
elector's party affiliation in the application.14947

       If an elector applies for annual absent voter's ballots under 14948
this division, the application shall be processed by the board of 14949
elections pursuant to section 3509.04 of the Revised Code the same 14950
as if the elector had applied separately for absent voter's 14951
ballots for each election during the applicable calendar year. 14952
Absent voter's ballots shall be sent to the elector for use at 14953
each election during the applicable calendar year for which the 14954
elector is eligible to cast a ballot. When sending absent voter's 14955
ballots to an elector who applied for them under this division, 14956
the board shall enclose notification to the elector that the 14957
elector must report to the board subsequent changes in the 14958
elector's voting status, changes in the elector's address, or the 14959
elector's intent to vote at a polling location in the jurisdiction 14960
in this state where the elector is registered to vote. Such 14961
notification shall be in a form prescribed by the secretary of 14962
state.14963

       If an absent voter's ballot or any official response to an 14964
application for an annual absent voter's ballot is returned 14965
undeliverable to the board of elections, the board shall attempt 14966
to contact the elector to verify the elector's mailing address 14967
using any available contact information in the elector's voter 14968
registration record including the elector's telephone number, 14969
facsimile transmission number, or electronic mail address. If the 14970
board is unable to contact the elector, the board shall not send 14971
absent voter's ballots for any subsequent election to that 14972
elector until the elector submits another application and the 14973
information in that application is verified. The board shall 14974
remove from the poll list or signature pollbook any notation that 14975
the elector requested an absent voter's ballot. The elector may 14976
cast a regular ballot if the elector appears to vote in person on 14977
the day of the election or the elector may cast an absent voter's 14978
ballot in person at the board of elections or if pursuant to 14979
division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has 14980
designated one or more other locations in the county at which 14981
registered electors may cast an absent voter's ballot in person, 14982
at such other location.14983

       (2) Not later than the fifteenth day of December of each 14984
year, the board of elections shall send an application for annual 14985
absent voter's ballots for the following calendar year to each 14986
person who requested annual absent voter's ballots under division 14987
(C)(1) of this section for the current year and cast such ballots 14988
in the general election. An elector who completes and returns 14989
such an application shall be eligible to receive annual absent 14990
voter's ballots under division (C)(1) of this section for the 14991
applicable year.14992

       (D) Except for annual applications for absent voter's ballots 14993
submitted under division (C)(2) of this section, applications to 14994
have absent voter's ballots mailed or sent by facsimile machine 14995
shall not be valid if dated, postmarked, or received by the 14996
director prior to the ninetieth day before the day of the 14997
election for which ballots are requested or if delivered to the 14998
director later than twelve noon of the third day preceding the 14999
day of such election. If, after the ninetieth day and before four 15000
p.m. of the day before the day of an election, a valid 15001
application for absent voter's ballots is delivered to the 15002
director of elections at the office of the board by a militia 15003
member making application in the militia member's own behalf, the 15004
director shall forthwith deliver to the militia member all absent 15005
voter's ballots then ready for use, together with an 15006
identification envelope. The militia member shall then vote the 15007
absent voter's ballots in the manner provided in section 3509.05 15008
of the Revised Code.15009

       Sec. 3509.04. (A) If a director of a board of elections 15010
receives an application for absent voter's ballots that does not 15011
contain all of the required information, the director promptly 15012
shall notify the applicant, by whatever means of contact the 15013
applicant has provided on the application, of the additional 15014
information required to be provided by the applicant to complete 15015
that application. The applicant may provide the required 15016
information by mail, electronic mail, telephone, or facsimile 15017
transmission, through the internet, or in person at the office of 15018
the board of elections. If the application is missing a signature, 15019
the applicant may provide a signed statement that the applicant 15020
submitted the application. A signature provided on a signed 15021
statement under this division shall be considered the applicant's 15022
signature on the application for the purposes of processing an 15023
otherwise valid application for absent voter's ballots. The 15024
secretary of state shall prescribe uniform standards for 15025
processing additional information by mail, electronic mail, 15026
telephone, facsimile transmission, through the internet, or in 15027
person at the office of the board of elections under this 15028
division.15029

       If the applicant provides the required information prior to 15030
the end of the period for voting by absent voter's ballots at that 15031
election, the board shall promptly process the application and 15032
deliver absent voter's ballots to the applicant.15033

       (B) UponSubject to section 3509.07 of the Revised Code, upon15034
receipt by the director of elections of an application for absent 15035
voter's ballots that contain all of the required information, as 15036
provided by sections 3509.03 and 3509.031 and division (G) of 15037
section 3503.16 of the Revised Code, the director, if the 15038
director finds that the applicant is a qualified elector, shall 15039
deliver to the applicant in person or mail directly to the 15040
applicant by special delivery mail, air mail, or regular mail, 15041
postage prepaid, proper absent voter's ballots. The director 15042
shall deliver or mailsend with the ballots an unsealed 15043
identification envelope upon the face of which shall be printed a 15044
form substantially as follows: 15045

"Identification Envelope Statement of Voter
15046

       I, ........................(Name of voter), declare under 15047
penalty of election falsification that the within ballot or 15048
ballots contained no voting marks of any kind when I received 15049
them, and I caused the ballot or ballots to be marked, enclosed in 15050
the identification envelope, and sealed in that envelope. 15051

       My voting residence in Ohio is 15052

................................................................... 15053

(Street and Number, if any, or Rural Route and Number)
15054

of ................................ (City, Village, or Township) 15055
Ohio, which is in Ward ............... Precinct ................ 15056
in that city, village, or township. 15057

       The primary election ballots, if any, within this envelope 15058
areIf the election is a primary election, by requesting ballots 15059
of the ............. Party, I hereby declare that I desire to be 15060
affiliated with and support the above-named party. 15061

       Ballots contained within this envelope are to be voted at the 15062
.......... (general, special, or primary) election to be held on 15063
the .......................... day of ......................, ....15064

       My date of birthbirthdate is ............... (Month and 15065
Day), .......... (Year). 15066

       (Voter must provide one of the following:) 15067

       My Ohio driver's license number is ............... (Driver's15068
Ohio driver's license number). 15069

       The last four digits of my Social Security Number are 15070
............... (Last four digits of Social Security Number). 15071

       ...... In lieu of providing aan Ohio driver's license number 15072
or the last four digits of my Social Security Number, I am 15073
enclosing a copy of one of the following in the return envelope 15074
in which this identification envelope will be mailed: a current 15075
and valid photo identification issued by the state or an agency 15076
or political subdivision of the state, an institution of higher 15077
education, or the United States government, or an affirmation of 15078
my identity. If I am a first-time voter who registered to vote 15079
by mail, did not provide identification when I registered to 15080
vote, and have not previously voted at a federal election in Ohio, 15081
I am enclosing a copy of a current and valid photo 15082
identification, a military identification, or a current utility 15083
bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other 15084
government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by 15085
a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or 15086
a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections,15087
that shows my name and address. 15088

       I hereby declare, under penalty of election falsification, 15089
that the statements above are true, as I verily believe. 15090

15091
(Signature of Voter (required) 15092

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF 15093
THE FIFTH DEGREE." 15094

       The board of elections shall use an internal tracking system 15095
for all delivered absent voter's ballots, which system shall 15096
allow the board of elections to locate a voter's registration 15097
information based on a returned absent voter's ballot 15098
identification envelope. A board of elections complies with this 15099
requirement if the board records the unique identification number 15100
located on the stub of the voter's ballot, the voter's name, and 15101
the voter's address, and causes the unique identification number 15102
to be copied on the outside of the voter's identification 15103
envelope. The director shall mailsend with the ballots and the 15104
unsealed identification envelope an unsealed return envelope 15105
upon the face of which shall be printed the official title and 15106
post-office address of the director. In the upper left corner on 15107
the face of the return envelope, several blank lines shall be 15108
printed upon which the voter may write the voter's name and 15109
return address, and beneath these lines there shall be printed a 15110
box beside the words "check if out-of-country." The voter shall 15111
check this box if the voter will be outside the United States on 15112
the day of the election. The return envelope shall be of such 15113
size that the identification envelope can be conveniently placed 15114
within it for returning the identification envelope to the 15115
director. 15116

       Sec. 3509.05.  (A) (1) When an elector receives an absent 15117
voter's ballot pursuant to the elector's application or request, 15118
the elector shall, before placing any marks on the ballot, note 15119
whether there are any voting marks on it. If there are any voting 15120
marks, the ballot shall be returned immediately to the board of 15121
elections; otherwise, the elector shall cause the ballot to be 15122
marked, folded in a manner that the stub on it and the 15123
indorsements and facsimile signatures of the members of the board 15124
of elections on the back of it areis visible, and placed and 15125
sealed within the identification envelope received from the 15126
director of elections for that purpose. Then, the elector shall 15127
cause the statement of voter on the outside of the identification 15128
envelope to be completed and signed, under penalty of election 15129
falsification. 15130

       If(2) Unless the elector is a first-time mail-in registrant,15131
the elector does notshall provide the elector's Ohio driver's 15132
license number or the last four digits of the elector's social 15133
security number on the statement of voter on the identification 15134
envelope. If the elector does not provide the elector's Ohio 15135
driver's license number or the last four digits of the elector's 15136
social security number on the statement of voter, the elector also15137
shall include in the return envelope with the identification 15138
envelope a copy of the elector's current valid photo 15139
identification, a copy of a military identification, or a copy 15140
of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, 15141
paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of 15142
an election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 15143
of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration mailed by 15144
a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, 15145
that shows the name and address of the electoridentification. 15146
If the elector is a first-time mail-in registrant, the elector 15147
shall include a copy of the elector's first-time mail-in 15148
registrant identification.15149

       The elector shall mail the identification envelope to the 15150
director from whom it was received in the return envelope, postage 15151
prepaid, or the elector may personally deliver it to the director, 15152
or the spouse of the elector, the father, mother, father-in-law, 15153
mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother, or sister of the 15154
whole or half blood, or the son, daughter, adopting parent, 15155
adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or 15156
niece of the elector may deliver it to the director. The(3)(a) 15157
Only the elector or a person authorized by the elector may 15158
transport that elector's completed absent voter's ballot to the 15159
office of the board of elections from which it was received or to 15160
another location established by the board for the purposes of 15161
casting absent voter's ballots, provided that the voter must seal 15162
the ballot in the identification envelope, complete the 15163
identification envelope, and seal the identification envelope in 15164
the return envelope.15165

       Only the elector or a person authorized by the elector may 15166
transport that elector's completed absent voter's ballot to the 15167
United States postal service or to a commercial delivery service 15168
for delivery to the board of elections, provided that the voter 15169
must seal the ballot in the identification envelope, complete the 15170
identification envelope, and seal the identification envelope in 15171
the return envelope. Any postage or delivery cost must be pre-paid 15172
and affixed by the voter.15173

       Other than the methods described in this section, the return 15174
envelope shall be transmitted to the director in no other 15175
manner, except as provided in section 3509.08 of the Revised 15176
Code. 15177

       Each elector who will be outside the United States on the day 15178
of the election shall check the box on the return envelope 15179
indicating this fact.15180

       (b)(i) No person shall accept or provide anything of value 15181
for the collection of a completed absent voter's ballot for 15182
transport to the board of elections or other location designated 15183
by a board of elections or to the United States postal service or 15184
other commercial delivery service.15185

       (ii) No candidate or official member of a campaign committee 15186
may solicit to complete an elector's identification envelope or 15187
solicit to collect and transport an elector's completed absent 15188
voter's ballot.15189

       (c) No otherwise valid absent voter's ballot shall be 15190
rejected due to the failure of a person to comply with division 15191
(A)(3) of this section.15192

       (4) When absent voter's ballots are delivered to an elector 15193
at the office of the board, the elector may retire to a voting 15194
compartment provided by the board and there mark the ballots. 15195
Thereupon, the elector shall fold them, place them in the 15196
identification envelope provided, seal the envelope, fill in and 15197
sign the statement on the envelope under penalty of election 15198
falsification, and deliver the envelope to the director of the 15199
board. 15200

       (5) Except as otherwise provided in divisionsdivision (B) 15201
and (C) of this section, all other envelopes containing marked 15202
absent voter's ballots shall be delivered to the director not 15203
later than the close of the polls on the day of an election. 15204
Absent voter's ballots delivered to the director later than the 15205
times specified shall not be counted, but shall be kept by the 15206
board in the sealed identification envelopes in which they are 15207
delivered to the director, until the time provided by section 15208
3505.31 of the Revised Code for the destruction of all other 15209
ballots used at the election for which ballots were provided, at 15210
which time they shall be destroyed. 15211

       (B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of 15212
this section, any return envelope that indicates that the voter 15213
will be outside the United States on the day of the election shall 15214
be delivered to the director prior to the eleventh day after the 15215
election. Ballots delivered in such envelopes that are received 15216
after the close of the polls on election day through the tenth day 15217
thereafter shall be counted on the eleventh day at the board of 15218
elections in the manner provided in divisions (C) and (D) of 15219
section 3509.06 of the Revised Code. Any such ballots that are 15220
signed or postmarked after the close of the polls on the day of 15221
the election or that are received by the director later than 15222
the tenth day following the election shall not be counted, but 15223
shall be kept by the board in the sealed identification 15224
envelopes as provided in division (A) of this section.15225

       (2) In any year in which a presidential primary election is 15226
held, any return envelope that indicates that the voter will be 15227
outside the United States on the day of the presidential primary 15228
election shall be delivered to the director prior to the 15229
twenty-first day after that election. Ballots delivered in such 15230
envelopes that are received after the close of the polls on 15231
election day through the twentieth day thereafter shall be counted 15232
on the twenty-first day at the board of elections in the manner 15233
provided in divisions (C) and (D) of section 3509.06 of the 15234
Revised Code. Any such ballots that are signed or postmarked 15235
after the close of the polls on the day of that election or 15236
that are received by the director later than the twentieth day 15237
following that election shall not be counted, but shall be kept 15238
by the board in the sealed identification envelopes as provided 15239
in division (A) of this section.15240

       (C)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(B)(2) of 15241
this section, any return envelope that is postmarked within the 15242
United States prior to the day of the election shall be delivered 15243
to the director prior to the eleventh day after the election. 15244
Ballots delivered in envelopes postmarked prior to the day of the 15245
election that are received after the close of the polls on 15246
election day through the tenth day thereafter shall be processed 15247
and counted on or after the eleventh day at the board of 15248
elections in the manner provided in divisionsdivision (C) and 15249
(D) of section 3509.06 of the Revised Code. Any such ballots 15250
that are received by the director later than the tenth day 15251
following the election shall not be counted, but shall be kept 15252
by the board in the sealed identification envelopes as provided 15253
in division (A) of this section. 15254

       (2) Division (C)(B)(1) of this section shall not apply to any 15255
mail that is postmarked using a postage evidencing system, 15256
including a postage meter, as defined in 39 C.F.R. 501.1. 15257

       Sec. 3509.06.  (A) Upon receipt of a return envelope 15258
purporting to contain voted absent voter's ballots prior to the 15259
eleventh day after the day of an election, a bipartisan team 15260
shall inspect the postmark and verify the date the board received 15261
the absent voter's ballot. If either the postmark or the date of 15262
receipt do not meet the applicable deadlines for that election 15263
established in section 3509.05 of the Revised Code, the ballot 15264
shall not be counted. The identification envelope shall not be 15265
opened, and it shall be endorsed "not counted" with the reasons 15266
the ballot was not counted.15267

       If the postmark and date of receipt for a return envelope 15268
purporting to contain voted absent voter's ballots meets the 15269
applicable deadlines for that election established in section 15270
3509.05 of the Revised Code, the bipartisan team shall open that 15271
return envelope but shall not open the identification envelope 15272
contained in it. If, upon opening the return envelope, the 15273
bipartisan team finds ballots in it that are not enclosed in and 15274
properly sealed in the identification envelope, the bipartisan 15275
team shall not look at the markings upon the ballots and shall 15276
promptly place them in the identification envelope and promptly 15277
seal it. If, upon opening the return envelope, the bipartisan 15278
team finds that the ballots are enclosed in the identification 15279
envelope but that it is not properly sealed, the bipartisan team 15280
shall not look at the markings upon the ballots and shall promptly 15281
seal the identification envelope.15282

       The bipartisan team shall cause the identification 15283
envelopes, any associated identification, and the ballots in the 15284
identification envelopes to be properly secured until such time 15285
as they are processed and counted.15286

       The board of elections shall determine whether absent voter's 15287
ballots shall be processed and counted in each precinct, at the 15288
office of the board, or at some other location designated by the 15289
board, and shall proceed accordingly under division (B) or (C) of 15290
this section. 15291

       (B) When the board of elections determines that absent 15292
voter's ballots shall be counted in each precinct, the director 15293
shall deliver to the presiding judge of each precinct on election 15294
day identification envelopes purporting to contain absent voter's 15295
ballots of electors whose voting residence appears from the 15296
statement of voter on the outside of each of those envelopes, to 15297
be located in such presiding judge's precinct, and which were 15298
received by the director not later than the close of the polls on 15299
election day. The director shall deliver to such presiding judge 15300
a list containing the name and voting residence of each person 15301
whose voting residence is in such precinct to whom absent voter's 15302
ballots were mailed.15303

       (C) When the board of elections determines that absent 15304
voter's ballots shall be counted at the office of theThe board 15305
of elections or at another location designated by the board,15306
shall appoint special election judges shall be appointed by the 15307
board for thatthe purpose having the same authority as is 15308
exercised by precinct judgesof processing and counting absent 15309
voter's ballots. The votes so cast shall be added to the vote 15310
totals by the board, and the absent voter's ballots shall be 15311
preserved separately by the board, in the same manner and for the 15312
same length of time as provided by section 3505.31 of the Revised 15313
Code. 15314

       (D)(C)(1) Each of the identification envelopes purporting to 15315
contain absent voter's ballots shall be delivered to the presiding 15316
judge of the precinct or the special judge appointed by the board 15317
of elections and shall be handledprocessed and counted as 15318
follows: The election officials shall compare the signature of 15319
the elector on the outside of the identification envelope with 15320
the signature of that elector on the elector's registration form 15321
and verify that the absent voter's ballot is eligible to be 15322
counted under section 3509.07 of the Revised Code. Any of the 15323
precinct officials may challenge the right of the elector named on 15324
the identification envelope to vote the absent voter's ballots 15325
upon the ground that the signature on the envelope is not the same 15326
as the signature on the registration form, or upon any other of 15327
the grounds upon which the right of persons to vote may be 15328
lawfully challenged. If no such challenge is made, or if such a 15329
challenge is made and not sustained, the presiding judge shall 15330
open the envelope without defacing the statement of voter and 15331
without mutilating the ballots in it, and shall remove the 15332
ballots contained in it and proceed to count them.15333

       The name of each person voting who is entitled to vote only 15334
an absent voter's presidential ballot shall be entered in a 15335
pollbook or poll list or signature pollbook followed by the words 15336
"Absentee Presidential Ballot." The name of each person voting an 15337
absent voter's ballot, other than such persons entitled to vote 15338
only a presidential ballot, shall be entered in the pollbook or 15339
poll list or signature pollbook and the person's15340

       (a) The election officials shall inspect the statement 15341
accompanying an absent voter's ballot to determine if the voter's 15342
signature has been provided and that the signature substantially 15343
conforms to the voter's signature in the voter's registration 15344
record.15345

       (b) The election officials shall compare the signature of the 15346
voter as provided on the statement accompanying the absent 15347
voter's ballot with the signature contained in the voter 15348
registration records.15349

       (c) If the election officials find that the voter's valid 15350
signature has been provided and that the voter is registered and 15351
eligible to cast a ballot in the election, the election officials 15352
shall open the envelope and determine if the stub is attached to 15353
or enclosed with the ballot. If the stub is attached to or 15354
enclosed with the ballot, the election officials shall count 15355
that ballot not earlier than the day of the election. If the 15356
stub is not attached to or enclosed with the ballot, the absent 15357
voter's ballot shall not be counted. The ballot shall be placed 15358
in its accompanying identification envelope, which shall be 15359
endorsed "not counted" with the reasons the ballot was not 15360
counted.15361

       (d) If the election officials find that the voter did not 15362
sign the statement of voter on the identification envelope or if 15363
the election officials are unable to determine the identity of the 15364
voter who returned the ballot, the election officials shall use 15365
any information provided on the identification envelope or, if 15366
necessary, cross-reference the unique stub number placed on the 15367
identification envelope with the registration records to identify 15368
the voter for notification under division (G) of this section.15369

       (e) If the voter did not sign the statement of voter on the 15370
identification envelope and if the voter fails to correct that 15371
defect within ten days after the day of the election in accordance 15372
with division (G) of this section, or if the election officials 15373
find that the voter is not registered or not eligible to cast a 15374
ballot in the election, the voter's absent voter's ballot shall 15375
not be counted. The identification envelope shall not be opened, 15376
and it shall be endorsed "not counted" with the reasons the 15377
ballot was not counted.15378

       (2) The board of elections may process absent voter's ballots 15379
under division (C)(1) of this section during the ten days prior to 15380
the day of an election but shall not reveal or cause to be 15381
revealed the marks on any ballots. The board shall not count any 15382
absent voter's ballot prior to the day of the election.15383

       (3) Any ballots that are not eligible to be counted under 15384
division (C)(1)(c) or (e) of this section shall be the preserved 15385
in their identification envelopes until the time provided by 15386
section 3505.31 of the Revised Code for the destruction of all 15387
other ballots used at the election for which ballots were 15388
provided, at which time they shall be destroyed.15389

       (D) The registration cardrecord of each person voting an 15390
absent voter's ballot shall be marked to indicate that the person 15391
has voted. 15392

       The date of such election shall also be entered on the 15393
elector's registration formrecord. If any such challenge is made 15394
and sustained, the identification envelope of such elector shall 15395
not be opened, shall be endorsed "Not Counted" with the reasons 15396
the ballots were not counted, and shall be delivered to the 15397
board.15398

       (E) Special election judges, employees or members of the 15399
board of elections, or observers shall not disclose the count or 15400
any portion of the count of absent voter's ballots prior to the 15401
time of the closing of the polling places. No person shall 15402
recklessly disclose the count or any portion of the count of 15403
absent voter's ballots in such a manner as to jeopardize the 15404
secrecy of any individual ballot. 15405

       (F) Observers may be appointed under section 3505.21 of the 15406
Revised Code to witness the examination and openingprocessing of 15407
identification envelopes and the counting of absent voters' 15408
ballots under this section. 15409

       (G)(1) If the voter did not sign the statement of voter on 15410
the identification envelope or if the election officials are 15411
unable to determine the identity of the voter who returned the 15412
ballot, the board of elections shall notify the voter, by whatever 15413
means of contact the voter has provided on the identification 15414
envelope or using any available contact information in the voter's 15415
registration record, of the defect and request the voter to verify 15416
the voter's identity for the purpose of processing that absent 15417
voter's ballot.15418

       (2) The voter may verify that the voter was the person who 15419
returned the absent voter's ballot in any of the following ways:15420

       (a) By confirming by mail, electronic mail, telephone, or 15421
facsimile transmission, or through the internet the voter's date 15422
of birth and residence address in a manner that substantially 15423
conforms with the records of the board of elections;15424

       (b) By providing a statement by mail, electronic mail, or 15425
facsimile transmission, or through the internet that the voter 15426
submitted the ballot and by attaching the voter's signature to 15427
that statement. A signature attached to a statement made under 15428
this division shall be considered the voter's signature on the 15429
identification envelope for the purposes of verifying the validity 15430
of that ballot.15431

       (c) By appearing in person at the office of the board of 15432
elections and signing the identification envelope.15433

       (3) The secretary of state shall prescribe uniform standards 15434
for processing additional information by mail, electronic mail, 15435
telephone, facsimile transmission, through the internet, or in 15436
person at the office of the board of elections under division (G) 15437
of this section.15438

        (4) If the voter provides the required information within ten 15439
days after the day of the election, the election officials shall 15440
complete the processing of the absent voter's ballot under 15441
division (C) of this section in the same manner as if that 15442
information had been included on the statement of voter at the 15443
time the ballot was returned.15444

       (H) As used in this section:15445

       (1) "Bipartisan team" means a team consisting of either the 15446
director and deputy director of a board of elections or two other 15447
designated employees of a board of elections who are from 15448
different political parties.15449

       (2) "Processing" an absent voter's ballot means any of the 15450
following:15451

       (a) Examining the sufficiency of an absent voter's ballot by 15452
reviewing the postmark, the date of receipt by the board of 15453
elections, and the presence of the voter's valid signature on the 15454
identification envelope and, if the voter's name is signed on the 15455
envelope, opening the identification envelope;15456

       (b) Determining the validity of an absent voter's ballot, 15457
including determining whether the proper ballot was delivered to 15458
the voter and whether the stub is attached to or enclosed with the 15459
ballot; 15460

       (c) Preparing an absent voter's ballot for scanning by 15461
automatic tabulating equipment; 15462

       (d) Scanning an absent voter's ballot by automatic tabulating 15463
equipment but only if the equipment used by the board of elections 15464
permits an absent voter's ballot to be scanned without tabulating 15465
or counting the votes on the ballots scanned; and15466

       (e) Identifying absent voter's ballots that cannot be read by 15467
or that are rejected by automatic tabulating equipment and 15468
determining if those ballots need to be remade so that they can be 15469
read by that equipment.15470

       Sec. 3509.07. (A) An elections official of the county in 15471
which an elector applies to vote by absent voter's ballots may 15472
challenge the right of the elector named on the application to 15473
receive absent voter's ballots only on the following grounds:15474

       (1) That the person is not a resident of the precinct for 15475
which the person is applying to vote absent voter's ballots;15476

       (2) That the person is not a citizen of the United States;15477

       (3) That the person is not eighteen years of age or older;15478

       (4) That the person is not a qualified elector for that 15479
election;15480

       (5) That the person is not the elector that the person 15481
purports to be.15482

       Challenges shall be made only if the election official knows 15483
or reasonably believes that the challenged elector is not 15484
qualified and entitled to vote.15485

       (B) If an elector's absent voter's ballot application is 15486
challenged, the application shall be kept with other challenged 15487
absent voter's ballot applications.15488

       (C) Upon receipt of a challenged absent voter's ballot 15489
application, the board of elections promptly shall review the 15490
board's records. If the board is able to determine that a 15491
challenge should be denied solely on the basis of the records 15492
maintained by the board, the board immediately shall vote to deny 15493
the challenge. If the board is unable to determine the outcome of 15494
the challenge solely on the basis of the records maintained by the 15495
board, the board shall notify the elector of the challenge to the 15496
elector's absent voter's ballot application and shall provide an 15497
opportunity for the elector to respond to the challenge. The board 15498
of elections shall use the challenge and notification process 15499
established in section 3503.24 of the Revised Code, except that 15500
the board shall decide the challenge prior to the day of the 15501
election.15502

       (D) If the challenge is denied, an absent voter's ballot 15503
shall promptly be sent to the elector requesting that ballot. If 15504
the board of elections upholds the challenge, the absent voter's 15505
ballot application shall not be processed, no absent voter's 15506
ballot shall be sent to the elector, and the elector shall be 15507
notified of the reason the elector will not receive an absent 15508
voter's ballot.15509

       (E) No election official or other person may challenge the 15510
validity of an absent voter's ballot that has been completed and 15511
returned by the voter under this section. The validity of such a 15512
ballot shall be determined under section 3509.06 of the Revised 15513
Code.15514

       (F) The person challenging an elector's right to vote bears 15515
the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the 15516
challenged elector's registration should be canceled.15517

       Sec. 3509.08.  (A) Any qualified elector, who, on account of 15518
the elector's own personal illness, physical disability, or 15519
infirmity, or on account of the elector's confinement in a jail or 15520
workhouse under sentence for a misdemeanor or awaiting trial on a 15521
felony or misdemeanor, will be unable to travel from the elector's 15522
home or place of confinement to the voting booth in the elector's 15523
precinct on the day of any general, special, or primary election 15524
may make application in writing for an absent voter's ballot to 15525
the director of the board of elections of the elector's county. 15526
The application shall include all of the information required 15527
under section 3509.03 of the Revised Code and shall state the 15528
nature of the elector's illness, physical disability, or 15529
infirmity, or the fact that the elector is confined in a jail or 15530
workhouse and the elector's resultant inability to travel to the 15531
election booth in the elector's precinct on election day. The 15532
application shall not be valid if it is delivered to the director 15533
before the ninetieth day or after twelve noon of the third day 15534
before the day of the election at which the ballot is to be voted. 15535

       The absent voter's ballot may be mailed directly to the 15536
applicant at the applicant's voting residence or place of 15537
confinement as stated in the applicant's application, or the board 15538
may designate two board employees belonging to the two major 15539
political parties for the purpose of delivering the ballot to the 15540
disabled or confined elector and returning it to the board, unless 15541
the applicant is confined to a public or private institution 15542
within the county, in which case the board shall designate two 15543
board employees belonging to the two major political parties for 15544
the purpose of delivering the ballot to the disabled or confined 15545
elector and returning it to the board. In all other instances, the 15546
ballot shall be returned to the office of the board in the manner 15547
prescribed in section 3509.05 of the Revised Code. 15548

       Any disabled or confined elector who declares to the two 15549
board employees belonging to the two major political parties that 15550
the elector is unable to mark the elector's ballot by reason of 15551
physical infirmity that is apparent to the employees to be 15552
sufficient to incapacitate the voter from marking the elector's 15553
ballot properly, may receive, upon request, the assistance of the 15554
employees in marking the elector's ballot, and they shall 15555
thereafter give no information in regard to this matter. Such 15556
assistance shall not be rendered for any other cause. 15557

       When two board employees belonging to the two major political 15558
parties deliver a ballot to a disabled or confined elector, each 15559
of the employees shall be present when the ballot is delivered, 15560
when assistance is given, and when the ballot is returned to the 15561
office of the board, and shall subscribe to the declaration on the 15562
identification envelope. 15563

       The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of 15564
application for absent voter's ballots under this division. 15565

        This chapter applies to disabled and confined absent voter's 15566
ballots except as otherwise provided in this section. 15567

       (B)(1) Any qualified elector who is unable to travel to the 15568
voting booth in the elector's precinct on the day of any general, 15569
special, or primary election may apply to the director of the 15570
board of elections of the county where the elector is a qualified 15571
elector to vote in the election by absent voter's ballot if 15572
either of the following apply: 15573

       (a) The elector is confined in a hospital as a result of an 15574
accident or unforeseeable medical emergency occurring before the 15575
election; 15576

       (b) The elector's minor child is confined in a hospital as a 15577
result of an accident or unforeseeable medical emergency occurring 15578
before the election. 15579

       (2) The application authorized under division (B)(1) of this 15580
section shall be made in writing, shall include all of the 15581
information required under section 3509.03 of the Revised Code, 15582
and shall be delivered to the director not later than three p.m. 15583
on the day of the election. The application shall indicate the 15584
hospital where the applicant or the applicant's child is confined, 15585
the date of the applicant's or the applicant's child's admission 15586
to the hospital, and the offices for which the applicant is 15587
qualified to vote. The applicant may also request that a member of 15588
the applicant's family, as listed in section 3509.05 of the 15589
Revised Code, deliver the absent voter's ballot to the applicant. 15590
The director, after establishing to the director's satisfaction 15591
the validity of the circumstances claimed by the applicant, shall 15592
supply an absent voter's ballot to be delivered to the applicant. 15593
When the applicant or the applicant's child is in a hospital in 15594
the county where the applicant is a qualified elector and no 15595
request is made for a member of the family to deliver the ballot, 15596
the director shall arrange for the delivery of an absent voter's 15597
ballot to the applicant, and for its return to the office of the 15598
board, by two board employees belonging to the two major political 15599
parties according to the procedures prescribed in division (A) of 15600
this section. When the applicant or the applicant's child is in a 15601
hospital outside the county where the applicant is a qualified 15602
elector and no request is made for a member of the family to 15603
deliver the ballot, the director shall arrange for the delivery of 15604
an absent voter's ballot to the applicant by mail, and the ballot 15605
shall be returned to the office of the board in the manner 15606
prescribed in section 3509.05 of the Revised Code. 15607

       (3) Any qualified elector who is eligible to vote under 15608
division (B) or, (C), or (D) of section 3503.16 of the Revised 15609
Code but is unable to do so because of the circumstances described 15610
in division (B)(2) of this section may vote in accordance with 15611
division (B)(1) of this section if that qualified elector states 15612
in the application for absent voter's ballots that that qualified 15613
elector moved or, had a change of name, or both under the 15614
circumstances described in division (B) or, (C), or (D) of section 15615
3503.16 of the Revised Code and if that qualified elector complies 15616
with divisions (G)(1) to (4) of section 3503.16 of the Revised 15617
Code. 15618

       (C) Any qualified elector described in division (A) or (B)(1) 15619
of this section who needs no assistance to vote or to return 15620
absent voter's ballots to the board of elections may apply for 15621
absent voter's ballots under section 3509.03 of the Revised Code 15622
instead of applying for them under this section. 15623

       Sec. 3509.09.  (A) The poll list or signature pollbook for 15624
each precinct shall identify each registered elector in that 15625
precinct who has requested an absent voter's ballot for that 15626
election. 15627

        (B)(1) If a registered elector appears to vote in that 15628
precinct and that elector has requested an absent voter's ballot 15629
for that election but the director has not received a sealed 15630
identification envelope purporting to contain that elector's voted 15631
absent voter's ballots for that election, the elector shall be 15632
permitted to cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of 15633
the Revised Code in that precinct on the day of that election. 15634

        (2) If a registered elector appears to vote in that precinct 15635
and that elector has requested an absent voter's ballot for that 15636
election and the director has received a sealed identification 15637
envelope purporting to contain that elector's voted absent voter's 15638
ballots for that election, the elector shall be permitted to cast 15639
a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code in 15640
that precinct on the day of that election. 15641

        (C)(1) In processing and counting absent voter's ballots 15642
under section 3509.06 of the Revised Code, the board of elections 15643
shall compare the signature of each elector from whom the 15644
director has received a sealed identification envelope purporting 15645
to contain that elector's voted absent voter's ballots for that 15646
election to the signature on that elector's registration form15647
record. Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(3) of this 15648
section, if the board of elections determines that the absent 15649
voter's ballot in the sealed identification envelope is valid, it 15650
shall be counted. If the board of elections determines that the 15651
signature on the sealed identification envelope purporting to 15652
contain the elector's voted absent voter's ballot does not match 15653
the signature on the elector's registration formrecord, the 15654
ballot shall be set aside and the board shall examine, during the 15655
time prior to the beginning of the official canvass, the poll 15656
list or signature pollbook from the precinct in which the elector 15657
is registered to vote to determine if the elector also cast a 15658
provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code in 15659
that precinct on the day of the election. 15660

       (2) The board of elections shall count the provisional 15661
ballot, instead of the absent voter's ballot, if both of the 15662
following apply: 15663

        (a) The board of elections determines that the signature of 15664
the elector on the outside of the identification envelope in which 15665
the absent voter's ballots are enclosed does not match the 15666
signature of the elector on the elector's registration form; 15667

        (b) The elector cast a provisional ballot in the precinct on 15668
the day of the election. 15669

       (3) If the board of elections does not receive the sealed 15670
identification envelope purporting to contain the elector's voted 15671
absent voter's ballot by the applicable deadline established under 15672
section 3509.05 of the Revised Code, the provisional ballot cast 15673
under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code in that precinct on the 15674
day of the election shall be counted as valid, if that provisional 15675
ballot is otherwise determined to be valid pursuant to section 15676
3505.183 of the Revised Code. 15677

        (D) If the board of elections counts a provisional ballot 15678
under division (C)(2) or (3) of this section, the returned 15679
identification envelope of that elector shall not be opened, and 15680
the ballot within that envelope shall not be counted. The 15681
identification envelope shall be endorsed "Not Counted" with the 15682
reason the ballot was not counted. 15683

       Sec. 3509.10.  (A)(1) The secretary of state shall 15684
establish, not later than August 30, 2010, procedures that allow 15685
any person to request absent voter's ballot applications 15686
electronically from the office of the secretary of state.15687

       (2) The procedures shall allow any person to express a 15688
preference for the manner in which the person will receive the 15689
requested absent voter's ballot applications, whether by mail, 15690
electronically, or in person. The ballot applications shall be 15691
transmitted by the preferred method. If the requestor does not 15692
express a preferred method, the ballot applications shall be 15693
delivered via standard mail.15694

       (3) The appropriate state or local election official shall 15695
establish and maintain reasonable procedures necessary to protect 15696
the security, confidentiality, and integrity of personal 15697
information collected, stored, or otherwise used in the electronic 15698
absent voter's ballot application request process established 15699
under division (A) of this section. To the extent practicable, the 15700
procedures shall protect the security and integrity of the 15701
electronic absent voter's ballot application request process and 15702
protect the privacy of the identity and personal data of the 15703
person when such applications are requested, processed, and sent.15704

       (4) In establishing such procedures, the secretary of state 15705
shall designate at least one means of electronic communication for 15706
use by persons to request absent voter's ballot applications, for 15707
use by the state to send absent voter's ballot applications to 15708
those who have requested electronic delivery, and for providing 15709
public election and voting information. Such designated means of 15710
electronic communication shall be identified on all information 15711
and instructional materials that accompany balloting materials.15712

       (B) The secretary of state may establish procedures that 15713
allow any person to request absent voter's ballot applications 15714
electronically from a board of elections. The procedures must meet 15715
all the requirements of division (A) of this section.15716

       (C)(1) The secretary of state shall establish a free access 15717
system to allow an individual to determine the following:15718

       (a) Whether that individual's request for an absent voter's 15719
ballot was received and processed;15720

       (b) If the individual's request was received and processed, 15721
when the absent voter's ballot was sent;15722

       (c) Whether any absent voter's ballot returned by that 15723
individual has been received by election officials;15724

       (d) Whether the board of elections found any error on the 15725
identification envelope containing the individual's returned 15726
absent voter's ballot and, if so, how the individual may correct 15727
such error within ten days after the day of an election;15728

       (e) Whether the individual's absent voter's ballot was 15729
counted; and15730

       (f) The information required under division (C) of section 15731
3511.021 of the Revised Code regarding uniformed services and 15732
overseas absent voter's ballots.15733

       (2) The appropriate state or local election official shall 15734
establish and maintain reasonable procedures necessary to protect 15735
the security, confidentiality, and integrity of personal 15736
information collected, stored, or otherwise used by the free 15737
access system established under division (C) of this section. 15738
Access to information about an individual ballot shall be 15739
restricted to the individual who cast the ballot. To the extent 15740
practicable, the procedures shall protect the security and 15741
integrity of the process and protect the privacy of the identity 15742
and personal data of the person.15743

       Sec. 3511.01.  Any section of the Revised Code to the15744
contrary notwithstanding, any person serving in the armed forces15745
of the United States, or the spouse or dependent of any person15746
serving in the armed forces of the United States who resides15747
outside this state for the purpose of being with or near such15748
service memberwho qualifies as a uniformed services voter or an 15749
overseas voter, as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1973ff-6, who will be 15750
eighteen years of age or more on the day of a general or special 15751
election and who is a citizen of the United States, may vote armed 15752
serviceuniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots in15753
such general or special election as follows:15754

       (A) If the servicean absent uniformed services member is the 15755
voter, hethe service member may vote only in the precinct in 15756
which hethe service member has a voting residence in the state,15757
and that voting residence shall be that place in the precinct in15758
which hethe service member resided immediately preceding the15759
commencement of such service, provided that the time during which 15760
hethe service member continuously resided in the state 15761
immediately preceding the commencement of such service plus the 15762
time subsequent to such commencement and prior to the day of such 15763
general, special, or primary election is equal to or exceeds 15764
thirty days.15765

       (B) If the spouse or dependent of a servicean absent 15766
uniformed services member is the voter, hethe spouse or dependent15767
may vote only in the precinct in which hethe spouse or dependent15768
has a voting residence in the state, and that voting residence 15769
shall be that place in the precinct in which hethe spouse or 15770
dependent resided immediately preceding the time of leaving the 15771
state for the purpose of being with or near the service member, 15772
provided that the time during which hethe spouse or dependent15773
continuously resided in the state immediately preceding the time 15774
of leaving the state for the purpose of being with or near the 15775
service member plus the time subsequent to such leaving and prior15776
to the day of such general, special, or primary election is equal15777
to or exceeds thirty days.15778

       (C) If the servicean absent uniformed services member or his15779
the service member's spouse or dependent establishes a permanent 15780
residence in a precinct other than the precinct in which hethe 15781
person resided immediately preceding the commencement of histhe 15782
service member's service, the voting residence of both the service 15783
member and histhe service member's spouse or dependent shall be 15784
the precinct of such permanent residence, provided that the time 15785
during which hethe service member continuously resided in the 15786
state immediately preceding the commencement of such service plus 15787
the time subsequent to such commencement and prior to the day of 15788
such general, special, or primary election is equal to or exceeds 15789
thirty days.15790

       (D) If an overseas voter who is not an absent uniformed 15791
services voter or the spouse or dependent of an absent uniformed 15792
services voter is the voter, the overseas voter may vote only in 15793
the precinct in which the overseas voter has a voting residence in 15794
the state, and that voting residence shall be that place in the 15795
precinct in which the overseas voter resided immediately before 15796
leaving the United States, provided that the time during which the 15797
overseas voter continuously resided in the state immediately 15798
preceding such departure and prior to the day of such general, 15799
special, or primary election is equal to or exceeds thirty days.15800

       Sec. 3511.02.  Notwithstanding any section of the Revised 15801
Code to the contrary, whenever any person applies for 15802
registration as a voter on a form adopted in accordance with 15803
federal regulations relating to the "Uniformed and Overseas 15804
Citizens Absentee Voting Act," 100 Stat. 924, 42 U.S.C.A. 1973ff 15805
(1986), this application shall be sufficient for voter 15806
registration and as a request for an absent voter's ballot. 15807
Armed serviceUniformed services or overseas absent voter's 15808
ballots may be obtained by any person meeting the requirements 15809
of section 3511.01 of the Revised Code by applying electronically 15810
to the secretary of state in accordance with section 3511.021 of 15811
the Revised Code or by applying to the director of the board of 15812
elections of the county in which the person's voting residence 15813
is located, in one of the following ways: 15814

       (A) That person may make written application for those 15815
ballots. The person may personally deliver the application to the 15816
director or may mail it, send it by facsimile machine, send it by 15817
electronic mail, send it by other electronic means via the 15818
internet, or otherwise send it to the director. The application 15819
need not be in any particular form but shall contain all of the 15820
following information: 15821

       (1) The elector's name; 15822

       (2) The elector's signature or, if the application is 15823
transmitted electronically, an image of the elector's signature; 15824

       (3) The address at which the elector is registered to vote; 15825

       (4) The elector's date of birthbirthdate; 15826

       (5) One of the following, unless the elector is a first-time 15827
mail-in registrant: 15828

       (a) The elector's Ohio driver's license number; 15829

       (b) The last four digits of the elector's social security 15830
number; 15831

       (c) A copy of the elector's current and valid photo 15832
identification, a copy of a military identification, or a copy of 15833
a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, 15834
paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of 15835
an election mailed by a board of elections under section 15836
3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration 15837
mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the 15838
Revised Code, that shows the name and address of the elector15839
identification.15840

       (6) A statement identifying the election for which absent 15841
voter's ballots are requested; 15842

       (7) A statement that the person requesting the ballots is a 15843
qualified elector; 15844

       (8) A statement that the elector is an absent uniformed 15845
services voter or overseas voter as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1973ff-6; 15846

       (9) A statement of the elector's length of residence in the 15847
state immediately preceding the commencement of service or,15848
immediately preceding the date of leaving to be with or near the 15849
service member, or immediately preceding leaving the United 15850
States, whichever is applicable; 15851

       (10) If the request is for primary election ballots, the 15852
elector's party affiliation; 15853

       (11) If the elector desires ballots to be mailed to the 15854
elector, the address to which those ballots shall be mailed; 15855

       (12) If the elector desires ballots to be sent to the elector 15856
by facsimile machine, the telephone number to which they shall be 15857
so sent;15858

       (13) If the elector is a first-time mail-in registrant, a 15859
copy of the elector's first-time mail-in registrant 15860
identification. 15861

       (B) A voter or any relative of a voter listed in division (C) 15862
of this section may use a single federal post card application to 15863
apply for armed serviceuniformed services or overseas absent 15864
voter's ballots for use at the primary and general elections in a 15865
given year and any special election to be held on the day in that 15866
year specified by division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised 15867
Code for the holding of a primary election, designated by the 15868
general assembly for the purpose of submitting constitutional 15869
amendments proposed by the general assembly to the voters of the 15870
state. A single federal postcard application shall be processed 15871
by the board of elections pursuant to section 3511.04 of the 15872
Revised Code the same as if the voter had applied separately for 15873
armed serviceuniformed services or overseas absent voter's 15874
ballots for each election. 15875

       (C) Application to have armed serviceuniformed services or 15876
overseas absent voter's ballots mailed or, sent by facsimile 15877
machine, or otherwise sent to such a person may be made by the 15878
spouse when the person is a service member, or by the father, 15879
mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, 15880
brother or sister of the whole blood or half blood, son, 15881
daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, 15882
uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of such a person. The application 15883
shall be in writing upon a blank form furnished only by the 15884
director or on a single federal post card as provided in 15885
division (B) of this section. The form of the application shall 15886
be prescribed by the secretary of state. The director shall 15887
furnish that blank form to any of the relatives specified in 15888
this division desiring to make the application, only upon the 15889
request of such a relative made in person at the office of the 15890
board or upon the written request of such a relative mailed, 15891
sent by facsimile transmission, sent by electronic mail, or sent 15892
by other electronic means via the internet to the office of the 15893
board. The application, subscribed and sworn to by the applicant, 15894
shall contain all of the following: 15895

       (1) The full name of the elector for whom ballots are 15896
requested; 15897

       (2) A statement that the elector is an absent uniformed 15898
services voter or overseas voter as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1973ff-6; 15899

       (3) The address at which the elector is registered to vote; 15900

       (4) A statement identifying the elector's length of residence 15901
in the state immediately preceding the commencement of service, or15902
immediately preceding the date of leaving to be with or near a 15903
service member, or immediately preceding leaving the United 15904
States, as the case may be; 15905

        (5) The elector's date of birthbirthdate; 15906

       (6) One of the following, unless the individual is a 15907
first-time mail-in registrant: 15908

       (a) The elector's Ohio driver's license number; 15909

       (b) The last four digits of the elector's social security 15910
number; 15911

       (c) A copy of the elector's current and valid photo 15912
identification, a copy of a military identification, or a copy of 15913
a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, 15914
paycheck, or other government document, other than a notice of 15915
an election mailed by a board of elections under section 15916
3501.19 of the Revised Code or a notice of voter registration 15917
mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the 15918
Revised Code, that shows the name and address of the elector15919
identification. 15920

       (7) A statement identifying the election for which absent 15921
voter's ballots are requested; 15922

       (8) A statement that the person requesting the ballots is a 15923
qualified elector; 15924

       (9) If the request is for primary election ballots, the 15925
elector's party affiliation; 15926

        (10) A statement that the applicant bears a relationship to 15927
the elector as specified in division (C) of this section; 15928

        (11) The address to which ballots shall be mailed or the 15929
telephone number to which ballots shall be sent by facsimile 15930
machine; 15931

        (12) The signature or, if the application is transmitted 15932
electronically, an image of the signature and the address of the 15933
person making the application;15934

       (13) If the elector is a first-time mail-in registrant, a 15935
copy of the elector's first-time mail-in registrant 15936
identification. 15937

       Each(D)(1) An elector who is eligible to vote uniformed 15938
services or overseas absent voter's ballots may make a single 15939
request for uniformed services or overseas absent voter's 15940
ballots for all elections at which the elector is eligible to 15941
vote during a calendar year. The application shall contain the 15942
information specified in division (A) of this section and also 15943
shall specify that the elector is requesting uniformed services or 15944
overseas absent voter's ballots for each election during that 15945
year. If the elector wishes to vote primary election ballots, 15946
the elector shall state the elector's party affiliation in the 15947
application.15948

       If an elector applies for annual uniformed services or 15949
overseas absent voter's ballots under this division, the 15950
application shall be processed by the board of elections 15951
pursuant to section 3511.04 of the Revised Code the same as if 15952
the elector had applied separately for uniformed services or 15953
overseas absent voter's ballots for each election during the 15954
applicable calendar year. Uniformed services or overseas absent 15955
voter's ballots shall be sent to the elector for use at each 15956
election during the applicable calendar year for which the 15957
elector is eligible to cast a ballot. When sending uniformed 15958
services or overseas absent voter's ballots to an elector who 15959
applied for them under this division, the board shall enclose 15960
notification to the elector that the elector must report to the 15961
board subsequent changes in the elector's voting status, changes 15962
in the elector's address, or the elector's intent to vote at a 15963
polling location in the jurisdiction in this state where the 15964
elector is registered to vote. Such notification shall be in a 15965
form prescribed by the secretary of state.15966

       If a uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot or 15967
any official response to an application for an annual uniformed 15968
services or overseas absent voter's ballot is returned 15969
undeliverable to the board of elections, the board shall attempt 15970
to contact the elector to verify the elector's mailing address 15971
using any available contact information in the elector's voter 15972
registration record including the elector's telephone number, 15973
facsimile transmission number, or electronic mail address. If 15974
the board is unable to contact the elector, the board shall not 15975
send uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots for 15976
any subsequent election to that elector until the elector 15977
submits another application and the information in that 15978
application is verified. The board shall remove from the poll list 15979
or signature pollbook any notation that the elector requested an 15980
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot. The elector 15981
may cast a regular ballot if the elector appears to vote in 15982
person on the day of the election or the elector may cast a 15983
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot in person 15984
before the day of the election at the board of elections or if 15985
pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code 15986
the board has designated one or more other locations in the 15987
county at which registered electors may cast an absent voter's 15988
ballot in person, at such other location.15989

       (2) Not later than the fifteenth day of December of each 15990
year, the board of elections shall send an application for annual 15991
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots for the 15992
following calendar year to each person who requested annual 15993
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots under 15994
division (D)(1) of this section for the current year and cast 15995
such ballots in the general election. An elector who completes 15996
and returns such an application shall be eligible to receive 15997
annual uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots 15998
under division (D)(1) of this section for the applicable year.15999

       (E) Except for annual applications for uniformed services or 16000
overseas absent voter's ballots submitted under division (D)(2) 16001
of this section, each application for armed serviceuniformed 16002
services or overseas absent voter's ballots shall be delivered 16003
to the director not earlier than the first day of January of the 16004
year of the elections for which the armed serviceuniformed 16005
services or overseas absent voter's ballots are requested or not 16006
earlier than ninety days before the day of the election at which 16007
the ballots are to be voted, whichever is earlier, and not later 16008
than twelve noon of the third day preceding the day of the 16009
election, or not later than the close of regular business hours16010
twelve noon on the day before the day of the election at which 16011
those ballots are to be voted if the application is delivered 16012
in person to the office of the board. 16013

       (D)(F) If the voter for whom the application is made is 16014
entitled to vote for presidential and vice-presidential electors 16015
only, the applicant shall submit to the director in addition to 16016
the requirements of divisions (A), (B), and (C) of this section, 16017
a statement to the effect that the voter is qualified to vote for 16018
presidential and vice-presidential electors and for no other 16019
offices. 16020

       Sec. 3511.021.  (A)(1) The secretary of state shall 16021
establish, not later than August 30, 2010, procedures that allow 16022
any person to request a uniformed services or overseas absent 16023
voter's ballot electronically from the office of the secretary of 16024
state.16025

       (2) The procedures shall allow any person who requests a 16026
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot application 16027
to express a preference for the manner in which the person will 16028
receive the requested application, whether by mail or 16029
electronically. If the person completes and timely returns the 16030
application and the applicant is eligible to receive a ballot, the 16031
procedures shall allow the applicant to express a preference for 16032
the manner in which the person will receive the requested blank, 16033
unvoted ballots, whether by mail or electronically. The requested 16034
items shall be transmitted by the preferred method. If the 16035
requestor does not express a preferred method, the requested items 16036
shall be delivered via standard mail.16037

       (3) To the extent practicable, the procedures shall protect 16038
the security and integrity of the ballot request and delivery 16039
process, and protect the privacy of the identity and personal data 16040
of the person when such applications and ballots are requested, 16041
processed, and sent.16042

       (4) No person shall return by electronic means to the 16043
secretary of state, a board of elections, or any other entity a 16044
completed or voted uniformed services or overseas absent voter's 16045
ballot. If a ballot is so returned, the ballot shall not be 16046
accepted, processed, or counted.16047

       (B) The secretary of state may establish procedures that 16048
allow any person to request a uniformed services or overseas 16049
absent voter's ballot electronically from a board of elections. 16050
Such procedures shall meet all the requirements of division (A) of 16051
this section.16052

       (C) The free access system established under division (C) of 16053
section 3509.10 of the Revised Code shall allow an individual to 16054
determine the following:16055

       (1) Whether that individual's request for a uniformed or 16056
overseas absent voter's ballot was received and processed;16057

       (2) If the individual's request was received and processed, 16058
when the uniformed or overseas absent voter's ballot was sent;16059

       (3) Whether any uniformed or overseas absent voter's ballot 16060
returned by that individual has been received by election 16061
officials;16062

       (4) Whether the board of elections found any error on the 16063
identification envelope containing the individual's returned 16064
uniformed or overseas absent voter's ballot and, if so, how the 16065
individual may correct such error within ten days after the day of 16066
an election; and16067

       (5) Whether the individual's uniformed or overseas absent 16068
voter's ballot was counted.16069

       Sec. 3511.03.  The board of elections of each county shall 16070
provide armed serviceuniformed services or overseas absent 16071
voter's ballots for use at each election. Such ballots for general 16072
or primary elections shall be prescribed on the sixtieth16073
seventieth day before the day of such elections and shall be the 16074
same as provided for absent voters in section 3509.01 of the 16075
Revised Code.16076

       Sec. 3511.04.  (A) If a director of a board of elections 16077
receives an application for armed serviceuniformed services or 16078
overseas absent voter's ballots that does not contain all of the 16079
required information, the director promptly shall notify the 16080
applicant, by whatever means of contact the applicant has 16081
provided on the application, of the additional information 16082
required to be provided by the applicant to complete that 16083
application. The applicant may provide the required information 16084
by mail, electronic mail, telephone, or facsimile transmission, 16085
through the internet, or in person at the office of the board of 16086
elections. If the application is missing a signature, the 16087
applicant may provide a signed statement that the applicant 16088
submitted the application. A signature provided on a signed 16089
statement under this division shall be considered the 16090
applicant's signature on the application for the purposes of 16091
processing an otherwise valid application for uniformed services 16092
or overseas absent voter's ballots. The secretary of state shall 16093
prescribe uniform standards for processing additional 16094
information by mail, electronic mail, telephone, facsimile 16095
transmission, through the internet, or in person at the office 16096
of the board of elections under this division.16097

       If the applicant provides the required information prior to 16098
the end of the period for voting by uniformed services or overseas 16099
absent voter's ballots at that election, the board shall 16100
promptly process the application and deliver uniformed services 16101
or overseas absent voter's ballots to the applicant.16102

       (B) Not later than the twenty-fifth day before the day of 16103
each presidential primary election andSubject to section 16104
3511.041 of the Revised Code, not later than the thirty-fifth16105
forty-fifth day before the day of each general or other primary 16106
election, and at the earliest possible time before the day of a 16107
special election held on a day other than the day on which a 16108
general or primary election is held, the director of the board 16109
of elections shall mail or, send by facsimile machine armed 16110
service, or otherwise send uniformed services or overseas absent 16111
voter's ballots then ready for use as provided for in section 16112
3511.03 of the Revised Code and for which the director has 16113
received valid applications prior to that time. Thereafter, and 16114
until twelve noon of the third day preceding the day of 16115
election, the director shall promptly, upon receipt of valid 16116
applications for them, mail or, send by facsimile machine, or 16117
otherwise send to the proper persons all armed serviceuniformed 16118
services or overseas absent voter's ballots then ready for use. 16119

       If, after the sixtieth day before the day of a general or 16120
primary election, any other question, issue, or candidacy is 16121
lawfully ordered submitted to the electors voting at the general 16122
or primary election, the board shall promptly provide a separate 16123
official issue, special election, or other election ballot for 16124
submitting the question, issue, or candidacy to those electors, 16125
and the director shall promptly mail or, send by facsimile 16126
machine, or otherwise send each such separate ballot to each 16127
person to whom the director has previously mailed or, sent by 16128
facsimile machine, or otherwise sent other armed serviceuniformed 16129
services or overseas absent voter's ballots. 16130

       In mailing armed serviceuniformed services or overseas16131
absent voter's ballots, the director shall use the fastest mail 16132
service available, but the director shall not mail them by 16133
certified mail. 16134

       Sec. 3511.041.  (A) An elections official of the county in 16135
which an elector applies to vote by uniformed services or overseas 16136
absent voter's ballots may challenge the right of the elector 16137
named on the application to receive uniformed services or 16138
overseas absent voter's ballots only on the following grounds:16139

       (1) That the person is not a resident of the precinct for 16140
which the person is applying to vote uniformed services or 16141
overseas absent voter's ballots;16142

       (2) That the person is not a citizen of the United States;16143

       (3) That the person is not eighteen years of age or older;16144

       (4) That the person is not a qualified elector for that 16145
election;16146

       (5) That the person is not the elector that the person 16147
purports to be.16148

       Challenges shall be made only if the election official knows 16149
or reasonably believes that the person is not qualified and 16150
entitled to vote.16151

       (B) If an elector's uniformed services or overseas absent 16152
voter's ballot application is challenged, the application shall 16153
be kept with other challenged uniformed services or overseas 16154
absent voter's ballot applications.16155

       (C) Upon receipt of a challenged uniformed services or 16156
overseas absent voter's ballot application, the board of 16157
elections promptly shall review the board's records. If the 16158
board is able to determine that a challenge should be denied 16159
solely on the basis of the records maintained by the board, the 16160
board immediately shall vote to deny the challenge. If the board 16161
is unable to determine the outcome of the challenge solely on 16162
the basis of the records maintained by the board, the board 16163
shall notify the elector of the challenge to the elector's 16164
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot application 16165
and shall provide an opportunity for the elector to respond to 16166
the challenge. The board of elections shall use the challenge 16167
and notification process established in section 3503.24 of the 16168
Revised Code, except that the board shall decide the challenge 16169
prior to the day of the election.16170

       (D) If the challenge is denied, a uniformed services or 16171
overseas absent voter's ballot shall promptly be sent to the 16172
elector requesting that ballot. If the board of elections 16173
upholds the challenge, the uniformed services or overseas absent 16174
voter's ballot application shall not be processed, no uniformed 16175
services or overseas absent voter's ballot shall be sent to the 16176
elector, and the elector shall be notified of the reason the 16177
elector will not receive a uniformed services or overseas absent 16178
voter's ballot.16179

       (E) No election official or other person may challenge the 16180
validity of a uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot 16181
that has been completed and returned by the voter under this 16182
section. The validity of such a ballot shall be determined under 16183
section 3511.11 of the Revised Code, as applicable.16184

       (F) The person challenging an elector's right to vote bears 16185
the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the 16186
challenged elector's registration should be canceled.16187

       Sec. 3511.05.  (A) The director of the board of elections 16188
shall place armed serviceuniformed services or overseas absent 16189
voter's ballots sent by mail or other means in an unsealed 16190
identification envelope, gummed ready for sealing. The director 16191
shall include with armed serviceuniformed services or overseas16192
absent voter's ballots sent by facsimile machine or otherwise 16193
sent an instruction sheet for preparing a gummedan envelope in 16194
which the ballots shall be returned. The envelope for returning 16195
ballots sent by either means shall have printed or written on its 16196
face a form substantially as follows: 16197

"Identification Envelope Statement of Voter
16198

       I, ........................(Name of voter), declare under 16199
penalty of election falsification that the within ballot or 16200
ballots contained no voting marks of any kind when I received 16201
them, and I caused the ballot or ballots to be marked, enclosed in 16202
the identification envelope, and sealed in that envelope. 16203

       My voting residence in Ohio is 16204

................................................................... 16205

(Street and Number, if any, or Rural Route and Number)
16206

of ................................ (City, Village, or Township) 16207
Ohio, which is in Ward ............... Precinct ................ 16208
in that city, village, or township. 16209

       The primary election ballots, if any, within this envelope 16210
areIf the election is a primary election, by requesting ballots 16211
of the ............. Party, I hereby declare that I desire to be 16212
affiliated with and support the above-named party. 16213

       Ballots contained within this envelope are to be voted at the 16214
.......... (general, special, or primary) election to be held on 16215
the .......................... day of ......................, 16216
....16217

       My date of birthbirthdate is ............... (Month and 16218
Day), .......... (Year). 16219

       (Voter must provide one of the following:) 16220

       My Ohio driver's license number is ............... (Driver's16221
Ohio driver's license number). 16222

       The last four digits of my Social Security Number are 16223
............... (Last four digits of Social Security Number). 16224

       ...... In lieu of providing aan Ohio driver's license number 16225
or the last four digits of my Social Security Number, I am 16226
enclosing a copy of one of the following in the return envelope 16227
in which this identification envelope will be mailed: a current 16228
and valid photo identification issued by the state or an agency 16229
or political subdivision of the state, an institution of higher 16230
education, or the United States government, or an affirmation of 16231
my identity. If I am a first-time voter who registered to vote 16232
by mail, did not provide identification when I registered to 16233
vote, and have not previously voted at a federal election in Ohio, 16234
I am enclosing a copy of a current and valid photo 16235
identification, a military identification, or a current utility 16236
bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other 16237
government document, other than a notice of an election mailed by 16238
a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or 16239
a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections,16240
that shows my name and address. 16241

       I hereby declare, under penalty of election falsification, 16242
that the statements above are true, as I verily believe. 16243

16244
(Signature of Voter (required) 16245

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF 16246
THE FIFTH DEGREE." 16247

       (B) The board of elections shall use an internal tracking 16248
system for all delivered uniformed services or overseas absent 16249
voter's ballots, which system shall allow the board of elections 16250
to locate a voter's registration information based on a returned 16251
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot 16252
identification envelope. A board of elections complies with this 16253
requirement if the board records the unique identification number 16254
located on the stub of the voter's ballot, the voter's name, and 16255
the voter's address, and causes the unique identification number 16256
to be copied on the outside of the identification envelope. The 16257
director shall also mailsend with the ballots and the unsealed 16258
identification envelope sent by mail or other means an unsealed 16259
return envelope, gummed, ready for sealing, for use by the 16260
voter in returning the voter's marked ballots to the director. 16261
The director shall send with the ballots and the instruction 16262
sheet for preparing a gummedan envelope sent by facsimile 16263
machine or otherwise sent an instruction sheet for preparing a 16264
second gummed envelope as described in this division, for use by 16265
the voter in returning that voter's marked ballots to the 16266
director. The return envelope shall have two parallel lines, 16267
each one quarter of an inch in width, printed across its face 16268
paralleling the top, with an intervening space of one quarter of 16269
an inch between such lines. The top line shall be one and 16270
one-quarter inches from the top of the envelope. Between the 16271
parallel lines shall be printed:have printed on it "OFFICIAL 16272
ELECTION ARMED SERVICEUNIFORMED SERVICES OR OVERSEAS ABSENT 16273
VOTER'S BALLOTS -- VIA AIR- FIRST CLASS MAIL." Three blank 16274
lines shall be printed in the upper left corner on the face of 16275
the envelope for the use by the voter in placing the voter's 16276
complete military, naval, or mailing address on these lines, and 16277
beneath these lines there shall be printed a box beside the 16278
words "check if out-of-country." The voter shall check this box 16279
if the voter will be outside the United States on the day of the 16280
election. The official title and the post-office address of the 16281
director to whom the envelope shall be returned shall be printed 16282
on the face of such envelope in the lower right portion below the 16283
bottom parallel line. 16284

       (C) On the back of each identification envelope and each 16285
return envelope shall be printed the following:16286

"Instructions to voter: 16287

       If the flap on this envelope is so firmly stuck to the back 16288
of the envelope when received by you as to require forcible 16289
opening in order to use it, open the envelope in the manner least 16290
injurious to it, and, after marking your ballots and enclosing 16291
same in the envelope for mailing them to the director of the board 16292
of elections, reclose the envelope in the most practicable way, by 16293
sealing or otherwise, and sign the blank form printed below.16294

       The flap on this envelope was firmly stuck to the back of the 16295
envelope when received, and required forced opening before sealing 16296
and mailing.16297

16298
(Signature of voter)" 16299

       (D) Division (C) of this section does not apply when absent 16300
voter's ballots are sent by facsimile machine.16301

       Sec. 3511.06.  The return envelope provided for in section 16302
3511.05 of the Revised Code shall be of such size that the 16303
identification envelope can be conveniently placed within it for 16304
returning the identification envelope to the director. The 16305
envelope in which the two envelopes and the armed service16306
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots are 16307
mailed to the elector shall have two parallel lines, each one 16308
quarter of an inch in width, printed across its face, 16309
paralleling the top, with an intervening space of one-quarter 16310
of an inch between such lines. The top line shall be one and 16311
one-quarter inches from the top of the envelope. Between the 16312
parallel lines shall be printed on it: "official armed service 16313
absent voter's balloting material--via air mailOFFICIAL 16314
UNIFORMED SERVICES OR OVERSEAS ABSENT VOTER'S BALLOTING MATERIAL - 16315
FIRST CLASS MAIL." The appropriate return address of the 16316
director of the board of elections shall be printed in the 16317
upper left corner on the face of such envelope. Several blank 16318
lines shall be printed on the face of such envelope in the 16319
lower right portion, below the bottom parallel line, for 16320
writing in the name and address of the elector to whom such 16321
envelope is mailedsent. 16322

       Sec. 3511.08.  The director of the board of elections shall 16323
keep a record of the name and address of each person to whom he16324
the director mails, sends, or delivers armed serviceuniformed 16325
services or overseas absent voter's ballots, the kinds of 16326
ballots so mailed, sent, or delivered, and the name and address 16327
of the person who made the application for suchthose ballots. 16328
After hethe director has mailed, sent, or delivered such 16329
ballots hethe director shall not mail, send, or deliver 16330
additional ballots of the same kind to such person pursuant to a 16331
subsequent request unless such subsequent request contains the 16332
statement that an earlier request had been sent to the director 16333
prior to the thirtieth day before the election and that the 16334
armed serviceuniformed services or overseas absent voter's 16335
ballots so requested had not been received by such person prior 16336
to the fifteenth day before the election, and provided that the 16337
director has not received an identification envelope purporting 16338
to contain marked armed serviceuniformed services or overseas16339
absent voter's ballots from such person. 16340

       Sec. 3511.09. (A) When an elector receives a uniformed 16341
services or overseas absent voter's ballot pursuant to the 16342
elector's application or request, the elector shall, before 16343
placing any marks on the ballot, note whether there are any 16344
voting marks on it. If there are any voting marks, the ballot 16345
shall be returned immediately to the board of elections; 16346
otherwise, the elector shall cause the ballot to be marked, 16347
folded in a manner that the stub on it is visible, and placed 16348
and sealed within the identification envelope received from the 16349
director of elections for that purpose. Then, the elector shall 16350
cause the statement of voter on the outside of the 16351
identification envelope to be completed, under penalty of 16352
election falsification.16353

       (B) Unless the elector is a first-time mail-in registrant, 16354
the elector shall provide the elector's Ohio driver's license 16355
number or the last four digits of the elector's social security 16356
number on the statement of voter on the identification envelope. 16357
If the elector does not provide the elector's Ohio driver's 16358
license number or the last four digits of the elector's social 16359
security number on the statement of voter, the elector shall 16360
include in the return envelope with the identification envelope 16361
a copy of the elector's identification. If the elector is a 16362
first-time mail-in registrant, the elector shall include a copy 16363
of the elector's first-time mail-in registrant identification.16364

       (C)(1) Only the elector or a person authorized by the 16365
elector may transport that elector's completed uniformed 16366
services or overseas absent voter's ballot to the office of the 16367
board of elections from which it was received or to another 16368
location established by the board for the purposes of casting 16369
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots, provided 16370
that the voter must seal the ballot in the identification 16371
envelope, complete the identification envelope, and seal the 16372
identification envelope in the return envelope. 16373

       Only the elector or a person authorized by the elector may 16374
transport that elector's completed uniformed services or overseas 16375
absent voter's ballot to the United States postal service or to a 16376
commercial delivery service for delivery to the board of 16377
elections, provided that the voter must seal the ballot in the 16378
identification envelope, complete the identification envelope, 16379
and seal the identification envelope in the return envelope. Any 16380
postage or delivery cost must be pre-paid and affixed by the 16381
voter. 16382

        Other than the methods described in this section, the return 16383
envelope shall be transmitted to the director in no other 16384
manner, except as provided in section 3509.08 of the Revised 16385
Code.16386

       (2)(a) No person shall accept or provide anything of value 16387
for the collection of a completed uniformed services or overseas 16388
absent voter's ballot for transport to the board of elections or 16389
other location designated by a board of elections or to the 16390
United States postal service or other commercial delivery 16391
service.16392

       (b) No candidate or official member of a campaign committee 16393
may solicit to complete an elector's identification envelope or 16394
solicit to collect and transport an elector's completed 16395
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot.16396

       (3) No otherwise valid uniformed services or overseas absent 16397
voter's ballot shall be rejected due to the failure of a person 16398
to comply with division (C) of this section.16399

       (D) Each elector who will be outside the United States on the 16400
day of the election shall check the box on the return envelope 16401
indicating this fact.16402

       Sec. 3511.10.  If, after the thirty-fifthforty-fifth day and 16403
before the close of the polls on the day of a general or primary 16404
election, a valid application for armed serviceuniformed 16405
services or overseas absent voter's ballots is delivered to the 16406
director of the board of elections at the office of the board by 16407
a person making the application in hison the person's own 16408
behalf, the director shall forthwith deliver to the person all 16409
armed serviceuniformed services or overseas absent voter's 16410
ballots then ready for use, together with an identification 16411
envelope. The person shall then immediately retire to a voting 16412
booth in the office of the board, and mark the ballots. HeThe 16413
person shall then fold each ballot separately so as to conceal 16414
histhe person's markings thereon, and deposit all of the 16415
ballots in the identification envelope and securely seal it. 16416
Thereupon hethe person shall fill in answers to the questions 16417
on the face of the identification envelope, and by writing his16418
the person's usual signature in the proper place thereon, hethe 16419
person shall declare under penalty of election falsification 16420
that the answers to those questions are true and correct to the 16421
best of histhat person's knowledge and belief. HeThe person16422
shall then deliver the identification envelope to the director. 16423
If thereafter, and before the third day preceding such election, 16424
the board provides additional separate official issue or special 16425
election ballots, as provided for in section 3511.04 of the 16426
Revised Code, the director shall promptly, and not later than 16427
twelve noon of the third day preceding the day of election, mail 16428
or otherwise send such additional ballots to such person at the 16429
address specified by himthat person for that purpose. 16430

       In the event any person serving in the armed forces of the 16431
United States is discharged after the closing date of 16432
registration, and hethat person or histhat person's spouse, or 16433
both, meets all the other qualifications set forth in section 16434
3511.01 of the Revised Code, he or shethe person or spouse shall 16435
be permitted to vote prior to the date of the election in the 16436
office of the board in histhe person's or spouse's county, as 16437
set forth in this section. 16438

       Sec. 3511.11.  (A) Upon receipt of any return envelope 16439
bearing the designation "Official Election Armed ServiceUniformed 16440
Services or Overseas Absent Voter's Ballot" prior to the 16441
twenty-first day after the day of a presidential primary election 16442
or prior to the eleventh day after the day of any other election, 16443
the director of the board of electionsa bipartisan team shall 16444
inspect the postmark and verify the date the board received the 16445
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot. If either 16446
the postmark, if applicable, or the date of receipt do not meet 16447
the applicable deadlines for that election established in 16448
division (C) or (D) of this section, the ballot shall not be 16449
counted. The identification envelope shall not be opened, and it 16450
shall be endorsed "not counted" with the reasons the ballot was 16451
not counted.16452

       If the postmark, if applicable, and the date of receipt for a 16453
return envelope purporting to contain voted uniformed services or 16454
overseas absent voter's ballots meets the applicable deadlines 16455
for that election established in division (C) or (D) of this 16456
section, the bipartisan team shall open it but shall not open 16457
the identification envelope contained in it. If, upon so 16458
opening the return envelope, the directorbipartisan team16459
finds ballots in it that are not enclosed in and properly 16460
sealed in the identification envelope, the directorbipartisan 16461
team shall not look at the markings upon the ballots and shall 16462
promptly place them in the identification envelope and 16463
promptly seal it. If, upon so opening the return envelope, the 16464
directorbipartisan team finds that ballots are enclosed in the 16465
identification envelope but that it is not properly sealed, the 16466
directorbipartisan team shall not look at the markings upon 16467
the ballots and shall promptly seal the identification 16468
envelope. 16469

       (B) Armed serviceUniformed services or overseas absent 16470
voter's ballots delivered to the director not later than the 16471
close of the polls on election day shall be processed and counted 16472
in the manner provided in division (F) of this section 3509.06 16473
of the Revised Code. 16474

       (C) A return envelope that indicates that the voter will be 16475
outside of the United States on the day of an election is not 16476
required to be postmarked in order for an armed servicea 16477
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot contained in 16478
it to be valid. Except as otherwise provided in this division, 16479
whether or not the return envelope containing the ballot is 16480
postmarked or contains an illegible postmark, an armed servicea 16481
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot that is 16482
received after the close of the polls on election day through 16483
the tenth day after the election day or, if the election was a 16484
presidential primary election, through the twentieth day after 16485
the election day, and that is delivered in a return envelope 16486
that indicates that the voter will be outside the United States 16487
on the day of the election shall be counted on the eleventh day 16488
after the election day or, if the election was a presidential 16489
primary election, on the twenty-first day after the election 16490
day, at the office of the board of elections in the manner 16491
provided in divisions (C) and (D)division (F) of this section 16492
3509.06 of the Revised Code. However, if a return envelope 16493
containing an armed servicea uniformed services or overseas16494
absent voter's ballot is so received and so indicates, but it 16495
is postmarked, or the identification envelope in it is signed, 16496
after the close of the polls on election day, the armed service16497
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot shall not 16498
be counted. The identification envelope shall not be opened and 16499
it shall be endorsed "not counted" with the reasons the ballot 16500
was not counted.16501

       (D)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (D)(2) of 16502
this section, any return envelope containing an armed servicea 16503
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot that is 16504
postmarked within the United States prior to the close of the 16505
polls on election day of the election shall be delivered to the 16506
director prior to the eleventh day after the election. Armed 16507
serviceUniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots 16508
delivered in envelopes postmarked prior to the close of the 16509
polls on election day of the election that are received after the 16510
close of the polls on election day through the tenth day 16511
thereafter shall be counted on the eleventh day at the board of 16512
elections in the manner provided in divisions (C) and (D)16513
division (F) of this section 3509.06 of the Revised Code. Any 16514
such ballotsballot that areis received by the director later 16515
than the tenth day following the election shall not be counted, 16516
but shall be kept by the board in the sealed identification 16517
envelopesenvelope as provided in division (A) of this section. 16518
The identification envelope shall not be opened and it shall be 16519
endorsed "not counted" with the reasons the ballot was not 16520
counted.16521

       (2) Division (D)(1) of this section shall not apply to any 16522
mail that is postmarked using a postage evidencing system, 16523
including a postage meter, as defined in 39 C.F.R. 501.1. 16524

       (E) The following types of armed service absent voter's 16525
ballots shall not be counted:16526

       (1) Armed service absent voter's ballots contained in return 16527
envelopes that bear the designation "Official Election Armed 16528
Service Absent Voter's Ballots," that are received by the director 16529
after the close of the polls on the day of the election, and that 16530
either are postmarked, or contain an identification envelope that 16531
is signed, on or after election day;16532

       (2) Armed service absent voter's ballots contained in return 16533
envelopes that bear that designation, that do not indicate they 16534
are from voters who will be outside the United States on the day 16535
of the election, and that are received after the tenth day 16536
following the election or, if the election was a presidential 16537
primary election, after the twentieth day following the election;16538

       (3) Armed service absent voter's ballots contained in return 16539
envelopes that bear that designation, that are received by the 16540
director within ten days after the day of the election, and that 16541
were postmarked before the day of the election using a postage 16542
evidencing system, including a postage meter, as defined in 39 16543
C.F.R. 501.1.16544

       The uncounted ballots shall be preserved in their 16545
identification envelopes unopened until the time provided by 16546
section 3505.31 of the Revised Code for the destruction of all 16547
other ballots used at the election for which ballots were 16548
provided, at which time they shall be destroyed.The board of 16549
elections shall appoint special election judges for the purpose of 16550
processing and counting uniformed services or overseas absent 16551
voter's ballots. The votes so cast shall be added to the vote 16552
totals by the board, and the uniformed services or overseas 16553
absent voter's ballots shall be preserved separately by the 16554
board, in the same manner and for the same length of time as 16555
provided by section 3505.31 of the Revised Code.16556

       (F)(1) Each of the identification envelopes purporting to 16557
contain uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots 16558
delivered to the special judge appointed by the board of 16559
elections shall be processed and counted as follows:16560

       (a) The election officials shall inspect the statement 16561
accompanying a uniformed services or overseas absent voter's 16562
ballot to determine if the voter's signature has been provided 16563
and that the signature substantially conforms to the voter's 16564
signature in the voter's registration record.16565

       (b) The election officials shall compare the signature of the 16566
voter as provided on the statement accompanying the uniformed 16567
services or overseas absent voter's ballot with the signature 16568
contained in the voter registration records.16569

       (c) If the election officials find that the voter's valid 16570
signature has been provided and that the voter is registered and 16571
eligible to cast a ballot in the election, the election officials 16572
shall open the envelope and determine if the stub is attached to 16573
or enclosed with the ballot. If the stub is attached to or 16574
enclosed with the ballot, the election officials shall count 16575
that ballot not earlier than the day of the election. If the 16576
stub is not attached to or enclosed with the ballot, the 16577
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot shall not be 16578
counted. The ballot shall be placed in its accompanying 16579
identification envelope, which shall be endorsed "not counted" 16580
with the reasons the ballot was not counted. 16581

       (d) If the election officials find that voter did not sign 16582
the statement of voter on the identification envelope or if the 16583
election officials are unable to determine the identity of the 16584
voter who returned the ballot, the election officials shall use 16585
any information provided on the identification envelope or, if 16586
necessary, cross-reference the unique stub number placed on the 16587
identification envelope with the registration records to identify 16588
the voter for notification under division (J) of this section.16589

       (e) If the voter did not sign the statement of voter on the 16590
identification envelope and if the voter fails to correct that 16591
defect within ten days after the day of the election in accordance 16592
with division (J) of this section, or if the election officials 16593
find that the voter is not registered or not eligible to cast a 16594
ballot in the election, the voter's uniformed services or overseas 16595
absent voter's ballot shall not be counted. The identification 16596
envelope shall not be opened and it shall be endorsed "not 16597
counted" with the reasons the ballot was not counted.16598

       (2) The board of elections may process uniformed services or 16599
overseas absent voter's ballots under division (F)(1) of this 16600
section during the ten days prior to the day of an election but 16601
shall not reveal or cause to be revealed the marks on any 16602
ballots. The board shall not count any uniformed services or 16603
overseas absent voter's ballot prior to the day of the election.16604

       (3) Any ballots that are not eligible to be counted under 16605
division (C), (F)(1)(c), or (F)(1)(e) of this section shall be 16606
preserved in their identification envelopes until the time 16607
provided by section 3505.31 of the Revised Code for the 16608
destruction of all other ballots used at the election for which 16609
ballots were provided, at which time they shall be destroyed. 16610

       (G) The registration record of each person voting a uniformed 16611
services or overseas absent voter's ballot shall be marked to 16612
indicate that the person has voted. The date of such election 16613
shall also be entered on the elector's registration record.16614

       (H) Special election judges, employees or members of the 16615
board of elections, or observers shall not disclose the count or 16616
any portion of the count of uniformed services or overseas absent 16617
voter's ballots prior to the time of the closing of the polling 16618
places. No person shall recklessly disclose the count or any 16619
portion of the count of uniformed services or overseas absent 16620
voter's ballots in such a manner as to jeopardize the secrecy of 16621
any individual ballot.16622

       (I) Observers may be appointed under section 3505.21 of the 16623
Revised Code to witness the processing of identification envelopes 16624
and the counting of uniformed services or overseas absent voters' 16625
ballots under this section.16626

       (J)(1) If the voter did not sign the statement of voter on 16627
the identification envelope or if the election officials are 16628
unable to determine the identity of the voter who returned the 16629
ballot, the board of elections shall notify the voter, by whatever 16630
means of contact the voter has provided on the identification 16631
envelope or using any available contact information in the voter's 16632
registration record, of the defect and request the voter to verify 16633
the voter's identity for the purpose of processing that uniformed 16634
services or overseas absent voter's ballot.16635

       (2) The voter may verify that the voter was the person who 16636
returned the uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot 16637
in any of the following ways:16638

       (a) By confirming by mail, electronic mail, telephone, or 16639
facsimile transmission, or through the internet the voter's date 16640
of birth and residence address in a manner that substantially 16641
conforms with the records of the board of elections;16642

       (b) By providing a statement by mail, electronic mail, or 16643
facsimile transmission, or through the internet that the voter 16644
submitted the ballot and by attaching the voter's signature to 16645
that statement. A signature attached to a statement made under 16646
this division shall be considered the voter's signature on the 16647
identification envelope for the purposes of verifying the validity 16648
of that ballot. 16649

       (c) By appearing in person at the office of the board of 16650
elections and signing the identification envelope.16651

       (3) The secretary of state shall prescribe uniform standards 16652
for processing additional information by mail, electronic mail, 16653
telephone, facsimile transmission, through the internet, or in 16654
person at the office of the board of elections under division (J) 16655
of this section.16656

        (4) If the voter provides the required information within ten 16657
days after the day of the election, the election officials shall 16658
complete the processing of the uniformed services or overseas 16659
absent voter's ballot under division (F) of this section in the 16660
same manner as if that information had been included on the 16661
statement of voter at the time the ballot was returned.16662

       (K) As used in this section, "bipartisan team" and 16663
"processing" a ballot have the same meanings as in section 3509.06 16664
of the Revised Code.16665

       Sec. 3511.13. (A) The poll list or signature pollbook for 16666
each precinct shall identify each registered elector in that 16667
precinct who has requested an armed servicea uniformed services 16668
or overseas absent voter's ballot for that election. 16669

        (B)(1) If a registered elector appears to vote in that 16670
precinct and that elector has requested an armed servicea 16671
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot for that 16672
election but the director has not received a sealed 16673
identification envelope purporting to contain that elector's 16674
voted armed serviceuniformed services or overseas absent voter's 16675
ballots for that election, the elector shall be permitted to 16676
cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised 16677
Code in that precinct on the day of that election. 16678

        (2) If a registered elector appears to vote in that precinct 16679
and that elector has requested an armed servicea uniformed 16680
services or overseas absent voter's ballot for that election and 16681
the director has received a sealed identification envelope 16682
purporting to contain that elector's voted armed service16683
uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots for that 16684
election, the elector shall be permitted to cast a provisional 16685
ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code in that 16686
precinct on the day of that election. 16687

        (C)(1) In processing and counting armed serviceuniformed 16688
services or overseas absent voter's ballots under section 16689
3511.11 of the Revised Code, the board of elections shall 16690
compare the signature of each elector from whom the director has 16691
received a sealed identification envelope purporting to contain 16692
that elector's voted armed serviceuniformed services or overseas16693
absent voter's ballots for that election to the signature on the 16694
elector's registration formrecord. Except as otherwise provided 16695
in division (C)(3) of this section, if the board of elections 16696
determines that the armed serviceuniformed services or overseas16697
absent voter's ballot in the sealed identification envelope is 16698
valid, it shall be counted. If the board of elections 16699
determines that the signature on the sealed identification 16700
envelope purporting to contain the elector's voted armed 16701
serviceuniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot does 16702
not match the signature on the elector's registration form16703
record, the ballot shall be set aside and the board shall 16704
examine, during the time prior to the beginning of the official 16705
canvass, the poll list or signature pollbook from the precinct 16706
in which the elector is registered to vote to determine if the 16707
elector also cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of 16708
the Revised Code in that precinct on the day of the election. 16709

       (2) The board of elections shall count the provisional 16710
ballot, instead of the armed serviceuniformed services or 16711
overseas absent voter's ballot, of an elector from whom the 16712
director has received an identification envelope purporting to 16713
contain that elector's voted armed serviceuniformed services or 16714
overseas absent voter's ballots, if both of the following apply: 16715

        (a) The board of elections determines that the signature of 16716
the elector on the outside of the identification envelope in which 16717
the armed serviceuniformed services or overseas absent voter's 16718
ballots are enclosed does not match the signature of the elector 16719
on the elector's registration form; 16720

        (b) The elector cast a provisional ballot in the precinct on 16721
the day of the election. 16722

       (3) If the board of elections does not receive the sealed 16723
identification envelope purporting to contain the elector's voted 16724
armed serviceuniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot 16725
by the applicable deadline established under section 3511.11 of 16726
the Revised Code, the provisional ballot cast under section 16727
3505.181 of the Revised Code in that precinct on the day of the 16728
election shall be counted as valid, if that provisional ballot 16729
is otherwise determined to be valid pursuant to section 3505.183 16730
of the Revised Code. 16731

       (D) If the board of elections counts a provisional ballot 16732
under division (C)(2) or (3) of this section, the returned 16733
identification envelope of that elector shall not be opened, and 16734
the ballot within that envelope shall not be counted. The 16735
identification envelope shall be endorsed "Not Counted" with the 16736
reason the ballot was not counted. 16737

       Sec. 3511.14. A board of elections shall accept and process 16738
federal write-in ballots for all elections as required under "The 16739
Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act," Pub. L. No. 16740
99-410, 100 Stat. 924, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff, et seq., as amended.16741

       Sec. 3513.01.  (A) Except as otherwise provided in this16742
section, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of16743
2000 and every fourth year thereafter, and on the first Tuesday 16744
after the first Monday in May of every other year, primary 16745
elections shall be held for the purpose of nominating persons as 16746
candidates of political parties for election to offices to be 16747
voted for at the succeeding general election.16748

       (B) The manner of nominating persons as candidates for16749
election as officers of a municipal corporation having a16750
population of two thousand or more, as ascertained by the most 16751
recent federal census, shall be the same as the manner in which 16752
candidates were nominated for election as officers in the16753
municipal corporation in 1989 unless the manner of nominating such 16754
candidates is changed under division (C), (D), or (E) of this 16755
section.16756

       (C) Primary elections shall not be held for the nomination of 16757
candidates for election as officers of any township, or any16758
municipal corporation having a population of less than two16759
thousand, unless a majority of the electors of any such township 16760
or municipal corporation, as determined by the total number of 16761
votes cast in such township or municipal corporation for the 16762
office of governor at the most recent regular state election, 16763
files with the board of elections of the county within which such 16764
township or municipal corporation is located, or within which the 16765
major portion of the population thereof is located, if the 16766
municipal corporation is situated in more than one county, not 16767
later than one hundred fivefifteen days before the day of a 16768
primary election, a petition signed by such electors asking that 16769
candidates for election as officers of such township or municipal 16770
corporation be nominated as candidates of political parties, in 16771
which event primary elections shall be held in such township or 16772
municipal corporation for the purpose of nominating persons as 16773
candidates of political parties for election as officers of such 16774
township or municipal corporation to be voted for at the 16775
succeeding regular municipal election. In a township or municipal 16776
corporation where a majority of the electors have filed a petition 16777
asking that candidates for election as officers of the township or 16778
municipal corporation be nominated as candidates of political 16779
parties, the nomination of candidates for a nonpartisan election 16780
may be reestablished in the manner prescribed in division (E) of 16781
this section.16782

       (D)(1) The electors in a municipal corporation having a16783
population of two thousand or more, in which municipal officers16784
were nominated in the most recent election by nominating petition16785
and elected by nonpartisan election, may place on the ballot in16786
the manner prescribed in division (D)(2) of this section the16787
question of changing to the primary-election method of nominating16788
persons as candidates for election as officers of the municipal16789
corporation.16790

       (2) The board of elections of the county within which the16791
municipal corporation is located, or, if the municipal corporation 16792
is located in more than one county, of the county within which the 16793
major portion of the population of the municipal corporation is 16794
located, shall, upon receipt of a petition signed by electors of 16795
the municipal corporation equal in number to at least ten per cent 16796
of the vote cast at the most recent regular municipal election, 16797
submit to the electors of the municipal corporation the question 16798
of changing to the primary-election method of nominating persons 16799
as candidates for election as officers of the municipal16800
corporation. The ballot language shall be substantially as16801
follows:16802

       "Shall candidates for election as officers of ............16803
(name of municipal corporation) in the county of ............16804
(name of county) be nominated as candidates of political parties?16805

........ yes16806

........ no"16807

       The question shall be placed on the ballot at the next16808
general election in an even-numbered year occurring at least16809
seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the petition is filed with the 16810
board. If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote 16811
in the affirmative, candidates for election as officers of the 16812
municipal corporation shall thereafter be nominated as candidates 16813
of political parties in primary elections, under division (A) of16814
this section, unless a change in the manner of nominating persons16815
as candidates for election as officers of the municipal16816
corporation is made under division (E) of this section.16817

       (E)(1) The electors in a township or municipal corporation in 16818
which the township or municipal officers are nominated as16819
candidates of political parties in a primary election may place on 16820
the ballot, in the manner prescribed in division (E)(2) of this 16821
section, the question of changing to the nonpartisan method of 16822
nominating persons as candidates for election as officers of the 16823
township or municipal corporation.16824

       (2) The board of elections of the county within which the16825
township or municipal corporation is located, or, if the municipal 16826
corporation is located in more than one county, of the county 16827
within which the major portion of the population of the municipal 16828
corporation is located, shall, upon receipt of a petition signed 16829
by electors of the township or municipal corporation equal in 16830
number to at least ten per cent of the vote cast at the most 16831
recent regular township or municipal election, as appropriate, 16832
submit to the electors of the township or municipal corporation, 16833
as appropriate, the question of changing to the nonpartisan method 16834
of nominating persons as candidates for election as officers of 16835
the township or municipal corporation. The ballot language shall 16836
be substantially as follows:16837

       "Shall candidates for election as officers of ............16838
(name of the township or municipal corporation) in the county of16839
............ (name of county) be nominated as candidates by16840
nominating petition and be elected only in a nonpartisan election?16841

........ yes16842

........ no"16843

       The question shall appear on the ballot at the next general16844
election in an even-numbered year occurring at least seventy-five16845
eighty-five days after the petition is filed with the board. If a 16846
majority of electors voting on the question vote in the 16847
affirmative, candidates for officer of the township or municipal 16848
corporation shall thereafter be nominated by nominating petition 16849
and be elected only in a nonpartisan election, unless a change in 16850
the manner of nominating persons as candidates for election as16851
officers of the township or municipal corporation is made under16852
division (C) or (D) of this section.16853

       Sec. 3513.02.  If, in any odd-numbered year, no valid16854
declaration of candidacy is filed for nomination as a candidate of 16855
a political party for election to any of the offices to be voted 16856
for at the general election to be held in such year, or if the 16857
number of persons filing such declarations of candidacy for16858
nominations as candidates of one political party for election to16859
such offices does not exceed, as to any such office, the number of 16860
candidates which such political party is entitled to nominate as 16861
its candidates for election to such office, then no primary16862
election shall be held for the purpose of nominating party16863
candidates of such party for election to offices to be voted for16864
at such general election and no primary ballots shall be provided16865
for such party. If, however, the only office for which there are16866
more valid declarations of candidacy filed than the number to be16867
nominated by a political party, is the office of councilman16868
councilperson in a ward, a primary election shall be held for such 16869
party only in the ward or wards in which there is a contest, and 16870
only the names of the candidates for the office of councilman16871
councilperson in such ward shall appear on the primary ballot of 16872
such political party.16873

       The election officials whose duty it would have been to16874
provide for and conduct the holding of such primary election,16875
declare the results thereof, and issue certificates of nomination16876
to the persons entitled thereto if such primary election had been16877
held shall declare each of such persons to be nominated as of the16878
date of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the primary 16879
election, issue appropriate certificates of nomination to each of 16880
them, and certify their names to the proper election officials, in 16881
order that their names may be printed on the official ballots 16882
provided for use in the succeeding general election in the same16883
manner as though such primary election had been held and such16884
persons had been nominated at such election.16885

       Sec. 3513.041.  A write-in space shall be provided on the16886
ballot for every office, except in an election for which the board16887
of elections has received no valid declarations of intent to be a16888
write-in candidate under this section. Write-in votes shall not be 16889
counted for any candidate who has not filed a declaration of16890
intent to be a write-in candidate pursuant to this section. A16891
qualified person who has filed a declaration of intent may receive16892
write-in votes at either a primary or general election. Any16893
candidate shall file a declaration of intent to be a write-in 16894
candidate before four p.m. of the sixty-secondseventy-second day16895
preceding the election at which such candidacy is to be16896
considered. If the election is to be determined by electors of a16897
county or a district or subdivision within the county, such16898
declaration shall be filed with the board of elections of that16899
county. If the election is to be determined by electors of a16900
subdivision located in more than one county, such declaration16901
shall be filed with the board of elections of the county in which16902
the major portion of the population of such subdivision is16903
located. If the election is to be determined by electors of a16904
district comprised of more than one county but less than all of16905
the counties of the state, such declaration shall be filed with16906
the board of elections of the most populous county in such16907
district. Any candidate for an office to be voted upon by electors 16908
throughout the entire state shall file a declaration of intent to 16909
be a write-in candidate with the secretary of state before four 16910
p.m. of the sixty-secondseventy-second day preceding the election 16911
at which such candidacy is to be considered. In addition,16912
candidates for president and vice-president of the United States16913
shall also file with the secretary of state by that sixty-second16914
seventy-second day a slate of presidential electors sufficient in 16915
number to satisfy the requirements of the United States 16916
constitution.16917

       A board of elections shall not accept for filing the16918
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate of a person16919
seeking to become a candidate if that person, for the same16920
election, has already filed a declaration of candidacy, a16921
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating16922
petition, or has become a candidate through party nomination at a16923
primary election or by the filling of a vacancy under section16924
3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code, for any federal, state, or 16925
county office, if the declaration of intent to be a write-in 16926
candidate is for a state or county office, or for any municipal or 16927
township office, for member of a city, local, or exempted village 16928
board of education, or for member of a governing board of an 16929
educational service center, if the declaration of intent to be a 16930
write-in candidate is for a municipal or township office, or for 16931
member of a city, local, or exempted village board of education, 16932
or for member of a governing board of an educational service 16933
center.16934

       No person shall file a declaration of intent to be a write-in16935
candidate for the office of governor unless the declaration also16936
shows the intent of another person to be a write-in candidate for16937
the office of lieutenant governor. No person shall file a16938
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for the office of16939
lieutenant governor unless the declaration also shows the intent16940
of another person to be a write-in candidate for the office of16941
governor. No person shall file a declaration of intent to be a16942
write-in candidate for the office of governor or lieutenant16943
governor if the person has previously filed a declaration of16944
intent to be a write-in candidate to the office of governor or16945
lieutenant governor at the same primary or general election. A16946
write-in vote for the two candidates who file such a declaration16947
shall be counted as a vote for them as joint candidates for the16948
offices of governor and lieutenant governor.16949

       The secretary of state shall not accept for filing the16950
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate of a person for16951
the office of governor unless the declaration also shows the16952
intent of another person to be a write-in candidate for the office16953
of lieutenant governor, shall not accept for filing the16954
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate of a person for16955
the office of lieutenant governor unless the declaration also16956
shows the intent of another person to be a write-in candidate for16957
the office of governor, and shall not accept for filing the16958
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate of a person to16959
the office of governor or lieutenant governor if that person, for16960
the same election, has already filed a declaration of candidacy, a16961
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating 16962
petition, or has become a candidate through party nomination at a 16963
primary election or by the filling of a vacancy under section 16964
3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code, for any other state office 16965
or any federal or county office.16966

       Protests against the candidacy of any person filing a16967
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate may be filed by16968
any qualified elector who is eligible to vote in the election at16969
which the candidacy is to be considered. The protest shall be in16970
writing and shall be filed not later than four p.m. of the 16971
fifty-seventhsixty-seventh day before the day of the election. 16972
The protest shall be filed with the board of elections with which 16973
the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate was filed. 16974
Upon the filing of the protest, the board with which it is filed 16975
shall promptly fix the time for hearing it and shall proceed in 16976
regard to the hearing in the same manner as for hearings set for 16977
protests filed under section 3513.05 of the Revised Code. At the 16978
time fixed, the board shall hear the protest and determine the 16979
validity or invalidity of the declaration of intent to be a 16980
write-in candidate. If the board finds that the candidate is not 16981
an elector of the state, district, county, or political 16982
subdivision in which the candidate seeks election to office or has 16983
not fully complied with the requirements of Title XXXV of the 16984
Revised Code in regard to the candidate's candidacy, the 16985
candidate's declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate shall 16986
be determined to be invalid and shall be rejected; otherwise, it 16987
shall be determined to be valid. The determination of the board is16988
final.16989

       The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of the16990
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate.16991

       Sec. 3513.05.  Each person desiring to become a candidate for 16992
a party nomination or for election to an office or position to be 16993
voted for at a primary election, except persons desiring to become 16994
joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant 16995
governor and except as otherwise provided in section 3513.051 of 16996
the Revised Code, shall, not later than four p.m. of the 16997
seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the day of the primary 16998
election, or if the primary election is a presidential primary 16999
election, not later than four p.m. of the sixtieth day before the 17000
day of the presidential primary election, file a declaration of 17001
candidacy and petition and pay the fees required under divisions 17002
(A) and (B) of section 3513.10 of the Revised Code. The 17003
declaration of candidacy and all separate petition papers shall 17004
be filed at the same time as one instrument. When the offices are 17005
to be voted for at a primary election, persons desiring to become 17006
joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant 17007
governor shall, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth17008
eighty-fifth day before the day of the primary election, comply 17009
with section 3513.04 of the Revised Code. The prospective joint 17010
candidates' declaration of candidacy and all separate petition 17011
papers of candidacies shall be filed at the same time as one 17012
instrument. The secretary of state or a board of elections shall 17013
not accept for filing a declaration of candidacy and petition of 17014
a person seeking to become a candidate if that person, for the 17015
same election, has already filed a declaration of candidacy or a 17016
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or has become a 17017
candidate by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 of 17018
the Revised Code for any federal, state, or county office, if 17019
the declaration of candidacy is for a state or county office, or 17020
for any municipal or township office, if the declaration of 17021
candidacy is for a municipal or township office. 17022

       If the declaration of candidacy declares a candidacy which is 17023
to be submitted to electors throughout the entire state, the 17024
petition, including a petition for joint candidates for the 17025
offices of governor and lieutenant governor, shall be signed by at 17026
least one thousand qualified electors who are members of the same 17027
political party as the candidate or joint candidates, and the 17028
declaration of candidacy and petition shall be filed with the 17029
secretary of state; provided that the secretary of state shall not 17030
accept or file any such petition appearing on its face to contain 17031
signatures of more than three thousand electors. 17032

       Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, if the 17033
declaration of candidacy is of one that is to be submitted only to 17034
electors within a district, political subdivision, or portion 17035
thereof, the petition shall be signed by not less than fifty 17036
qualified electors who are members of the same political party as 17037
the political party of which the candidate is a member. If the 17038
declaration of candidacy is for party nomination as a candidate 17039
for member of the legislative authority of a municipal corporation 17040
elected by ward, the petition shall be signed by not less than 17041
twenty-five qualified electors who are members of the political 17042
party of which the candidate is a member. 17043

       No such petition, except the petition for a candidacy that is 17044
to be submitted to electors throughout the entire state, shall be 17045
accepted for filing if it appears to contain on its face 17046
signatures of more than three times the minimum number of 17047
signatures. When a petition of a candidate has been accepted for 17048
filing by a board of elections, the petition shall not be deemed 17049
invalid if, upon verification of signatures contained in the 17050
petition, the board of elections finds the number of signatures 17051
accepted exceeds three times the minimum number of signatures 17052
required. A board of elections may discontinue verifying 17053
signatures on petitions when the number of verified signatures 17054
equals the minimum required number of qualified signatures. 17055

       If the declaration of candidacy declares a candidacy for 17056
party nomination or for election as a candidate of an intermediate 17057
ora minor party, the minimum number of signatures on such 17058
petition is one-half the minimum number provided in this section, 17059
except that, when the candidacy is one for election as a member of 17060
the state central committee or the county central committee of a 17061
political party, the minimum number shall be the same for an 17062
intermediate ora minor party as for a major party. 17063

       If a declaration of candidacy is one for election as a member 17064
of the state central committee or the county central committee of 17065
a political party, the petition shall be signed by five qualified 17066
electors of the district, county, ward, township, or precinct 17067
within which electors may vote for such candidate. The electors 17068
signing such petition shall be members of the same political party 17069
as the political party of which the candidate is a member. 17070

       For purposes of signing or circulating a petition of 17071
candidacy for party nomination or election, an elector is 17072
considered to be a member of a political party if the elector 17073
voted in that party's primary election within the preceding two 17074
calendar years, or if the elector did not vote in any other 17075
party's primary election within the preceding two calendar years. 17076

       If the declaration of candidacy is of one that is to be 17077
submitted only to electors within a county, or within a district 17078
or subdivision or part thereof smaller than a county, the petition 17079
shall be filed with the board of elections of the county. If the 17080
declaration of candidacy is of one that is to be submitted only to 17081
electors of a district or subdivision or part thereof that is 17082
situated in more than one county, the petition shall be filed with 17083
the board of elections of the county within which the major 17084
portion of the population thereof, as ascertained by the next 17085
preceding federal census, is located. 17086

       A petition shall consist of separate petition papers, each of 17087
which shall contain signatures of electors of only one county. 17088
Petitions or separate petition papers containing signatures of 17089
electors of more than one county shall not thereby be declared 17090
invalid. In case petitions or separate petition papers containing 17091
signatures of electors of more than one county are filed, the 17092
board shall determine the county from which the majority of 17093
signatures came, and only signatures from such county shall be 17094
counted. Signatures from any other county shall be invalid. 17095

       Each separate petition paper shall be circulated by one 17096
person only, who shall be the candidate or a joint candidate or a 17097
member of the same political party as the candidate or joint 17098
candidates, and each separate petition paper shall be governed by 17099
the rules set forth in section 3501.38 of the Revised Code. 17100

       The secretary of state shall promptly transmit to each board 17101
such separate petition papers of each petition accompanying a 17102
declaration of candidacy filed with the secretary of state as 17103
purport to contain signatures of electors of the county of such 17104
board. The board of the most populous county of a district shall 17105
promptly transmit to each board within such district such separate 17106
petition papers of each petition accompanying a declaration of 17107
candidacy filed with it as purport to contain signatures of 17108
electors of the county of each such board. The board of a county 17109
within which the major portion of the population of a subdivision, 17110
situated in more than one county, is located, shall promptly 17111
transmit to the board of each other county within which a portion 17112
of such subdivision is located such separate petition papers of 17113
each petition accompanying a declaration of candidacy filed with 17114
it as purport to contain signatures of electors of the portion of 17115
such subdivision in the county of each such board. 17116

       All petition papers so transmitted to a board and all 17117
petitions accompanying declarations of candidacy filed with a 17118
board shall, under proper regulations, be open to public 17119
inspection until four p.m. of the seventietheightieth day before 17120
the day of the next primary election, or if that next primary 17121
election is a presidential primary election, the fifty-fifth day 17122
before that presidential primary election. Each board shall, not 17123
later than the sixty-eighthseventy-eighth day before the day of 17124
that primary election, or if the primary election is a 17125
presidential primary election, not later than the fifty-third day 17126
before such presidential primary election, examine and determine 17127
the validity or invalidity of the signatures on the petition 17128
papers so transmitted to or filed with it and shall return to the 17129
secretary of state all petition papers transmitted to it by the 17130
secretary of state, together with its certification of its 17131
determination as to the validity or invalidity of signatures 17132
thereon, and shall return to each other board all petition papers 17133
transmitted to it by such board, together with its certification 17134
of its determination as to the validity or invalidity of the 17135
signatures thereon. All other matters affecting the validity or 17136
invalidity of such petition papers shall be determined by the 17137
secretary of state or the board with whom such petition papers 17138
were filed. 17139

       Protests against the candidacy of any person filing a 17140
declaration of candidacy for party nomination or for election to 17141
an office or position, as provided in this section, may be filed 17142
by any qualified elector who is a member of the same political 17143
party as the candidate and who is eligible to vote at the primary 17144
election for the candidate whose declaration of candidacy the 17145
elector objects to, or by the controlling committee of that 17146
political party. The protest shall be in writing, and shall be 17147
filed not later than four p.m. of the sixty-fourthseventy-fourth17148
day before the day of the primary election, or if the primary 17149
election is a presidential primary election, not later than four 17150
p.m. of the forty-ninth day before the day of the presidential 17151
primary election. The protest shall be filed with the election 17152
officials with whom the declaration of candidacy and petition 17153
was filed. Upon the filing of the protest, the election 17154
officials with whom it is filed shall promptly fix the time for 17155
hearing it, and shall forthwith mail notice of the filing of the 17156
protest and the time fixed for hearing to the person whose 17157
candidacy is so protested. They shall also forthwith mail notice 17158
of the time fixed for such hearing to the person who filed the 17159
protest. At the time fixed, such election officials shall hear 17160
the protest and determine the validity or invalidity of the 17161
declaration of candidacy and petition. If they find that such 17162
candidate is not an elector of the state, district, county, or 17163
political subdivision in which the candidate seeks a party 17164
nomination or election to an office or position, or has not fully 17165
complied with this chapter, the candidate's declaration of 17166
candidacy and petition shall be determined to be invalid and 17167
shall be rejected; otherwise, it shall be determined to be 17168
valid. That determination shall be final. 17169

       A protest against the candidacy of any persons filing a 17170
declaration of candidacy for joint party nomination to the offices 17171
of governor and lieutenant governor shall be filed, heard, and 17172
determined in the same manner as a protest against the candidacy 17173
of any person filing a declaration of candidacy singly. 17174

       The secretary of state shall, on the sixtiethseventieth day 17175
before the day of a primary election, or if the primary election 17176
is a presidential primary election, on the forty-fifth day before 17177
the day of the presidential primary election, certify to each 17178
board in the state the forms of the official ballots to be used 17179
at the primary election, together with the names of the 17180
candidates to be printed on the ballots whose nomination or 17181
election is to be determined by electors throughout the entire 17182
state and who filed valid declarations of candidacy and 17183
petitions. 17184

       The board of the most populous county in a district comprised 17185
of more than one county but less than all of the counties of the 17186
state shall, on the sixtiethseventieth day before the day of a 17187
primary election, or if the primary election is a presidential 17188
primary election, on the forty-fifth day before the day of a 17189
presidential primary election, certify to the board of each 17190
county in the district the names of the candidates to be printed 17191
on the official ballots to be used at the primary election, whose 17192
nomination or election is to be determined only by electors 17193
within the district and who filed valid declarations of candidacy 17194
and petitions. 17195

       The board of a county within which the major portion of the 17196
population of a subdivision smaller than the county and situated 17197
in more than one county is located shall, on the sixtieth17198
seventieth day before the day of a primary election, or if the 17199
primary election is a presidential primary election, on the 17200
forty-fifth day before the day of a presidential primary 17201
election, certify to the board of each county in which a portion 17202
of that subdivision is located the names of the candidates to be 17203
printed on the official ballots to be used at the primary 17204
election, whose nomination or election is to be determined only 17205
by electors within that subdivision and who filed valid 17206
declarations of candidacy and petitions. 17207

       Sec. 3513.052. (A) No person shall seek nomination or17208
election to any of the following offices or positions at the same17209
election by filing a declaration of candidacy and petition, a17210
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating17211
petition, or by becoming a candidate through party nomination in a17212
primary election, or by the filling of a vacancy under section17213
3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code:17214

       (1) Two or more state offices;17215

       (2) Two or more county offices;17216

       (3) A state office and a county office;17217

       (4) A federal office and a state or county office;17218

       (5) Any combination of two or more municipal or township17219
offices, positions as a member of a city, local, or exempted17220
village board of education, or positions as a member of a17221
governing board of an educational service center.17222

       (B) The secretary of state or a board of elections shall not17223
accept for filing a declaration of candidacy and petition, a17224
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating17225
petition of a person seeking to become a candidate if that person,17226
for the same election, has already filed a declaration of17227
candidacy, a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or17228
a nominating petition, or has become a candidate through party17229
nomination at a primary election or by the filling of a vacancy17230
under section 3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code for:17231

       (1) Any federal, state, or county office, if the declaration 17232
of candidacy, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or17233
nominating petition is for a state or county office;17234

       (2) Any municipal or township office, or for member of a17235
city, local, or exempted village board of education, or for member17236
of a governing board of an educational service center, if the17237
declaration of candidacy, declaration of intent to be a write-in17238
candidate, or nominating petition is for a municipal or township17239
office, or for member of a city, local, or exempted village board17240
of education, or for member of a governing board of an educational17241
service center.17242

       (C)(1) If the secretary of state determines, before the day17243
of the primary election, that a person is seeking nomination to17244
more than one office at that election in violation of division (A)17245
of this section, the secretary of state shall do one of the17246
following:17247

       (a) If each office or the district for each office for which17248
the person is seeking nomination is wholly within a single county 17249
and none of those offices is a federal office, the secretary of 17250
state shall notify the board of elections of that county. The 17251
board then shall determine the date on which the person first 17252
sought to become a candidate for each of those offices by filing a 17253
declaration of candidacy or a declaration of intent to be a 17254
write-in candidate or by the filling of a vacancy under section 17255
3513.30 of the Revised Code. The board shall vote promptly to 17256
disqualify that person as a candidate for each office for which 17257
the person sought to become a candidate after the date on which 17258
the person first sought to become a candidate for any of those 17259
offices. If the board determines that the person sought to become 17260
a candidate for more than one of those offices on the same date, 17261
the board shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a17262
candidate for each office that would be listed on the ballot below17263
the highest office for which that person seeks nomination,17264
according to the ballot order prescribed under section 3505.03 of17265
the Revised Code.17266

       (b) If one or more of the offices for which the person is17267
seeking nomination is a state office or an office with a district17268
larger than a single county and none of the offices for which the 17269
person is seeking nomination is a federal office, the secretary of 17270
state shall determine the date on which the person first sought to 17271
become a candidate for each of those offices by filing a 17272
declaration of candidacy or a declaration of intent to be a 17273
write-in candidate or by the filling of a vacancy under section 17274
3513.30 of the Revised Code. The secretary of state shall order 17275
the board of elections of each county in which the person is 17276
seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that person as a 17277
candidate for each office for which the person sought to become a 17278
candidate after the date on which the person first sought to 17279
become a candidate for any of those offices. If the secretary of 17280
state determines that the person sought to become a candidate for 17281
more than one of those offices on the same date, the secretary of 17282
state shall order the board of elections of each county in which 17283
the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that 17284
person as a candidate for each office that would be listed on the 17285
ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks 17286
nomination, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 17287
3505.03 of the Revised Code. Each board of elections so notified 17288
shall vote promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in 17289
accordance with the order of the secretary of state.17290

       (c) If each office or the district for each office for which 17291
the person is seeking nomination is wholly within a single county 17292
and any of those offices is a federal office, the secretary of 17293
state shall notify the board of elections of that county. The 17294
board then shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a 17295
candidate for each office that is not a federal office.17296

       (d) If one or more of the offices for which the person is 17297
seeking nomination is a state office and any of the offices for 17298
which the person is seeking nomination is a federal office, the 17299
secretary of state shall order the board of elections of each 17300
county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to 17301
disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not 17302
a federal office. Each board of elections so notified shall vote 17303
promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance 17304
with the order of the secretary of state.17305

       (2) If a board of elections determines, before the day of the17306
primary election, that a person is seeking nomination to more than17307
one office at that election in violation of division (A) of this17308
section, the board shall do one of the following:17309

       (a) If each office or the district for each office for which17310
the person is seeking nomination is wholly within that county and 17311
none of those offices is a federal office, the board shall 17312
determine the date on which the person first sought to become a 17313
candidate for each of those offices by filing a declaration of 17314
candidacy or a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate or 17315
by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 of the Revised 17316
Code. The board shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a 17317
candidate for each office for which the person sought to become a 17318
candidate after the date on which the person first sought to 17319
become a candidate for any of those offices. If the board 17320
determines that the person sought to become a candidate for more 17321
than one of those offices on the same date, the board shall vote 17322
promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office 17323
that would be listed on the ballot below the highest office for 17324
which that person seeks nomination, according to the ballot order 17325
prescribed under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code.17326

       (b) If one or more of the offices for which the person is17327
seeking nomination is a state office or an office with a district17328
larger than a single county and none of the offices for which the 17329
person is seeking nomination is a federal office, the board shall 17330
notify the secretary of state. The secretary of state then shall17331
determine the date on which the person first sought to become a17332
candidate for each of those offices by filing a declaration of17333
candidacy or a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate or17334
by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 of the Revised17335
Code. The secretary of state shall order the board of elections of 17336
each county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot 17337
to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office for which17338
the person sought to become a candidate after the date on which17339
the person first sought to become a candidate for any of those17340
offices. If the secretary of state determines that the person17341
sought to become a candidate for more than one of those offices on17342
the same date, the secretary of state shall order the board of17343
elections of each county in which the person is seeking to appear17344
on the ballot to disqualify that person as a candidate for each17345
office that would be listed on the ballot below the highest office17346
for which that person seeks nomination, according to the ballot17347
order prescribed under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code. Each17348
board of elections so notified shall vote promptly to disqualify17349
the person as a candidate in accordance with the order of the17350
secretary of state.17351

       (c) If each office or the district for each office for which 17352
the person is seeking nomination is wholly within a single county 17353
and any of those offices is a federal office, the board shall vote 17354
promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office 17355
that is not a federal office.17356

       (d) If one or more of the offices for which the person is 17357
seeking nomination is a state office and any of the offices for 17358
which the person is seeking nomination is a federal office, the 17359
board shall notify the secretary of state. The secretary of state 17360
then shall order the board of elections of each county in which 17361
the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that 17362
person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal 17363
office. Each board of elections so notified shall vote promptly to 17364
disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance with the order 17365
of the secretary of state.17366

       (D)(1) If the secretary of state determines, after the day of17367
the primary election and before the day of the general election,17368
that a person is seeking election to more than one office at that17369
election in violation of division (A) of this section, the17370
secretary of state shall do one of the following:17371

       (a) If each office or the district for each office for which17372
the person is seeking election is wholly within a single county 17373
and none of those offices is a federal office, the secretary of 17374
state shall notify the board of elections of that county. The 17375
board then shall determine the offices for which the person seeks 17376
to appear as a candidate on the ballot. The board shall vote 17377
promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office17378
that would be listed on the ballot below the highest office for17379
which that person seeks election, according to the ballot order17380
prescribed under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code. If the 17381
person sought nomination at a primary election and has not yet 17382
been issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue 17383
that certificate for that person for any office that would be 17384
listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that17385
person seeks election, according to the ballot order prescribed17386
under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code.17387

       (b) If one or more of the offices for which the person is17388
seeking election is a state office or an office with a district17389
larger than a single county and none of the offices for which the 17390
person is seeking election is a federal office, the secretary of 17391
state shall promptly investigate and determine the offices for 17392
which the person seeks to appear as a candidate on the ballot. The 17393
secretary of state shall order the board of elections of each 17394
county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to 17395
disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that would 17396
be listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that 17397
person seeks election, according to the ballot order prescribed 17398
under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code. Each board of elections 17399
so notified shall vote promptly to disqualify the person as a 17400
candidate in accordance with the order of the secretary of state. 17401
If the person sought nomination at a primary election and has not 17402
yet been issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not 17403
issue that certificate for that person for any office that would 17404
be listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that 17405
person seeks election, according to the ballot order prescribed 17406
under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code.17407

       (c) If each office or the district for each office for which 17408
the person is seeking election is wholly within a single county 17409
and any of those offices is a federal office, the secretary of 17410
state shall notify the board of elections of that county. The 17411
board then shall vote promptly to disqualify that person as a 17412
candidate for each office that is not a federal office. If the 17413
person sought nomination at a primary election and has not yet 17414
been issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue 17415
that certificate for that person for any office that is not a 17416
federal office.17417

       (d) If one or more of the offices for which the person is 17418
seeking election is a state office and any of the offices for 17419
which the person is seeking election is a federal office, the 17420
secretary of state shall order the board of elections of each 17421
county in which the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to 17422
disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that is not 17423
a federal office. Each board of elections so notified shall vote 17424
promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance 17425
with the order of the secretary of state. If the person sought 17426
nomination at a primary election and has not yet been issued a 17427
certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue that 17428
certificate for that person for any office that is not a federal 17429
office.17430

       (2) If a board of elections determines, after the day of the17431
primary election and before the day of the general election, that17432
a person is seeking election to more than one office at that17433
election in violation of division (A) of this section, the board17434
of elections shall do one of the following:17435

       (a) If each office or the district for each office for which17436
the person is seeking election is wholly within that county and 17437
none of those offices is a federal office, the board shall 17438
determine the offices for which the person seeks to appear as a 17439
candidate on the ballot. The board shall vote promptly to 17440
disqualify that person as a candidate for each office that would 17441
be listed on the ballot below the highest office for which that 17442
person seeks election, according to the ballot order prescribed 17443
under section 3505.03 of the Revised Code. If the person sought 17444
nomination at a primary election and has not yet been issued a 17445
certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue that 17446
certificate for that person for any office that would be listed on 17447
the ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks 17448
election, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 17449
3505.03 of the Revised Code.17450

       (b) If one or more of the offices for which the person is17451
seeking election is a state office or an office with a district17452
larger than a single county and none of the offices for which the 17453
person is seeking election is a federal office, the board shall 17454
notify the secretary of state. The secretary of state promptly 17455
shall investigate and determine the offices for which the person 17456
seeks to appear as a candidate on the ballot. The secretary of 17457
state shall order the board of elections of each county in which 17458
the person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that 17459
person as a candidate for each office that would be listed on the 17460
ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks 17461
election, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 17462
3505.03 of the Revised Code. Each board of elections so notified 17463
shall vote promptly to disqualify the person as a candidate in 17464
accordance with the order of the secretary of state. If the person 17465
sought nomination at a primary election and has not yet been 17466
issued a certificate of nomination, the board shall not issue that 17467
certificate for that person for any office that would be listed on 17468
the ballot below the highest office for which that person seeks 17469
election, according to the ballot order prescribed under section 17470
3505.03 of the Revised Code.17471

       (c) If each office or the district for each office for which 17472
the person is seeking election is wholly within that county and 17473
any of those offices is a federal office, the board shall vote 17474
promptly to disqualify that person as a candidate for each office 17475
that is not a federal office. If the person sought nomination at a 17476
primary election and has not yet been issued a certificate of 17477
nomination, the board shall not issue that certificate for that 17478
person for any office that is not a federal office.17479

       (d) If one or more of the offices for which the person is 17480
seeking election is a state office and any of the offices for 17481
which the person is seeking election is a federal office, the 17482
board shall notify the secretary of state. The secretary of state 17483
shall order the board of elections of each county in which the 17484
person is seeking to appear on the ballot to disqualify that 17485
person as a candidate for each office that is not a federal 17486
office. Each board of elections so notified shall vote promptly to 17487
disqualify the person as a candidate in accordance with the order 17488
of the secretary of state. If the person sought nomination at a 17489
primary election and has not yet been issued a certificate of 17490
nomination, the board shall not issue that certificate for that 17491
person for any office that is not a federal office.17492

       (E) When a person is disqualified as a candidate under17493
division (C) or (D) of this section, on or before the sixtieth17494
seventieth day before the day of the applicable election, or, if 17495
the election is a presidential primary election, on or before the 17496
forty-fifth day before the day of the presidential primary 17497
election, the board of elections shall remove the person's name 17498
from the ballot for any office for which that person has been 17499
disqualified as a candidate according to the directions of the 17500
secretary of state. When a person is disqualified as a candidate 17501
under division (C) or (D) of this section after the sixtieth17502
seventieth day before the day of the applicable election, or, if 17503
the election is a presidential primary election, after the 17504
forty-fifth day before the day of the presidential primary 17505
election, the board of elections shall not remove the person's 17506
name from the ballot for any office for which that person has been 17507
disqualified as a candidate. The board of elections shall post a 17508
notice at each polling location on the day of the applicable 17509
election, and shall enclose with each absent voter's ballot given 17510
or mailed after the candidate is disqualified, a notice that votes 17511
for the person for the office for which the person has been 17512
disqualified as a candidate will be void and will not be counted. 17513
If the name is not removed from the ballots before the day of the17514
election, the votes for the disqualified candidate are void and17515
shall not be counted.17516

       (F) Any vacancy created by the disqualification of a person17517
as a candidate under division (C) or (D) of this section may be17518
filled in the manner provided for in sections 3513.30 and 3513.3117519
of the Revised Code.17520

       (G) Nothing in this section or section 3513.04, 3513.041,17521
3513.05, 3513.251, 3513.253, 3513.254, 3513.255, 3513.257,17522
3513.259, or 3513.261 of the Revised Code prohibits, and the17523
secretary of state or a board of elections shall not disqualify, a17524
person from being a candidate for an office, if that person timely17525
withdraws as a candidate for any offices specified in division (A)17526
of this section for which that person first sought to become a17527
candidate by filing a declaration of candidacy and petition, a17528
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating17529
petition, by party nomination in a primary election, or by the17530
filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 or 3513.31 of the17531
Revised Code.17532

       (H) As used in this section:17533

       (1) "State office" means the offices of governor, lieutenant17534
governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of17535
state, attorney general, member of the state board of education,17536
member of the general assembly, chief justice of the supreme17537
court, and justice of the supreme court.17538

       (2) "Timely withdraws" means either of the following:17539

       (a) Withdrawing as a candidate before the applicable deadline17540
for filing a declaration of candidacy, declaration of intent to be17541
a write-in candidate, or nominating petition for the subsequent17542
office for which the person is seeking to become a candidate at 17543
the same election;17544

       (b) Withdrawing as a candidate before the applicable deadline17545
for the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 or 3513.31 of17546
the Revised Code, if the person is seeking to become a candidate17547
for a subsequent office at the same election under either of those 17548
sections.17549

       Sec. 3513.121.  (A) Any candidate for the presidency of the 17550
United States who is eligible to receive payments under the17551
"Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act," 88 Stat. 1297 17552
(1974), 26 U.S.C.A. 9031, et seq., as amended, may file with the 17553
secretary of state a declaration of candidacy not later than four 17554
p.m. of the sixtietheighty-fifth day before the presidential 17555
primary election held in the same year the candidate is eligible 17556
to receive such payments. The candidate shall indicate on histhe17557
candidate's declaration of candidacy the congressional districts 17558
in this state where histhe candidate's candidacy is to be 17559
submitted to the electors. Any candidate who files a declaration 17560
of candidacy pursuant to this division shall also file, or shall 17561
cause to be filed by a person authorized in writing to represent 17562
himthe candidate, not later than four p.m. of the sixtieth17563
eighty-fifth day before the same primary election, a list of 17564
candidates for district delegate and alternate to the national 17565
convention of histhe candidate's political party who have been 17566
selected in accordance with rules adopted by the state central 17567
committee of histhe candidate's political party. The candidates 17568
for district delegate and alternate whose names appear on this 17569
list shall be represented on the ballot in accordance with section 17570
3513.151 of the Revised Code in every congressional district that 17571
the presidential candidate named in histhe presidential 17572
candidate's declaration of candidacy, provided that such 17573
candidates meet the other requirements of this section.17574

       (B) Candidates for delegate at large and alternate at large 17575
to the national convention of a political party for a presidential 17576
candidate who submits a declaration of candidacy in accordance 17577
with division (A) of this section shall be selected in accordance 17578
with rules adopted by the state central committee of the 17579
presidential candidate's political party.17580

       (C) Each candidate for district delegate and alternate to the 17581
national convention of a political party selected pursuant to17582
division (A) of this section shall file or shall cause to be filed 17583
with the secretary of state, not later than four p.m. of the 17584
sixtietheighty-fifth day before the presidential primary election 17585
in which hethe person is a candidate, both of the following:17586

       (1) A declaration of candidacy in the form prescribed in17587
section 3513.07 of the Revised Code, but not the petition17588
prescribed in that section;17589

       (2) A statement in writing signed by the candidate in which 17590
hethe candidate states histhe candidate's first and second 17591
choices for nomination as the candidate of histhe candidate's17592
party for the presidency of the United States.17593

       (D) A declaration of candidacy filed pursuant to division (A) 17594
of this section shall be in substantially the form prescribed in 17595
section 3513.07 of the Revised Code except that the secretary of 17596
state shall modify that form to include spaces for a presidential 17597
candidate to indicate in which congressional districts hethe 17598
candidate wishes histhe candidate's candidacy to be submitted to 17599
the electors and shall modify it in any other ways necessary to 17600
adapt it to use by presidential candidates. A candidate who files 17601
a declaration of candidacy pursuant to division (A) of this 17602
section shall not file the petition prescribed in section 3513.07 17603
of the Revised Code.17604

       (E) Section 3513.151 of the Revised Code applies in regard to 17605
candidates for delegate and alternate to the national convention 17606
of a political party selected pursuant to this section. The state 17607
central committee of the political party of any presidential 17608
candidate who files a declaration of candidacy pursuant to 17609
division (A) of this section shall file with the secretary of 17610
state the rules of its political party in accordance with division 17611
(E) of section 3513.151 of the Revised Code.17612

       (F) The procedures for the selection of candidates for17613
delegate and alternate to the national convention of a political17614
party set forth in this section and in section 3513.12 of the17615
Revised Code are alternative procedures, and if the procedures of17616
this section are followed, the procedures of section 3513.12 of17617
the Revised Code need not be followed.17618

       Sec. 3513.122.  Political parties shall be eligible to elect 17619
delegates and alternates to national conventions or conferences of 17620
their respective political parties, other than conventions 17621
provided for in section 3513.12 of the Revised Code, if they 17622
notify the secretary of state that they will elect such delegates. 17623
Such notification must be made prior to the ninetiethone 17624
hundredth day before the day of the primary election which occurs 17625
in any year at which national convention or conference delegates 17626
and alternates are elected.17627

       Petitions of candidacy for such delegates shall be filed in 17628
the form and manner provided by the secretary of state.17629

       Any political party electing delegates to a national 17630
convention or conference under this section in an odd-numbered 17631
year in which a statewide primary election is not otherwise 17632
required shall pay all expenses of that election.17633

       Sec. 3513.151.  (A) Candidates for delegate and alternate to 17634
the national convention of a political party shall be represented 17635
on the ballot, or their names shall appear on the ballot, in 17636
accordance with this section, but only in a manner that enables an 17637
elector to record the vote in the space provided for it by the 17638
name of the first choice for president so that the recording of 17639
the vote is counted as a vote cast for each candidate for delegate 17640
or alternate who has declared such person as that candidate's 17641
first choice for president.17642

       (B) The names of candidates for delegate at large and17643
alternate at large to the national convention of a political party 17644
shall not appear on the ballot. Such candidates shall be17645
represented on the ballot by their stated first choice for17646
president.17647

       (C) The state central committee of each major political17648
party, through its chairperson, not later than sixtyeighty-five17649
days prior to the date of the presidential primary election, shall 17650
file with the secretary of state a statement that stipulates, in 17651
accordance with rules adopted by each state central committee at 17652
a meeting open to all members of the committee's party, whether 17653
or not the names of candidates for district delegate and district 17654
alternate to the national convention of that chairpersons's17655
chairperson's party are to be printed on the ballot. The 17656
secretary of state shall prescribe the form of the ballot for 17657
the election of district delegates and district alternates of 17658
each political party in accordance with such statement. If the 17659
state central committee of a political party fails to so provide 17660
such statement, the secretary of state shall prescribe a form of 17661
ballot on which the names of candidates for delegate and 17662
alternate to such national convention do not appear on the 17663
ballot. Only the names of the presidential first choices of such 17664
candidates for delegates and alternates shall appear on the 17665
ballot. If only the names of presidential first choices are17666
printed, the ballot shall provide the opportunity for an elector 17667
to record the vote in the appropriate space provided beside such 17668
names and such a vote cast shall be counted as a vote for each 17669
candidate for delegate and alternate who has declared such person 17670
as that candidate's first choice for president.17671

       If the number of candidates for district delegate or for17672
district alternate to the national convention of a political party 17673
exceeds the number to be elected, the names of such candidates, 17674
when required to appear on the ballot, shall not be rotated, but 17675
shall be printed in a group on the ballot in alphabetical order 17676
immediately below or beside first choice for president. This form 17677
of the ballot shall be prescribed by the secretary so that the 17678
recording of the vote in the space provided beside the name of 17679
such choice for president shall be a vote for each candidate whose 17680
name is included in the grouping.17681

       (D) Candidates, grouped by first choice for president, shall 17682
be rotated in the same manner as though each grouping were a 17683
separate candidate. As many series of ballots shall be printed as 17684
the number of groups to be rotated, with the total number of17685
ballots to be printed divided by the number of series to be17686
printed in order to determine the number of ballots to be printed17687
of each series. On the first series of ballots, the candidates17688
shall be alphabetically grouped by their first choice for17689
president. On each succeeding series, the group of candidates that 17690
was the first in the preceding series shall be last and each of 17691
the other groups shall be moved up one place. The ballots shall be 17692
rotated and printed as provided in section 3505.03 of the Revised 17693
Code, except that no indication of membership in or affiliation 17694
with a political party shall be printed after or under the 17695
candidate's name.17696

       (E) The state central committee of each major political17697
party, through its chairperson, not later than the fifteenth day17698
prior to the date of the presidential primary election, shall file 17699
with the secretary of state the rules of its political party17700
adopted by the state central committee at a meeting open to all17701
members of the committee's party, which affect the issuance of17702
certificates of election to candidates for delegate or alternate17703
to its party nominating convention, and the secretary of state17704
shall issue certificates of election in accordance with such17705
rules.17706

       (F) If party rules prescribe that fewer than all such17707
candidates for delegate and alternate are to be elected,17708
certificates of election shall be issued in the order preferred by 17709
the first choice for president and in such numbers that the number 17710
of delegates and alternates certified as elected reflects, as 17711
nearly as possible, the proportion to be elected under the party 17712
rules.17713

       (G) If the state central committee of a political party fails 17714
to file the rules with the secretary of state pursuant to this 17715
section, certificates of election shall be issued to the17716
candidates for delegate and alternate receiving the highest number 17717
of votes.17718

       Sec. 3513.19.  (A) It is the duty of any judge of elections, 17719
whenever any judge of elections doubts that a person attempting to 17720
vote at a primary election is legally entitled to vote at that 17721
election, to challenge the right of that person to vote. The right 17722
of aAny person offering to vote at a primary election may be 17723
challenged uponat the polling place by any judge of elections on 17724
any of the following grounds: 17725

       (1) That the person whose right to vote is challenged is not 17726
a legally qualified elector;17727

       (2) That the person has received or has been promised some 17728
valuable reward or consideration for the person's vote;17729

       (3)That the person is not a citizen of the United States;17730

       (2) That the person is not a resident of the precinct in 17731
which the person offers to vote;17732

       (3) That the person is not eighteen years of age or older;17733

       (4) That the person is not a qualified elector for that 17734
election;17735

       (5) That the person is not affiliated with or is not a member 17736
of the political party whose ballot the person desires to vote;17737

       (6) That the person is not the elector that the person 17738
purports to be. Such17739

       Challenges shall be made only if the challenger knows or 17740
reasonably believes that the challenged elector is not qualified 17741
and entitled to vote.17742

       If the board of elections has ruled on the question presented 17743
by a challenge prior to election day, its finding and decision 17744
shall be final, the presiding judge shall be notified in writing, 17745
and the judges of elections shall not challenge the elector on 17746
that ground. If any person is challenged as unqualified to vote, 17747
the presiding judge shall tender the person the following oath: 17748
"You do swear or affirm under penalty of election falsification 17749
that you will fully and truly answer all of the following 17750
questions put to you concerning your qualifications as an elector 17751
at this election." 17752

       A challenge may only be upheld if a majority of the judges of 17753
elections for the precinct at which the person offers to vote find 17754
by clear and convincing evidence that the person challenged is not 17755
eligible to vote a regular ballot on the grounds so challenged.17756

       (B) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground 17757
that the person is not a citizen, the judges shall put the 17758
question: "Are you a citizen of the United States?"17759

       If the person answers in the affirmative, the challenge shall 17760
be denied. If the judges are unable to verify the person's 17761
eligibility to cast a ballot in the election, the judges shall 17762
provide to the person, and the person may vote, a provisional 17763
ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.17764

       (C) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground 17765
that the person is not a resident of the precinct where the 17766
person offers to vote, the judges shall put the following 17767
questions:17768

       (1) Do you reside in this precinct?17769

       (2) When did you move into this precinct?17770

       (3) When you came into this precinct, did you come for a 17771
temporary purpose merely or for the purpose of making it your 17772
home? 17773

       (4) What is your current mailing address?17774

       (5) Do you have some official identification containing your 17775
current address in this precinct? Please provide that 17776
identification.17777

       (6) Have you voted or attempted to vote at any other location 17778
in this or in any other state at this election?17779

       (7) Have you applied for any absent voter's ballot in any 17780
state for this election?17781

       The judges shall direct an individual who is not in the 17782
appropriate polling place to the appropriate polling place. If the 17783
individual refuses to go to the appropriate polling place, or if 17784
the judges are unable to verify the person's eligibility to cast a 17785
ballot in the election, the judges shall provide to the person, 17786
and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under section 17787
3505.181 of the Revised Code.17788

       (D) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground 17789
that the person is not of legal voting age, the judges shall put 17790
the following questions: 17791

       (1) Are you eighteen years of age or more? 17792

       (2) What is your date of birth? 17793

       (3) Do you have some official identification verifying your 17794
age? Please provide that identification.17795

       If the judges are unable to verify the person's age and 17796
eligibility to cast a ballot in the election, the judges shall 17797
provide to the person, and the person may vote, a provisional 17798
ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.17799

       (E) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground 17800
that the person is not a qualified elector for the applicable 17801
election, the judges shall put the following questions:17802

       (1) Have you resided in this state for thirty days 17803
immediately preceding the day of this election? If so, where have 17804
you resided? 17805

       (2) Did you properly register to vote? 17806

       (3) Can you provide some form of identification containing 17807
your current mailing address in this precinct? Please provide that 17808
identification. 17809

       (4) Have you voted or attempted to vote at any other location 17810
in this or in any other state at this election? 17811

       (5) Have you applied for an absent voter's ballot in any 17812
state for this election? 17813

       If the judges are unable to verify the person's eligibility 17814
to cast a ballot in the election, the judges shall provide to the 17815
person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under 17816
section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. 17817

       (F) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground 17818
that the person is not affiliated with or is not a member of the 17819
political party whose ballot the person has requested, the 17820
person's party affiliation shall be determined by examining the 17821
elector's voting record for the current year andin the 17822
immediately preceding two calendar years as shown on the voter's 17823
registration card, using the standards of affiliation specified 17824
in the seventh paragraph of section 3513.05 of the Revised Code17825
record. Division (A)(3) of this section and the seventh paragraph 17826
of section 3513.05 of the Revised Code do not prohibit a person 17827
who holds an elective office for which candidates are nominated 17828
at a party primary election from doing any of the following:17829

       (a) If the person voted as a member of a different political 17830
party at any primary election within the current year and the 17831
immediately preceding two calendar years, being a candidate for 17832
nomination at a party primary held during the times specified in 17833
division (C)(2) of section 3513.191 of the Revised Code provided 17834
that the person complies with the requirements of that section;17835

       (b) Circulating the person's own petition of candidacy for 17836
party nomination in the primary election.17837

       (B) When the right of a person to vote is challenged upon the 17838
ground set forth in division (A)(3) of this section, membership in 17839
or political affiliation with a political party shall be 17840
determined by the person's statement, made under penalty of 17841
election falsification, that the person desires to be affiliated 17842
with and supports the principles of the political party whose 17843
primary ballot the person desires to voteIf the challenge is not 17844
denied upon examination of the person's voting record, membership 17845
in or political affiliation with a political party shall be 17846
determined by the person's statement, made under penalty of 17847
election falsification, that the person desires to be affiliated 17848
with and supports the principles of the political party whose 17849
primary election ballot the person desires to vote. If the person 17850
refuses to make such a statement, the judges shall provide to the 17851
person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under 17852
section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. 17853

       (G) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground 17854
that the person is not the elector that the person purports to be, 17855
the judges shall put the following questions:17856

       (1) What is your full name, date of birth, and address for 17857
voting purposes?17858

       (2) Can you sign your name on this paper so that we can 17859
compare it with the voter registration records? Please sign this 17860
paper.17861

       If the judges are unable to verify the person's eligibility 17862
to cast a ballot in the election, the judges shall provide to the 17863
person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under 17864
section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.17865

       (H) The person challenging an elector's right to vote bears 17866
the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the 17867
challenged elector's registration should be canceled.17868

       Sec. 3513.251.  Nominations of candidates for election as17869
officers of a municipal corporation having a population of less17870
than two thousand as ascertained by the next preceding federal17871
census shall be made only by nominating petition and their17872
election shall occur only in nonpartisan elections, unless a17873
majority of the electors of such municipal corporation have17874
petitioned for a primary election. Nominations of candidates for17875
election as officers of a municipal corporation having a17876
population of two thousand or more shall be made either by primary17877
election in conjunction with a partisan general election or by17878
nominating petition in conjunction with a nonpartisan general17879
election, as determined under section 3513.01 of the Revised Code.17880

       The nominating petitions of nonpartisan candidates for17881
election as officers of a municipal corporation having a17882
population of less than two thousand, as ascertained by the most17883
recent federal census, shall be signed by not less than ten17884
qualified electors of the municipal corporation. Any nominating17885
petition filed under this section shall be filed with the board of17886
elections not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth17887
eighty-fifth day before the day of the general election, provided 17888
that no such nominating petition shall be accepted for filing if 17889
it appears to contain signatures aggregating in number more than 17890
three times the minimum number of signatures required by this 17891
section. A board of elections shall not accept for filing a 17892
nominating petition of a person if that person, for the same 17893
election, has already filed a declaration of candidacy, a 17894
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating 17895
petition, or has become a candidate through party nomination at a 17896
primary election or by the filling of a vacancy under section 17897
3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code for any other municipal 17898
office, or for a township office, for member of a city, local, or 17899
exempted village board of education, or for member of a governing 17900
board of an educational service center. When a petition of a17901
candidate has been accepted for filing by a board of elections,17902
the petition shall not be deemed invalid if, upon verification of17903
signatures contained in the petition, the board of elections finds17904
the number of signatures accepted exceeds three times the minimum17905
number of signatures required. A board of elections may17906
discontinue verifying signatures when the number of verified17907
signatures on a petition equals the minimum required number of17908
qualified signatures.17909

       Nomination of nonpartisan candidates for election as officers17910
of a municipal corporation having a population of two thousand or17911
more, as ascertained by the next preceding federal census, shall17912
be made only by nominating petition. Nominating petitions of17913
nonpartisan candidates for election as officers of a municipal17914
corporation having a population of two thousand or more but less17915
than five thousand, as ascertained by the next preceding federal17916
census, shall be signed by not less than fifty qualified electors17917
of the municipal corporation or ward thereof in the case of the17918
nominating petition of a candidate for election as councilman17919
councilperson from such ward. Nominating petitions of nonpartisan17920
candidates for election as officers of a municipal corporation17921
having a population of five thousand or more, as ascertained by17922
the next preceding federal census, shall be signed by not less17923
than fifty qualified electors of the municipal corporation or ward 17924
thereof in the case of the nominating petition of a candidate for 17925
election as councilperson from such ward.17926

       Sec. 3513.253.  Nominations of candidates for election as17927
officers of a township shall be made only by nominating petitions,17928
unless a majority of the electors of such township have petitioned17929
for a primary election. The nominating petitions of nonpartisan17930
candidates for township trustee and township fiscal officer shall 17931
be signed by not less than twenty-five qualified electors of the 17932
township. Such petition shall be filed with the board of elections 17933
not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day17934
before the day of the general election, provided that no such17935
nominating petition shall be accepted for filing if it appears to17936
contain signatures aggregating in number more than three times the 17937
minimum number of signatures required by this section. A board of 17938
elections shall not accept for filing a nominating petition of a 17939
person if that person, for the same election, has already filed a 17940
declaration of candidacy, a declaration of intent to be a write-in 17941
candidate, or a nominating petition, or has become a candidate 17942
through party nomination at a primary election or by the filling 17943
of a vacancy under section 3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code 17944
for any other township office, or for a municipal office, for 17945
member of a city, local, or exempted village board of education, 17946
or for member of a governing board of an educational service 17947
center. When a petition of a candidate has been accepted for 17948
filing by a board of elections, the petition shall not be deemed 17949
invalid if, upon verification of signatures contained in the 17950
petition, the board of elections finds the number of signatures 17951
accepted exceeds three times the minimum number of signatures 17952
required. A board of elections may discontinue verifying 17953
signatures when the number of verified signatures on a petition 17954
equals the minimum required number of qualified signatures.17955

       Sec. 3513.254. (A) The name of each candidate for member of a17956
city, local, or exempted village board of education shall appear 17957
on the nonpartisan ballot. Nominating petitions of candidates for 17958
member of a board of education of a local or exempted village 17959
school district shall be signed by twenty-five qualified electors 17960
of the school district. Nominating petitions for candidates for 17961
member of a board of education of a city school district having a 17962
population of less than twenty thousand, as ascertained by the 17963
next preceding federal census, shall be signed by twenty-five 17964
qualified electors of the school district. Nominating petitions 17965
for candidates for member of a board of education of a city school 17966
district having a population of twenty thousand or more but less 17967
than fifty thousand, as ascertained by the next preceding federal 17968
census, shall be signed by seventy-five qualified electors of the 17969
school district. Nominating petitions for candidates for member of 17970
a board of education of a city school district having a population 17971
of fifty thousand or more but less than one hundred thousand, as17972
ascertained by the next preceding federal census, shall be signed17973
by one hundred fifty qualified electors of the school district.17974
Nominating petitions for candidates for member of a board of17975
education of a city school district having a population of one17976
hundred thousand or more, as ascertained by the next preceding17977
federal census, shall be signed by three hundred qualified17978
electors of the school district.17979

       (B) Nominating petitions shall be filed with the board of17980
elections not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth17981
eighty-fifth day before the day of the general election, provided17982
that no such petition shall be accepted for filing if it appears17983
to contain signatures aggregating in number more than three times17984
the minimum number of signatures required by this section. A board17985
of elections shall not accept for filing a nominating petition of17986
a person if that person, for the same election, has already filed 17987
a declaration of candidacy, a declaration of intent to be a 17988
write-in candidate, or a nominating petition, or has become a 17989
candidate through party nomination at a primary election or by the 17990
filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 or 3513.31 of the 17991
Revised Code for any other position as a member of a city, local, 17992
or exempted village board of education or position as a member of 17993
a governing board of an educational service center, or for a 17994
municipal or township office. When a petition of a candidate has 17995
been accepted for filing by a board of elections, the petition 17996
shall not be deemed invalid if, upon verification of signatures17997
contained in the petition, the board of elections finds the number17998
of signatures accepted exceeds three times the minimum number of17999
signatures required. A board of elections may discontinue18000
verifying petitions when the number of verified signatures equals18001
the minimum required number of qualified signatures.18002

       (C) This section is subject to section 3513.256 of the 18003
Revised Code.18004

       Sec. 3513.255.  This section is subject to section 3513.256 18005
of the Revised Code. The name of each candidate for election as a 18006
member of a governing board of an educational service center shall 18007
appear on the nonpartisan ballot. Each nominating petition shall 18008
be signed by fifty qualified electors who reside in one of the18009
following, as applicable:18010

       (A) The school districts over which the educational service18011
center governing board has jurisdiction, in the case of any18012
candidate running for a position on any educational service center18013
governing board other than a governing board established in18014
accordance with section 3311.054 of the Revised Code;18015

       (B) The subdistrict in which the candidate is running, in the 18016
case of a position on a governing board of an educational service 18017
center established in accordance with section 3311.054 of the 18018
Revised Code.18019

       Each nominating petition shall be filed with the board of18020
elections of the county in which the central administrative18021
offices of the educational service center governing board are18022
located not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth18023
day before the day of the general election, provided that no such 18024
petition shall be accepted for filing if it appears to contain 18025
signatures aggregating in number more than three times the minimum 18026
number of signatures required by this section. A board of 18027
elections shall not accept for filing a nominating petition of a 18028
person if that person, for the same election, has already filed a 18029
declaration of candidacy, a declaration of intent to be a write-in 18030
candidate, or a nominating petition, or has become a candidate 18031
through party nomination at a primary election or by the filling 18032
of a vacancy under section 3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code 18033
for any other position as a member of a governing board of an 18034
educational service center or position as a member of a city, 18035
local, or exempted village board of education, or for a municipal 18036
or township office. When a petition of a candidate has been18037
accepted for filing by a board of elections, the petition shall18038
not be deemed invalid if, upon verification of signatures18039
contained in the petition, the board of elections finds the number18040
of signatures accepted exceeds three times the minimum signatures18041
required. A board of elections may discontinue verifying petitions 18042
when the number of verified signatures equals the minimum required 18043
number of qualified signatures.18044

       Sec. 3513.256. (A) Notwithstanding any provision of the 18045
Revised Code to the contrary, for the purpose of nominating 18046
candidates for a position as a member of the board of education of 18047
a city, local, or exempted village school district or a position 18048
as a member of a governing board of an educational service center, 18049
the board may adopt, by resolution upon a three-fifths majority 18050
vote of its total membership, procedures for a nonpartisan primary 18051
election. Such procedures shall specify the following:18052

        (1) That the primary election for nominating candidates for a 18053
position as a member of that board shall be held on the same day 18054
as the primary election for nominating all other candidates for 18055
public office in that year;18056

        (2) That nominating petitions shall be filed with the board 18057
of elections not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth18058
eighty-fifth day before the day of the primary election;18059

       (3) That the primary election shall take place only if the 18060
number of candidates for nomination for a position on that board, 18061
as verified by the board of elections, is at least one more than 18062
two times the number of available positions on that board at the 18063
general election;18064

       (4) That the number of candidates advancing from the primary 18065
election to the general election shall equal two times the number 18066
of available positions on that board at the general election.18067

       The board shall notify the board of elections upon adoption 18068
of a resolution under this division. No such resolution shall 18069
apply for a particular election unless the resolution is adopted 18070
at least one hundred twenty days prior to the deadline specified 18071
in the resolution to become a candidate for nomination at that 18072
election. Subject to division (B) of this section, the resolution 18073
shall apply to all subsequent nominations for a position as a 18074
member of that board.18075

       (B) Not earlier than five years after the adoption of a 18076
resolution under division (A) of this section, the board of 18077
education of a city, local, or exempted village school district or 18078
the governing board of an educational service center may rescind 18079
that resolution by subsequent resolution upon a three-fifths 18080
majority vote of its total membership.18081

       The board shall notify the board of elections of any 18082
resolution adopted under this division. No such resolution shall 18083
apply to a particular election unless the resolution is adopted at 18084
least one hundred twenty days prior to the deadline to become a 18085
candidate for nomination at that election under the nomination 18086
procedures the resolution is rescinding. Subject to division (D) 18087
of this section, the requirements of Chapter 3513. of the Revised 18088
Code shall apply to all subsequent nominations for a position as a 18089
member of that board.18090

       (C) Any candidate nominated pursuant to a resolution adopted 18091
under division (A) of this section shall appear on the nonpartisan 18092
ballot at the general election as prescribed in sections 3505.04, 18093
3513.254, and 3513.255 of the Revised Code.18094

       (D) Nothing in this section prohibits or shall be construed 18095
to prohibit the board of education of a city, local, or exempted 18096
village school district or the governing board of an educational 18097
service center that has rescinded a resolution under division (B) 18098
of this section from subsequently adopting the same or different 18099
procedures for a nonpartisan primary election by adopting a 18100
resolution under division (A) of this section.18101

       Sec. 3513.257.  Each person desiring to become an independent18102
candidate for an office for which candidates may be nominated at a18103
primary election, except persons desiring to become independent18104
joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant18105
governor and for the offices of president and vice-president of18106
the United States, shall file no later than four p.m. of the day18107
before the day of the primary election immediately preceding the18108
general election at which such candidacy is to be voted for by the18109
voters, a statement of candidacy and nominating petition as18110
provided in section 3513.261 of the Revised Code. Persons desiring 18111
to become independent joint candidates for the offices of governor 18112
and lieutenant governor shall file, not later than four p.m. of 18113
the day before the day of the primary election, one statement of 18114
candidacy and one nominating petition for the two of them. Persons 18115
desiring to become independent joint candidates for the offices of 18116
president and vice-president of the United States shall file, not 18117
later than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before 18118
the day of the general election at which the president and18119
vice-president are to be elected, one statement of candidacy and18120
one nominating petition for the two of them. The prospective18121
independent joint candidates' statement of candidacy shall be18122
filed with the nominating petition as one instrument.18123

       The statement of candidacy and separate petition papers of18124
each candidate or pair of joint candidates shall be filed at the18125
same time as one instrument.18126

       The nominating petition shall contain signatures of qualified18127
electors of the district, political subdivision, or portion of a18128
political subdivision in which the candidacy is to be voted on in18129
an amount to be determined as follows:18130

       (A) If the candidacy is to be voted on by electors throughout 18131
the entire state, the nominating petition, including the 18132
nominating petition of independent joint candidates for the18133
offices of governor and lieutenant governor, shall be signed by no18134
less than five thousand qualified electors, provided that no18135
petition shall be accepted for filing if it purports to contain18136
more than fifteen thousand signatures.18137

       (B) If the candidacy is to be voted on by electors in any18138
district, political subdivision, or part thereof in which less18139
than five thousand electors voted for the office of governor at18140
the most recent election for that office, the nominating petition18141
shall contain signatures of not less than twenty-five qualified18142
electors of the district, political subdivision, or part thereof,18143
or a number of qualified signatures equal to at least five per18144
cent of that vote, if this number is less than twenty-five.18145

       (C) If the candidacy is to be voted on by electors in any18146
district, political subdivision, or part thereof in which five18147
thousand or more electors voted for the office of governor at the18148
most recent election for that office, the nominating petition18149
shall contain a number of signatures equal to at least one per18150
cent of those electors.18151

       All nominating petitions of candidates for offices to be18152
voted on by electors throughout the entire state shall be filed in18153
the office of the secretary of state. No nominating petition for18154
the offices of president and vice-president of the United States18155
shall be accepted for filing unless there is submitted to the18156
secretary of state, at the time of filing the petition, a slate of18157
presidential electors sufficient in number to satisfy the18158
requirement of the United States Constitution. The secretary of18159
state shall not accept for filing the statement of candidacy of a18160
person who desires to be an independent candidate for the office18161
of governor unless it also shows the joint candidacy of a person18162
who desires to be an independent candidate for the office of18163
lieutenant governor, shall not accept for filing the statement of18164
candidacy of a person who desires to be an independent candidate18165
for the office of lieutenant governor unless it also shows the18166
joint candidacy of a person who desires to be an independent18167
candidate for the office of governor, and shall not accept for18168
filing the statement of candidacy of a person who desires to be an18169
independent candidate to the office of governor or lieutenant18170
governor who, for the same election, has already filed a18171
declaration of candidacy, a declaration of intent to be a write-in 18172
candidate, or a statement of candidacy, or has become a candidate 18173
by the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 of the Revised 18174
Code for any other state office or any federal or county office.18175

       Nominating petitions of candidates for offices to be voted on18176
by electors within a district or political subdivision comprised18177
of more than one county but less than all counties of the state18178
shall be filed with the boards of elections of that county or part18179
of a county within the district or political subdivision which had18180
a population greater than that of any other county or part of a18181
county within the district or political subdivision according to18182
the last federal decennial census.18183

       Nominating petitions for offices to be voted on by electors18184
within a county or district smaller than a county shall be filed18185
with the board of elections for such county.18186

       No petition other than the petition of a candidate whose18187
candidacy is to be considered by electors throughout the entire18188
state shall be accepted for filing if it appears on its face to18189
contain more than three times the minimum required number of18190
signatures. A board of elections shall not accept for filing a18191
nominating petition of a person seeking to become a candidate if18192
that person, for the same election, has already filed a18193
declaration of candidacy, a declaration of intent to be a write-in18194
candidate, or a nominating petition, or has become a candidate by18195
the filling of a vacancy under section 3513.30 of the Revised Code18196
for any federal, state, or county office, if the nominating 18197
petition is for a state or county office, or for any municipal or 18198
township office, for member of a city, local, or exempted village 18199
board of education, or for member of a governing board of an 18200
educational service center, if the nominating petition is for a 18201
municipal or township office, or for member of a city, local, or 18202
exempted village board of education, or for member of a governing 18203
board of an educational service center. When a petition of a 18204
candidate has been accepted for filing by a board of elections, 18205
the petition shall not be deemed invalid if, upon verification of 18206
signatures contained in the petition, the board of elections finds 18207
the number of signatures accepted exceeds three times the minimum 18208
number of signatures required. A board of elections may 18209
discontinue verifying signatures when the number of verified 18210
signatures on a petition equals the minimum required number of 18211
qualified signatures.18212

       Any nonjudicial candidate who files a nominating petition may18213
request, at the time of filing, that the candidate be designated18214
on the ballot as a nonparty candidate or as an other-party 18215
candidate, or may request that the candidate's name be placed on 18216
the ballot without any designation. Any such candidate who fails 18217
to request a designation either as a nonparty candidate or as an 18218
other-party candidate shall have the candidate's name placed on 18219
the ballot without any designation.18220

       The purpose of establishing a filing deadline for independent18221
candidates prior to the primary election immediately preceding the18222
general election at which the candidacy is to be voted on by the18223
voters is to recognize that the state has a substantial and18224
compelling interest in protecting its electoral process by18225
encouraging political stability, ensuring that the winner of the18226
election will represent a majority of the community, providing the18227
electorate with an understandable ballot, and enhancing voter18228
education, thus fostering informed and educated expressions of the18229
popular will in a general election. The filing deadline for18230
independent candidates required in this section prevents18231
splintered parties and unrestrained factionalism, avoids political18232
fragmentation, and maintains the integrity of the ballot. The18233
deadline, one day prior to the primary election, is the least18234
drastic or restrictive means of protecting these state interests.18235
The general assembly finds that the filing deadline for18236
independent candidates in primary elections required in this18237
section is reasonably related to the state's purpose of ensuring18238
fair and honest elections while leaving unimpaired the political,18239
voting, and associational rights secured by the first and18240
fourteenth amendments to the United States Constitution.18241

       Sec. 3513.259.  Nominations of candidates for the office of18242
member of the state board of education shall be made only by18243
nominating petition. The nominating petition of a candidate for18244
the office of member of the state board of education shall be18245
signed by not less than one hundred qualified electors.18246

       No such nominating petition shall be accepted for filing if18247
it appears on its face to contain signatures aggregating in number18248
more than three times the minimum number of signatures required by18249
this section. A board of elections shall not accept for filing a18250
nominating petition of a person if that person, for the same18251
election, has already filed a declaration of candidacy, a18252
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or a nominating18253
petition, or has become a candidate through party nomination at a18254
primary election or by the filling of a vacancy under section18255
3513.30 or 3513.31 of the Revised Code, to be a candidate for any18256
other state office or any federal or county office. When a18257
petition of a candidate has been accepted for filing by a board of18258
elections, the petition shall not be deemed invalid if, upon18259
verification of signatures contained in the petition, the board of18260
elections finds the number of signatures accepted exceeds three18261
times the minimum number of signatures required. A board of18262
elections may discontinue verifying signatures when the number of18263
verified signatures equals the minimum required number of18264
signatures. Such petition shall be filed with the board of18265
elections of the most populous county in such district not later18266
than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the 18267
day of the general election at which state board of education 18268
members are elected.18269

       Each nominating petition shall be signed by qualified18270
electors residing in the district in which the candidate18271
designated therein would be a candidate for election to the office18272
of member of the state board of education. Each candidate shall be 18273
a qualified elector residing in the district in which the18274
candidate seeks election to such office.18275

       As the word "district" is used in this section, it refers to18276
a district created under section 3301.01 of the Revised Code.18277

       Sec. 3513.263.  The nominating petitions of all candidates18278
required to be filed before four p.m. of the seventy-fifth18279
eighty-fifth day before the day of the general election, shall be 18280
processed as follows:18281

       If such petition is filed with the secretary of state, hethe18282
secretary of state shall promptly transmit to each board such 18283
separate petition papers as purports to contain signatures of 18284
electors of the county of such board.18285

       If such petition is filed with the board of a county in which 18286
the major portion of the population of a subdivision is located, 18287
such board shall promptly transmit to the board of each county in 18288
which other portions of such subdivision are located such separate 18289
petition papers of the petition as purport to contain signatures 18290
of electors of such county.18291

       All petition papers so transmitted to a board of elections,18292
and all nominating petitions filed with a board of elections18293
shall, under proper regulation, be open to public inspection until 18294
four p.m. of the seventietheightieth day before the day of such18295
general election. Each board shall, not later than the18296
sixty-eighthseventy-eighth day before the day of such general 18297
election examine and determine the sufficiency of the signatures 18298
on the petition papers transmitted to or filed with it and the 18299
validity or invalidity of petitions filed with it, and shall 18300
return to each other board all petition papers transmitted to it 18301
by such other board, together with its certification of its 18302
determination as to the validity or invalidity of signatures 18303
thereon. All other matters affecting the validity or invalidity of 18304
such petition papers shall be determined by the board with whom 18305
such petition papers were filed.18306

       Written protests against such nominating petitions may be18307
filed by any qualified elector eligible to vote for the candidate18308
whose nominating petition hethe elector objects to, not later18309
than the sixty-fourthseventy-fourth day before the general 18310
election. Such protests shall be filed with the election officials 18311
with whom the nominating petition was filed. Upon the filing of 18312
such protests, the election officials with whom it is filed shall 18313
promptly fix the time and place for hearing it, and shall 18314
forthwith mail notice of the filing of such protest and the time 18315
and place for hearing it to the person whose nomination is 18316
protested. They shall also forthwith mail notice of the time and 18317
place fixed for the hearing to the person who filed the protest. 18318
At the time and place fixed, such election officials shall hear 18319
the protest and determine the validtyvalidity or invalidity of 18320
the petition. Such determination shall be final.18321

       Sec. 3513.30.  (A)(1) If only one valid declaration of 18322
candidacy is filed for nomination as a candidate of a political 18323
party for an office and that candidate dies prior to the tenth day 18324
before the primary election, both of the following may occur: 18325

       (a) The political party whose candidate died may fill the 18326
vacancy so created as provided in division (A)(2) of this section. 18327

       (b) Any major political party other than the one whose 18328
candidate died may select a candidate as provided in division 18329
(A)(2) of this section under either of the following 18330
circumstances: 18331

       (i) No person has filed a valid declaration of candidacy for 18332
nomination as that party's candidate at the primary election. 18333

       (ii) Only one person has filed a valid declaration of 18334
candidacy for nomination as that party's candidate at the primary 18335
election, that person has withdrawn, died, or been disqualified 18336
under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, and the vacancy so 18337
created has not been filled. 18338

       (2) A vacancy may be filled under division (A)(1)(a) and a 18339
selection may be made under division (A)(1)(b) of this section by 18340
the appropriate committee of the political party in the same 18341
manner as provided in divisions (A) to (E) of section 3513.31 of 18342
the Revised Code for the filling of similar vacancies created by 18343
withdrawals or disqualifications under section 3513.052 of the 18344
Revised Code after the primary election, except that the 18345
certification required under that section may not be filed with 18346
the secretary of state, or with a board of the most populous 18347
county of a district, or with the board of a county in which the 18348
major portion of the population of a subdivision is located, later 18349
than four p.m. of the tenth day before the day of such primary 18350
election, or with any other board later than four p.m. of the 18351
fifth day before the day of such primary election. 18352

       (3) If only one valid declaration of candidacy is filed for 18353
nomination as a candidate of a political party for an office and 18354
that candidate dies on or after the tenth day before the day of 18355
the primary election, that candidate is considered to have 18356
received the nomination of that candidate's political party at 18357
that primary election, and, for purposes of filling the vacancy so 18358
created, that candidate's death shall be treated as if that 18359
candidate died on the day after the day of the primary election. 18360

       (B) Any person filing a declaration of candidacy may withdraw 18361
as such candidate at any time prior to the primary election, or, 18362
if the primary election is a presidential primary election, at any 18363
time prior to the fiftieth day before the presidential primary 18364
election. The withdrawal shall be effected and the statement of 18365
withdrawal shall be filed in accordance with the procedures 18366
prescribed in division (D) of this section for the withdrawal of 18367
persons nominated in a primary election or by nominating petition. 18368

       (C) A person who is the first choice for president of the 18369
United States by a candidate for delegate or alternate to a 18370
national convention of a political party may withdraw consent for 18371
the selection of the person as such first choice no later than 18372
four p.m. of the thirtiethfortieth day before the day of the 18373
presidential primary election. Withdrawal of consent shall be for 18374
the entire slate of candidates for delegates and alternates who 18375
named such person as their presidential first choice and shall 18376
constitute withdrawal from the primary election by such delegates 18377
and alternates. The withdrawal shall be made in writing and 18378
delivered to the secretary of state. If the withdrawal is 18379
delivered to the secretary of state on or before the sixtieth18380
seventieth day before the day of the primary election, or, if 18381
the election is a presidential primary election, on or before 18382
the forty-fifth day before the day of the presidential primary 18383
election, the boards of elections shall remove both the name of 18384
the withdrawn first choice and the names of such withdrawn 18385
candidates from the ballots according to the directions of the 18386
secretary of state. If the withdrawal is delivered to the 18387
secretary of state after the sixtiethseventieth day before the 18388
day of the primary election, or, if the election is a 18389
presidential primary election, after the forty-fifth day before 18390
the day of the presidential primary election, the board of 18391
elections shall not remove the name of the withdrawn first choice 18392
and the names of the withdrawn candidates from the ballots. The 18393
board of elections shall post a notice at each polling location on 18394
the day of the primary election, and shall enclose with each 18395
absent voter's ballot given or mailed after the candidate 18396
withdraws, a notice that votes for the withdrawn first choice or 18397
the withdrawn candidates will be void and will not be counted. If 18398
such names are not removed from all ballots before the day of the 18399
election, the votes for the withdrawn first choice or the 18400
withdrawn candidates are void and shall not be counted. 18401

       (D) Any person nominated in a primary election, pursuant to 18402
section 3513.02 of the Revised Code, or by nominating petition as 18403
a candidate for election at the next general election may withdraw 18404
as such candidate at any time prior to the general election. Such 18405
withdrawal may be effected by the filing of a written statement by 18406
such candidate announcing the candidate's withdrawal and 18407
requesting that the candidate's name not be printed on the 18408
ballots. If such candidate's declaration of candidacy or 18409
nominating petition was filed with the secretary of state, the 18410
candidate's statement of withdrawal shall be addressed to and 18411
filed with the secretary of state. If such candidate's declaration 18412
of candidacy or nominating petition was filed with a board of 18413
elections, the candidate's statement of withdrawal shall be 18414
addressed to and filed with such board. 18415

       (E) When a person withdraws under division (B) or (D) of this 18416
section on or before the sixtiethseventieth day before the day of 18417
the primary election or the general election, or, if the 18418
election is a presidential primary election, on or before the 18419
forty-fifth day before the day of the presidential primary 18420
election, the board of elections shall remove the name of the 18421
withdrawn candidate from the ballots according to the directions 18422
of the secretary of state. When a person withdraws under 18423
division (B) or (D) of this section after the sixtieth18424
seventieth day before the day of the primary election or the 18425
general election, or, if the election is a presidential primary 18426
election, after the forty-fifth day before the day of the 18427
presidential primary election, the board of elections shall not 18428
remove the name of the withdrawn candidate from the ballots. The 18429
board of elections shall post a notice at each polling place on 18430
the day of the primary election, and shall enclose with each 18431
absent voter's ballot given or mailed after the candidate 18432
withdraws, a notice that votes for the withdrawn candidate will be 18433
void and will not be counted. If the name is not removed from all 18434
ballots before the day of the election, the votes for the 18435
withdrawn candidate are void and shall not be counted. 18436

       Sec. 3513.31.  (A) If a person nominated in a primary 18437
election as a candidate for election at the next general election, 18438
whose candidacy is to be submitted to the electors of the entire 18439
state, withdraws as that candidate or is disqualified as that 18440
candidate under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the vacancy 18441
in the party nomination so created may be filled by the state 18442
central committee of the major political party that made the 18443
nomination at the primary election, if the committee's chairperson 18444
and secretary certify the name of the person selected to fill the 18445
vacancy by the time specified in this division, at a meeting 18446
called for that purpose. The meeting shall be called by the 18447
chairperson of that committee, who shall give each member of the 18448
committee at least two days' notice of the time, place, and 18449
purpose of the meeting. If a majority of the members of the 18450
committee are present at the meeting, a majority of those present 18451
may select a person to fill the vacancy. The chairperson and 18452
secretary of the meeting shall certify in writing and under oath 18453
to the secretary of state, not later than the seventy-sixth18454
eighty-sixth day before the day of the general election, the name 18455
of the person selected to fill the vacancy. The certification 18456
must be accompanied by the written acceptance of the nomination 18457
by the person whose name is certified. A vacancy that may be 18458
filled by an intermediate ora minor political party shall be 18459
filled in accordance with the party's rules by authorized 18460
officials of the party. Certification must be made as in the 18461
manner provided for a major political party. 18462

       (B) If a person nominated in a primary election as a party 18463
candidate for election at the next general election, whose 18464
candidacy is to be submitted to the electors of a district 18465
comprised of more than one county but less than all of the 18466
counties of the state, withdraws as that candidate or is 18467
disqualified as that candidate under section 3513.052 of the 18468
Revised Code, the vacancy in the party nomination so created may 18469
be filled by a district committee of the major political party 18470
that made the nomination at the primary election, if the 18471
committee's chairperson and secretary certify the name of the 18472
person selected to fill the vacancy by the time specified in this 18473
division, at a meeting called for that purpose. The district 18474
committee shall consist of the chairperson and secretary of the 18475
county central committee of such political party in each county in 18476
the district. The district committee shall be called by the 18477
chairperson of the county central committee of such political 18478
party of the most populous county in the district, who shall give 18479
each member of the district committee at least two days' notice of 18480
the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. If a majority of the 18481
members of the district committee are present at the district 18482
committee meeting, a majority of those present may select a person 18483
to fill the vacancy. The chairperson and secretary of the meeting 18484
shall certify in writing and under oath to the board of elections 18485
of the most populous county in the district, not later than four 18486
p.m. of the seventy-sixtheighty-sixth day before the day of the 18487
general election, the name of the person selected to fill the 18488
vacancy. The certification must be accompanied by the written 18489
acceptance of the nomination by the person whose name is 18490
certified. A vacancy that may be filled by an intermediate ora18491
minor political party shall be filled in accordance with the 18492
party's rules by authorized officials of the party. Certification 18493
must be made as in the manner provided for a major political 18494
party. 18495

       (C) If a person nominated in a primary election as a party 18496
candidate for election at the next general election, whose 18497
candidacy is to be submitted to the electors of a county, 18498
withdraws as that candidate or is disqualified as that candidate 18499
under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the vacancy in the 18500
party nomination so created may be filled by the county central 18501
committee of the major political party that made the nomination at 18502
the primary election, or by the county executive committee if so 18503
authorized, if the committee's chairperson and secretary certify 18504
the name of the person selected to fill the vacancy by the time 18505
specified in this division, at a meeting called for that purpose. 18506
The meeting shall be called by the chairperson of that committee, 18507
who shall give each member of the committee at least two days' 18508
notice of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. If a 18509
majority of the members of the committee are present at the 18510
meeting, a majority of those present may select a person to fill 18511
the vacancy. The chairperson and secretary of the meeting shall 18512
certify in writing and under oath to the board of that county, not 18513
later than four p.m. of the seventy-sixtheighty-sixth day before 18514
the day of the general election, the name of the person selected 18515
to fill the vacancy. The certification must be accompanied by the 18516
written acceptance of the nomination by the person whose name is 18517
certified. A vacancy that may be filled by an intermediate ora18518
minor political party shall be filled in accordance with the 18519
party's rules by authorized officials of the party. Certification 18520
must be made as in the manner provided for a major political 18521
party. 18522

       (D) If a person nominated in a primary election or pursuant 18523
to section 3513.02 of the Revised Code as a party candidate for 18524
election at the next general election, whose candidacy is to be 18525
submitted to the electors of a district within a county, withdraws 18526
as that candidate or is disqualified as that candidate under 18527
section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the vacancy in the party 18528
nomination so created may be filled by a district committee 18529
consisting of those members of the county central committee or, if 18530
so authorized, those members of the county executive committee in 18531
that county of the major political party that made the nomination 18532
at the primary election who represent the precincts or the wards 18533
and townships within the district, if the committee's chairperson 18534
and secretary certify the name of the person selected to fill the 18535
vacancy by the time specified in this division, at a meeting 18536
called for that purpose. The district committee meeting shall be 18537
called by the chairperson of the county central committee or 18538
executive committee, as appropriate, who shall give each member of 18539
the district committee at least two days' notice of the time, 18540
place, and purpose of the meeting. If a majority of the members of 18541
the district committee are present at the district committee 18542
meeting, a majority of those present may select a person to fill 18543
the vacancy. The chairperson and secretary of the district 18544
committee meeting shall certify in writing and under oath to the 18545
board of the county, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-sixth18546
eighty-sixth day before the day of the general election, the 18547
name of the person selected to fill the vacancy. The 18548
certification must be accompanied by the written acceptance of 18549
the nomination by the person whose name is certified. A vacancy 18550
that may be filled by an intermediate ora minor political party 18551
shall be filled in accordance with the party's rules by 18552
authorized officials of the party. Certification must be made 18553
as in the manner provided for a major political party. 18554

       (E) If a person nominated in a primary election or pursuant 18555
to section 3513.02 of the Revised Code as a party candidate for 18556
election at the next general election, whose candidacy is to be 18557
submitted to the electors of a subdivision within a county, 18558
withdraws as that candidate or is disqualified as that candidate 18559
under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the vacancy in the 18560
party nomination so created may be filled by a subdivision 18561
committee consisting of those members of the county central 18562
committee or, if so authorized, those members of the county 18563
executive committee in that county of the major political party 18564
that made the nomination at that primary election who represent 18565
the precincts or the wards and townships within that subdivision, 18566
if the committee's chairperson and secretary certify the name of 18567
the person selected to fill the vacancy by the time specified in 18568
this division, at a meeting called for that purpose. 18569

       The subdivision committee meeting shall be called by the 18570
chairperson of the county central committee or executive 18571
committee, as appropriate, who shall give each member of the 18572
subdivision committee at least two days' notice of the time, 18573
place, and purpose of the meeting. If a majority of the members of 18574
the subdivision committee are present at the subdivision committee 18575
meeting, a majority of those present may select a person to fill 18576
the vacancy. The chairperson and secretary of the subdivision 18577
committee meeting shall certify in writing and under oath to the 18578
board of the county, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-sixth18579
eighty-sixth day before the day of the general election, the 18580
name of the person selected to fill the vacancy. The 18581
certification must be accompanied by the written acceptance of 18582
the nomination by the person whose name is certified. A vacancy 18583
that may be filled by an intermediate ora minor political party 18584
shall be filled in accordance with the party's rules by 18585
authorized officials of the party. Certification must be made in 18586
the manner provided for a major political party. 18587

       (F) If a person nominated by petition as an independent or 18588
nonpartisan candidate for election at the next general election 18589
withdraws as that candidate or is disqualified as that candidate 18590
under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the vacancy so created 18591
may be filled by a majority of the committee of five, as 18592
designated on the candidate's nominating petition, if a member of 18593
that committee certifies in writing and under oath to the election 18594
officials with whom the candidate filed the candidate's nominating 18595
petition, not later than the seventy-sixtheighty-sixth day before 18596
the day of the general election, the name of the person selected 18597
to fill the vacancy. The certification shall be accompanied by 18598
the written acceptance of the nomination by the person whose name 18599
is certified and shall be made in the manner provided for a major 18600
political party. 18601

       (G) If a person nominated in a primary election or pursuant 18602
to section 3513.02 of the Revised Code as a party candidate for 18603
election at the next general election dies, the vacancy so created 18604
may be filled by the same committee in the same manner as provided 18605
in this section for the filling of similar vacancies created by 18606
withdrawals or disqualifications under section 3513.052 of the 18607
Revised Code, except that the certification, when filling a 18608
vacancy created by death, may not be filed with the secretary of 18609
state, or with a board of the most populous county of a district, 18610
or with the board of a county in which the major portion of the 18611
population of a subdivision is located, later than four p.m. of 18612
the tenth day before the day of such general election, or with any 18613
other board later than four p.m. of the fifth day before the day 18614
of such general election. 18615

       (H) If a person nominated by petition as an independent or 18616
nonpartisan candidate for election at the next general election 18617
dies prior to the tenth day before the day of that general 18618
election, the vacancy so created may be filled by a majority of 18619
the committee of five designated in the nominating petition to 18620
represent the candidate named in it. To fill the vacancy a member 18621
of the committee shall, not later than four p.m. of the fifth day 18622
before the day of the general election, file with the election 18623
officials with whom the petition nominating the person was filed, 18624
a certificate signed and sworn to under oath by a majority of the 18625
members, designating the person they select to fill the vacancy. 18626
The certification must be accompanied by the written acceptance of 18627
the nomination by the person whose name is so certified. 18628

       (I) If a person holding an elective office for which a 18629
candidate may be nominated by a political party at a primary 18630
election or pursuant to section 3513.02 of the Revised Code dies 18631
or resigns subsequent to the one-hundredthone hundred tenth day 18632
before the day of a primary election and prior to the 18633
seventy-sixtheighty-sixth day before the day of the next 18634
general election, and if, under the laws of this state, a person 18635
may be elected at that general election to fill the unexpired 18636
term of the person who has died or resigned, the appropriate 18637
committee of each political party, acting as in the case of a 18638
vacancy in a party nomination, as provided in divisions (A) to 18639
(D) of this section, may select a person as the party candidate 18640
for election for such unexpired term at that general election, 18641
and certify the person's name to the appropriate election 18642
official not later than four p.m. on the seventy-sixth18643
eighty-sixth day before the day of that general election, or on 18644
the tenth day following the day on which the vacancy occurs, 18645
whichever is later. When the vacancy occurs on or subsequent to 18646
the seventy-sixtheighty-sixth day and six or more days prior to 18647
the fortiethfiftieth day before the general election, the 18648
appropriate committee may select a person as the party candidate 18649
and certify the person's name, as provided in the preceding 18650
sentence, not later than four p.m. on the tenth day following the 18651
day on which the vacancy occurs. When the vacancy occurs fewer 18652
than six days before the fortiethfiftieth day before the general 18653
election, the deadline for filing shall be four p.m. on the 18654
thirty-sixthforty-sixth day before the general election. 18655
Thereupon the name shall be printed as the party candidate under 18656
proper titles and in the proper place on the proper ballots for 18657
use at the election. If a person has been nominated in a primary 18658
election, the authorized committee of that political party shall 18659
not select and certify a person as the party candidate. 18660

       (J) Each person desiring to become an independent candidate 18661
to fill the unexpired term for an office for which a candidate may 18662
be nominated by a political party at a primary election or 18663
pursuant to section 3513.02 of the Revised Code shall file a 18664
statement of candidacy and nominating petition, as provided in 18665
section 3513.261 of the Revised Code, with the appropriate 18666
election official not later than four p.m. on the tenth day 18667
following the day on which the vacancy occurs, provided that when 18668
the vacancy occurs fewer than six days before the fortieth18669
fiftieth day before the general election, the deadline for filing 18670
shall be four p.m. on the thirty-sixthforty-sixth day before the 18671
general election. The nominating petition shall contain at least 18672
seven hundred fifty signatures and no more than one thousand 18673
five hundred signatures of qualified electors of the district, 18674
political subdivision, or portion of a political subdivision in 18675
which the office is to be voted upon, or the amount provided for 18676
in section 3513.257 of the Revised Code, whichever is less. 18677

       (K) When a person nominated as a candidate by a political 18678
party in a primary election, pursuant to section 3513.02 of the 18679
Revised Code, or by nominating petition for an elective office for 18680
which candidates are nominated at a party primary election 18681
withdraws, dies, or is disqualified under section 3513.052 of the 18682
Revised Code prior to the general election, the appropriate 18683
committee of any other major political party or committee of five 18684
that has not nominated a candidate for that office, or whose 18685
nominee as a candidate for that office has withdrawn, died, or 18686
been disqualified without the vacancy so created having been 18687
filled, may, acting as in the case of a vacancy in a party 18688
nomination or nomination by petition as provided in divisions (A) 18689
to (F) of this section, whichever is appropriate, select a person 18690
as a candidate of that party or of that committee of five for 18691
election to the office. 18692

       Sec. 3513.311.  (A) If a candidate for lieutenant governor18693
dies, withdraws, or is disqualified as a candidate prior to the18694
sixtiethseventieth day before the day of a primary election, the 18695
vacancy on the ballot shall be filled by appointment by the joint 18696
candidate for the office of governor. Such candidate for governor 18697
shall certify in writing and under oath to the secretary of state 18698
not later than the fifty-fifthsixty-fifth day before the day of 18699
such election the name and residence address of the person 18700
selected to fill such vacancy.18701

       (B) If a candidate for governor dies, withdraws, or is18702
disqualified as a candidate prior to the sixtiethseventieth day 18703
before the day of a primary election, the vacancy on the ballot 18704
shall be filled by appointment by the joint candidate for the 18705
office of lieutenant governor. Such candidate for lieutenant 18706
governor shall certify in writing and under oath to the secretary 18707
of state not later than the fifty-fifthsixty-fifth day before the 18708
day of such election the name and residence address of the person 18709
selected to fill such vacancy.18710

       (C) If a candidate for the office of lieutenant governor dies 18711
on or after the sixtiethseventieth day, but prior to the tenth 18712
day, before a primary election, the vacancy so created shall be 18713
filled by appointment by the joint candidate for the office of 18714
governor. Such candidate for governor shall certify in writing and 18715
under oath to the secretary of state not later than the fifth day18716
before the day of such election the name and residence address of18717
the person selected to fill such vacancy.18718

       (D) If a candidate for the office of governor dies on or18719
after the sixtiethseventieth day, but prior to the tenth day, 18720
before a primary election, the vacancy so created shall be filled 18721
by appointment by the joint candidate for the office of lieutenant18722
governor. Such candidate for lieutenant governor shall certify in 18723
writing and under oath to the secretary of state not later than 18724
the fifth day before the day of such election the name and18725
residence address of the person selected to fill such vacancy.18726

       (E) If a person nominated in a primary election as a18727
candidate for election to the office of governor or lieutenant18728
governor at the next general election withdraws as such candidate18729
prior to the eightiethninetieth day before the day of the general 18730
election or dies prior to the tenth day before the day of such 18731
general election, the vacancy so created shall be filled in the 18732
manner provided for by section 3513.31 of the Revised Code.18733

       (F) If a person nominated by petition as a candidate for18734
election to the office of governor or lieutenant governor18735
withdraws as such candidate prior to the eightiethninetieth day 18736
before the day of the general election or dies prior to the tenth 18737
day before the day of such general election, the vacancy so 18738
created shall be filled by the candidates' committee in the manner 18739
provided for, as in the case of death, by section 3513.31 of the 18740
Revised Code, except that, in the case of withdrawal of candidacy, 18741
the name and residence address of the replacement candidate shall 18742
be certified in writing and under oath to the secretary of state 18743
not later than the seventy-sixtheighty-sixth day before the day 18744
of the general election.18745

       (G) If the vacancy in a joint candidacy for governor and18746
lieutenant governor can be filled in accordance with this section18747
and is not so filled, the joint candidacy which has not been18748
vacated shall be invalidated and shall not be presented for18749
election.18750

       (H) Any replacement candidate appointed or selected pursuant 18751
to this section shall be one who has the qualifications of an 18752
elector.18753

       Sec. 3513.312.  (A) Notwithstanding section 3513.31 of the18754
Revised Code, if a person nominated in a primary election as a18755
party candidate for the office of representative to congress for18756
election at the next general election withdraws as such candidate18757
prior to the eightiethninetieth day before the day of such 18758
general election, or dies prior to the eightiethninetieth day 18759
before the day of such general election, the vacancy in the party 18760
nomination so created shall be filled by a special election held 18761
in accordance with division (B) of this section.18762

       (B) The boards of elections of all the counties contained in 18763
whole or in part within the congressional district in which a18764
vacancy occurs as described in division (A) of this section shall, 18765
as soon as reasonably practicable, conduct the special election 18766
and give notice of the time and places of holding such election as 18767
provided in section 3501.03 of the Revised Code. Such election 18768
shall be held and conducted and returns thereof made as in the 18769
case of a primary election.18770

       (C) The state shall pay all costs of any special election18771
held pursuant to this section.18772

       Sec. 3517.01.  (A)(1) A political party within the meaning of 18773
Title XXXV of the Revised Code is any group of voters that, at 18774
either of the two most recent regular state electionelections, 18775
polled for its candidate for any of the offices of governor, 18776
secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, attorney 18777
general, or United States senator in thethis state or nominees 18778
for presidential electors at least fiveone per cent of the entire 18779
vote cast for that officeany of those offices or that filed with 18780
the secretary of state, subsequent to any electiontwo successive 18781
regular state elections in which it received less than fiveone18782
per cent of thatthe vote for any of those offices, a petition 18783
signed by qualified electors equal in number to at least 18784
one-quarter of one per cent of the total vote for governor or 18785
nominees for presidential electors at the most recent regular 18786
state election, declaring their intention of organizing a 18787
political party, the name of which shall be stated in the 18788
declaration, and of participating in the succeeding primary 18789
election, held in even-numbered years, that occurs more than one 18790
hundred twentyseventy-five days after the date of filing. No such 18791
group of electors shall assume a name or designation that is 18792
similar, in the opinion of the secretary of state, to that of an 18793
existing political party as to confuse or mislead the voters at 18794
an election. If any political party fails to cast fiveone per 18795
cent of the total vote cast at an electiontwo successive regular 18796
state elections for one of the office of governor or president18797
offices specified in this division, it shall cease to be a 18798
political party. 18799

       (2) A campaign committee shall be legally liable for any 18800
debts, contracts, or expenditures incurred or executed in its 18801
name. 18802

       (B) Notwithstanding the definitions found in section 3501.01 18803
of the Revised Code, as used in this section and sections 3517.08 18804
to 3517.14, 3517.99, and 3517.992 of the Revised Code: 18805

       (1) "Campaign committee" means a candidate or a combination 18806
of two or more persons authorized by a candidate under section 18807
3517.081 of the Revised Code to receive contributions and make 18808
expenditures. 18809

       (2) "Campaign treasurer" means an individual appointed by a 18810
candidate under section 3517.081 of the Revised Code. 18811

       (3) "Candidate" has the same meaning as in division (H) of 18812
section 3501.01 of the Revised Code and also includes any person 18813
who, at any time before or after an election, receives 18814
contributions or makes expenditures or other use of contributions, 18815
has given consent for another to receive contributions or make 18816
expenditures or other use of contributions, or appoints a campaign 18817
treasurer, for the purpose of bringing about the person's 18818
nomination or election to public office. When two persons jointly 18819
seek the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, "candidate" 18820
means the pair of candidates jointly. "Candidate" does not include 18821
candidates for election to the offices of member of a county or 18822
state central committee, presidential elector, and delegate to a 18823
national convention or conference of a political party. 18824

       (4) "Continuing association" means an association, other than 18825
a campaign committee, political party, legislative campaign fund, 18826
political contributing entity, or labor organization, that is 18827
intended to be a permanent organization that has a primary purpose 18828
other than supporting or opposing specific candidates, political 18829
parties, or ballot issues, and that functions on a regular basis 18830
throughout the year. "Continuing association" includes 18831
organizations that are determined to be not organized for profit 18832
under subsection 501 and that are described in subsection 18833
501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. 18834

       (5) "Contribution" means a loan, gift, deposit, forgiveness 18835
of indebtedness, donation, advance, payment, or transfer of funds 18836
or anything of value, including a transfer of funds from an inter 18837
vivos or testamentary trust or decedent's estate, and the payment 18838
by any person other than the person to whom the services are 18839
rendered for the personal services of another person, which 18840
contribution is made, received, or used for the purpose of 18841
influencing the results of an election. Any loan, gift, deposit, 18842
forgiveness of indebtedness, donation, advance, payment, or 18843
transfer of funds or of anything of value, including a transfer of 18844
funds from an inter vivos or testamentary trust or decedent's 18845
estate, and the payment by any campaign committee, political 18846
action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, 18847
political contributing entity, or person other than the person to 18848
whom the services are rendered for the personal services of 18849
another person, that is made, received, or used by a state or 18850
county political party, other than moneys a state or county 18851
political party receives from the Ohio political party fund 18852
pursuant to section 3517.17 of the Revised Code and the moneys a 18853
state or county political party may receive under sections 18854
3517.101, 3517.1012, and 3517.1013 of the Revised Code, shall be 18855
considered to be a "contribution" for the purpose of section 18856
3517.10 of the Revised Code and shall be included on a statement 18857
of contributions filed under that section. 18858

       "Contribution" does not include any of the following: 18859

       (a) Services provided without compensation by individuals 18860
volunteering a portion or all of their time on behalf of a person; 18861

       (b) Ordinary home hospitality; 18862

       (c) The personal expenses of a volunteer paid for by that 18863
volunteer campaign worker; 18864

       (d) Any gift given to a state or county political party 18865
pursuant to section 3517.101 of the Revised Code. As used in 18866
division (B)(5)(d) of this section, "political party" means only a 18867
major political party; 18868

       (e) Any contribution as defined in section 3517.1011 of the 18869
Revised Code that is made, received, or used to pay the direct 18870
costs of producing or airing an electioneering communication; 18871

       (f) Any gift given to a state or county political party for 18872
the party's restricted fund under division (A)(2) of section 18873
3517.1012 of the Revised Code; 18874

       (g) Any gift given to a state political party for deposit in 18875
a Levin account pursuant to section 3517.1013 of the Revised Code. 18876
As used in this division, "Levin account" has the same meaning as 18877
in that section. 18878

       (6) "Expenditure" means the disbursement or use of a 18879
contribution for the purpose of influencing the results of an 18880
election or of making a charitable donation under division (G) of 18881
section 3517.08 of the Revised Code. Any disbursement or use of a 18882
contribution by a state or county political party is an 18883
expenditure and shall be considered either to be made for the 18884
purpose of influencing the results of an election or to be made as 18885
a charitable donation under division (G) of section 3517.08 of the 18886
Revised Code and shall be reported on a statement of expenditures 18887
filed under section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. During the thirty 18888
days preceding a primary or general election, any disbursement to 18889
pay the direct costs of producing or airing a broadcast, cable, or 18890
satellite communication that refers to a clearly identified 18891
candidate shall be considered to be made for the purpose of 18892
influencing the results of that election and shall be reported as 18893
an expenditure or as an independent expenditure under section 18894
3517.10 or 3517.105 of the Revised Code, as applicable, except 18895
that the information required to be reported regarding 18896
contributors for those expenditures or independent expenditures 18897
shall be the same as the information required to be reported under 18898
divisions (D)(1) and (2) of section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code. 18899

       As used in this division, "broadcast, cable, or satellite 18900
communication" and "refers to a clearly identified candidate" have 18901
the same meanings as in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code. 18902

       (7) "Personal expenses" includes, but is not limited to, 18903
ordinary expenses for accommodations, clothing, food, personal 18904
motor vehicle or airplane, and home telephone. 18905

       (8) "Political action committee" means a combination of two 18906
or more persons, the primary or major purpose of which is to 18907
support or oppose any candidate, political party, or issue, or to 18908
influence the result of any election through express advocacy, and 18909
that is not a political party, a campaign committee, a political 18910
contributing entity, or a legislative campaign fund. "Political 18911
action committee" does not include either of the following: 18912

       (a) A continuing association that makes disbursements for the 18913
direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications 18914
and that does not engage in express advocacy; 18915

       (b) A political club that is formed primarily for social 18916
purposes and that consists of one hundred members or less, has 18917
officers and periodic meetings, has less than two thousand five 18918
hundred dollars in its treasury at all times, and makes an 18919
aggregate total contribution of one thousand dollars or less per 18920
calendar year. 18921

       (9) "Public office" means any state, county, municipal, 18922
township, or district office, except an office of a political 18923
party, that is filled by an election and the offices of United 18924
States senator and representative. 18925

       (10) "Anything of value" has the same meaning as in section 18926
1.03 of the Revised Code. 18927

       (11) "Beneficiary of a campaign fund" means a candidate, a 18928
public official or employee for whose benefit a campaign fund 18929
exists, and any other person who has ever been a candidate or 18930
public official or employee and for whose benefit a campaign fund 18931
exists. 18932

       (12) "Campaign fund" means money or other property, including 18933
contributions. 18934

       (13) "Public official or employee" has the same meaning as in 18935
section 102.01 of the Revised Code. 18936

       (14) "Caucus" means all of the members of the house of 18937
representatives or all of the members of the senate of the general 18938
assembly who are members of the same political party. 18939

       (15) "Legislative campaign fund" means a fund that is 18940
established as an auxiliary of a state political party and 18941
associated with one of the houses of the general assembly. 18942

       (16) "In-kind contribution" means anything of value other 18943
than money that is used to influence the results of an election or 18944
is transferred to or used in support of or in opposition to a 18945
candidate, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, 18946
political party, political action committee, or political 18947
contributing entity and that is made with the consent of, in 18948
coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, or at the request 18949
or suggestion of the benefited candidate, committee, fund, party, 18950
or entity. The financing of the dissemination, distribution, or 18951
republication, in whole or part, of any broadcast or of any 18952
written, graphic, or other form of campaign materials prepared by 18953
the candidate, the candidate's campaign committee, or their 18954
authorized agents is an in-kind contribution to the candidate and 18955
an expenditure by the candidate. 18956

       (17) "Independent expenditure" means an expenditure by a 18957
person advocating the election or defeat of an identified 18958
candidate or candidates, that is not made with the consent of, in 18959
coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, or at the request 18960
or suggestion of any candidate or candidates or of the campaign 18961
committee or agent of the candidate or candidates. As used in 18962
division (B)(17) of this section: 18963

       (a) "Person" means an individual, partnership, unincorporated 18964
business organization or association, political action committee, 18965
political contributing entity, separate segregated fund, 18966
association, or other organization or group of persons, but not a 18967
labor organization or a corporation unless the labor organization 18968
or corporation is a political contributing entity. 18969

       (b) "Advocating" means any communication containing a message 18970
advocating election or defeat. 18971

       (c) "Identified candidate" means that the name of the 18972
candidate appears, a photograph or drawing of the candidate 18973
appears, or the identity of the candidate is otherwise apparent by 18974
unambiguous reference. 18975

       (d) "Made in coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, 18976
or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or the campaign 18977
committee or agent of the candidate" means made pursuant to any 18978
arrangement, coordination, or direction by the candidate, the 18979
candidate's campaign committee, or the candidate's agent prior to 18980
the publication, distribution, display, or broadcast of the 18981
communication. An expenditure is presumed to be so made when it is 18982
any of the following: 18983

       (i) Based on information about the candidate's plans, 18984
projects, or needs provided to the person making the expenditure 18985
by the candidate, or by the candidate's campaign committee or 18986
agent, with a view toward having an expenditure made; 18987

       (ii) Made by or through any person who is, or has been, 18988
authorized to raise or expend funds, who is, or has been, an 18989
officer of the candidate's campaign committee, or who is, or has 18990
been, receiving any form of compensation or reimbursement from the 18991
candidate or the candidate's campaign committee or agent; 18992

       (iii) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of section 18993
3517.105 of the Revised Code, made by a political party in support 18994
of a candidate, unless the expenditure is made by a political 18995
party to conduct voter registration or voter education efforts. 18996

       (e) "Agent" means any person who has actual oral or written 18997
authority, either express or implied, to make or to authorize the 18998
making of expenditures on behalf of a candidate, or means any 18999
person who has been placed in a position with the candidate's 19000
campaign committee or organization such that it would reasonably 19001
appear that in the ordinary course of campaign-related activities 19002
the person may authorize expenditures. 19003

       (18) "Labor organization" means a labor union; an employee 19004
organization; a federation of labor unions, groups, locals, or 19005
other employee organizations; an auxiliary of a labor union, 19006
employee organization, or federation of labor unions, groups, 19007
locals, or other employee organizations; or any other bona fide 19008
organization in which employees participate and that exists for 19009
the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers 19010
concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, hours, and other 19011
terms and conditions of employment. 19012

       (19) "Separate segregated fund" means a separate segregated 19013
fund established pursuant to the Federal Election Campaign Act. 19014

       (20) "Federal Election Campaign Act" means the "Federal 19015
Election Campaign Act of 1971," 86 Stat. 11, 2 U.S.C.A. 431, et 19016
seq., as amended. 19017

       (21) "Restricted fund" means the fund a state or county 19018
political party must establish under division (A)(1) of section 19019
3517.1012 of the Revised Code. 19020

       (22) "Electioneering communication" has the same meaning as 19021
in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code. 19022

       (23) "Express advocacy" means a communication that contains 19023
express words advocating the nomination, election, or defeat of a 19024
candidate or that contains express words advocating the adoption 19025
or defeat of a question or issue, as determined by a final 19026
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. 19027

       (24) "Political committee" has the same meaning as in section 19028
3517.1011 of the Revised Code. 19029

       (25) "Political contributing entity" means any entity, 19030
including a corporation or labor organization, that may lawfully 19031
make contributions and expenditures and that is not an individual 19032
or a political action committee, continuing association, campaign 19033
committee, political party, legislative campaign fund, designated 19034
state campaign committee, or state candidate fund. For purposes of 19035
this division, "lawfully" means not prohibited by any section of 19036
the Revised Code, or authorized by a final judgment of a court of 19037
competent jurisdiction. 19038

       Sec. 3517.012.  When a petition meeting the requirements of 19039
section 3517.01 of the Revised Code declaring the intention to 19040
organize a political party is filed with the secretary of state, 19041
the new party comes into legal existence on the date of filing and 19042
is entitled to hold a primary election as set out in section 19043
3513.01 of the Revised Code, at the primary election, held in 19044
even-numbered years that occurs more than one hundred twenty19045
seventy-five days after the date of filing. If the secretary of 19046
state determines that the petition is invalid or insufficient, no 19047
primary election shall be held for the political party named in 19048
the petition, and any declaration of candidacy that was filed by 19049
any candidate seeking that party's nomination at the primary 19050
election shall be invalid. 19051

       Sec. 3517.02.  All members of controlling committees of a 19052
major or intermediate political party shall be elected by direct 19053
vote of the members of the party, except as otherwise provided in 19054
section 3517.05 of the Revised Code. Their names shall be placed 19055
upon the official ballot, and, notwithstanding division (B) of 19056
section 3513.23 of the Revised Code, the persons receiving the 19057
highest number of votes for committeepersons shall be the members 19058
of those controlling committees. Each member of a controlling 19059
committee shall be a resident and qualified elector of the 19060
district, ward, or precinct that the member is elected to 19061
represent. All members of controlling committees of a minor 19062
political party shall be determined in accordance with party 19063
rules. 19064

       Each political party shall file with the office of the 19065
secretary of state a copy of its constitution and bylaws, if any, 19066
within thirty days of adoption or amendment. Each party shall also 19067
file with the office of the secretary of state a list of members 19068
of its controlling committees and other party officials within 19069
thirty days of their election or appointment. 19070

       Sec. 3517.03.  The controlling committees of each major 19071
political party or organization shall be a state central committee 19072
consisting of two members, one a man and one a woman, representing 19073
either each congressional district in the state or each senatorial 19074
district in the state, as the outgoing committee determines; a 19075
county central committee consisting of one member from each 19076
election precinct in the county, or of one member from each ward 19077
in each city and from each township in the county, as the outgoing 19078
committee determines; and such district, city, township, or other 19079
committees as the rules of the party provide. 19080

       All the members of such committees shall be members of the 19081
party and shall be elected for terms of either two or four years, 19082
as determined by party rules, by direct vote at the primary held 19083
in an even-numbered year. Except as otherwise provided in section 19084
3517.02 of the Revised Code, candidates for election as state 19085
central committee members shall be elected at primaries in the 19086
same manner as provided in sections 3513.01 to 3513.32 of the 19087
Revised Code for the nomination of candidates for office in a 19088
county. Candidates for election as members of the county central 19089
committee shall be elected at primaries in the same manner as 19090
provided in those sections for the nomination of candidates for 19091
county offices, except as otherwise provided in sections 3513.051 19092
and 3517.02 of the Revised Code. 19093

       Each major party controlling committee shall elect an 19094
executive committee that shall have the powers granted to it by 19095
the party controlling committee, and provided to it by law. When a 19096
judicial, senatorial, or congressional district is comprised of 19097
more than one county, the chairperson and secretary of the county 19098
central committee from each county in that district shall 19099
constitute the judicial, senatorial, or congressional committee of 19100
the district. When a judicial, senatorial, or congressional 19101
district is included within a county, the county central committee 19102
shall constitute the judicial, senatorial, or congressional 19103
committee of the district. 19104

       The controlling committee of each intermediate political 19105
party or organization shall be a state central committee 19106
consisting of two members, one a man and one a woman, from each 19107
congressional district in the state. All members of the committee 19108
shall be members of the party and shall be elected by direct vote 19109
at the primary held in the even-numbered years. Except as 19110
otherwise provided in section 3517.02 of the Revised Code, 19111
candidates for election shall be elected at the primary in the 19112
same manner as provided in sections 3513.01 to 3513.32 of the 19113
Revised Code. An intermediate political party may have such other 19114
party organization as its rules provide. Each intermediate party 19115
shall file the names and addresses of its officers with the 19116
secretary of state.19117

       A minor political party may elect controlling committees at a 19118
primary election in the even-numbered year by filing a plan for 19119
party organization with the secretary of state on or before the 19120
ninetieth day before the day of the primary election. The plan 19121
shall specify which offices are to be elected and provide the 19122
procedure for qualification of candidates for those offices. 19123
Candidates to be elected pursuant to the plan shall be designated 19124
and qualified on or before the ninetieth day before the day of the 19125
election. Such parties may, in lieu of electing a controlling 19126
committee or other officials, choose such committee or other 19127
officials in accordance with party rules. Each such party shall 19128
file the names and addresses of members of its controlling 19129
committee and party officers with the secretary of state. 19130

       Sec. 3519.08.  (A) Notwithstanding division (I)(2) of 19131
section 3501.38 of the Revised Code, at any time prior to the 19132
sixtiethseventieth day before the day of an election at which an 19133
initiative or referendum is scheduled to appear on the ballot, a 19134
majority of the members of the committee named to represent the 19135
petitioners in the petition proposing that initiative or 19136
referendum under section 3519.02 of the Revised Code may withdraw 19137
the petition by giving written notice of the withdrawal to the 19138
secretary of state.19139

       (B) After a majority of the members of the committee named to 19140
represent the petitioners gives notice to the secretary of state 19141
that the petition proposing the initiative or referendum is 19142
withdrawn under division (A) of this section, all of the following 19143
shall apply:19144

       (1) If the Ohio ballot board has not already certified the 19145
ballot language at the time a majority of the members of the 19146
committee gives the written notice of withdrawal, the board shall 19147
not certify ballot language for that proposed initiative or 19148
referendum to the secretary of state.19149

       (2) The secretary of state shall not certify a ballot form or 19150
wording to the boards of elections under sections 3501.05 and 19151
3505.01 of the Revised Code that includes ballot language for that 19152
proposed initiative or referendum.19153

       (3) The proposed initiative or referendum shall not appear on 19154
the ballot.19155

       (C) No petition that has been filed, and subsequently 19156
withdrawn under this section, may be resubmitted.19157

       Sec. 3519.16.  The circulator of any part-petition, the19158
committee interested in the petition, or any elector may file with 19159
the board of elections a protest against the board's findings made 19160
pursuant to section 3519.15 of the Revised Code. Protests shall be 19161
in writing and shall specify reasons for the protest. Protests for 19162
all initiative and referendum petitions other than those to be 19163
voted on by electors throughout the entire state shall be filed 19164
not later than four p.m. of the sixty-fourthseventy-fourth day 19165
before the day of the election. Once a protest is filed, the board 19166
shall proceed to establish the sufficiency or insufficiency of the19167
signatures and of the verification of those signatures in an 19168
action before the court of common pleas in the county. The action 19169
shall be brought within three days after the protest is filed, and 19170
it shall be heard forthwith by a judge of that court, whose19171
decision shall be certified to the board. The signatures that are 19172
adjudged sufficient or the part-petitions that are adjudged19173
properly verified shall be included with the others by the board,19174
and those found insufficient and all those part-petitions that 19175
are adjudged not properly verified shall not be included.19176

       The properly verified part-petitions, together with the 19177
report of the board, shall be returned to the secretary of state 19178
not less than fiftysixty days before the election, provided that, 19179
in the case of an initiated law to be presented to the general 19180
assembly, the boards shall promptly check and return the petitions 19181
together with their report. The secretary of state shall notify 19182
the chairperson of the committee in charge of the circulation as 19183
to the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition and the extent 19184
of the insufficiency.19185

       If the petition is found insufficient because of an 19186
insufficient number of valid signatures, the committee shall be 19187
allowed ten additional days after the notification by the19188
secretary of state for the filing of additional signatures to the 19189
petition. The part-petitions of the supplementary petition that 19190
appear to the secretary of state to be properly verified, upon 19191
their receipt by the secretary of state, shall forthwith be 19192
forwarded to the boards of the several counties together with the 19193
part-petitions of the original petition that have been properly 19194
verified. They shall be immediately examined and passed upon as to 19195
the validity and sufficiency of the signatures on them by each of 19196
the boards and returned within five days to the secretary of state 19197
with the report of each board. No signature on a supplementary 19198
part-petition that is the same as a signature on an original 19199
part-petition shall be counted. The number of signatures in both 19200
the original and supplementary petitions, properly verified, shall 19201
be used by the secretary of state in determining the total number 19202
of signatures to the petition that the secretary of state shall 19203
record and announce. If they are sufficient, the amendment, 19204
proposed law, or law shall be placed on the ballot as required by 19205
law. If the petition is found insufficient, the secretary of state 19206
shall notify the committee in charge of the circulation of the 19207
petition.19208

       Sec. 3521.03.  When a vacancy in the office of 19209
representative to congress occurs, the governor, upon 19210
satisfactory information thereof, shall issue a writ of election 19211
directing that a special election be held to fill such vacancy in 19212
the territory entitled to fill it on a day specified in the writ. 19213
Such writ shall be directed to the board of elections within such 19214
territory which shall give notice of the time and places of 19215
holding such election as provided in section 3501.03 of the 19216
Revised Code. Such election shall be held and conducted and 19217
returns thereof made as in case of a regular state election or 19218
may be conducted as an election by mail under Chapter 3507. of the 19219
Revised Code. The state shall pay all costs of any special 19220
election held under this section. 19221

       Sec. 3599.30.  (A) No person, organization, or political 19222
party shall compile lists of voters to challenge on the sole 19223
basis of any of the following: 19224

       (1) Mail that was returned as undeliverable; 19225

       (2) In the case of registered, certified, or other tracked 19226
delivery, mail the receipt of which was not acknowledged by the 19227
intended recipient; 19228

       (3) Locations that have been the subject of foreclosure; 19229

       (4) Discrepancies identified by means of comparing, matching, 19230
or otherwise analyzing a voter registration list with any other 19231
database other than those expressly prescribed by Title XXXV of 19232
the Revised Code or federal law. 19233

       (B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty 19234
of a felony of the fourth degree. If the violator is an 19235
organization or political party, the organization or political 19236
party shall be fined five hundred dollars per name compiled in 19237
violation of that division, in addition to any other penalties 19238
that may be imposed. The fine imposed under this division shall be 19239
remitted to the treasurer of state for use of the office of the 19240
secretary of state. 19241

       (C) As used in this section:19242

       (1) "Organization" means any for-profit or nonprofit entity 19243
that is not a political party.19244

       (2) "Political party" means any local, state, or national 19245
affiliate of a major or minor political party, as well as any 19246
subcontractor, vendor, or other individual acting on behalf of a 19247
political party.19248

       Sec. 3709.051.  Two or more contiguous city health districts 19249
may be united to form a single city health district by a majority 19250
affirmative vote of the legislative authority of each city 19251
affected by the union.19252

       If at least three per cent of the qualified electors residing 19253
within each of two or more contiguous city health districts sign a 19254
petition proposing a union into a single city health district, an 19255
election shall be held as provided in this section to determine 19256
whether a single city health district shall be formed. The 19257
petition for union may specify regarding the board of health of 19258
the new district:19259

       (A) The qualifications for membership;19260

       (B) The term of office;19261

       (C) The number of members or a method by which the number may 19262
be determined from time to time;19263

       (D) The method of appointment.19264

       Such petition shall be filed with the boards of county19265
commissioners of the respective counties affected, subject to19266
approval of the director of health, and such boards shall promptly 19267
certify the text of the proposal to the boards of election for the 19268
purpose of having the proposal placed on the ballot at the next 19269
general election occurring more than seventy-fiveeighty-five days 19270
after such certification. The election procedures provided in 19271
Chapter 3505. of the Revised Code for questions and issues shall 19272
apply to the election. If a majority of the electors voting on the 19273
proposal in each of the health districts affected vote in favor 19274
thereof, the union of such districts into a single city health 19275
district shall be established on the second succeeding first day 19276
of January.19277

       Sec. 3709.071.  If at least three per cent of the qualified19278
electors residing within each of one or more city health districts 19279
and a general health district sign a petition for union into a 19280
single general health district, an election shall be held as 19281
provided in this section to determine whether a single general19282
health district shall be formed. The petition for union may19283
specify regarding the board of health of the new district:19284

       (A) The qualifications for membership;19285

       (B) The term of office;19286

       (C) The number of members or a method by which the number may 19287
be determined from time to time;19288

       (D) The method of appointment.19289

       Such petition shall be filed with the boards of county19290
commissioners of the respective counties affected, subject to19291
approval of the director of health, and such boards shall promptly 19292
certify the text of the proposal to the boards of election for the 19293
purpose of having the proposal placed on the ballot at the next 19294
general election occurring more than seventy-fiveeighty-five days 19295
after the filing of the petition with the boards of election. The 19296
election procedures provided in Chapter 3505. of the Revised Code 19297
for questions and issues shall be followed. If a majority of the 19298
electors voting on the proposal in each of the health districts 19299
affected vote in favor thereof, the union of such districts into a 19300
single general health district shall be established on the second 19301
succeeding January 1.19302

       When the establishment of a combined health district has been 19303
approved by the electors of a general health district and one or 19304
more city health districts, the chairmanchairperson of the 19305
district advisory council and the chief executive of each city 19306
uniting with the general health district shall enter into a 19307
contract for the administration of health affairs in the combined 19308
district. Such contract shall conform to the provisions of section 19309
3709.07 of the Revised Code regarding the contract for the 19310
administration of health affairs in a combined district, except 19311
that the date of the change of administration shall be as provided 19312
in this section and except for the specifications as to the board 19313
of health of the new district contained in the petition and 19314
submitted to the electors in the proposal to establish such 19315
district.19316

       Sec. 3709.29.  If the estimated amount of money necessary to 19317
meet the expenses of a general health district program will not be 19318
forthcoming to the board of health of such district out of the 19319
district health fund because the taxes within the ten-mill19320
limitation will be insufficient, the board of health shall certify 19321
the fact of such insufficiency to the board of county19322
commissioners of the county in which such district is located.19323
Such board of county commissioners is hereby ordained to be a19324
special taxing authority for the purposes of this section only,19325
and, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the board of19326
county commissioners of any county in which a general health19327
district is located is the taxing authority for such special levy19328
outside the ten-mill limitation. The board of county commissioners 19329
shall thereupon, in the year preceding that in which such health 19330
program will be effective, by vote of two-thirds of all the 19331
members of that body, declare by resolution that the amount of 19332
taxes which may be raised within the ten-mill limitation will be 19333
insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the necessary 19334
requirements of such district within the county, and that it is 19335
necessary to levy a tax in excess of such limitation in order to 19336
provide the board of health with sufficient funds to carry out 19337
such health program. Such resolution shall be filed with the board 19338
of elections not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth19339
eighty-fifth day before the day of election.19340

       Such resolution shall specify the amount of increase in rate 19341
which it is necessary to levy and the number of years during which 19342
such increase shall be in effect, which shall not be for a longer 19343
period than ten years.19344

       The resolution shall conform to section 5705.191 of the19345
Revised Code and be certified and submitted in the manner provided 19346
in section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, provided that the proposal 19347
shall be placed on the ballot at the next primary or general 19348
election occurring more than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after 19349
the resolution is filed with the board of elections.19350

       Sec. 3767.05.  (A) The civil action provided for in section 19351
3767.03 of the Revised Code shall be set down for trial at the 19352
earliest possible time and shall have precedence over all other19353
cases except those involving crimes, election contests, or 19354
injunctions regardless of the position of the proceedings on the 19355
calendar of the court. In the civil action, evidence of the 19356
general reputation of the place where the nuisance is alleged to 19357
exist or an admission or finding of guilt of any person under the 19358
criminal laws against prostitution, lewdness, assignation, or 19359
other prohibited conduct at the place is admissible for the 19360
purpose of proving the existence of the nuisance and is 19361
prima-facie evidence of the nuisance and of knowledge of and of 19362
acquiescence and participation in the nuisance on the part of the 19363
person charged with maintaining it.19364

       (B) If the complaint for the permanent injunction is filed by 19365
a person who is a citizen of the county, it shall not be dismissed 19366
unless the complainant and the complainant's attorney submit a 19367
sworn statement setting forth the reasons why the civil action 19368
should be dismissed and the dismissal is approved by the 19369
prosecuting attorney in writing or in open court. If the person 19370
who files the complaint for the permanent injuctioninjunction is 19371
a citizen of the county, if that person refuses or otherwise fails 19372
to prosecute the complaint to judgment, and if the civil action is 19373
not dismissed pursuant to this division, then, with the approval 19374
of the court, the attorney general, the prosecuting attorney of 19375
the county in which the nuisance exists, or the village solicitor,19376
city director of law, or other similar chief legal officer of the19377
municipal corporation in which the nuisance exists, may be19378
substituted for the complainant and prosecute the civil action to19379
judgment.19380

       (C) If the civil action is commenced by a person who is a19381
citizen of the county where the nuisance is alleged to exist and19382
the court finds that there were no reasonable grounds or cause for 19383
the civil action, the costs may be taxed to that person.19384

       (D) If the existence of the nuisance is established upon the 19385
trial of the civil action, a judgment shall be entered that19386
perpetually enjoins the defendant and any other person from19387
further maintaining the nuisance at the place complained of and19388
the defendant from maintaining the nuisance elsewhere.19389

       (E) If the court finds that a nuisance described in division 19390
(C)(3) of section 3767.01 of the Revised Code exists, the court 19391
shall order the nuisance to be abated, and, in entering judgment 19392
for nuisance, the court shall do all of the following:19393

       (1) Specify that judgment is entered pursuant to division (E) 19394
of this section;19395

       (2) Order that no beer or intoxicating liquor may be19396
manufactured, sold, bartered, possessed, kept, or stored in the19397
room, house, building, structure, place, boat, or vehicle or any19398
part thereof. The court need not find that the property was being 19399
unlawfully used at the time of the hearing on the matter if the 19400
court finds there existed a nuisance as described in division 19401
(C)(3) of section 3767.01 of the Revised Code.19402

       (3) Order that the room, house, building, boat, vehicle,19403
structure, or place not be occupied or used for one year after the 19404
judgment is rendered. The court may permit the premises to be 19405
occupied by a person other than the defendant or a business 19406
affiliate of the defendant in the nuisance action, or an agent of, 19407
or entity owned in whole or part by, the defendant, if the person, 19408
lessee, tenant, or occupant of the location posts a bond with 19409
sufficient surety, to be approved by the court issuing the order, 19410
in the sum of not less than one thousand nor more than five 19411
thousand dollars, payable to the state of Ohio, on the condition 19412
that no beer or intoxicating liquor thereafter shall be 19413
manufactured, sold, bartered, possessed, kept, stored,19414
transported, or otherwise disposed of on the premises, and the 19415
person agrees to pay all fines, costs, and damages that may be 19416
assessed for a violation. A reasonable sum shall be allowed an 19417
officer by the issuing court for the cost of closing and keeping 19418
closed the premises that is the subject of the nuisance action.19419

       (4) Send notice of the judgment entered to the division of 19420
liquor control, the liquor control commission, and the liquor 19421
enforcement division of the department of public safety.19422

       (F) A defendant found to have maintained a nuisance as 19423
described in division (C)(3) of section 3767.01 of the Revised19424
Code also is subject to liability and penalties under sections 19425
4301.74 and 4399.09 of the Revised Code. The abatement of a 19426
nuisance under section 4399.09 of the Revised Code is in addition 19427
to and does not prevent the abatement of a nuisance under division19428
(D) or (E) of this section.19429

       (G) If a court enters judgment pursuant to division (D) or19430
(E) of this section finding that a nuisance exists at a liquor 19431
permit premises or as a result of the operation of a liquor permit 19432
premises, except in the case of a nuisance found as a result of a 19433
violation of a local zoning ordinance or resolution, the certified 19434
copy of the judgment required under division (A) of section 19435
4301.331 of the Revised Code shall be filed with the board of 19436
elections in the county in which the nuisance exists, not later 19437
than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the 19438
day of the next general or primary election. However, no election 19439
shall be conducted on sales at the liquor permit premises under 19440
section 4301.352 of the Revised Code until all appeals on the19441
judgment are resolved. The court of appeals shall render a 19442
decision on any appeal of the judgment within six months after the 19443
date of the filing of the appeal of the judgment with the clerk of 19444
the court of appeals, and the supreme court shall render a 19445
decision on any appeal of the judgment within six months after the 19446
date of the filing of the appeal of the judgment with the clerk of19447
the supreme court.19448

       Sec. 3769.27.  (A) If a petition is presented, not later than 19449
four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the day of 19450
a general or primary election, to the board of elections of any19451
county, signed by qualified electors of the county equal in number 19452
to at least ten per cent of the total number of votes cast in the 19453
county for the office of governor at the preceding general19454
election for that office, but signed by at least five hundred19455
electors, requesting that there be submitted the question "shall19456
satellite facilities that receive simulcasts of live horse races19457
and that conduct wagering on those simulcasts be prohibited19458
throughout this county for a period of ....... (not to exceed19459
five) years?", the board of elections shall submit this question19460
to the electors of the county on the day of the next general or19461
primary election, whichever occurs first, in the manner provided19462
by law for the submission of questions and issues. The board of19463
elections shall notify the state racing commission of the results19464
of the election on the question.19465

       (B) If a majority of the electors voting on the question set 19466
forth in division (A) of this section vote "yes," the state racing 19467
commission shall have no jurisdiction thereafter to approve 19468
satellite facilities in that county for the number of years, not 19469
exceeding five, specified in the petition. If a majority of the 19470
electors voting on the question set forth in division (A) of this 19471
section vote "no," this question shall not again be submitted to a 19472
vote in the county until the expiration of the time set forth in 19473
the petition. When the board of elections of any county has 19474
received a petition and accepted it as valid, it shall so notify 19475
the commission and the commission shall not approve a satellite 19476
facility in that county between this notification and the day of 19477
the general or primary election.19478

       (C) Once a proposed satellite facility receives the approval 19479
of the appropriate local legislative authority, a petition seeking 19480
an election under this section in the county where the proposed 19481
satellite facility will be located is invalid unless the date of 19482
signing of each signature on the petition that is counted by the 19483
board of elections to meet the number of signatures required by 19484
division (A) of this section is a date within ninety days after 19485
the date of the approval of the appropriate local legislative 19486
authority for the proposed satellite facility.19487

       Sec. 4301.33.  (A) The board of elections shall provide to a19488
petitioner circulating a petition for an election for the19489
submission of one or more of the questions specified in divisions19490
(A) to (D) of section 4301.35 or section 4301.351 of the Revised 19491
Code, at the time of taking out the petition, the names of the 19492
streets and, if appropriate, the address numbers of residences and 19493
business establishments within the precinct in which the election 19494
is sought, and a form prescribed by the secretary of state for 19495
notifying affected permit holders and liquor agency stores of the 19496
circulation of a petition for an election for the submission of 19497
one or more of the questions specified in divisions (A) to (D) of 19498
section 4301.35 or section 4301.351 of the Revised Code. The 19499
petitioner shall, not less than forty-fivefifty-five days before19500
the petition-filing deadline for the election, as provided in this 19501
section, file with the division of liquor control the information 19502
regarding names of streets and, if appropriate, address numbers of 19503
residences and business establishments provided by the board of 19504
elections, and specify to the division the precinct that is19505
concerned and that would be affected by the results of the 19506
election and the filing deadline. The division shall, within a 19507
reasonable period of time and not later than fifteentwenty-five19508
days before the filing deadline, supply the petitioner with a list 19509
of the names and addresses of permit holders and liquor agency 19510
stores, if any, that would be affected by the election. The list 19511
shall contain a heading with the following words: "Liquor permit 19512
holders and liquor agency stores that would be affected by the 19513
question(s) set forth on petition for a local option election."19514

       Within five days after a petitioner has received from the19515
division the list of liquor permit holders and liquor agency19516
stores, if any, that would be affected by the question or 19517
questions set forth on a petition for local option election, the 19518
petitioner shall, using the form provided by the board of 19519
elections, notify by certified mail each permit holder and liquor 19520
agency store whose name appears on that list. The form for 19521
notifying affected permit holders and liquor agency stores shall 19522
require the petitioner to state the petitioner's name and street 19523
address and shall contain a statement that a petition is being 19524
circulated for an election for the submission of the question or 19525
questions specified in divisions (A) to (D) of section 4301.35 or 19526
section 4301.351 of the Revised Code. The form shall require the 19527
petitioner to state the question or questions to be submitted as 19528
they appear on the petition.19529

       The petitioner shall attach a copy of the list provided by 19530
the division to each petition paper. A part petition paper 19531
circulated at any time without the list of affected permit holders 19532
and liquor agency stores attached to it is invalid.19533

       At the time the petitioner files the petition with the board 19534
of elections, the petitioner shall provide to the board the list19535
supplied by the division and an affidavit certifying that the 19536
petitioner notified all affected permit holders and liquor agency19537
stores, if any, on the list in the manner and within the time19538
required in this section and that, at the time each signer of the 19539
petition affixed the signer's signature to the petition, the 19540
petition paper contained a copy of the list of affected permit 19541
holders and liquor agency stores.19542

       Within five days after receiving a petition calling for an19543
election for the submission of one or more of the questions19544
specified in divisions (A) to (D) of section 4301.35 or section19545
4301.351 of the Revised Code, the board shall give notice by19546
certified mail that it has received the petition to all liquor19547
permit holders and liquor agency stores, if any, whose names19548
appear on the list of affected permit holders and liquor agency 19549
stores filed by the petitioner. Failure of the petitioner to 19550
supply the affidavit required by this section and a complete and 19551
accurate list of liquor permit holders and liquor agency stores, 19552
if any, invalidates the entire petition. The board of elections 19553
shall provide to a permit holder or liquor agency store that would 19554
be affected by a proposed local option election, on the permit 19555
holder's or liquor agency store's request, the names of the 19556
streets, and, if appropriate, the address numbers of residences 19557
and business establishments within the precinct in which the 19558
election is sought that would be affected by the results of the 19559
election. The board may charge a reasonable fee for this19560
information when provided to the petitioner and the permit holder 19561
or liquor agency store.19562

       (B) Upon the presentation of a petition, not later than four19563
p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the day of a 19564
general or primary election, to the board of elections of the 19565
county where the precinct is located, designating whether it is a 19566
petition for an election for the submission of one or more of the 19567
questions specified in section 4301.35 of the Revised Code, or a 19568
petition for the submission of one or more of the questions 19569
specified in section 4301.351 of the Revised Code, designating the 19570
particular question or questions specified in section 4301.35 or 19571
4301.351 of the Revised Code that are to be submitted, and signed 19572
by the qualified electors of the precinct concerned, equal in 19573
number to thirty-five per cent of the total number of votes cast 19574
in the precinct concerned for the office of governor at the 19575
preceding general election for that office, the board shall submit 19576
the question or questions specified in the petition to the 19577
electors of the precinct concerned, on the day of the next general 19578
or primary election, whichever occurs first and shall proceed as19579
follows:19580

       (1) Such board shall, not later than the sixty-eighth19581
seventy-eighth day before the day of the election for which the 19582
question or questions on the petition would qualify for submission 19583
to the electors of the precinct, examine and determine the 19584
sufficiency of the signatures and review, examine, and determine 19585
the validity of the petition and, in case of overlapping precinct19586
petitions presented within that period, determine which of the 19587
petitions shall govern the further proceedings of the board. In 19588
the case where the board determines that two or more overlapping 19589
petitions are valid, the earlier filed petition shall govern. The 19590
board shall certify the sufficiency and validity of any petition 19591
determined to be valid. The board shall determine the validity of 19592
the petition as of the time of certification as described in this 19593
division.19594

       (2) If a petition is sufficient, and, in case of overlapping 19595
precinct petitions, after the board has determined the governing 19596
petition, the board to which the petition has been presented shall 19597
order the holding of a special election in the precinct for the 19598
submission of whichever of the questions specified in section 19599
4301.35 or 4301.351 of the Revised Code are designated in the 19600
petition, on the day of the next general or primary election, 19601
whichever occurs first.19602

       (3) All petitions filed with a board of elections under this19603
section shall be open to public inspection under rules adopted by19604
the board.19605

       (4) Protest against local option petitions may be filed by 19606
any elector eligible to vote on the question or questions 19607
described in the petitions or by a permit holder or liquor agency 19608
store in the precinct as described in the petitions, not later19609
than four p.m. of the sixty-fourthseventy-fourth day before the 19610
day of the general or primary election for which the petition 19611
qualified. The protest shall be in writing and shall be filed with 19612
the election officials with whom the petition was filed. Upon 19613
filing of the protest, the election officials with whom it is 19614
filed shall promptly fix the time for hearing it, and shall mail 19615
notice of the filing of the protest and the time and place for 19616
hearing it to the person who filed the petition and to the person 19617
who filed the protest. At the time and place fixed, the election 19618
officials shall hear the protest and determine the validity of the19619
petition.19620

       Sec. 4301.331.  (A) The privilege of local option conferred 19621
by section 4301.321 of the Revised Code shall be exercised if a 19622
certified copy of the judgment issued pursuant to division (D) or 19623
(E) of section 3767.05 of the Revised Code that is the basis for 19624
the exercise of the local option privilege is filed pursuant to 19625
division (G) of section 3767.05 of the Revised Code indicating 19626
that a liquor permit premises has been adjudged a nuisance. The 19627
certified copy of the judgment shall be filed in accordance with 19628
this section by the person or public official who brought the 19629
action under section 3763.03 of the Revised Code.19630

       (B) The certified copy of the judgment prescribed under 19631
division (A) of this section shall be filed with the board of 19632
elections of the county in which the nuisance was adjudged to 19633
exist pursuant to division (D) or (E) of section 3767.05 of the19634
Revised Code not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth19635
eighty-fifth day before the day of the next general or primary 19636
election.19637

       (C) The statement prescribed under division (A) of this 19638
section shall contain both of the following:19639

       (1) A notice that the statement is for the submission of the 19640
question set forth in section 4301.352 of the Revised Code;19641

       (2) The name of a class C or D permit holder and the address 19642
of the permit holder's permit premises. If the business conducted 19643
by a class C or D permit holder at the permit premises has a name 19644
different from the permit holder's personal or corporate name, the 19645
name of the permit holder's business shall be stated along with 19646
the permit holder's personal or corporate name.19647

       (D) Not later than five days after the certified copy of the 19648
judgment prescribed under division (A) of this section is filed,19649
the board shall give notice by certified mail that it has received 19650
the certified copy of the judgment to the liquor permit holder 19651
whose permit would be affected by the results of the election19652
required by the filing of the certified copy of the judgment. 19653
Failure of the petitioner to supply a complete and accurate 19654
address of the liquor permit holder to the board of elections 19655
invalidates the election. 19656

       For purposes of this section, "complete and accurate address" 19657
means all of the following:19658

       (1) The address of the liquor permit premises;19659

       (2) The address of the statutory agent of the liquor permit 19660
holder, if applicable;19661

       (3) The address of the liquor permit holder if different from 19662
the liquor permit premises address. 19663

       (E) Not later than the sixty-eighthseventy-eighth day 19664
before the day of the next general or primary election, whichever 19665
occurs first, the board shall certify the sufficiency and19666
validity of the certified copy of the judgment, make such19667
determination as of the time of certification, and order the19668
holding of an election in the precinct on the day of that general 19669
or primary election for the submission of the question set forth 19670
in section 4301.352 of the Revised Code.19671

       (F) A certified copy of the judgment filed with the board of19672
elections under division (A) of this section shall be open to 19673
public inspection under rules adopted by the board.19674

       An elector who is eligible to vote on the question set forth 19675
in section 4301.352 of the Revised Code or the permit holder named 19676
on the certified copy of the judgment, not later than four p.m. of 19677
the sixty-fourthseventy-fourth day before the day of the election 19678
at which the question will be submitted to the electors, may file 19679
a protest against a local option petition. The protest shall be in 19680
writing and shall be filed with the election officials with whom 19681
the certified copy of the judgment was filed. Upon the filing of 19682
the protest, the election officials with whom it is filed shall 19683
promptly fix a time and place for hearing the protest, and shall 19684
mail notice of the time and place for hearing it to the person who 19685
filed the certified copy of the judgment and to the person who 19686
filed the protest. At the time and place fixed, the election 19687
officials shall hear the protest and determine the validity of the 19688
certified copy of the judgment.19689

       Sec. 4301.332.  (A) The board of elections shall provide to a19690
petitioner circulating a petition for an election for the19691
submission of one or more of the questions specified in section 19692
4301.353 or 4301.354 of the Revised Code, at the time of taking 19693
out the petition, the names of the streets and, if appropriate, 19694
the address numbers of residences and business establishments 19695
within the precinct that would be affected by the results of the 19696
election, and a form prescribed by the secretary of state for 19697
notifying affected permit holders of the circulation of a petition 19698
for an election for the submission of one or more of the questions 19699
specified in section 4301.353 or 4301.354 of the Revised Code. 19700
The petitioner shall, not less than forty-fivefifty-five days 19701
before the petition-filing deadline for the election, as provided 19702
in this section, file with the division of liquor control the19703
information regarding names of streets and, if appropriate,19704
address numbers of residences and business establishments provided 19705
by the board of elections, and specify to the division the portion 19706
of the precinct that would be affected by the results of the 19707
election and the filing deadline. The division shall, within a19708
reasonable period of time and not later than fifteentwenty-five19709
days before the filing deadline, supply the petitioner with a list 19710
of the names and addresses of permit holders, if any, who would be 19711
affected by the election. The list shall contain a heading with 19712
the following words: "Liquor permit holders who would be affected 19713
by the question(s) set forth on petition for a local option19714
election."19715

       Within five days after a petitioner has received from the19716
division the list of liquor permit holders, if any, who would be19717
affected by the question or questions set forth on a petition for19718
local option election, the petitioner, using the form provided by 19719
the board of elections, shall notify by certified mail each permit19720
holder whose name appears on that list. The form for notifying19721
affected permit holders shall require the petitioner to state the 19722
petitioner's name and street address and shall contain a statement 19723
that a petition is being circulated for an election for the 19724
submission of the question or questions specified in section 19725
4301.353 or 4301.354 of the Revised Code. The form shall require 19726
the petitioner to state the question or questions to be submitted 19727
as they appear on the petition.19728

       The petitioner shall attach a copy of the list provided by 19729
the division to each petition paper. A part petition paper 19730
circulated at any time without the list of affected permit holders 19731
attached to it is invalid.19732

       At the time the petitioner files the petition with the board19733
of elections, the petitioner shall provide to the board the list19734
supplied by the division and an affidavit certifying that the 19735
petitioner notified all affected permit holders, if any, on the 19736
list in the manner and within the time required in this section 19737
and that, at the time each signer of the petition affixed the 19738
signer's signature to the petition, the petition paper contained a 19739
copy of the list of affected permit holders.19740

       Within five days after receiving a petition calling for an19741
election for the submission of one or more of the questions19742
specified in section 4301.353 or 4301.354 of the Revised Code, the 19743
board shall give notice by certified mail that it has received the 19744
petition to all liquor permit holders, if any, whose names appear 19745
on the list of affected permit holders filed by the petitioner as 19746
furnished by the division. Failure of the petitioner to supply the19747
affidavit required by this section and a complete and accurate 19748
list of liquor permit holders as furnished by the division 19749
invalidates the entire petition. The board of elections shall 19750
provide to a permit holder who would be affected by a proposed 19751
local option election, on the permit holder's request, the names 19752
of the streets, and, if appropriate, the address numbers of 19753
residences and business establishments within the portion of the 19754
precinct that would be affected by the results of the election. 19755
The board may charge a reasonable fee for this information when 19756
provided to the petitioner and the permit holder.19757

       This division does not apply to an election held under 19758
section 4301.353 or 4301.354 of the Revised Code if the results of 19759
the election would not affect any permit holder.19760

       (B) Upon the presentation of a petition, not later than four19761
p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the day of a 19762
general or primary election, to the board of elections of the 19763
county where the precinct is located, designating whether it is a 19764
petition for an election for the submission of one or both of the 19765
questions specified in section 4301.353 of the Revised Code, or a 19766
petition for the submission of one or more of the questions 19767
specified in section 4301.354 of the Revised Code, designating the 19768
particular question or questions specified in section 4301.353 or 19769
4301.354 of the Revised Code that are to be submitted, and signed 19770
by the qualified electors of the precinct concerned, equal in 19771
number to thirty-five per cent of the total number of votes cast 19772
in the precinct concerned for the office of governor at the 19773
preceding general election for that office, the board shall submit 19774
the question or questions specified in the petition to the 19775
electors of the precinct concerned, on the day of the next general 19776
or primary election, whichever occurs first and shall proceed as19777
follows:19778

       (1) Such board shall, not later than the sixty-eighth19779
seventy-eighth day before the day of the election for which the 19780
question or questions on the petition would qualify for submission 19781
to the electors of the precinct, examine and determine the 19782
sufficiency of the signatures and review, examine, and determine 19783
the validity of the petition and, in case of overlapping precinct19784
petitions presented within that period, determine which of the 19785
petitions shall govern the further proceedings of the board. In 19786
the case where the board determines that two or more overlapping 19787
petitions are valid, the earlier filed petition shall govern. The 19788
board shall certify the sufficiency and validity of any petition 19789
determined to be valid. The board shall determine the validity of 19790
the petition as of the time of certification as described in this 19791
division.19792

       (2) If a petition is sufficient, and, in case of overlapping 19793
precinct petitions, after the board has determined the governing 19794
petition, the board to which the petition has been presented shall 19795
order the holding of a special election in the precinct for the 19796
submission of whichever of the questions specified in section 19797
4301.353 or 4301.354 of the Revised Code are designated in the 19798
petition, on the day of the next general or primary election, 19799
whichever occurs first.19800

       (C) All petitions filed with a board of elections under this19801
section shall be open to public inspection under rules adopted by19802
the board.19803

       (D) Protest against local option petitions may be filed by 19804
any elector eligible to vote on the question or questions 19805
described in the petitions or by a permit holder in the precinct 19806
as described in the petitions, not later than four p.m. of the 19807
sixty-fourthseventy-fourth day before the day of the general or 19808
primary election for which the petition qualified. The protest 19809
shall be in writing and shall be filed with the election officials 19810
with whom the petition was filed. Upon filing of the protest, the 19811
election officials with whom it is filed shall promptly fix the 19812
time for hearing it, and shall mail notice of the filing of the 19813
protest and the time and place for hearing it to the person who 19814
filed the petition and to the person who filed the protest. At the 19815
time and place fixed, the election officials shall hear the 19816
protest and determine the validity of the petition.19817

       Sec. 4301.333.  (A) The privilege of local option conferred19818
by section 4301.323 of the Revised Code may be exercised if, not19819
later than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before 19820
the day of a general or primary election, a petition is presented 19821
to the board of elections of the county in which the precinct is 19822
situated by a petitioner who is one of the following:19823

       (1) An applicant for the issuance or transfer of a liquor19824
permit at, or to, a particular location within the precinct;19825

       (2) The holder of a liquor permit at a particular location19826
within the precinct;19827

       (3) A person who operates or seeks to operate a liquor agency 19828
store at a particular location within the precinct;19829

       (4) The designated agent for an applicant, liquor permit19830
holder, or liquor agency store described in division (A)(1), (2),19831
or (3) of this section.19832

       (B) The petition shall be signed by the electors of the19833
precinct equal in number to at least thirty-five per cent of the19834
total number of votes cast in the precinct for the office of19835
governor at the preceding general election for that office and19836
shall contain all of the following:19837

       (1) A notice that the petition is for the submission of the19838
question or questions set forth in section 4301.355 of the19839
Revised Code;19840

       (2) The name of the applicant for the issuance or transfer,19841
or the holder, of the liquor permit or, if applicable, the name of19842
the liquor agency store, including any trade or fictitious names19843
under which the applicant, holder, or liquor agency store either19844
intends to do or does business at the particular location;19845

       (3) The address and proposed use of the particular location19846
within the election precinct to which the results of the question19847
or questions specified in section 4301.355 of the Revised Code19848
shall apply. For purposes of this division, "use" means all of the 19849
following:19850

       (a) The type of each liquor permit applied for by the19851
applicant or held by the liquor permit holder as described in19852
sections 4303.11 to 4303.183 of the Revised Code, including a19853
description of the type of beer or intoxicating liquor sales19854
authorized by each permit as provided in those sections;19855

       (b) If a liquor agency store, the fact that the business19856
operated as a liquor agency store authorized to operate by this19857
state;19858

       (c) A description of the general nature of the business of19859
the applicant, liquor permit holder, or liquor agency store.19860

       (4) If the petition seeks approval of Sunday sales under19861
question (B)(2) as set forth in section 4301.355 of the Revised19862
Code, a statement indicating whether the hours of sale sought are19863
between ten a.m. and midnight or between eleven a.m. and 19864
midnight.19865

       (C)(1) At the time the petitioner files the petition with the 19866
board of elections, the petitioner shall provide to the board both 19867
of the following:19868

       (a) An affidavit that is signed by the petitioner and that19869
states the proposed use of the location following the election19870
held to authorize the sale of beer or intoxicating liquor19871
authorized by each permit as provided in sections 4303.11 to19872
4303.183 of the Revised Code;19873

       (b) Written evidence of the designation of an agent by the19874
applicant, liquor permit holder, or liquor agency store described19875
in division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section for the purpose of19876
petitioning for the local option election, if the petitioner is19877
the designated agent of the applicant, liquor permit holder, or19878
liquor agency store.19879

       (2) Failure to supply the affidavit, or the written evidence19880
of the designation of the agent if the petitioner for the local19881
option election is the agent of the applicant, liquor permit19882
holder, or liquor agency store described in division (A)(1), (2),19883
or (3) of this section, at the time the petition is filed19884
invalidates the entire petition.19885

       (D) Not later than the sixty-eighthseventy-eighth day before 19886
the day of the next general or primary election, whichever occurs 19887
first, the board shall examine and determine the sufficiency of 19888
the signatures and the validity of the petition. If the board 19889
finds that the petition contains sufficient signatures and in 19890
other respects is valid, it shall order the holding of an election 19891
in the precinct on the day of the next general or primary 19892
election, whichever occurs first, for the submission of the 19893
question or questions set forth in section 4301.355 of the Revised 19894
Code.19895

       (E) A petition filed with the board of elections under this19896
section shall be open to public inspection under rules adopted by19897
the board.19898

       (F) An elector who is eligible to vote on the question or19899
questions set forth in section 4301.355 of the Revised Code may19900
file, not later than four p.m. of the sixty-fourthseventy-fourth19901
day before the day of the election at which the question or 19902
questions will be submitted to the electors, a protest against a 19903
local option petition circulated and filed pursuant to this 19904
section. The protest shall be in writing and shall be filed with 19905
the election officials with whom the petition was filed. Upon the 19906
filing of the protest, the election officials with whom it is 19907
filed shall promptly establish a time and place for hearing the 19908
protest and shall mail notice of the time and place for the 19909
hearing to the applicant for, or the holder of, the liquor permit 19910
who is specified in the petition and to the elector who filed the19911
protest. At the time and place established in the notice, the19912
election officials shall hear the protest and determine the19913
validity of the petition.19914

       Sec. 4301.334.  (A) The privilege of local option conferred 19915
by section 4301.324 of the Revised Code may be exercised if, not 19916
later than four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before 19917
the day of a general or primary election, a petition and other 19918
information required by division (B) of this section are 19919
presented to the board of elections of the county in which the19920
community facility named in the petition is located. The petition 19921
shall be signed by electors of the municipal corporation or 19922
unincorporated area of the township in which the community 19923
facility is located equal in number to at least ten per cent of 19924
the total number of votes cast in the municipal corporation or 19925
unincorporated area of the township in which the community 19926
facility is located for the office of governor at the most recent 19927
general election for that office and shall contain both of the 19928
following:19929

       (1) A notice that the petition is for the submission of the 19930
question set forth in section 4301.356 of the Revised Code and a19931
statement indicating whether the hours of Sunday sales sought in19932
the local option election are between ten a.m. and midnight or19933
between eleven a.m. and midnight;19934

       (2) The name and address of the community facility for which 19935
the local option election is sought and, if the community facility 19936
is a community entertainment district, the boundaries of the 19937
district.19938

       (B) Upon the request of a petitioner, a board of elections of 19939
a county shall furnish to the petitioner a copy of the 19940
instructions prepared by the secretary of state under division (P)19941
of section 3501.05 of the Revised Code and, within fifteen days 19942
after the request, a certificate indicating the number of valid 19943
signatures that will be required on a petition to hold an election 19944
in the municipal corporation or unincorporated area of the 19945
township in which the community facility is located on the 19946
question specified in section 4301.356 of the Revised Code.19947

       The petitioner shall, not less than thirty days before the 19948
petition-filing deadline for an election on the question specified 19949
in section 4301.356 of the Revised Code, specify to the division 19950
of liquor control the name and address of the community facility 19951
for which the election is sought and, if the community facility is 19952
a community entertainment district, the boundaries of the19953
district, the municipal corporation or unincorporated area of a 19954
township in which the election is sought, and the filing deadline. 19955
The division shall, within a reasonable period of time and not 19956
later than ten days before the filing deadline, supply the 19957
petitioner with the name and address of any permit holder for or 19958
within the community facility.19959

       The petitioner shall file the name and address of any permit 19960
holder who would be affected by the election at the time the 19961
petitioner files the petition with the board of elections. Within 19962
five days after receiving the petition, the board shall give 19963
notice by certified mail to any permit holder within the community 19964
facility that it has received the petition. Failure of the19965
petitioner to supply the name and address of any permit holder for 19966
or within the community facility as furnished to the petitioner by 19967
the division invalidates the petition.19968

       (C) Not later than the sixty-eighthseventy-eighth day before 19969
the day of the next general or primary election, whichever occurs 19970
first, the board shall examine and determine the sufficiency of 19971
the signatures on the petition. If the board finds that the 19972
petition is valid, it shall order the holding of an election in19973
the municipal corporation or unincorporated area of a township on 19974
the day of the next general or primary election, whichever occurs 19975
first, for the submission of the question set forth in section 19976
4301.356 of the Revised Code.19977

       (D) A petition filed with a board of elections under this 19978
section shall be open to public inspection under rules adopted by 19979
the board.19980

       (E) An elector who is eligible to vote on the question set 19981
forth in section 4301.356 of the Revised Code or any permit holder 19982
for or within the community facility may, not later than four p.m. 19983
of the sixty-fourthseventy-fourth day before the day of the 19984
election at which the question will be submitted to the electors, 19985
file a written protest against the local option petition with the19986
board of elections with which the petition was filed. Upon the 19987
filing of the protest, the board shall promptly fix a time and 19988
place for hearing the protest and shall mail notice of the time 19989
and place to the person who filed the petition and to the person 19990
who filed the protest. At the time and place fixed, the board 19991
shall hear the protest and determine the validity of the19992
petition.19993

       Sec. 4301.356.  If a petition is filed under section 4301.33419994
of the Revised Code for the submission of the question set forth19995
in this section, an election shall be held in the municipal19996
corporation or unincorporated area of a township as ordered by the19997
board of elections under that section.19998

       Except as otherwise provided in this section, if the19999
legislative authority of a municipal corporation in whose20000
territory, or the board of township trustees of a township in20001
whose unincorporated area, a community facility is located20002
submits, not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth20003
eighty-fifth day before the day of a primary or general election, 20004
to the board of elections of the county in which the community 20005
facility is located an ordinance or resolution requesting the 20006
submission of the question set forth in this section to the 20007
electors of the municipal corporation or unincorporated area of 20008
the township, the board of elections shall order that an election 20009
be held on that question in the municipal corporation or the 20010
unincorporated area of the township on the day of the next primary 20011
or general election, whichever occurs first. The legislative 20012
authority or board of township trustees shall submit the name and 20013
address of any permit holder who would be affected by the results 20014
of the election to the board of elections at the same time it 20015
submits the ordinance or resolution. The board of elections, 20016
within five days after receiving the name and address, shall give 20017
notice by certified mail to each permit holder that it has20018
received the ordinance or resolution. Failure of the legislative20019
authority or board of township trustees to supply the name and20020
address of each permit holder to the board of elections20021
invalidates the effect of the ordinance or resolution.20022

       At the election, the following question shall be submitted to20023
the electors of the municipal corporation or unincorporated area20024
of a township:20025

       "Shall the sale of beer and intoxicating liquor be permitted20026
on days of the week other than Sunday and between the hours of 20027
.......... (insert "ten a.m." or "eleven a.m.") and midnight on20028
Sunday, at .......... (insert name of community facility), a20029
community facility as defined by section 4301.01 of the Revised20030
Code, and located at ........ (insert the address of the community20031
facility and, if the community facility is a community20032
entertainment district, the boundaries of the district, as set20033
forth in the petition)?"20034

       The board of elections shall furnish printed ballots at the20035
election as provided under section 3505.06 of the Revised Code,20036
except that a separate ballot shall be used for the election under20037
this section. The question set forth in this section shall be20038
printed on each ballot, and the board shall insert in the question20039
appropriate words to complete it, subject to the approval of the 20040
secretary of state. Votes shall be cast as provided under section 20041
3505.06 of the Revised Code.20042

       Sec. 4301.421.  (A) For the purposes of section 307.696 of 20043
the Revised Code, to pay the expenses of administering the tax, 20044
and to pay any or all of the charge the board of elections makes20045
against the county to hold the election on the question of levying 20046
the tax, or for those purposes and to provide revenues to the 20047
county for permanent improvements, the board of county20048
commissioners may levy a tax on the sale of beer at a rate not to20049
exceed sixteen cents per gallon, on the sale of cider at a rate 20050
not to exceed twenty-four cents per gallon, and on the sale of 20051
wine and mixed beverages at a rate not to exceed thirty-two cents 20052
per gallon. The tax shall be imposed on all beer, cider, wine, 20053
and mixed beverages sold for resale at retail in the county, and 20054
on all beer, cider, wine, and mixed beverages sold at retail in 20055
the county by the manufacturer, bottler, importer, or other person 20056
upon which the tax has not been paid. The tax shall not be levied 20057
on the sale of wine to be used for known sacramental purposes. The 20058
tax may be levied for any number of years not exceeding twenty. 20059
The tax shall be in addition to the taxes imposed by sections 20060
4301.42, 4301.43, 4301.432, and 4305.01 of the Revised Code. The 20061
tax shall not be considered a cost in any computation required 20062
under rules of the liquor control commission regulating minimum 20063
prices or mark-ups.20064

       Only one sale of the same article shall be used in computing, 20065
reporting, and paying the amount of tax due.20066

       The tax shall be levied pursuant to a resolution of the20067
county commissioners approved by a majority of the electors in the 20068
county voting on the question of levying the tax, which resolution 20069
shall specify the rate of the tax, the number of years the tax 20070
will be levied, and the purposes for which the tax is levied. The 20071
election may be held on the date of a general election or special 20072
election held not sooner than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after 20073
the date the board certifies its resolution to the board of 20074
elections. If approved by the electors, the tax shall take effect 20075
on the first day of the month specified in the resolution but not 20076
sooner than the first day of the month that is at least sixty 20077
days after the certification of the election results by the board 20078
of elections. A copy of the resolution levying the tax and the 20079
certification of the board of elections shall be certified to the 20080
tax commissioner at least sixty days prior to the date on which 20081
the tax is to become effective.20082

       A resolution under this section may be joined on the ballot20083
as a single question with a resolution adopted under section20084
307.697 or 5743.024 of the Revised Code to levy a tax for the same 20085
purposes and for the purpose of paying the expenses of20086
administering the tax. The form of the ballot in an election held 20087
pursuant to this section shall be as prescribed in section 307.697 20088
of the Revised Code.20089

       (B) The board of county commissioners of a county in which a 20090
tax is imposed under this section on July 19, 1995, may levy a tax 20091
for the purpose of section 307.673 of the Revised Code regardless 20092
of whether or not the cooperative agreement authorized under that20093
section has been entered into prior to the day the resolution20094
adopted under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section is adopted, 20095
and for the purpose of reimbursing a county for costs incurred in 20096
the construction of a sports facility pursuant to an agreement 20097
entered into by the county under section 307.696 of the Revised 20098
Code. The tax shall be levied and approved in one of the manners 20099
prescribed by division (B)(1) or (2) of this section.20100

       (1) The tax may be levied pursuant to a resolution adopted by 20101
a majority of the members of the board of county commissioners not 20102
later than September 2, 1995. A board of county commissioners 20103
approving a tax under division (B)(1) of this section may approve 20104
a tax under division (D)(1) of section 307.697 or division (C)(1) 20105
of section 5743.024 of the Revised Code at the same time. Subject 20106
to the resolution being submitted to a referendum under sections 20107
305.31 to 305.41 of the Revised Code, the resolution shall take 20108
effect immediately, but the tax levied pursuant to the resolution 20109
shall not be levied prior to the day following the last day the 20110
tax levied pursuant to division (A) of this section may be levied.20111

       (2) The tax may be levied pursuant to a resolution adopted by 20112
a majority of the members of the board of county commissioners not 20113
later than September 2, 1995, and approved by a majority of the20114
electors of the county voting on the question of levying the tax20115
at the next succeeding general election following July 19, 1995. 20116
The board of county commissioners shall certify a copy of the 20117
resolution to the board of elections immediately upon adopting a 20118
resolution under division (D)(2) of this section, and the board of 20119
elections shall place the question of levying the tax on the 20120
ballot at that election. The form of the ballot shall be as 20121
prescribed by division (C) of section 307.697 of the Revised 20122
Code, except that the phrase "paying not more than one-half of the 20123
costs of providing a sports facility together with related 20124
redevelopment and economic development projects" shall be 20125
replaced by the phrase "paying the costs of constructing or20126
renovating a sports facility and reimbursing a county for costs20127
incurred by the county in the construction of a sports facility," 20128
and the phrase ", beginning .......... (here insert the earliest 20129
date the tax would take effect)" shall be appended after "years." 20130
A board of county commissioners submitting the question of a tax 20131
under division (B)(2) of this section may submit the question of 20132
a tax under division (D)(2) of section 307.697 or division (C)(2) 20133
of section 5743.024 of the Revised Code as a single question, and 20134
the form of the ballot shall include each of the proposed taxes.20135

       If approved by a majority of electors voting on the question, 20136
the tax shall take effect on the day specified on the ballot, 20137
which shall not be earlier than the day following the last day the 20138
tax levied pursuant to division (A) of this section may be levied.20139

       The rate of a tax levied pursuant to division (B)(1) or (2)20140
of this section shall not exceed the rate specified in division 20141
(A) of this section. A tax levied pursuant to division (B)(1) or 20142
(2) of this section may be levied for any number of years not 20143
exceeding twenty.20144

       A board of county commissioners adopting a resolution under 20145
division (B)(1) or (2) of this section shall certify a copy of the 20146
resolution to the tax commissioner immediately upon adoption of20147
the resolution.20148

       (C) No tax shall be levied under this section on or after the 20149
effective date of the amendment of this section by ....... of the 20150
127th general assemblySeptember 23, 2008. This division does not 20151
prevent the collection of any tax levied under this section 20152
before that date so long as that tax remains effective.20153

       Sec. 4301.424.  (A) For the purpose of section 351.26 of the20154
Revised Code and to pay any or all of the charge the board of20155
elections makes against the county to hold the election on the20156
question of levying the tax, the board of county commissioners, in20157
the manner prescribed by division (A) of section 351.26 of the20158
Revised Code, may levy a tax on each gallon of spirituous liquor;20159
on the sale of beer; and on the sale of wine and mixed beverages.20160
The tax on spirituous liquor shall be imposed on spirituous liquor20161
sold to or purchased by liquor permit holders for resale, and sold20162
at retail by the division of liquor control, in the county at a 20163
rate not greater than three dollars per gallon; the tax on beer, 20164
wine, and mixed beverages shall be imposed on all beer, wine, and 20165
mixed beverages sold for resale at retail in the county, and on 20166
all beer, wine, and mixed beverages sold at retail in the county 20167
by the manufacturer, bottler, importer, or other person and upon 20168
which the tax has not been paid. The rate of the tax on beer shall 20169
not exceed sixteen cents per gallon, and the rate of the tax on 20170
wine and mixed beverages shall not exceed thirty-two cents per 20171
gallon. Only one sale of the same article shall be used in 20172
computing, reporting, and paying the amount of tax due. The tax 20173
may be levied for any number of years not exceeding twenty.20174

       The tax shall be levied pursuant to a resolution of the board20175
of county commissioners adopted as prescribed by division (A) of20176
section 351.26 of the Revised Code and approved by a majority of20177
the electors in the county voting on the question of levying the20178
tax. The resolution shall specify the rates of the tax, the number 20179
of years the tax will be levied, and the purposes for which the 20180
tax is levied. Such election may be held on the date of a general 20181
or special election held not sooner than seventy-fiveeighty-five20182
days after the date the board certifies its resolution to the 20183
board of elections. If approved by the electors, the tax takes 20184
effect on the first day of the month specified in the resolution 20185
but not sooner than the first day of the month that is at least 20186
sixty days after the certification of the election results by the 20187
board of elections. A copy of the resolution levying the tax shall 20188
be certified to the division of liquor control and the tax20189
commissioner at least sixty days prior to the date on which the20190
tax is to become effective.20191

       (B) A resolution under this section may be joined on the20192
ballot as a single question with a resolution adopted under20193
section 5743.026 of the Revised Code to levy a tax for the same20194
purposes, and for the purpose of paying the expenses of20195
administering that tax.20196

       (C) The form of the ballot in an election held on the20197
question of levying a tax proposed pursuant to this section shall20198
be as prescribed by section 351.26 of the Revised Code.20199

       (D) No tax shall be levied under this section on or after the 20200
effective date of the amendment of this section by the capital 20201
appropriations act of the 127th general assemblySeptember 23, 20202
2008. This division does not prevent the collection of any tax 20203
levied under this section before that date so long as that tax 20204
remains effective.20205

       Sec. 4303.29.  (A) No permit, other than an H permit, shall20206
be issued to a firm or partnership unless all the members of the20207
firm or partnership are citizens of the United States. No permit, 20208
other than an H permit, shall be issued to an individual who is 20209
not a citizen of the United States. No permit, other than an E or 20210
H permit, shall be issued to any corporation organized under the 20211
laws of any country, territory, or state other than this state20212
until it has furnished the division of liquor control with20213
evidence that it has complied with the laws of this state relating20214
to the transaction of business in this state.20215

       The division may refuse to issue any permit to or refuse to20216
renew any permit of any person convicted of any felony that is20217
reasonably related to the person's fitness to operate a liquor20218
permit business in this state. No holder of a permit shall sell,20219
assign, transfer, or pledge the permit without the written consent 20220
of the division.20221

       (B)(1) No D-3 permit shall be issued to any club unless the20222
club has been continuously engaged in the activity specified in20223
section 4303.15 of the Revised Code, as a qualification for that20224
class of permit, for two years at the time the permit is issued.20225

       (2)(a) Subject to division (B)(2)(b) of this section, upon20226
application by properly qualified persons, one C-1 and C-2 permit20227
shall be issued for each one thousand population or part of that20228
population, and one D-1 and D-2 permit shall be issued for each20229
two thousand population or part of that population, in each20230
municipal corporation and in the unincorporated area of each20231
township.20232

       Subject to division (B)(2)(b) of this section, not more than20233
one D-3, D-4, or D-5 permit shall be issued for each two thousand20234
population or part of that population in any municipal corporation 20235
and in the unincorporated area of any township, except that, in 20236
any city of a population of fifty-five thousand or more, one D-3 20237
permit may be issued for each fifteen hundred population or part 20238
of that population.20239

       (b)(i) Division (B)(2)(a) of this section does not prohibit 20240
the transfer of location or the transfer of ownership and location 20241
of a C-1, C-2, D-1, D-2, D-3, or D-5 permit from a municipal 20242
corporation or the unincorporated area of a township in which the 20243
number of permits of that class exceeds the number of such permits 20244
authorized to be issued under division (B)(2)(a) of this section 20245
to an economic development project located in another municipal 20246
corporation or the unincorporated area of another township in 20247
which no additional permits of that class may be issued to the 20248
applicant under division (B)(2)(a) of this section, but the 20249
transfer of location or transfer of ownership and location of the 20250
permit may occur only if the applicant notifies the municipal 20251
corporation or township to which the location of the permit will 20252
be transferred regarding the transfer and that municipal 20253
corporation or township acknowledges in writing to the division of 20254
liquor control, at the time the application for the transfer of 20255
location or transfer of ownership and location of the permit is 20256
filed, that the transfer will be to an economic development 20257
project. This acknowledgment by the municipal corporation or 20258
township does not prohibit it from requesting a hearing under 20259
section 4303.26 of the Revised Code. The applicant is eligible to 20260
apply for and receive the transfer of location of the permit under 20261
division (B)(2)(b) of this section if all permits of that class 20262
that may be issued under division (B)(2)(a) of this section in the 20263
applicable municipal corporation or unincorporated area of the 20264
township have already been issued or if the number of applications 20265
filed for permits of that class in that municipal corporation or 20266
the unincorporated area of that township exceed the number of 20267
permits of that class that may be issued there under division 20268
(B)(2)(a) of this section.20269

       A permit transferred under division (B)(2)(b) of this section20270
may be subsequently transferred to a different owner at the same20271
location, or to the same owner or a different owner at a different20272
location in the same municipal corporation or in the20273
unincorporated area of the same township, as long as the same or20274
new location meets the economic development project criteria set20275
forth in this section.20276

       (ii) Factors that shall be used to determine the designation20277
of an economic development project include, but are not limited20278
to, architectural certification of the plans and the cost of the20279
project, the number of jobs that will be created by the project,20280
projected earnings of the project, projected tax revenues for the20281
political subdivisions in which the project will be located, and20282
the amount of financial investment in the project. The20283
superintendent of liquor control shall determine whether the20284
existing or proposed business that is seeking a permit described20285
in division (B)(2)(b) of this section qualifies as an economic20286
development project and, if the superintendent determines that it20287
so qualifies, shall designate the business as an economic20288
development project.20289

       (3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict20290
the issuance of a permit to a municipal corporation for use at a20291
municipally owned airport at which commercial airline companies20292
operate regularly scheduled flights on which space is available to20293
the public. A municipal corporation applying for a permit for such 20294
a municipally owned airport is exempt, in regard to that20295
application, from the population restrictions contained in this20296
section and from population quota restrictions contained in any20297
rule of the liquor control commission. A municipal corporation20298
applying for a D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4, or D-5 permit for such a20299
municipally owned airport is subject to section 4303.31 of the20300
Revised Code.20301

       (4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit20302
the issuance of a D permit to the board of trustees of a soldiers'20303
memorial for a premises located at a soldiers' memorial20304
established pursuant to Chapter 345. of the Revised Code. An20305
application for a D permit by the board for those premises is20306
exempt from the population restrictions contained in this section20307
and from the population quota restrictions contained in any rule20308
of the liquor control commission. The location of a D permit20309
issued to the board for those premises shall not be transferred. A 20310
board of trustees of a soldiers' memorial applying for a D-1, D-2, 20311
D-3, D-4, or D-5 permit for the soldiers' memorial is subject to 20312
section 4303.31 of the Revised Code.20313

       (5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict20314
the issuance of a permit for a premises located at a golf course20315
owned by a municipal corporation, township, or county, owned by a20316
park district created under Chapter 1545. of the Revised Code, or20317
owned by the state. The location of such a permit issued on or20318
after September 26, 1984, for a premises located at such a golf20319
course shall not be transferred. Any application for such a permit 20320
is exempt from the population quota restrictions contained in this 20321
section and from the population quota restrictions contained in 20322
any rule of the liquor control commission. A municipal 20323
corporation, township, county, park district, or state agency 20324
applying for a D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4, or D-5 permit for such a golf 20325
course is subject to section 4303.31 of the Revised Code.20326

       (6) As used in division (B)(6) of this section, "fair" has20327
the same meaning as in section 991.01 of the Revised Code; "state20328
fairgrounds" means the property that is held by the state for the20329
purpose of conducting fairs, expositions, and exhibits and that is20330
maintained and managed by the Ohio expositions commission under20331
section 991.03 of the Revised Code; "capitol square" has the same 20332
meaning as in section 105.41 of the Revised Code; and "Ohio 20333
judicial center" means the site of the Ohio supreme court and its 20334
grounds.20335

       Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the20336
issuance of one or more D permits to one or more applicants for20337
all or a part of the state fairgrounds, capitol square, or the 20338
Ohio judicial center. An application for a D permit for the state 20339
fairgrounds, capitol square, or the Ohio judicial center is exempt 20340
from the population quota restrictions contained in this section 20341
and from the population quota restrictions contained in any rule 20342
of the liquor control commission. The location of a D permit 20343
issued for the state fairgrounds, capitol square, or the Ohio 20344
judicial center shall not be transferred. An applicant for a D-1, 20345
D-2, D-3, or D-5 permit for the state fairgrounds is not subject 20346
to section 4303.31 of the Revised Code.20347

       Pursuant to section 1711.09 of the Revised Code, the holder20348
of a D permit issued for the state fairgrounds shall not deal in20349
spirituous liquor at the state fairgrounds during, or for one week20350
before or for three days after, any fair held at the state20351
fairgrounds.20352

       (7) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit20353
the issuance of a D permit for a premises located at a zoological20354
park at which sales have been approved in an election held under20355
former section 4301.356 of the Revised Code. An application for a20356
D permit for such a premises is exempt from the population20357
restrictions contained in this section, from the population quota20358
restrictions contained in any rule of the liquor control20359
commission, and from section 4303.31 of the Revised Code. The20360
location of a D permit issued for a premises at such a zoological20361
park shall not be transferred, and no quota or other restrictions20362
shall be placed on the number of D permits that may be issued for20363
a premises at such a zoological park.20364

       (C)(1) No D-3, D-4, D-5, or D-5a permit shall be issued in20365
any election precinct in any municipal corporation or in any20366
election precinct in the unincorporated area of any township, in20367
which at the November, 1933, election a majority of the electors20368
voting thereon in the municipal corporation or in the20369
unincorporated area of the township voted against the repeal of20370
Section 9 of Article XV, Ohio Constitution, unless the sale of20371
spirituous liquor by the glass is authorized by a majority vote of20372
the electors voting on the question in the precinct at an election20373
held pursuant to this section or by a majority vote of the20374
electors of the precinct voting on question (C) at a special local20375
option election held in the precinct pursuant to section 4301.3520376
of the Revised Code. Upon the request of an elector, the board of20377
elections of the county that encompasses the precinct shall20378
furnish the elector with a copy of the instructions prepared by20379
the secretary of state under division (P) of section 3501.05 of20380
the Revised Code and, within fifteen days after the request, a20381
certificate of the number of signatures required for a valid20382
petition under this section.20383

       Upon the petition of thirty-five per cent of the total number20384
of voters voting in any such precinct for the office of governor20385
at the preceding general election, filed with the board of20386
elections of the county in which such precinct is located not20387
later than seventy-fiveeighty-five days before a general 20388
election, the board shall prepare ballots and hold an election at 20389
such general election upon the question of allowing spirituous 20390
liquor to be sold by the glass in such precinct. The ballots shall 20391
be approved in form by the secretary of state. The results of the 20392
election shall be certified by the board to the secretary of20393
state, who shall certify the results to the division.20394

       (2) No holder of a class D-3 permit issued for a boat or20395
vessel shall sell spirituous liquor in any precinct, in which the20396
election provided for in this section may be held, unless the sale20397
of spirituous liquor by the drink has been authorized by vote of20398
the electors as provided in this section or in section 4301.35 of20399
the Revised Code.20400

       (D) Any holder of a C or D permit whose permit premises were20401
purchased in 1986 or 1987 by the state or any state agency for 20402
highway purposes shall be issued the same permit at another20403
location notwithstanding any quota restrictions contained in this20404
chapter or in any rule of the liquor control commission.20405

       Sec. 4305.14.  (A) The following questions regarding the sale 20406
of beer by holders of C or D permits may be presented to the 20407
qualified electors of an election precinct:20408

       (1) "Shall the sale of beer as defined in section 4305.08 of 20409
the Revised Code under permits which authorize sale for20410
off-premises consumption only be permitted within this precinct?"20411

       (2) "Shall the sale of beer as defined in section 4305.08 of 20412
the Revised Code under permits which authorize sale for20413
on-premises consumption only, and under permits which authorize20414
sale for both on-premises and off-premises consumption, be20415
permitted in this precinct?"20416

       The exact wording of the question as submitted and form of20417
ballot as printed shall be determined by the board of elections in 20418
the county wherein the election is held, subject to approval of 20419
the secretary of state.20420

       Upon the request of an elector, a board of elections of a20421
county that encompasses an election precinct shall furnish to the 20422
elector a copy of the instructions prepared by the secretary of 20423
state under division (P) of section 3501.05 of the Revised Code 20424
and, within fifteen days after the request, with a certificate 20425
indicating the number of valid signatures that will be required on 20426
a petition to hold a special election in that precinct on either 20427
or both of the questions specified in this section.20428

       The board shall provide to a petitioner, at the time the 20429
petitioner takes out a petition, the names of the streets and, if20430
appropriate, the address numbers of residences and business20431
establishments within the precinct in which the election is 20432
sought, and a form prescribed by the secretary of state for 20433
notifying affected permit holders of the circulation of a petition 20434
for an election for the submission of one or more of the questions 20435
specified in division (A) of this section. The petitioner shall, 20436
not less than forty-fivefifty-five days before the20437
petition-filing deadline for an election provided for in this20438
section, file with the division of liquor control the information 20439
regarding names of streets and, if appropriate, address numbers of 20440
residences and business establishments provided by the board of 20441
elections, and specify to the division the precinct that is20442
concerned or that would be affected by the results of the election20443
and the filing deadline. The division shall, within a reasonable 20444
period of time and not later than fifteentwenty-five days before20445
the filing deadline, supply the petitioner with a list of the20446
names and addresses of permit holders who would be affected by the 20447
election. The list shall contain a heading with the following 20448
words: "liquor permit holders who would be affected by the 20449
question(s) set forth on a petition for a local option election."20450

       Within five days after receiving from the division the list 20451
of liquor permit holders who would be affected by the question or 20452
questions set forth on a petition for local option election, the 20453
petitioner shall, using the form provided by the board of 20454
elections, notify by certified mail each permit holder whose name 20455
appears on that list. The form for notifying affected permit 20456
holders shall require the petitioner to state the petitioner's 20457
name and street address and shall contain a statement that a20458
petition is being circulated for an election for the submission of 20459
the question or questions specified in division (B) of this20460
section. The form shall require the petitioner to state the20461
question or questions to be submitted as they appear on the20462
petition.20463

       The petitioner shall attach a copy of the list provided by 20464
the division to each petition paper. A part petition paper 20465
circulated at any time without the list of affected permit holders 20466
attached to it is invalid.20467

       At the time of filing the petition with the board of20468
elections, the petitioner shall provide to the board of elections20469
the list supplied by the division and an affidavit certifying that 20470
the petitioner notified all affected permit holders on the list in 20471
the manner and within the time required in this section and that, 20472
at the time each signer of the petition signed the petition, the20473
petition paper contained a copy of the list of affected permit 20474
holders.20475

       Within five days after receiving a petition calling for an20476
election for the submission of the question or questions set forth 20477
in this section, the board of elections shall give notice by 20478
certified mail that it has received the petition to all liquor20479
permit holders whose names appear on the list of affected permit20480
holders filed by the petitioner. Failure of the petitioner to 20481
supply the affidavit required by this section and a complete and 20482
accurate list of liquor permit holders invalidates the entire20483
petition. The board of elections shall provide to a permit holder 20484
who would be affected by a proposed local option election, on the 20485
permit holder's request, the names of the streets, and, if 20486
appropriate, the address numbers of residences and business 20487
establishments within the precinct in which the election is sought 20488
and that would be affected by the results of the election. The20489
board may charge a reasonable fee for this information when 20490
provided to the petitioner and the permit holder.20491

       Upon presentation not later than four p.m. of the20492
seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the day of a general or 20493
primary election, of a petition to the board of elections of the 20494
county wherein such election is sought to be held, requesting the20495
holding of such election on either or both of the questions20496
specified in this section, signed by qualified electors of the20497
precinct concerned equal in number to thirty-five per cent of the 20498
total number of votes cast in the precinct concerned for the 20499
office of governor at the preceding general election for that 20500
office, such board shall submit the question or questions 20501
specified in the petition to the electors of the precinct 20502
concerned, on the day of the next general or primary election, 20503
whichever occurs first.20504

       (B) The board shall proceed as follows:20505

       (1) Such board shall, upon the filing of a petition under 20506
this section, but not later than the sixty-eighthseventy-eighth20507
day before the day of the election for which the question or20508
questions on the petition would qualify for submission to the20509
electors of the precinct, examine and determine the sufficiency of 20510
the signatures and review, examine, and determine the validity of 20511
such petition and, in case of overlapping precinct petitions 20512
presented within that period, determine which of the petitions 20513
shall govern the further proceedings of the board. In the case 20514
where the board determines that two or more overlapping petitions 20515
are valid, the earlier petition shall govern. The board shall 20516
certify the sufficiency of signatures contained in the petition as 20517
of the time of filing and the validity of the petition as of the 20518
time of certification as described in division (C)(1) of this 20519
section if the board finds the petition to be both sufficient and 20520
valid.20521

       (2) If the petition contains sufficient signatures and is 20522
valid, and, in case of overlapping precinct petitions, after the20523
board has determined the governing petition, the board shall order 20524
the holding of a special election in the precinct for the 20525
submission of the question or questions specified in the petition, 20526
on the day of the next general or primary election, whichever 20527
occurs first.20528

       (3) All petitions filed with a board of elections under this20529
section shall be open to public inspection under rules adopted by 20530
the board.20531

       (C) Protest against a local option petition may be filed by 20532
any qualified elector eligible to vote on the question or20533
questions specified in the petition or by a permit holder in the20534
precinct as described in the petition, not later than four p.m. of 20535
the sixty-fourthseventy-fourth day before the day of such general 20536
or primary election for which the petition qualified. Such 20537
protest shall be in writing and shall be filed with the election 20538
officials with whom the petition was filed. Upon filing of such 20539
protest the election officials with whom it is filed shall 20540
promptly fix the time for hearing it, and shall forthwith mail 20541
notice of the filing of the protest and the time for hearing it to 20542
the person who filed the petition which is protested and to the 20543
person who filed the protest. At the time and place fixed, the 20544
election officials shall hear the protest and determine the 20545
validity of the petition.20546

       (D) If a majority of the electors voting on the question in 20547
the precinct vote "yes" on question (1) or (2) as set forth in 20548
division (A) of this section, the sale of beer as specified in 20549
that question shall be permitted in the precinct and no subsequent 20550
election shall be held in the precinct under this section on the 20551
same question for a period of at least four years from the date of 20552
the most recent election.20553

       If a majority of the electors voting on the question in the20554
precinct vote "no" on question (1) or (2) as set forth in division 20555
(A) of this section, no C or D permit holder shall sell beer as 20556
specified in that question within the precinct during the period 20557
the election is in effect and no subsequent election shall be held 20558
in the precinct under this section on the same question for a 20559
period of at least four years from the date of the most recent 20560
election.20561

       Sec. 4504.021.  The question of repeal of a county permissive 20562
tax adopted as an emergency measure pursuant to section 4504.02, 20563
4504.15, or 4504.16 of the Revised Code may be initiated by filing 20564
with the board of elections of the county not less than 20565
seventy-fiveeighty-five days before the general election in any20566
year a petition requesting that an election be held on such20567
question. Such petition shall be signed by qualified electors20568
residing in the county equal in number to ten per cent of those20569
voting for governor at the most recent gubernatorial election.20570

       After determination by it that such petition is valid, the20571
board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of20572
the county at the next general election. The election shall be20573
conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular20574
elections for county offices in the county. Notice of the election 20575
shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the 20576
district once a week for two consecutive weeks prior to the 20577
election and, if the board of elections operates and maintains a 20578
web site, notice of the election also shall be posted on that web 20579
site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state 20580
the purpose, time, and place of the election. The form of the 20581
ballot cast at such election shall be prescribed by the secretary 20582
of state. The question covered by such petition shall be submitted 20583
as a separate proposition, but it may be printed on the same 20584
ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election 20585
other than the election of officers. If a majority of the 20586
qualified electors voting on the question of repeal approve the 20587
repeal, the result of the election shall be certified immediately 20588
after the canvass by the board of elections to the county 20589
commissioners, who shall thereupon, after the current year, cease 20590
to levy the tax.20591

       Sec. 4504.15.  For the purpose of paying the costs of20592
enforcing and administering the tax provided for in this section;20593
for the various purposes stated in section 4504.02 of the Revised20594
Code; and to supplement revenue already available for those20595
purposes, any county may, by resolution adopted by its board of20596
county commissioners, levy an annual license tax, that shall be in 20597
addition to the tax levied by sections 4503.02, 4503.07, and20598
4503.18 of the Revised Code, upon the operation of motor vehicles20599
upon the public roads and highways. The tax shall be at the rate20600
of five dollars per motor vehicle on all motor vehicles the20601
district of registration of which, as defined in section 4503.1020602
of the Revised Code, is located in the county levying the tax but20603
is not located within any municipal corporation levying the tax20604
authorized by section 4504.17 of the Revised Code, and shall be in 20605
addition to the taxes at the rates specified in sections 4503.04 20606
and 4503.16 of the Revised Code, subject to reductions in the 20607
manner provided in section 4503.11 of the Revised Code and the 20608
exemptions provided in sections 4503.16, 4503.17, 4503.171,20609
4503.41, and 4503.43 of the Revised Code.20610

       Prior to the adoption of any resolution under this section, 20611
the board of county commissioners shall conduct two public 20612
hearings thereon, the second hearing to be not less than three nor 20613
more than ten days after the first. Notice of the date, time, and 20614
place of such hearings shall be given by publication in a 20615
newspaper of general circulation in the county once a week for two 20616
consecutive weeks, the second publication being not less than ten 20617
nor more than thirty days prior to the first hearing.20618

       No resolution under this section shall become effective 20619
sooner than thirty days following its adoption, and such 20620
resolution is subject to a referendum as provided in sections 20621
305.31 to 305.41 of the Revised Code, unless the resolution is 20622
adopted as an emergency measure necessary for the immediate 20623
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, in which case 20624
it shall go into immediate effect. The emergency measure must 20625
receive an affirmative vote of all of the members of the board of 20626
county commissioners, and shall state the reasons for the 20627
necessity. A resolution may direct the board of elections to 20628
submit the question of levying the tax to the electors of the 20629
county at the next primary or general election occurring not less 20630
than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the resolution is 20631
certified to the board; no such resolution shall go into effect 20632
unless approved by a majority of those voting upon it. A county is 20633
not required to enact the tax authorized by section 4504.02 of the 20634
Revised Code in order to levy the tax authorized by this section, 20635
but no county may have in effect the tax authorized by this 20636
section if it repeals the tax authorized by section 4504.02 of the 20637
Revised Code after April 1, 1987.20638

       Sec. 4504.16.  For the purpose of paying the costs of20639
enforcing and administering the tax provided for in this section;20640
for the various purposes stated in section 4504.02 of the Revised20641
Code; and to supplement revenue already available for those20642
purposes, any county that currently levies the tax authorized by20643
section 4504.15 of the Revised Code may, by resolution adopted by20644
its board of county commissioners, levy an annual license tax,20645
that shall be in addition to the tax levied by that section and by20646
sections 4503.02, 4503.07, and 4503.18 of the Revised Code, upon20647
the operation of motor vehicles upon the public roads and20648
highways. The tax shall be at the rate of five dollars per motor20649
vehicle on all motor vehicles the district of registration of20650
which, as defined in section 4503.10 of the Revised Code, is20651
located in the county levying the tax but is not located within20652
any municipal corporation levying the tax authorized by section20653
4504.171 of the Revised Code, and shall be in addition to the20654
taxes at the rates specified in sections 4503.04 and 4503.16 of20655
the Revised Code, subject to reductions in the manner provided in20656
section 4503.11 of the Revised Code and the exemptions provided in20657
sections 4503.16, 4503.17, 4503.171, 4503.41, and 4503.43 of the20658
Revised Code.20659

       Prior to the adoption of any resolution under this section, 20660
the board of county commissioners shall conduct two public 20661
hearings thereon, the second hearing to be not less than three nor 20662
more than ten days after the first. Notice of the date, time, and 20663
place of such hearings shall be given by publication in a 20664
newspaper of general circulation in the county once a week for two 20665
consecutive weeks, the second publication being not less than ten 20666
nor more than thirty days prior to the first hearing.20667

       No resolution under this section shall become effective 20668
sooner than thirty days following its adoption, and such 20669
resolution is subject to a referendum as provided in sections 20670
305.31 to 305.41 of the Revised Code, unless the resolution is 20671
adopted as an emergency measure necessary for the immediate 20672
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, in which case 20673
it shall go into immediate effect. The emergency measure must 20674
receive an affirmative vote of all of the members of the board of 20675
county commissioners, and shall state the reasons for the 20676
necessity. A resolution may direct the board of elections to 20677
submit the question of levying the tax to the electors of the 20678
county at the next primary or general election occurring not less 20679
than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the resolution is20680
certified to the board; no such resolution shall go into effect20681
unless approved by a majority of those voting upon it.20682

       Nothing in this section or in section 4504.15 of the Revised20683
Code shall be interpreted as preventing a county from levying the20684
county motor vehicle license taxes authorized by such sections in20685
a single resolution.20686

       Sec. 4504.21.  (A) For the purpose of paying the costs and20687
expenses of enforcing and administering the tax provided for in20688
this section; for planning, constructing, reconstructing,20689
improving, maintaining, and repairing roads, bridges, and20690
culverts; for purchasing, erecting, and maintaining traffic signs, 20691
markers, lights, and signals; for paying debt service charges on 20692
obligations issued for those purposes; and to supplement revenue 20693
already available for those purposes, a transportation improvement 20694
district created in accordance with section 5540.02 of the Revised 20695
Code may levy an annual license tax upon the operation of motor 20696
vehicles on the public roads and highways in the territory of the 20697
district. The tax shall be levied in increments of five dollars 20698
and shall not exceed twenty dollars per motor vehicle on all motor 20699
vehicles the owners of which reside in the district and shall be 20700
in addition to all other taxes levied under this chapter, subject 20701
to reduction in the manner provided in division (B)(2) of section20702
4503.11 of the Revised Code. The tax may be levied in all or part 20703
of the territory of the district. 20704

       (B) The board of trustees of a transportation improvement 20705
district proposing to levy a motor vehicle license tax under this 20706
section shall put the question of the tax to the electors of the 20707
district or of that part of the district in which the tax would be 20708
levied. The election shall be held on the date of a primary or 20709
general election held not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days20710
after the board of trustees certifies to the county board of 20711
elections its resolution proposing the tax. The resolution shall 20712
specify the rate of the tax. The board of elections shall submit 20713
the question of the tax to the electors at the primary or general 20714
election. The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of the 20715
ballot for the election. If approved by a majority of the electors 20716
voting on the question of the tax, the board of trustees shall20717
levy the tax as provided in the resolution.20718

       (C) A transportation improvement district license tax levied20719
under this section shall continue in effect until repealed, or20720
until the dissolution of the transportation improvement district20721
that levied it.20722

       (D) Money received by the registrar of motor vehicles20723
pursuant to sections 4501.03 and 4504.09 of the Revised Code that 20724
consists of the taxes levied under this section shall be deposited 20725
in the auto registration distribution fund created by section 20726
4501.03 of the Revised Code and distributed to the transportation 20727
improvement district levying such tax. The registrar may assign to 20728
the transportation improvement district a unique code to20729
facilitate the distribution of such money, which may be the same 20730
unique code assigned to a county under section 4501.03 of the 20731
Revised Code.20732

       Sec. 4506.03.  (A) Except as provided in divisions (B) and 20733
(C) of this section, the following shall apply:20734

       (1) No person shall drive a commercial motor vehicle on a20735
highway in this state unless the person holds, and has in the 20736
person's possession, a valid commercial driver's license with 20737
proper endorsements for the motor vehicle being driven, issued by 20738
the registrar of motor vehicles, a valid examiner's commercial 20739
driving permit issued under section 4506.13 of the Revised Code, a 20740
valid restricted commercial driver's license and waiver for 20741
farm-related service industries issued under section 4506.24 of 20742
the Revised Code, or a valid commercial driver's license temporary 20743
instruction permit issued by the registrar and is accompanied by 20744
an authorized state driver's license examiner or tester or a 20745
person who has been issued and has in the person's immediate 20746
possession a current, valid commercial driver's license with 20747
proper endorsements for the motor vehicle being driven.20748

       (2) No person shall be issued a commercial driver's license20749
until the person surrenders to the registrar of motor vehicles all 20750
valid licenses issued to the person by another jurisdiction20751
recognized by this state. The registrar shall report the surrender 20752
of a license to the issuing authority, together with information 20753
that a license is now issued in this state. The registrar shall 20754
destroy any such license that is not returned to the issuing 20755
authority.20756

       (3) No person who has been a resident of this state for20757
thirty days or longer shall drive a commercial motor vehicle under20758
the authority of a commercial driver's license issued by another20759
jurisdiction.20760

       (B) Nothing in division (A) of this section applies to any 20761
qualified person when engaged in the operation of any of the 20762
following:20763

       (1) A farm truck;20764

       (2) Fire equipment for a fire department, volunteer or20765
nonvolunteer fire company, fire district, or joint fire district;20766

       (3) A public safety vehicle used to provide transportation or 20767
emergency medical service for ill or injured persons;20768

       (4) A recreational vehicle;20769

       (5) A commercial motor vehicle within the boundaries of an20770
eligible unit of local government, if the person is employed by20771
the eligible unit of local government and is operating the20772
commercial motor vehicle for the purpose of removing snow or ice20773
from a roadway by plowing, sanding, or salting, but only if either20774
the employee who holds a commercial driver's license issued under20775
this chapter and ordinarily operates a commercial motor vehicle20776
for these purposes is unable to operate the vehicle, or the20777
employing eligible unit of local government determines that a snow20778
or ice emergency exists that requires additional assistance;20779

       (6) A vehicle operated for military purposes by any member or 20780
uniformed employee of the armed forces of the United States or 20781
their reserve components, including the Ohio national guard. This 20782
exception does not apply to United States reserve technicians.20783

       (7) A commercial motor vehicle that is operated for20784
nonbusiness purposes. "Operated for nonbusiness purposes" means20785
that the commercial motor vehicle is not used in commerce as20786
"commerce" is defined in 49 C.F.R. 383.5, as amended, and is not20787
regulated by the public utilities commission pursuant to Chapter20788
4919., 4921., or 4923. of the Revised Code.20789

       (8) A motor vehicle that is designed primarily for the20790
transportation of goods and not persons, while that motor vehicle20791
is being used for the occasional transportation of personal20792
property by individuals not for compensation and not in the20793
furtherance of a commercial enterprise;20794

       (9) A police SWAT team vehicle;20795

       (10) A police vehicle used to transport prisoners.20796

       (C) Nothing contained in division (B)(5) of this section20797
shall be construed as preempting or superseding any law, rule, or20798
regulation of this state concerning the safe operation of20799
commercial motor vehicles.20800

       (D) Not later than December 31, 2011, no license shall 20801
display on its face any administrative number other than the 20802
distinguishing number assigned to the licensee; if the registrar 20803
requires any other administrative number to be printed on a 20804
commercial driver's license, that number shall appear only on the 20805
reverse side of the license.20806

       (E) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor20807
of the first degree.20808

       Sec. 4507.13.  (A) The registrar of motor vehicles shall 20809
issue a driver's license to every person licensed as an operator 20810
of motor vehicles other than commercial motor vehicles. No person 20811
licensed as a commercial motor vehicle driver under Chapter 4506. 20812
of the Revised Code need procure a driver's license, but no person 20813
shall drive any commercial motor vehicle unless licensed as a 20814
commercial motor vehicle driver. 20815

       Every driver's license shall display on it the distinguishing 20816
number assigned to the licensee and shall display the licensee's 20817
name and date of birth; the licensee's residence address and 20818
county of residence; a color photograph of the licensee; a brief 20819
description of the licensee for the purpose of identification; a 20820
facsimile of the signature of the licensee as it appears on the 20821
application for the license; a notation, in a manner prescribed by 20822
the registrar, indicating any condition described in division 20823
(D)(3) of section 4507.08 of the Revised Code to which the 20824
licensee is subject; if the licensee has executed a durable power 20825
of attorney for health care or a declaration governing the use or 20826
continuation, or the withholding or withdrawal, of life-sustaining 20827
treatment and has specified that the licensee wishes the license 20828
to indicate that the licensee has executed either type of 20829
instrument, any symbol chosen by the registrar to indicate that 20830
the licensee has executed either type of instrument; on and after 20831
October 7, 2009, if the licensee has specified that the licensee 20832
wishes the license to indicate that the licensee is a veteran, 20833
active duty, or reservist of the armed forces of the United 20834
States and has presented a copy of the licensee's DD-214 form or 20835
an equivalent document, any symbol chosen by the registrar to 20836
indicate that the licensee is a veteran, active duty, or reservist 20837
of the armed forces of the United States; and any additional 20838
information that the registrar requires by rule. No license shall 20839
display the licensee's social security number unless the licensee 20840
specifically requests that the licensee's social security number 20841
be displayed on the license. If federal law requires the 20842
licensee's social security number to be displayed on the license, 20843
the social security number shall be displayed on the license 20844
notwithstanding this section. Not later than December 31, 2011, no 20845
license shall display on its face any administrative number other 20846
than the distinguishing number assigned to the licensee; if the 20847
registrar requires any administrative number to be printed on a 20848
driver's license, that number shall appear only on the reverse 20849
side of the license.20850

       The driver's license for licensees under twenty-one years of 20851
age shall have characteristics prescribed by the registrar 20852
distinguishing it from that issued to a licensee who is twenty-one 20853
years of age or older, except that a driver's license issued to a 20854
person who applies no more than thirty days before the applicant's 20855
twenty-first birthday shall have the characteristics of a license 20856
issued to a person who is twenty-one years of age or older. 20857

       The driver's license issued to a temporary resident shall 20858
contain the word "nonrenewable" and shall have any additional 20859
characteristics prescribed by the registrar distinguishing it 20860
from a license issued to a resident. 20861

       Every driver's or commercial driver's license displaying a 20862
motorcycle operator's endorsement and every restricted license to 20863
operate a motor vehicle also shall display the designation 20864
"novice," if the endorsement or license is issued to a person who 20865
is eighteen years of age or older and previously has not been 20866
licensed to operate a motorcycle by this state or another 20867
jurisdiction recognized by this state. The "novice" designation 20868
shall be effective for one year after the date of issuance of the 20869
motorcycle operator's endorsement or license. 20870

       Each license issued under this section shall be of such 20871
material and so designed as to prevent its reproduction or 20872
alteration without ready detection and, to this end, shall be 20873
laminated with a transparent plastic material. 20874

       (B) Except in regard to a driver's license issued to a person 20875
who applies no more than thirty days before the applicant's 20876
twenty-first birthday, neither the registrar nor any deputy 20877
registrar shall issue a driver's license to anyone under 20878
twenty-one years of age that does not have the characteristics 20879
prescribed by the registrar distinguishing it from the driver's 20880
license issued to persons who are twenty-one years of age or 20881
older. 20882

       (C) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty 20883
of a minor misdemeanor. 20884

       Sec. 4507.52.  (A) Each identification card issued by the 20885
registrar of motor vehicles or a deputy registrar shall display a 20886
distinguishing number assigned to the cardholder, and shall 20887
display the following inscription: 20888

"STATE OF OHIO IDENTIFICATION CARD
20889

       This card is not valid for the purpose of operating a motor 20890
vehicle. It is provided solely for the purpose of establishing 20891
the identity of the bearer described on the card, who currently 20892
is not licensed to operate a motor vehicle in the state of 20893
Ohio." 20894

       The identification card shall display substantially the same 20895
information as contained in the application and as described in 20896
division (A)(1) of section 4507.51 of the Revised Code, but shall 20897
not display the cardholder's social security number unless the 20898
cardholder specifically requests that the cardholder's social 20899
security number be displayed on the card. If federal law requires 20900
the cardholder's social security number to be displayed on the 20901
identification card, the social security number shall be displayed 20902
on the card notwithstanding this section. The identification card 20903
also shall display the color photograph of the cardholder. If the 20904
cardholder has executed a durable power of attorney for health 20905
care or a declaration governing the use or continuation, or the 20906
withholding or withdrawal, of life-sustaining treatment and has 20907
specified that the cardholder wishes the identification card to 20908
indicate that the cardholder has executed either type of 20909
instrument, the card also shall display any symbol chosen by the 20910
registrar to indicate that the cardholder has executed either type 20911
of instrument. On and after October 7, 2009, if the cardholder 20912
has specified that the cardholder wishes the identification 20913
card to indicate that the cardholder is a veteran, active duty, 20914
or reservist of the armed forces of the United States and has 20915
presented a copy of the cardholder's DD-214 form or an 20916
equivalent document, the card also shall display any symbol 20917
chosen by the registrar to indicate that the cardholder is a 20918
veteran, active duty, or reservist of the armed forces of the 20919
United States. Not later than December 31, 2011, no 20920
identification card shall display on its face any administrative 20921
number other than a distinguishing number assigned to the 20922
cardholder; if the registrar requires any administrative number 20923
to be printed on an identification card, that number shall appear 20924
only on the reverse side of the card. The card shall be sealed 20925
in transparent plastic or similar material and shall be so 20926
designed as to prevent its reproduction or alteration without 20927
ready detection. 20928

       The identification card for persons under twenty-one years of 20929
age shall have characteristics prescribed by the registrar 20930
distinguishing it from that issued to a person who is twenty-one 20931
years of age or older, except that an identification card issued 20932
to a person who applies no more than thirty days before the 20933
applicant's twenty-first birthday shall have the characteristics 20934
of an identification card issued to a person who is twenty-one 20935
years of age or older. 20936

       Every identification card issued to a resident of this state 20937
shall expire, unless canceled or surrendered earlier, on the 20938
birthday of the cardholder in the fourth year after the date on 20939
which it is issued. Every identification card issued to a 20940
temporary resident shall expire in accordance with rules adopted 20941
by the registrar and is nonrenewable, but may be replaced with a 20942
new identification card upon the applicant's compliance with all 20943
applicable requirements. A cardholder may renew the cardholder's 20944
identification card within ninety days prior to the day on which 20945
it expires by filing an application and paying the prescribed fee 20946
in accordance with section 4507.50 of the Revised Code. 20947

       If a cardholder applies for a driver's or commercial driver's 20948
license in this state or another licensing jurisdiction, the 20949
cardholder shall surrender the cardholder's identification card to 20950
the registrar or any deputy registrar before the license is 20951
issued. 20952

       (B) If a card is lost, destroyed, or mutilated, the person to 20953
whom the card was issued may obtain a duplicate by doing both of 20954
the following: 20955

       (1) Furnishing suitable proof of the loss, destruction, or 20956
mutilation to the registrar or a deputy registrar; 20957

       (2) Filing an application and presenting documentary 20958
evidence under section 4507.51 of the Revised Code. 20959

       Any person who loses a card and, after obtaining a duplicate, 20960
finds the original, immediately shall surrender the original to 20961
the registrar or a deputy registrar. 20962

       A cardholder may obtain a replacement identification card 20963
that reflects any change of the cardholder's name by furnishing 20964
suitable proof of the change to the registrar or a deputy 20965
registrar and surrendering the cardholder's existing card. 20966

       When a cardholder applies for a duplicate or obtains a 20967
replacement identification card, the cardholder shall pay a fee of 20968
two dollars and fifty cents. A deputy registrar shall be allowed 20969
an additional fee of two dollars and seventy-five cents commencing 20970
on July 1, 2001, three dollars and twenty-five cents commencing on 20971
January 1, 2003, and three dollars and fifty cents commencing on 20972
January 1, 2004, for issuing a duplicate or replacement 20973
identification card. A disabled veteran who is a cardholder and 20974
has a service-connected disability rated at one hundred per cent 20975
by the veterans' administration may apply to the registrar or a 20976
deputy registrar for the issuance of a duplicate or replacement 20977
identification card without payment of any fee prescribed in this 20978
section, and without payment of any lamination fee if the disabled 20979
veteran would not be required to pay a lamination fee in 20980
connection with the issuance of an identification card or 20981
temporary identification card as provided in division (B) of 20982
section 4507.50 of the Revised Code. 20983

       A duplicate or replacement identification card shall expire 20984
on the same date as the card it replaces. 20985

       (C) The registrar shall cancel any card upon determining that 20986
the card was obtained unlawfully, issued in error, or was 20987
altered. The registrar also shall cancel any card that is 20988
surrendered to the registrar or to a deputy registrar after the 20989
holder has obtained a duplicate, replacement, or driver's or 20990
commercial driver's license. 20991

       (D)(1) No agent of the state or its political subdivisions 20992
shall condition the granting of any benefit, service, right, or 20993
privilege upon the possession by any person of an identification 20994
card. Nothing in this section shall preclude any publicly 20995
operated or franchised transit system from using an 20996
identification card for the purpose of granting benefits or 20997
services of the system. 20998

       (2) No person shall be required to apply for, carry, or 20999
possess an identification card. 21000

       (E) Except in regard to an identification card issued to a 21001
person who applies no more than thirty days before the applicant's 21002
twenty-first birthday, neither the registrar nor any deputy 21003
registrar shall issue an identification card to a person under 21004
twenty-one years of age that does not have the characteristics 21005
prescribed by the registrar distinguishing it from the 21006
identification card issued to persons who are twenty-one years of 21007
age or older. 21008

       (F) Whoever violates division (E) of this section is guilty 21009
of a minor misdemeanor. 21010

       Sec. 4928.20.  (A) The legislative authority of a municipal21011
corporation may adopt an ordinance, or the board of township21012
trustees of a township or the board of county commissioners of a21013
county may adopt a resolution, under which, on or after the 21014
starting date of competitive retail electric service, it may 21015
aggregate in accordance with this section the retail electrical 21016
loads located, respectively, within the municipal corporation, 21017
township, or unincorporated area of the county and, for that 21018
purpose, may enter into service agreements to facilitate for those 21019
loads the sale and purchase of electricity. The legislative 21020
authority or board also may exercise such authority jointly with 21021
any other such legislative authority or board. For customers that 21022
are not mercantile customers, an ordinance or resolution under21023
this division shall specify whether the aggregation will occur21024
only with the prior, affirmative consent of each person owning, 21025
occupying, controlling, or using an electric load center proposed 21026
to be aggregated or will occur automatically for all such persons21027
pursuant to the opt-out requirements of division (D) of this21028
section. The aggregation of mercantile customers shall occur only 21029
with the prior, affirmative consent of each such person owning, 21030
occupying, controlling, or using an electric load center proposed 21031
to be aggregated. Nothing in this division, however, authorizes 21032
the aggregation of the retail electric loads of an electric load 21033
center, as defined in section 4933.81 of the Revised Code, that 21034
is located in the certified territory of a nonprofit electric 21035
supplier under sections 4933.81 to 4933.90 of the Revised Code or 21036
an electric load center served by transmission or distribution 21037
facilities of a municipal electric utility.21038

       (B) If an ordinance or resolution adopted under division (A) 21039
of this section specifies that aggregation of customers that are 21040
not mercantile customers will occur automatically as described in 21041
that division, the ordinance or resolution shall direct the board 21042
of elections to submit the question of the authority to aggregate 21043
to the electors of the respective municipal corporation, township, 21044
or unincorporated area of a county at a special election on the 21045
day of the next primary or general election in the municipal 21046
corporation, township, or county. The legislative authority or 21047
board shall certify a copy of the ordinance or resolution to the 21048
board of elections not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days 21049
before the day of the special election. No ordinance or 21050
resolution adopted under division (A) of this section that 21051
provides for an election under this division shall take effect 21052
unless approved by a majority of the electors voting upon the 21053
ordinance or resolution at the election held pursuant to this21054
division.21055

       (C) Upon the applicable requisite authority under divisions 21056
(A) and (B) of this section, the legislative authority or board 21057
shall develop a plan of operation and governance for the 21058
aggregation program so authorized. Before adopting a plan under 21059
this division, the legislative authority or board shall hold at 21060
least two public hearings on the plan. Before the first hearing, 21061
the legislative authority or board shall publish notice of the21062
hearings once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of21063
general circulation in the jurisdiction. The notice shall21064
summarize the plan and state the date, time, and location of each21065
hearing.21066

       (D) No legislative authority or board, pursuant to an 21067
ordinance or resolution under divisions (A) and (B) of this 21068
section that provides for automatic aggregation of customers that 21069
are not mercantile customers as described in division (A) of this 21070
section, shall aggregate the electrical load of any electric load 21071
center located within its jurisdiction unless it in advance 21072
clearly discloses to the person owning, occupying, controlling,21073
or using the load center that the person will be enrolled21074
automatically in the aggregation program and will remain so21075
enrolled unless the person affirmatively elects by a stated21076
procedure not to be so enrolled. The disclosure shall state21077
prominently the rates, charges, and other terms and conditions of21078
enrollment. The stated procedure shall allow any person enrolled 21079
in the aggregation program the opportunity to opt out of the 21080
program every three years, without paying a switching fee. Any 21081
such person that opts out before the commencement of the21082
aggregation program pursuant to the stated procedure shall 21083
default to the standard service offer provided under section21084
4928.14 or division (D) of section 4928.35 of the Revised Code21085
until the person chooses an alternative supplier.21086

       (E)(1) With respect to a governmental aggregation for a 21087
municipal corporation that is authorized pursuant to divisions (A) 21088
to (D) of this section, resolutions may be proposed by initiative 21089
or referendum petitions in accordance with sections 731.28 to 21090
731.41 of the Revised Code.21091

       (2) With respect to a governmental aggregation for a township 21092
or the unincorporated area of a county, which aggregation is 21093
authorized pursuant to divisions (A) to (D) of this section, 21094
resolutions may be proposed by initiative or referendum petitions 21095
in accordance with sections 731.28 to 731.40 of the Revised Code, 21096
except that:21097

       (a) The petitions shall be filed, respectively, with the 21098
township fiscal officer or the board of county commissioners, who 21099
shall perform those duties imposed under those sections upon the 21100
city auditor or village clerk.21101

       (b) The petitions shall contain the signatures of not less 21102
than ten per cent of the total number of electors in, 21103
respectively, the township or the unincorporated area of the 21104
county who voted for the office of governor at the preceding 21105
general election for that office in that area.21106

       (F) A governmental aggregator under division (A) of this 21107
section is not a public utility engaging in the wholesale purchase 21108
and resale of electricity, and provision of the aggregated service 21109
is not a wholesale utility transaction. A governmental aggregator 21110
shall be subject to supervision and regulation by the public 21111
utilities commission only to the extent of any competitive retail 21112
electric service it provides and commission authority under this 21113
chapter.21114

       (G) This section does not apply in the case of a municipal21115
corporation that supplies such aggregated service to electric load21116
centers to which its municipal electric utility also supplies a21117
noncompetitive retail electric service through transmission or21118
distribution facilities the utility singly or jointly owns or21119
operates.21120

       (H) A governmental aggregator shall not include in its 21121
aggregation the accounts of any of the following: 21122

       (1) A customer that has opted out of the aggregation;21123

       (2) A customer in contract with a certified electric 21124
services company;21125

       (3) A customer that has a special contract with an electric 21126
distribution utility;21127

       (4) A customer that is not located within the governmental 21128
aggregator's governmental boundaries;21129

       (5) Subject to division (C) of section 4928.21 of the Revised 21130
Code, a customer who appears on the "do not aggregate" list 21131
maintained under that section.21132

       (I) Customers that are part of a governmental aggregation 21133
under this section shall be responsible only for such portion of a 21134
surcharge under section 4928.144 of the Revised Code that is 21135
proportionate to the benefits, as determined by the commission, 21136
that electric load centers within the jurisdiction of the 21137
governmental aggregation as a group receive. The proportionate 21138
surcharge so established shall apply to each customer of the 21139
governmental aggregation while the customer is part of that 21140
aggregation. If a customer ceases being such a customer, the 21141
otherwise applicable surcharge shall apply. Nothing in this 21142
section shall result in less than full recovery by an electric 21143
distribution utility of any surcharge authorized under section 21144
4928.144 of the Revised Code.21145

       (J) On behalf of the customers that are part of a 21146
governmental aggregation under this section and by filing written 21147
notice with the public utilities commission, the legislative 21148
authority that formed or is forming that governmental aggregation 21149
may elect not to receive standby service within the meaning of 21150
division (B)(2)(d) of section 4928.143 of the Revised Code from 21151
an electric distribution utility in whose certified territory 21152
the governmental aggregation is located and that operates under 21153
an approved electric security plan under that section. Upon the 21154
filing of that notice, the electric distribution utility shall 21155
not charge any such customer to whom competitive retail electric 21156
generation service is provided by another supplier under the 21157
governmental aggregation for the standby service. Any such 21158
consumer that returns to the utility for competitive retail 21159
electric service shall pay the market price of power incurred by 21160
the utility to serve that consumer plus any amount attributable 21161
to the utility's cost of compliance with the alternative energy 21162
resource provisions of section 4928.64 of the Revised Code to 21163
serve the consumer. Such market price shall include, but not be 21164
limited to, capacity and energy charges; all charges associated 21165
with the provision of that power supply through the regional 21166
transmission organization, including, but not limited to, 21167
transmission, ancillary services, congestion, and settlement and 21168
administrative charges; and all other costs incurred by the 21169
utility that are associated with the procurement, provision, and 21170
administration of that power supply, as such costs may be 21171
approved by the commission. The period of time during which the 21172
market price and alternative energy resource amount shall be so 21173
assessed on the consumer shall be from the time the consumer so 21174
returns to the electric distribution utility until the 21175
expiration of the electric security plan. However, if that period 21176
of time is expected to be more than two years, the commission may 21177
reduce the time period to a period of not less than two years.21178

       (K) The commission shall adopt rules to encourage and promote 21179
large-scale governmental aggregation in this state. For that 21180
purpose, the commission shall conduct an immediate review of any 21181
rules it has adopted for the purpose of this section that are in 21182
effect on the effective date of the amendment of this section by 21183
S.B. 221 of the 127th general assembly, July 31, 2008. Further, 21184
within the context of an electric security plan under section 21185
4928.143 of the Revised Code, the commission shall consider the 21186
effect on large-scale governmental aggregation of any 21187
nonbypassable generation charges, however collected, that would 21188
be established under that plan, except any nonbypassable 21189
generation charges that relate to any cost incurred by the 21190
electric distribution utility, the deferral of which has been 21191
authorized by the commission prior to the effective date of the 21192
amendment of this section by S.B. 221 of the 127th general 21193
assembly, July 31, 2008.21194

       Sec. 4929.26.  (A)(1) The legislative authority of a21195
municipal corporation may adopt an ordinance, or the board of21196
township trustees of a township or the board of county21197
commissioners of a county may adopt a resolution, under which, in21198
accordance with this section and except as otherwise provided in21199
division (A)(2) of this section, the legislative authority or21200
board may aggregate automatically, subject to the opt-out21201
requirements of division (D) of this section, competitive retail21202
natural gas service for the retail natural gas loads that are21203
located, respectively, within the municipal corporation, township,21204
or unincorporated area of the county and for which there is a21205
choice of supplier of that service as a result of revised21206
schedules approved under division (C) of section 4929.29 of the21207
Revised Code, a rule or order adopted or issued by the commission21208
under Chapter 4905. of the Revised Code, or an exemption granted21209
by the commission under sections 4929.04 to 4929.08 of the Revised21210
Code. An ordinance or a resolution adopted under this section21211
shall expressly state that it is adopted pursuant to the authority21212
conferred by this section. The legislative authority or board also21213
may exercise its authority under this section jointly with any21214
other such legislative authority or board. For the purpose of the21215
aggregation, the legislative authority or board may enter into21216
service agreements to facilitate the sale and purchase of the21217
service for the retail natural gas loads.21218

       (2)(a) No aggregation under an ordinance or resolution21219
adopted under division (A)(1) of this section shall include the21220
retail natural gas load of any person that meets any of the21221
following criteria:21222

       (i) The person is both a distribution service customer and a21223
mercantile customer on the date of commencement of service to the21224
aggregated load, or the person becomes a distribution service21225
customer after that date and also is a mercantile customer.21226

       (ii) The person is supplied with commodity sales service21227
pursuant to a contract with a retail natural gas supplier that is21228
in effect on the effective date of the ordinance or resolution.21229

       (iii) The person is supplied with commodity sales service as21230
part of a retail natural gas load aggregation provided for21231
pursuant to a rule or order adopted or issued by the commission21232
under this chapter or Chapter 4905. of the Revised Code.21233

       (b) Nothing in division (A)(2)(a) of this section precludes a 21234
governmental aggregation under this section from permitting the21235
retail natural gas load of a person described in division21236
(A)(2)(a) of this section from being included in the aggregation21237
upon the expiration of any contract or aggregation as described in21238
division (A)(2)(a)(ii) or (iii) of this section or upon the person21239
no longer being a customer as described in division (A)(2)(a)(i)21240
of this section or qualifying to be included in an aggregation21241
described under division (A)(2)(a)(iii) of this section.21242

       (B) An ordinance or resolution adopted under division (A) of21243
this section shall direct the board of elections to submit the21244
question of the authority to aggregate to the electors of the21245
respective municipal corporation, township, or unincorporated area21246
of a county at a special election on the day of the next primary21247
or general election in the municipal corporation, township, or21248
county. The legislative authority or board shall certify a copy of21249
the ordinance or resolution to the board of elections not less21250
than seventy-fiveeighty-five days before the day of the special 21251
election. No ordinance or resolution adopted under division (A) of 21252
this section that provides for an election under this division 21253
shall take effect unless approved by a majority of the electors 21254
voting upon the ordinance or resolution at the election held 21255
pursuant to this division.21256

       (C) Upon the applicable requisite authority under divisions21257
(A) and (B) of this section, the legislative authority or board21258
shall develop a plan of operation and governance for the21259
aggregation program so authorized. Before adopting a plan under21260
this division, the legislative authority or board shall hold at21261
least two public hearings on the plan. Before the first hearing,21262
the legislative authority or board shall publish notice of the21263
hearings once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of21264
general circulation in the jurisdiction. The notice shall21265
summarize the plan and state the date, time, and location of each21266
hearing.21267

       (D) No legislative authority or board, pursuant to an21268
ordinance or resolution under divisions (A) and (B) of this21269
section, shall aggregate any retail natural gas load located21270
within its jurisdiction unless it in advance clearly discloses to21271
the person whose retail natural gas load is to be so aggregated21272
that the person will be enrolled automatically in the aggregation21273
and will remain so enrolled unless the person affirmatively elects21274
by a stated procedure not to be so enrolled. The disclosure shall21275
state prominently the rates, charges, and other terms and21276
conditions of enrollment. The stated procedure shall allow any21277
person enrolled in the aggregation the opportunity to opt out of21278
the aggregation every two years, without paying a switching fee.21279
Any such person that opts out of the aggregation pursuant to the21280
stated procedure shall default to the natural gas company21281
providing distribution service for the person's retail natural gas21282
load, until the person chooses an alternative supplier.21283

       (E)(1) With respect to a governmental aggregation for a21284
municipal corporation that is authorized pursuant to divisions (A)21285
to (D) of this section, resolutions may be proposed by initiative21286
or referendum petitions in accordance with sections 731.28 to21287
731.41 of the Revised Code.21288

       (2) With respect to a governmental aggregation for a township21289
or the unincorporated area of a county, which aggregation is21290
authorized pursuant to divisions (A) to (D) of this section,21291
resolutions may be proposed by initiative or referendum petitions21292
in accordance with sections 731.28 to 731.40 of the Revised Code,21293
except that:21294

       (a) The petitions shall be filed, respectively, with the21295
township fiscal officer or the board of county commissioners, who 21296
shall perform those duties imposed under those sections upon the 21297
city auditor or village clerk.21298

       (b) The petitions shall contain the signatures of not less21299
than ten per cent of the total number of electors in the township21300
or the unincorporated area of the county, respectively, who voted21301
for the office of governor at the preceding general election for21302
that office in that area.21303

       (F) A governmental aggregator under division (A) of this21304
section is not a public utility engaging in the wholesale purchase21305
and resale of natural gas, and provision of the aggregated service21306
is not a wholesale utility transaction. A governmental aggregator21307
shall be subject to supervision and regulation by the public21308
utilities commission only to the extent of any competitive retail21309
natural gas service it provides and commission authority under21310
this chapter.21311

       Sec. 4931.51.  (A)(1) For the purpose of paying the costs of 21312
establishing, equipping, and furnishing one or more public safety 21313
answering points as part of a countywide 9-1-1 system effective 21314
under division (B) of section 4931.44 of the Revised Code and 21315
paying the expense of administering and enforcing this section, 21316
the board of county commissioners of a county, in accordance with 21317
this section, may fix and impose, on each lot or parcel of real 21318
property in the county that is owned by a person, municipal 21319
corporation, township, or other political subdivision and is 21320
improved, or is in the process of being improved, reasonable 21321
charges to be paid by each such owner. The charges shall be 21322
sufficient to pay only the estimated allowed costs and shall be 21323
equal in amount for all such lots or parcels.21324

       (2) For the purpose of paying the costs of operating and21325
maintaining the answering points and paying the expense of21326
administering and enforcing this section, the board, in accordance 21327
with this section, may fix and impose reasonable charges to be 21328
paid by each owner, as provided in division (A)(1) of this 21329
section, that shall be sufficient to pay only the estimated 21330
allowed costs and shall be equal in amount for all such lots or 21331
parcels. The board may fix and impose charges under this division 21332
pursuant to a resolution adopted for the purposes of both 21333
divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section or pursuant to a21334
resolution adopted solely for the purpose of division (A)(2) of21335
this section, and charges imposed under division (A)(2) of this21336
section may be separately imposed or combined with charges imposed 21337
under division (A)(1) of this section.21338

       (B) Any board adopting a resolution under this section21339
pursuant to a final plan initiating the establishment of a 9-1-121340
system or pursuant to an amendment to a final plan shall adopt the 21341
resolution within sixty days after the board receives the final 21342
plan for the 9-1-1 system pursuant to division (C) of section 21343
4931.43 of the Revised Code. The board by resolution may change 21344
any charge imposed under this section whenever the board considers 21345
it advisable. Any resolution adopted under this section shall 21346
declare whether securities will be issued under Chapter 133. of 21347
the Revised Code in anticipation of the collection of unpaid 21348
special assessments levied under this section.21349

       (C) The board shall adopt a resolution under this section at 21350
a public meeting held in accordance with section 121.22 of the21351
Revised Code. Additionally, the board, before adopting any such21352
resolution, shall hold at least two public hearings on the21353
proposed charges. Prior to the first hearing, the board shall21354
publish notice of the hearings once a week for two consecutive21355
weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. The21356
notice shall include a listing of the charges proposed in the21357
resolution and the date, time, and location of each of the21358
hearings. The board shall hear any person who wishes to testify on 21359
the charges or the resolution.21360

       (D) No resolution adopted under this section shall be21361
effective sooner than thirty days following its adoption nor shall 21362
any such resolution be adopted as an emergency measure. The 21363
resolution is subject to a referendum in accordance with sections 21364
305.31 to 305.41 of the Revised Code unless, in the resolution, 21365
the board of county commissioners directs the board of elections 21366
of the county to submit the question of imposing the charges to 21367
the electors of the county at the next primary or general election 21368
in the county occurring not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five21369
days after the resolution is certified to the board. No resolution 21370
shall go into effect unless approved by a majority of those voting 21371
upon it in any election allowed under this division.21372

       (E) To collect charges imposed under division (A) of this21373
section, the board of county commissioners shall certify them to21374
the county auditor of the county who then shall place them upon21375
the real property duplicate against the properties to be assessed, 21376
as provided in division (A) of this section. Each assessment shall 21377
bear interest at the same rate that securities issued in 21378
anticipation of the collection of the assessments bear, is a lien 21379
on the property assessed from the date placed upon the real 21380
property duplicate by the auditor, and shall be collected in the 21381
same manner as other taxes.21382

       (F) All money collected by or on behalf of a county under21383
this section shall be paid to the county treasurer of the county21384
and kept in a separate and distinct fund to the credit of the21385
county. The fund shall be used to pay the costs allowed in21386
division (A) of this section and specified in the resolution21387
adopted under that division. In no case shall any surplus so21388
collected be expended for other than the use and benefit of the21389
county.21390

       Sec. 4931.52.  (A) This section applies only to a county that 21391
meets both of the following conditions:21392

       (1) A final plan for a countywide 9-1-1 system either has not 21393
been approved in the county under section 4931.44 of the Revised 21394
Code or has been approved but has not been put into operation 21395
because of a lack of funding;21396

       (2) The board of county commissioners, at least once, has21397
submitted to the electors of the county the question of raising21398
funds for a 9-1-1 system under section 4931.51, 5705.19, or21399
5739.026 of the Revised Code, and a majority of the electors has21400
disapproved the question each time it was submitted.21401

       (B) A board of county commissioners may adopt a resolution21402
imposing a monthly charge on telephone access lines to pay for the 21403
equipment costs of establishing and maintaining no more than three 21404
public safety answering points of a countywide 9-1-1 system, which 21405
public safety answering points shall be only twenty-four-hour 21406
dispatching points already existing in the county. The resolution 21407
shall state the amount of the charge, which shall not exceed fifty 21408
cents per month, and the month the charge will first be imposed, 21409
which shall be no earlier than four months after the special 21410
election held pursuant to this section. Each residential and 21411
business telephone company customer within the area served by the 21412
9-1-1 system shall pay the monthly charge for each of its 21413
residential or business customer access lines or their equivalent.21414

       Before adopting a resolution under this division, the board21415
of county commissioners shall hold at least two public hearings on 21416
the proposed charge. Before the first hearing, the board shall 21417
publish notice of the hearings once a week for two consecutive 21418
weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. The 21419
notice shall state the amount of the proposed charge, an 21420
explanation of the necessity for the charge, and the date, time, 21421
and location of each of the hearings.21422

       (C) A resolution adopted under division (B) of this section 21423
shall direct the board of elections to submit the question of 21424
imposing the charge to the electors of the county at a special 21425
election on the day of the next primary or general election in the 21426
county. The board of county commissioners shall certify a copy of 21427
the resolution to the board of elections not less than 21428
seventy-fiveeighty-five days before the day of the special21429
election. No resolution adopted under division (B) of this section 21430
shall take effect unless approved by a majority of the electors 21431
voting upon the resolution at an election held pursuant to this 21432
section.21433

       In any year, the board of county commissioners may impose a21434
lesser charge than the amount originally approved by the electors. 21435
The board may change the amount of the charge no more than once a 21436
year. The board may not impose a charge greater than the amount 21437
approved by the electors without first holding an election on the 21438
question of the greater charge.21439

       (D) Money raised from a monthly charge on telephone access21440
lines under this section shall be deposited into a special fund21441
created in the county treasury by the board of county21442
commissioners pursuant to section 5705.12 of the Revised Code, to21443
be used only for the necessary equipment costs of establishing and 21444
maintaining no more than three public safety answering points of a 21445
countywide 9-1-1 system pursuant to a resolution adopted under 21446
division (B) of this section. In complying with this division, any 21447
county may seek the assistance of the public utilities commission 21448
with regard to operating and maintaining a 9-1-1 system.21449

       (E) Pursuant to the voter approval required by division (C) 21450
of this section, the final plan for a countywide 9-1-1 system that 21451
will be funded through a monthly charge imposed in accordance with 21452
this section shall be amended by the existing 9-1-1 planning 21453
committee, and the amendment of such a final plan is not an 21454
amendment of a final plan for the purpose of division (A) of 21455
section 4931.45 of the Revised Code.21456

       Sec. 4931.53.  (A) This section applies only to a county that21457
has a final plan for a countywide 9-1-1 system that either has not 21458
been approved in the county under section 4931.44 of the Revised 21459
Code or has been approved but has not been put into operation 21460
because of a lack of funding.21461

       (B) A board of county commissioners may adopt a resolution21462
imposing a monthly charge on telephone access lines to pay for the 21463
operating and equipment costs of establishing and maintaining no 21464
more than one public safety answering point of a countywide 9-1-121465
system. The resolution shall state the amount of the charge, which 21466
shall not exceed fifty cents per month, and the month the charge 21467
will first be imposed, which shall be no earlier than four months 21468
after the special election held pursuant to this section. Each 21469
residential and business telephone company customer within the 21470
area of the county served by the 9-1-1 system shall pay the 21471
monthly charge for each of its residential or business customer 21472
access lines or their equivalent.21473

       Before adopting a resolution under this division, the board21474
of county commissioners shall hold at least two public hearings on 21475
the proposed charge. Before the first hearing, the board shall 21476
publish notice of the hearings once a week for two consecutive 21477
weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. The 21478
notice shall state the amount of the proposed charge, an 21479
explanation of the necessity for the charge, and the date, time, 21480
and location of each of the hearings.21481

       (C) A resolution adopted under division (B) of this section 21482
shall direct the board of elections to submit the question of 21483
imposing the charge to the electors of the county at a special 21484
election on the day of the next primary or general election in the 21485
county. The board of county commissioners shall certify a copy of 21486
the resolution to the board of elections not less than 21487
seventy-fiveeighty-five days before the day of the special21488
election. No resolution adopted under division (B) of this section 21489
shall take effect unless approved by a majority of the electors 21490
voting upon the resolution at an election held pursuant to this 21491
section.21492

       In any year, the board of county commissioners may impose a21493
lesser charge than the amount originally approved by the electors. 21494
The board may change the amount of the charge no more than once a 21495
year. The board shall not impose a charge greater than the amount 21496
approved by the electors without first holding an election on the 21497
question of the greater charge.21498

       (D) Money raised from a monthly charge on telephone access21499
lines under this section shall be deposited into a special fund21500
created in the county treasury by the board of county21501
commissioners pursuant to section 5705.12 of the Revised Code, to21502
be used only for the necessary operating and equipment costs of 21503
establishing and maintaining no more than one public safety 21504
answering point of a countywide 9-1-1 system pursuant to a 21505
resolution adopted under division (B) of this section. In 21506
complying with this division, any county may seek the assistance 21507
of the public utilities commission with regard to operating and 21508
maintaining a 9-1-1 system.21509

       (E) Nothing in sections 4931.40 to 4931.53 of the Revised 21510
Code precludes a final plan adopted in accordance with those 21511
sections from being amended to provide that, by agreement included 21512
in the plan, a public safety answering point of another countywide 21513
9-1-1 system is the public safety answering point of a countywide 21514
9-1-1 system funded through a monthly charge imposed in accordance 21515
with this section. In that event, the county for which the public 21516
safety answering point is provided shall be deemed the subdivision 21517
operating the public safety answering point for purposes of 21518
sections 4931.40 to 4931.53 of the Revised Code, except that, for 21519
the purpose of division (D) of section 4931.41 of the Revised 21520
Code, the county shall pay only so much of the costs associated 21521
with establishing, equipping, furnishing, operating, or 21522
maintaining the public safety answering point specified in the 21523
agreement included in the final plan.21524

       (F) Pursuant to the voter approval required by division (C) 21525
of this section, the final plan for a countywide 9-1-1 system that 21526
will be funded through a monthly charge imposed in accordance with 21527
this section, or that will be amended to include an agreement21528
described in division (E) of this section, shall be amended by the21529
existing 9-1-1 planning committee, and the amendment of such a 21530
final plan is not an amendment of a final plan for the purpose of 21531
division (A) of section 4931.45 of the Revised Code.21532

       Sec. 4951.44.  The officials in charge of the general21533
election shall arrange, provide for, and conduct the submission of 21534
the question of a grant as provided in section 4951.43 of the21535
Revised Code to such electors. The question whether the grant21536
shall be made shall be submitted to the electors of such city at21537
the succeeding general election occurring more than seventy-five21538
eighty-five days after the expiration of the sixty days provided21539
in such section. If the grant is for the construction of elevated 21540
tracks, the ballots shall read "Elevated Railroad Grant--Yes", 21541
"Elevated Railroad Grant--No". If the grant is for the 21542
construction of underground tracks, the ballots shall read21543
"Underground Railroad Grant--Yes", "Underground Railroad21544
Grant--No". If the grant is for the construction of partly21545
elevated and partly underground tracks, the ballots shall read21546
"Elevated and Underground Railroad Grant--Yes", "Elevated and21547
Underground Railroad Grant--No". If at such election a majority of 21548
the votes cast on such question is against such grant, such grant 21549
is void.21550

       Sec. 4955.05.  The officials in charge of general elections, 21551
in accordance with the laws relating to elections, shall arrange 21552
for and conduct the submission of the question referred to in 21553
section 4955.04 of the Revised Code to the electors. The question 21554
whether the grant shall be made shall be submitted to the electors 21555
of such municipal corporation at the succeeding general election 21556
occurring more than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the 21557
expiration of the sixty days referred to in such section. The 21558
ballots at such election shall read "Elevated Railroad 21559
Grant--Yes;" "Elevated Railroad Grant--No." If at the election a 21560
majority of the votes cast on such question is against the grant, 21561
it shall be void.21562

       Sec. 5705.19.  This section does not apply to school 21563
districts or county school financing districts. 21564

       The taxing authority of any subdivision at any time and in 21565
any year, by vote of two-thirds of all the members of the taxing 21566
authority, may declare by resolution and certify the resolution to 21567
the board of elections not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days 21568
before the election upon which it will be voted that the amount of 21569
taxes that may be raised within the ten-mill limitation will be 21570
insufficient to provide for the necessary requirements of the 21571
subdivision and that it is necessary to levy a tax in excess of 21572
that limitation for any of the following purposes: 21573

       (A) For current expenses of the subdivision, except that the 21574
total levy for current expenses of a detention facility district 21575
or district organized under section 2151.65 of the Revised Code 21576
shall not exceed two mills and that the total levy for current 21577
expenses of a combined district organized under sections 2151.65 21578
and 2152.41 of the Revised Code shall not exceed four mills; 21579

       (B) For the payment of debt charges on certain described 21580
bonds, notes, or certificates of indebtedness of the subdivision 21581
issued subsequent to January 1, 1925; 21582

       (C) For the debt charges on all bonds, notes, and 21583
certificates of indebtedness issued and authorized to be issued 21584
prior to January 1, 1925; 21585

       (D) For a public library of, or supported by, the subdivision 21586
under whatever law organized or authorized to be supported; 21587

       (E) For a municipal university, not to exceed two mills over 21588
the limitation of one mill prescribed in section 3349.13 of the 21589
Revised Code; 21590

       (F) For the construction or acquisition of any specific 21591
permanent improvement or class of improvements that the taxing 21592
authority of the subdivision may include in a single bond issue; 21593

       (G) For the general construction, reconstruction, 21594
resurfacing, and repair of streets, roads, and bridges in 21595
municipal corporations, counties, or townships; 21596

       (H) For parks and recreational purposes; 21597

       (I) For the purpose of providing and maintaining fire 21598
apparatus, appliances, buildings, or sites therefor, or sources of 21599
water supply and materials therefor, or the establishment and 21600
maintenance of lines of fire alarm telegraph, or the payment of 21601
permanent, part-time, or volunteer firefighters or firefighting 21602
companies to operate the same, including the payment of the 21603
firefighter employers' contribution required under section 742.34 21604
of the Revised Code, or the purchase of ambulance equipment, or 21605
the provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical 21606
services operated by a fire department or firefighting company; 21607

       (J) For the purpose of providing and maintaining motor 21608
vehicles, communications, other equipment, buildings, and sites 21609
for such buildings used directly in the operation of a police 21610
department, or the payment of salaries of permanent police 21611
personnel, including the payment of the police officer employers' 21612
contribution required under section 742.33 of the Revised Code, or 21613
the payment of the costs incurred by townships as a result of 21614
contracts made with other political subdivisions in order to 21615
obtain police protection, or the provision of ambulance or 21616
emergency medical services operated by a police department; 21617

       (K) For the maintenance and operation of a county home or 21618
detention facility; 21619

       (L) For community mental retardation and developmental 21620
disabilities programs and services pursuant to Chapter 5126. of 21621
the Revised Code, except that the procedure for such levies shall 21622
be as provided in section 5705.222 of the Revised Code; 21623

       (M) For regional planning; 21624

       (N) For a county's share of the cost of maintaining and 21625
operating schools, district detention facilities, forestry camps, 21626
or other facilities, or any combination thereof, established under 21627
section 2151.65 or 2152.41 of the Revised Code or both of those 21628
sections; 21629

       (O) For providing for flood defense, providing and 21630
maintaining a flood wall or pumps, and other purposes to prevent 21631
floods; 21632

       (P) For maintaining and operating sewage disposal plants and 21633
facilities; 21634

       (Q) For the purpose of purchasing, acquiring, constructing, 21635
enlarging, improving, equipping, repairing, maintaining, or 21636
operating, or any combination of the foregoing, a county transit 21637
system pursuant to sections 306.01 to 306.13 of the Revised Code, 21638
or of making any payment to a board of county commissioners 21639
operating a transit system or a county transit board pursuant to 21640
section 306.06 of the Revised Code; 21641

       (R) For the subdivision's share of the cost of acquiring or 21642
constructing any schools, forestry camps, detention facilities, 21643
or other facilities, or any combination thereof, under section 21644
2151.65 or 2152.41 of the Revised Code or both of those sections; 21645

       (S) For the prevention, control, and abatement of air 21646
pollution; 21647

       (T) For maintaining and operating cemeteries; 21648

       (U) For providing ambulance service, emergency medical 21649
service, or both; 21650

       (V) For providing for the collection and disposal of garbage 21651
or refuse, including yard waste; 21652

       (W) For the payment of the police officer employers' 21653
contribution or the firefighter employers' contribution required 21654
under sections 742.33 and 742.34 of the Revised Code; 21655

       (X) For the construction and maintenance of a drainage 21656
improvement pursuant to section 6131.52 of the Revised Code; 21657

       (Y) For providing or maintaining senior citizens services or 21658
facilities as authorized by section 307.694, 307.85, 505.70, or 21659
505.706 or division (EE) of section 717.01 of the Revised Code; 21660

       (Z) For the provision and maintenance of zoological park 21661
services and facilities as authorized under section 307.76 of the 21662
Revised Code; 21663

       (AA) For the maintenance and operation of a free public 21664
museum of art, science, or history; 21665

       (BB) For the establishment and operation of a 9-1-1 system, 21666
as defined in section 4931.40 of the Revised Code; 21667

       (CC) For the purpose of acquiring, rehabilitating, or 21668
developing rail property or rail service. As used in this 21669
division, "rail property" and "rail service" have the same 21670
meanings as in section 4981.01 of the Revised Code. This division 21671
applies only to a county, township, or municipal corporation. 21672

       (DD) For the purpose of acquiring property for, constructing, 21673
operating, and maintaining community centers as provided for in 21674
section 755.16 of the Revised Code; 21675

       (EE) For the creation and operation of an office or joint 21676
office of economic development, for any economic development 21677
purpose of the office, and to otherwise provide for the 21678
establishment and operation of a program of economic development 21679
pursuant to sections 307.07 and 307.64 of the Revised Code, or to 21680
the extent that the expenses of a county land reutilization 21681
corporation organized under Chapter 1724. of the Revised Code are 21682
found by the board of county commissioners to constitute the 21683
promotion of economic development, for the payment of such 21684
operations and expenses; 21685

       (FF) For the purpose of acquiring, establishing, 21686
constructing, improving, equipping, maintaining, or operating, or 21687
any combination of the foregoing, a township airport, landing 21688
field, or other air navigation facility pursuant to section 505.15 21689
of the Revised Code; 21690

       (GG) For the payment of costs incurred by a township as a 21691
result of a contract made with a county pursuant to section 21692
505.263 of the Revised Code in order to pay all or any part of the 21693
cost of constructing, maintaining, repairing, or operating a water 21694
supply improvement; 21695

       (HH) For a board of township trustees to acquire, other than 21696
by appropriation, an ownership interest in land, water, or 21697
wetlands, or to restore or maintain land, water, or wetlands in 21698
which the board has an ownership interest, not for purposes of 21699
recreation, but for the purposes of protecting and preserving the 21700
natural, scenic, open, or wooded condition of the land, water, or 21701
wetlands against modification or encroachment resulting from 21702
occupation, development, or other use, which may be styled as 21703
protecting or preserving "greenspace" in the resolution, notice of 21704
election, or ballot form. Except as otherwise provided in this 21705
division, land is not acquired for purposes of recreation, even 21706
if the land is used for recreational purposes, so long as no 21707
building, structure, or fixture used for recreational purposes is 21708
permanently attached or affixed to the land. Except as otherwise 21709
provided in this division, land that previously has been acquired 21710
in a township for these greenspace purposes may subsequently be 21711
used for recreational purposes if the board of township trustees 21712
adopts a resolution approving that use and no building, structure, 21713
or fixture used for recreational purposes is permanently attached 21714
or affixed to the land. The authorization to use greenspace land 21715
for recreational use does not apply to land located in a township 21716
that had a population, at the time it passed its first greenspace 21717
levy, of more than thirty-eight thousand within a county that had 21718
a population, at that time, of at least eight hundred sixty 21719
thousand. 21720

       (II) For the support by a county of a crime victim assistance 21721
program that is provided and maintained by a county agency or a 21722
private, nonprofit corporation or association under section 307.62 21723
of the Revised Code; 21724

       (JJ) For any or all of the purposes set forth in divisions 21725
(I) and (J) of this section. This division applies only to a 21726
township. 21727

       (KK) For a countywide public safety communications system 21728
under section 307.63 of the Revised Code. This division applies 21729
only to counties. 21730

       (LL) For the support by a county of criminal justice services 21731
under section 307.45 of the Revised Code; 21732

       (MM) For the purpose of maintaining and operating a jail or 21733
other detention facility as defined in section 2921.01 of the 21734
Revised Code; 21735

       (NN) For purchasing, maintaining, or improving, or any 21736
combination of the foregoing, real estate on which to hold 21737
agricultural fairs. This division applies only to a county. 21738

       (OO) For constructing, rehabilitating, repairing, or 21739
maintaining sidewalks, walkways, trails, bicycle pathways, or 21740
similar improvements, or acquiring ownership interests in land 21741
necessary for the foregoing improvements; 21742

       (PP) For both of the purposes set forth in divisions (G) and 21743
(OO) of this section. 21744

       (QQ) For both of the purposes set forth in divisions (H) and 21745
(HH) of this section. This division applies only to a township. 21746

       (RR) For the legislative authority of a municipal 21747
corporation, board of county commissioners of a county, or board 21748
of township trustees of a township to acquire agricultural 21749
easements, as defined in section 5301.67 of the Revised Code, and 21750
to supervise and enforce the easements. 21751

       (SS) For both of the purposes set forth in divisions (BB) and 21752
(KK) of this section. This division applies only to a county. 21753

       (TT) For the maintenance and operation of a facility that is 21754
organized in whole or in part to promote the sciences and natural 21755
history under section 307.761 of the Revised Code. 21756

       (UU) For the creation and operation of a county land 21757
reutilization corporation and for any programs or activities of 21758
the corporation found by the board of directors of the 21759
corporation to be consistent with the purposes for which the 21760
corporation is organized. 21761

       The resolution shall be confined to the purpose or purposes 21762
described in one division of this section, to which the revenue 21763
derived therefrom shall be applied. The existence in any other 21764
division of this section of authority to levy a tax for any part 21765
or all of the same purpose or purposes does not preclude the use 21766
of such revenues for any part of the purpose or purposes of the 21767
division under which the resolution is adopted. 21768

       The resolution shall specify the amount of the increase in 21769
rate that it is necessary to levy, the purpose of that increase in 21770
rate, and the number of years during which the increase in rate 21771
shall be in effect, which may or may not include a levy upon the 21772
duplicate of the current year. The number of years may be any 21773
number not exceeding five, except as follows: 21774

       (1) When the additional rate is for the payment of debt 21775
charges, the increased rate shall be for the life of the 21776
indebtedness. 21777

       (2) When the additional rate is for any of the following, the 21778
increased rate shall be for a continuing period of time: 21779

       (a) For the current expenses for a detention facility 21780
district, a district organized under section 2151.65 of the 21781
Revised Code, or a combined district organized under sections 21782
2151.65 and 2152.41 of the Revised Code; 21783

       (b) For providing a county's share of the cost of maintaining 21784
and operating schools, district detention facilities, forestry 21785
camps, or other facilities, or any combination thereof, 21786
established under section 2151.65 or 2152.41 of the Revised Code 21787
or under both of those sections. 21788

       (3) When the additional rate is for either of the following, 21789
the increased rate may be for a continuing period of time: 21790

       (a) For the purposes set forth in division (I), (J), (U), or 21791
(KK) of this section; 21792

       (b) For the maintenance and operation of a joint recreation 21793
district. 21794

       (4) When the increase is for the purpose or purposes set 21795
forth in division (D), (G), (H), (CC), or (PP) of this section, 21796
the tax levy may be for any specified number of years or for a 21797
continuing period of time, as set forth in the resolution. 21798

       (5) When the additional rate is for the purpose described in 21799
division (Z) of this section, the increased rate shall be for any 21800
number of years not exceeding ten. 21801

       A levy for one of the purposes set forth in division (G), 21802
(I), (J), or (U) of this section may be reduced pursuant to 21803
section 5705.261 or 5705.31 of the Revised Code. A levy for one of 21804
the purposes set forth in division (G), (I), (J), or (U) of this 21805
section may also be terminated or permanently reduced by the 21806
taxing authority if it adopts a resolution stating that the 21807
continuance of the levy is unnecessary and the levy shall be 21808
terminated or that the millage is excessive and the levy shall be 21809
decreased by a designated amount. 21810

       A resolution of a detention facility district, a district 21811
organized under section 2151.65 of the Revised Code, or a combined 21812
district organized under both sections 2151.65 and 2152.41 of the 21813
Revised Code may include both current expenses and other purposes, 21814
provided that the resolution shall apportion the annual rate of 21815
levy between the current expenses and the other purpose or 21816
purposes. The apportionment need not be the same for each year of 21817
the levy, but the respective portions of the rate actually levied 21818
each year for the current expenses and the other purpose or 21819
purposes shall be limited by the apportionment. 21820

       Whenever a board of county commissioners, acting either as 21821
the taxing authority of its county or as the taxing authority of a 21822
sewer district or subdistrict created under Chapter 6117. of the 21823
Revised Code, by resolution declares it necessary to levy a tax in 21824
excess of the ten-mill limitation for the purpose of constructing, 21825
improving, or extending sewage disposal plants or sewage systems, 21826
the tax may be in effect for any number of years not exceeding 21827
twenty, and the proceeds of the tax, notwithstanding the general 21828
provisions of this section, may be used to pay debt charges on any 21829
obligations issued and outstanding on behalf of the subdivision 21830
for the purposes enumerated in this paragraph, provided that any 21831
such obligations have been specifically described in the 21832
resolution. 21833

       The resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its 21834
passage, and no publication of the resolution is necessary other 21835
than that provided for in the notice of election. 21836

       When the electors of a subdivision have approved a tax levy 21837
under this section, the taxing authority of the subdivision may 21838
anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy and issue 21839
anticipation notes in accordance with section 5705.191 or 5705.193 21840
of the Revised Code. 21841

       Sec. 5705.191.  The taxing authority of any subdivision, 21842
other than the board of education of a school district or the 21843
taxing authority of a county school financing district, by a vote 21844
of two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that 21845
the amount of taxes that may be raised within the ten-mill 21846
limitation by levies on the current tax duplicate will be 21847
insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the necessary 21848
requirements of the subdivision, and that it is necessary to levy 21849
a tax in excess of such limitation for any of the purposes in 21850
section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, or to supplement the general 21851
fund for the purpose of making appropriations for one or more of 21852
the following purposes: public assistance, human or social 21853
services, relief, welfare, hospitalization, health, and support of 21854
general hospitals, and that the question of such additional tax 21855
levy shall be submitted to the electors of the subdivision at a 21856
general, primary, or special election to be held at a time therein 21857
specified. Such resolution shall not include a levy on the current 21858
tax list and duplicate unless such election is to be held at or 21859
prior to the general election day of the current tax year. Such 21860
resolution shall conform to the requirements of section 5705.19 of 21861
the Revised Code, except that a levy to supplement the general 21862
fund for the purposes of public assistance, human or social 21863
services, relief, welfare, hospitalization, health, or the support 21864
of general or tuberculosis hospitals may not be for a longer 21865
period than ten years. All other levies under this section may not 21866
be for a longer period than five years unless a longer period is 21867
permitted by section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, and the 21868
resolution shall specify the date of holding such election, which 21869
shall not be earlier than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the 21870
adoption and certification of such resolution. The resolution 21871
shall go into immediate effect upon its passage and no 21872
publication of the same is necessary other than that provided for 21873
in the notice of election. A copy of such resolution, immediately 21874
after its passage, shall be certified to the board of elections 21875
of the proper county or counties in the manner provided by 21876
section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, and such section shall 21877
govern the arrangements for the submission of such question and 21878
other matters with respect to such election, to which section 21879
5705.25 of the Revised Code refers, excepting that such election 21880
shall be held on the date specified in the resolution, which 21881
shall be consistent with the requirements of section 3501.01 of 21882
the Revised Code, provided that only one special election for the 21883
submission of such question may be held in any one calendar year 21884
and provided that a special election may be held upon the same 21885
day a primary election is held. Publication of notice of that 21886
election shall be made in one or more newspapers of general 21887
circulation in the county once a week for two consecutive weeks 21888
prior to the election, and, if the board of elections operates 21889
and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post 21890
notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to 21891
the election. 21892

       If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote in 21893
favor thereof, the taxing authority of the subdivision may make 21894
the necessary levy within such subdivision at the additional rate 21895
or at any lesser rate outside the ten-mill limitation on the tax 21896
list and duplicate for the purpose stated in the resolution. Such 21897
tax levy shall be included in the next annual tax budget that is 21898
certified to the county budget commission. 21899

       After the approval of such a levy by the electors, the taxing 21900
authority of the subdivision may anticipate a fraction of the 21901
proceeds of such levy and issue anticipation notes. In the case of 21902
a continuing levy that is not levied for the purpose of current 21903
expenses, notes may be issued at any time after approval of the 21904
levy in an amount not more than fifty per cent of the total 21905
estimated proceeds of the levy for the succeeding ten years, less 21906
an amount equal to the fraction of the proceeds of the levy 21907
previously anticipated by the issuance of anticipation notes. In 21908
the case of a levy for a fixed period that is not for the purpose 21909
of current expenses, notes may be issued at any time after 21910
approval of the levy in an amount not more than fifty per cent of 21911
the total estimated proceeds of the levy throughout the remaining 21912
life of the levy, less an amount equal to the fraction of the 21913
proceeds of the levy previously anticipated by the issuance of 21914
anticipation notes. In the case of a levy for current expenses, 21915
notes may be issued after the approval of the levy by the electors 21916
and prior to the time when the first tax collection from the levy 21917
can be made. Such notes may be issued in an amount not more than 21918
fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the levy 21919
throughout the term of the levy in the case of a levy for a fixed 21920
period, or fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds for the 21921
first ten years of the levy in the case of a continuing levy. 21922

       No anticipation notes that increase the net indebtedness of a 21923
county may be issued without the prior consent of the board of 21924
county commissioners of that county. The notes shall be issued as 21925
provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code, shall have 21926
principal payments during each year after the year of their 21927
issuance over a period not exceeding the life of the levy 21928
anticipated, and may have a principal payment in the year of their 21929
issuance. 21930

       "Taxing authority" and "subdivision" have the same meanings 21931
as in section 5705.01 of the Revised Code. 21932

       This section is supplemental to and not in derogation of 21933
sections 5705.20, 5705.21, and 5705.22 of the Revised Code. 21934

       Sec. 5705.195.  Within five days after the resolution is21935
certified to the county auditor as provided by section 5705.194 of 21936
the Revised Code, the auditor shall calculate and certify to the 21937
taxing authority the annual levy, expressed in dollars and cents 21938
for each one hundred dollars of valuation as well as in mills for 21939
each one dollar of valuation, throughout the life of the levy 21940
which will be required to produce the annual amount set forth in 21941
the resolution assuming that the amount of the tax list of such 21942
subdivision remains throughout the life of the levy the same as 21943
the amount of the tax list for the current year, and if this is 21944
not determined, the estimated amount submitted by the auditor to 21945
the county budget commission. When considering the tangible 21946
personal property component of the tax valuation of the 21947
subdivision, the county auditor shall take into account the 21948
assessment percentages prescribed in section 5711.22 of the 21949
Revised Code. The tax commissioner may issue rules, orders, or 21950
instructions directing how the assessment percentages must be 21951
utilized.21952

       Upon receiving the certification from the county auditor, if 21953
the taxing authority desires to proceed with the submission of the21954
question it shall, not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days 21955
before the day of such election, certify its resolution, together 21956
with the amount of the average tax levy, expressed in dollars and 21957
cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation as well as in 21958
mills for each one dollar of valuation, estimated by the auditor, 21959
and the number of years the levy is to run to the board of 21960
elections of the county which shall prepare the ballots and make 21961
other necessary arrangements for the submission of the question to 21962
the voters of the subdivision.21963

       Sec. 5705.199. (A) At any time the board of education of a 21964
city, local, exempted village, cooperative education, or joint 21965
vocational school district, by a vote of two-thirds of all its 21966
members, may declare by resolution that the revenue that will be 21967
raised by all tax levies that the district is authorized to 21968
impose, when combined with state and federal revenues, will be 21969
insufficient to provide for the necessary requirements of the 21970
school district, and that it is therefore necessary to levy a tax 21971
in excess of the ten-mill limitation for the purpose of providing 21972
for the necessary requirements of the school district. Such a 21973
levy shall be proposed as a substitute for all or a portion of one 21974
or more existing levies imposed under sections 5705.194 to 21975
5705.197 of the Revised Code or under this section, by levying a 21976
tax as follows:21977

       (1) In the initial year the levy is in effect, the levy shall 21978
be in a specified amount of money equal to the aggregate annual 21979
dollar amount of proceeds derived from the levy or levies, or 21980
portion thereof, being substituted.21981

       (2) In each subsequent year the levy is in effect, the levy 21982
shall be in a specified amount of money equal to the sum of the 21983
following:21984

       (a) The dollar amount of the proceeds derived from the levy 21985
in the prior year; and21986

       (b) The dollar amount equal to the product of the total 21987
taxable value of all taxable real property in the school district 21988
in the then-current year, excluding carryover property as defined 21989
in section 319.301 of the Revised Code, multiplied by the annual 21990
levy, expressed in mills for each one dollar of valuation, that 21991
was required to produce the annual dollar amount of the levy under 21992
this section in the prior year; provided, that the amount under 21993
division (A)(2)(b) of this section shall not be less than zero.21994

       (B) The resolution proposing the substitute levy shall 21995
specify the annual dollar amount the levy is to produce in its 21996
initial year; the first calendar year in which the levy will be 21997
due; and the term of the levy expressed in years, which may be 21998
any number not exceeding ten, or for a continuing period of 21999
time. The resolution shall specify the date of holding the 22000
election, which shall not be earlier than seventy-five22001
eighty-five days after certification of the resolution to the 22002
board of elections, and which shall be consistent with the 22003
requirements of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code. If two or 22004
more existing levies are to be included in a single substitute 22005
levy, but are not scheduled to expire in the same year, the 22006
resolution shall specify that the existing levies to be 22007
substituted shall not be levied after the year preceding the 22008
year in which the substitute levy is first imposed.22009

       The resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its 22010
passage, and no publication of the resolution shall be necessary 22011
other than that provided for in the notice of election. A copy of 22012
the resolution shall immediately after its passage be certified to 22013
the county auditor in the manner provided by section 5705.195 of 22014
the Revised Code, and sections 5705.194 and 5705.196 of the 22015
Revised Code shall govern the arrangements for the submission of 22016
the question and other matters concerning the notice of election 22017
and the election, except as may be provided otherwise in this 22018
section.22019

       (C) The form of the ballot to be used at the election on the 22020
question of a levy under this section shall be as follows:22021

       "Shall a tax levy substituting for an existing levy be 22022
imposed by the .......... (here insert name of school district) 22023
for the purpose of providing for the necessary requirements of 22024
the school district in the initial sum of .......... (here insert 22025
the annual dollar amount the levy is to produce in its initial 22026
year), and a levy of taxes be made outside of the ten-mill 22027
limitation estimated by the county auditor to require .......... 22028
(here insert number of mills) mills for each one dollar of 22029
valuation, which amounts to .......... (here insert rate 22030
expressed in dollars and cents) for each one hundred dollars of 22031
valuation for the initial year of the tax, for a period of 22032
.......... (here insert the number of years the levy is to be 22033
imposed, or that it will be levied for a continuing period of 22034
time), commencing in .......... (first year the tax is to be 22035
levied), first due in calendar year .......... (first calendar 22036
year in which the tax shall be due), with the sum of such tax to 22037
increase only if and as new land or real property improvements 22038
not previously taxed by the school district are added to its tax 22039
list?22040

        22041

 FOR THE TAX LEVY 22042
 AGAINST THE TAX LEVY  " 22043

        22044

       If the levy submitted is a proposal to substitute all or a 22045
portion of more than one existing levy, the form of the ballot may 22046
be changed so long as the ballot reflects the number of levies to 22047
be substituted and that none of the existing levies to be 22048
substituted will be levied after the year preceding the year in 22049
which the substitute levy is first imposed. The form of the 22050
ballot shall be modified by substituting the statement "Shall a 22051
tax levy substituting for an existing levy" with "Shall a tax levy 22052
substituting for existing levies" and adding the following 22053
statement after "added to its tax list?" and before "For the Tax 22054
Levy":22055

       "If approved, any remaining tax years on any of the 22056
.......... (here insert the number of existing levies) existing 22057
levies will not be collected after .......... (here insert the 22058
current tax year or, if not the current tax year, the applicable 22059
tax year)."22060

       (D) The submission of questions to the electors under this 22061
section is subject to the limitation on the number of election 22062
dates established by section 5705.214 of the Revised Code.22063

       (E) If a majority of the electors voting on the question so 22064
submitted in an election vote in favor of the levy, the board of 22065
education may make the necessary levy within the school district 22066
at the rate and for the purpose stated in the resolution. The tax 22067
levy shall be included in the next tax budget that is certified to 22068
the county budget commission.22069

       (F) A levy for a continuing period of time may be decreased 22070
pursuant to section 5705.261 of the Revised Code.22071

       (G) A levy under this section substituting for all or a 22072
portion of one or more existing levies imposed under sections 22073
5705.194 to 5705.197 of the Revised Code or under this section 22074
shall be treated as having renewed the levy or levies being 22075
substituted for purposes of the payments made under sections 22076
5751.20 to 5751.22 of the Revised Code.22077

       (H) After the approval of a levy on the current tax list and 22078
duplicate, and prior to the time when the first tax collection 22079
from the levy can be made, the board of education may anticipate 22080
a fraction of the proceeds of the levy and issue anticipation 22081
notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the 22082
total estimated proceeds of the levy to be collected during the 22083
first year of the levy. The notes shall be issued as provided in 22084
section 133.24 of the Revised Code, shall have principal 22085
payments during each year after the year of their issuance over 22086
a period not to exceed five years, and may have a principal 22087
payment in the year of their issuance.22088

       Sec. 5705.20.  The board of county commissioners of any22089
county, in any year, after providing the normal and customary22090
percentage of the total general fund appropriations for the22091
support of the tuberculosis treatment specified under section 22092
339.73 of the Revised Code or for the support of tuberculosis 22093
clinics established pursuant to section 339.76 of the Revised 22094
Code, by vote of two-thirds of all the members of said board may 22095
declare by resolution that the amount of taxes which may be raised 22096
within the ten-mill limitation will be insufficient to provide an22097
adequate amount for that support, and that it is necessary to levy 22098
a tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation to supplement such 22099
general fund appropriations for such purpose, but the total levy 22100
for this purpose shall not exceed sixty-five one hundredths of a 22101
mill.22102

       Such resolution shall conform to section 5705.19 of the22103
Revised Code and be certified to the board of elections not less22104
than seventy-fiveeighty-five days before the general election and 22105
submitted in the manner provided in section 5705.25 of the Revised 22106
Code.22107

       If the majority of electors voting on a levy to supplement22108
general fund appropriations for the support of the tuberculosis 22109
treatment specified under section 339.73 of the Revised Code or 22110
for the support of tuberculosis clinics established pursuant to 22111
section 339.76 of the Revised Code, vote in favor thereof, the 22112
board of said county may levy a tax within such county at the 22113
additional rate in excess of the ten-mill limitation during the 22114
period and for the purpose stated in the resolution or at any less 22115
rate or for any of said years.22116

       If a tax was levied under this section for the support of 22117
tuberculosis clinics before the effective date of this amendment22118
October 10, 2000, the levy may be renewed for that purpose on or 22119
after the effective date of this amendmentOctober 10, 2000, in 22120
accordance with section 5705.25 of the Revised Code.22121

       Sec. 5705.21.  (A) At any time, the board of education of any 22122
city, local, exempted village, cooperative education, or joint 22123
vocational school district, by a vote of two-thirds of all its 22124
members, may declare by resolution that the amount of taxes which 22125
may be raised within the ten-mill limitation by levies on the 22126
current tax duplicate will be insufficient to provide an adequate 22127
amount for the necessary requirements of the school district, that 22128
it is necessary to levy a tax in excess of such limitation for one 22129
of the purposes specified in division (A), (D), (F), (H), or (DD) 22130
of section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, for general permanent 22131
improvements, for the purpose of operating a cultural center, or 22132
for the purpose of providing education technology, and that the 22133
question of such additional tax levy shall be submitted to the 22134
electors of the school district at a special election on a day to 22135
be specified in the resolution.22136

       As used in this section, "cultural center" means a22137
freestanding building, separate from a public school building,22138
that is open to the public for educational, musical, artistic, and 22139
cultural purposes; "education technology" means, but is not 22140
limited to, computer hardware, equipment, materials, and22141
accessories, equipment used for two-way audio or video, and22142
software; and "general permanent improvements" means permanent 22143
improvements without regard to the limitation of division (F) of 22144
section 5705.19 of the Revised Code that the improvements be a 22145
specific improvement or a class of improvements that may be 22146
included in a single bond issue.22147

       The submission of questions to the electors under this22148
section is subject to the limitation on the number of election22149
dates established by section 5705.214 of the Revised Code.22150

       (B) Such resolution shall be confined to a single purpose and 22151
shall specify the amount of the increase in rate that it is22152
necessary to levy, the purpose of the levy, and the number of 22153
years during which the increase in rate shall be in effect. The 22154
number of years may be any number not exceeding five or, if the 22155
levy is for current expenses of the district or for general22156
permanent improvements, for a continuing period of time. The22157
resolution shall specify the date of holding such election, which22158
shall not be earlier than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the 22159
adoption and certification of the resolution and which shall be22160
consistent with the requirements of section 3501.01 of the Revised 22161
Code.22162

       The resolution may propose to renew one or more existing22163
levies imposed under this section or to increase or decrease a 22164
single levy imposed under this section. If the board of education 22165
imposes one or more existing levies for the purpose specified in 22166
division (F) of section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, the 22167
resolution may propose to renew one or more of those existing 22168
levies, or to increase or decrease a single such existing levy, 22169
for the purpose of general permanent improvements. If the 22170
resolution proposes to renew two or more existing levies, the 22171
levies shall be levied for the same purpose. The resolution shall22172
identify those levies and the rates at which they are levied. The22173
resolution also shall specify that the existing levies shall not22174
be extended on the tax lists after the year preceding the year in 22175
which the renewal levy is first imposed, regardless of the years 22176
for which those levies originally were authorized to be levied.22177

       The resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its 22178
passage, and no publication of the resolution shall be necessary 22179
other than that provided for in the notice of election. A copy of22180
the resolution shall immediately after its passing be certified to 22181
the board of elections of the proper county in the manner provided 22182
by section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, and that section shall 22183
govern the arrangements for the submission of such question and 22184
other matters concerning such election, to which that section 22185
refers, except that such election shall be held on the date 22186
specified in the resolution. Publication of notice of that 22187
election shall be made in one or more newspapers of general22188
circulation in the county once a week for two consecutive weeks 22189
prior to the election, and, if the board of elections operates and 22190
maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of 22191
the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the 22192
election. If a majority of the electors voting on the question so 22193
submitted in an election vote in favor of the levy, the board of 22194
education may make the necessary levy within the school district22195
at the additional rate, or at any lesser rate in excess of the22196
ten-mill limitation on the tax list, for the purpose stated in the 22197
resolution. A levy for a continuing period of time may be reduced 22198
pursuant to section 5705.261 of the Revised Code. The tax levy 22199
shall be included in the next tax budget that is certified to the 22200
county budget commission.22201

       (C)(1) After the approval of a levy on the current tax list 22202
and duplicate for current expenses, for recreational purposes, for 22203
community centers provided for in section 755.16 of the Revised 22204
Code, or for a public library of the district and prior to the 22205
time when the first tax collection from the levy can be made, the 22206
board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of 22207
the levy and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not 22208
exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the 22209
levy to be collected during the first year of the levy.22210

       (2) After the approval of a levy for general permanent 22211
improvements for a specified number of years, or for permanent22212
improvements having the purpose specified in division (F) of22213
section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, the board of education may22214
anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy and issue22215
anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per22216
cent of the total estimated proceeds of the levy remaining to be22217
collected in each year over a period of five years after the22218
issuance of the notes.22219

       The notes shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of22220
the Revised Code, shall have principal payments during each year22221
after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed five22222
years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their22223
issuance.22224

       (3) After approval of a levy for general permanent 22225
improvements for a continuing period of time, the board of 22226
education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy 22227
and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding 22228
fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the levy to be 22229
collected in each year over a specified period of years, not 22230
exceeding ten, after the issuance of the notes.22231

       The notes shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of22232
the Revised Code, shall have principal payments during each year22233
after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed ten22234
years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their22235
issuance.22236

       Sec. 5705.211.  (A) As used in this section:22237

       (1) "Adjusted charge-off increase" for a tax year means two 22238
per cent of the cumulative carryover property value increase. If 22239
the cumulative carryover property value increase is computed on 22240
the basis of a school district's recognized valuation for a 22241
fiscal year before fiscal year 2014, the adjusted charge-off 22242
increase shall be adjusted to account for the greater charge-off 22243
rates prescribed for such fiscal years under sections 3317.022 22244
and 3306.13 of the Revised Code.22245

        (2) "Cumulative carryover property value increase" means the 22246
sum of the increases in carryover value certified under division 22247
(B)(2) of section 3317.015 of the Revised Code and included in a 22248
school district's total taxable value in the computation of 22249
recognized valuation under division (B) of that section for all 22250
fiscal years from the fiscal year that ends in the first tax year 22251
a levy under this section is extended on the tax list of real and 22252
public utility property until and including the fiscal year that 22253
ends in the current tax year.22254

       (3) "Taxes charged and payable" means the taxes charged and 22255
payable from a tax levy extended on the real and public utility 22256
property tax list and the general list of personal property before 22257
any reduction under section 319.302, 323.152, or 323.158 of the 22258
Revised Code.22259

       (B) The board of education of a city, local, or exempted 22260
village school district may adopt a resolution proposing the levy 22261
of a tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation for the purpose of 22262
paying the current operating expenses of the district. If the 22263
resolution is approved as provided in division (D) of this 22264
section, the tax may be levied at such a rate each tax year that 22265
the total taxes charged and payable from the levy equals the 22266
adjusted charge-off increase for the tax year or equals a lesser 22267
amount as prescribed under division (C) of this section. The tax 22268
may be levied for a continuing period of time or for a specific 22269
number of years, but not fewer than five years, as provided in the 22270
resolution. The tax may not be placed on the tax list for a tax 22271
year beginning before the first day of January following adoption 22272
of the resolution. A board of education may not adopt a resolution 22273
under this section proposing to levy a tax under this section 22274
concurrently with any other tax levied by the board under this 22275
section.22276

       (C) After the first year a tax is levied under this section, 22277
the rate of the tax in any year shall not exceed the rate, 22278
estimated by the county auditor, that would cause the sums levied 22279
from the tax against carryover property to exceed one hundred four 22280
per cent of the sums levied from the tax against carryover 22281
property in the preceding year. A board of education imposing a 22282
tax under this section may specify in the resolution imposing the 22283
tax that the percentage shall be less than one hundred four per 22284
cent, but the percentage shall not be less than one hundred per 22285
cent. At any time after a resolution adopted under this section is 22286
approved by a majority of electors as provided in division (D) of 22287
this section, the board of education, by resolution, may decrease 22288
the percentage specified in the resolution levying the tax.22289

       (D) A resolution adopted under this section shall state that 22290
the purpose of the tax is to pay current operating expenses of the 22291
district, and shall specify the first year in which the tax is to 22292
be levied, the number of years the tax will be levied or that it 22293
will be levied for a continuing period of time, and the election 22294
at which the question of the tax is to appear on the ballot, which 22295
shall be a general or special election consistent with the 22296
requirements of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code. If the board 22297
of education specifies a percentage less than one hundred four per 22298
cent pursuant to division (C) of this section, the percentage 22299
shall be specified in the resolution.22300

       Upon adoption of the resolution, the board of education may 22301
certify a copy of the resolution to the proper county board of 22302
elections. The copy of the resolution shall be certified to the 22303
board of elections not later than seventy-fiveeighty-five days 22304
before the day of the election at which the question of the tax 22305
is to appear on the ballot. Upon receiving a timely certified 22306
copy of such a resolution, the board of elections shall make the 22307
necessary arrangements for the submission of the question to the 22308
electors of the school district, and the election shall be 22309
conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular 22310
elections in the school district for the election of members of 22311
the board of education. Notice of the election shall be published 22312
in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the school 22313
district once per week for four consecutive weeks. The notice 22314
shall state that the purpose of the tax is for the current 22315
operating expenses of the school district, the first year the tax 22316
is to be levied, the number of years the tax is to be levied or 22317
that it is to be levied for a continuing period of time, that the 22318
tax is to be levied each year in an amount estimated to offset 22319
decreases in state base cost funding caused by appreciation in 22320
real estate values, and that the estimated additional tax in any 22321
year shall not exceed the previous year's by more than four per 22322
cent, or a lesser percentage specified in the resolution levying 22323
the tax, except for increases caused by the addition of new 22324
taxable property.22325

       The question shall be submitted as a separate proposition but 22326
may be printed on the same ballot with any other proposition 22327
submitted at the same election other than the election of 22328
officers.22329

       The form of the ballot shall be substantially as follows:22330

       "An additional tax for the benefit of (name of school 22331
district) for the purpose of paying the current operating expenses 22332
of the district, for .......... (number of years or for continuing 22333
period of time), at a rate sufficient to offset any reduction in 22334
basic state funding caused by appreciation in real estate values? 22335
This levy will permit variable annual growth in revenue up to 22336
.......... (amount specified by school district) per cent for the 22337
duration of the levy.22338

        22339

 For the tax levy 22340
 Against the tax levy  " 22341

        22342

       If a majority of the electors of the school district voting 22343
on the question vote in favor of the question, the board of 22344
elections shall certify the results of the election to the board 22345
of education and to the tax commissioner immediately after the 22346
canvass.22347

       (E) When preparing any estimate of the contemplated receipts 22348
from a tax levied pursuant to this section for the purposes of 22349
sections 5705.28 to 5705.40 of the Revised Code, and in preparing 22350
to certify the tax under section 5705.34 of the Revised Code, a 22351
board of education authorized to levy such a tax shall use 22352
information supplied by the department of education to determine 22353
the adjusted charge-off increase for the tax year for which that 22354
certification is made. If the board levied a tax under this 22355
section in the preceding tax year, the sum to be certified for 22356
collection from the tax shall not exceed the sum that would exceed 22357
the limitation imposed under division (C) of this section. At the 22358
request of the board of education or the treasurer of the school 22359
district, the county auditor shall assist the board of education 22360
in determining the rate or sum that may be levied under this 22361
section.22362

       The board of education shall certify the sum authorized to be 22363
levied to the county auditor, and, for the purpose of the county 22364
auditor determining the rate at which the tax is to be levied in 22365
the tax year, the sum so certified shall be the sum to be raised 22366
by the tax unless the sum exceeds the limitation imposed by 22367
division (C) of this section. A tax levied pursuant to this 22368
section shall not be levied at a rate in excess of the rate 22369
estimated by the county auditor to produce the sum certified by 22370
the board of education before the reductions under sections 22371
319.302, 323.152, and 323.158 of the Revised Code. Notwithstanding 22372
section 5705.34 of the Revised Code, a board of education 22373
authorized to levy a tax under this section shall certify the tax 22374
to the county auditor before the first day of October of the tax 22375
year in which the tax is to be levied, or at a later date as 22376
approved by the tax commissioner.22377

       Sec. 5705.212.  (A)(1) The board of education of any school 22378
district, at any time and by a vote of two-thirds of all of its 22379
members, may declare by resolution that the amount of taxes that 22380
may be raised within the ten-mill limitation will be insufficient 22381
to provide an adequate amount for the present and future 22382
requirements of the school district, that it is necessary to levy 22383
not more than five taxes in excess of that limitation for current 22384
expenses, and that each of the proposed taxes first will be levied 22385
in a different year, over a specified period of time. The board 22386
shall identify the taxes proposed under this section as follows: 22387
the first tax to be levied shall be called the "original tax." 22388
Each tax subsequently levied shall be called an "incremental tax." 22389
The rate of each incremental tax shall be identical, but the rates 22390
of such incremental taxes need not be the same as the rate of the 22391
original tax. The resolution also shall state that the question of 22392
these additional taxes shall be submitted to the electors of the 22393
school district at a special election. The resolution shall 22394
specify separately for each tax proposed: the amount of the 22395
increase in rate that it is necessary to levy, expressed 22396
separately for the original tax and each incremental tax; that the 22397
purpose of the levy is for current expenses; the number of years 22398
during which the original tax shall be in effect; a specification 22399
that the last year in which the original tax is in effect shall 22400
also be the last year in which each incremental tax shall be in 22401
effect; and the year in which each tax first is proposed to be 22402
levied. The original tax may be levied for any number of years not 22403
exceeding ten, or for a continuing period of time. The resolution 22404
shall specify the date of holding the special election, which 22405
shall not be earlier than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the 22406
adoption and certification of the resolution and shall be 22407
consistent with the requirements of section 3501.01 of the Revised 22408
Code.22409

       (2) The board of education, by a vote of two-thirds of all of 22410
its members, may adopt a resolution proposing to renew taxes22411
levied other than for a continuing period of time under division22412
(A)(1) of this section. Such a resolution shall provide for22413
levying a tax and specify all of the following:22414

       (a) That the tax shall be called and designated on the ballot 22415
as a renewal levy;22416

       (b) The rate of the renewal tax, which shall be a single rate 22417
that combines the rate of the original tax and each incremental 22418
tax into a single rate. The rate of the renewal tax shall not 22419
exceed the aggregate rate of the original and incremental taxes.22420

       (c) The number of years, not to exceed ten, that the renewal 22421
tax will be levied, or that it will be levied for a continuing 22422
period of time;22423

       (d) That the purpose of the renewal levy is for current22424
expenses;22425

       (e) Subject to the certification and notification22426
requirements of section 5705.251 of the Revised Code, that the22427
question of the renewal levy shall be submitted to the electors of 22428
the school district at the general election held during the last 22429
year the original tax may be extended on the real and public22430
utility property tax list and duplicate or at a special election22431
held during the ensuing year.22432

       (3) A resolution adopted under division (A)(1) or (2) of this 22433
section shall go into immediate effect upon its adoption and no 22434
publication of the resolution is necessary other than that22435
provided for in the notice of election. Immediately after its22436
adoption, a copy of the resolution shall be certified to the board 22437
of elections of the proper county in the manner provided by22438
division (A) of section 5705.251 of the Revised Code, and that22439
division shall govern the arrangements for the submission of the22440
question and other matters concerning the election to which that22441
section refers. The election shall be held on the date specified22442
in the resolution. If a majority of the electors voting on the22443
question so submitted in an election vote in favor of the taxes or 22444
a renewal tax, the board of education, if the original or a22445
renewal tax is authorized to be levied for the current year,22446
immediately may make the necessary levy within the school district 22447
at the authorized rate, or at any lesser rate in excess of the 22448
ten-mill limitation, for the purpose stated in the resolution. No 22449
tax shall be imposed prior to the year specified in the resolution 22450
as the year in which it is first proposed to be levied. The rate 22451
of the original tax and the rate of each incremental tax shall be 22452
cumulative, so that the aggregate rate levied in any year is the 22453
sum of the rates of both the original tax and all incremental 22454
taxes levied in or prior to that year under the same proposal. A 22455
tax levied for a continuing period of time under this section may 22456
be reduced pursuant to section 5705.261 of the Revised Code.22457

       (4) The submission of questions to the electors under this22458
section is subject to the limitation on the number of election22459
dates established by section 5705.214 of the Revised Code.22460

       (B) Notwithstanding sections 133.30 and 133.301 of the22461
Revised Code, after the approval of a tax to be levied in the22462
current or the succeeding year and prior to the time when the22463
first tax collection from that levy can be made, the board of22464
education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy22465
and issue anticipation notes in an amount not to exceed fifty per22466
cent of the total estimated proceeds of the levy to be collected22467
during the first year of the levy. The notes shall be sold as22468
provided in Chapter 133. of the Revised Code. If anticipation22469
notes are issued, they shall mature serially and in substantially22470
equal amounts during each year over a period not to exceed five22471
years; and the amount necessary to pay the interest and principal22472
as the anticipation notes mature shall be deemed appropriated for22473
those purposes from the levy, and appropriations from the levy by22474
the board of education shall be limited each fiscal year to the22475
balance available in excess of that amount.22476

       If the auditor of state has certified a deficit pursuant to22477
section 3313.483 of the Revised Code, the notes authorized under22478
this section may be sold in accordance with Chapter 133. of the22479
Revised Code, except that the board may sell the notes after22480
providing a reasonable opportunity for competitive bidding.22481

       Sec. 5705.213.  (A)(1) The board of education of any school22482
district, at any time and by a vote of two-thirds of all of its22483
members, may declare by resolution that the amount of taxes that22484
may be raised within the ten-mill limitation will be insufficient22485
to provide an adequate amount for the present and future22486
requirements of the school district and that it is necessary to22487
levy a tax in excess of that limitation for current expenses. The22488
resolution also shall state that the question of the additional22489
tax shall be submitted to the electors of the school district at a22490
special election. The resolution shall specify, for each year the22491
levy is in effect, the amount of money that the levy is proposed22492
to raise, which may, for years after the first year the levy is22493
made, be expressed in terms of a dollar or percentage increase22494
over the prior year's amount. The resolution also shall specify22495
that the purpose of the levy is for current expenses, the number22496
of years during which the tax shall be in effect which may be for22497
any number of years not exceeding ten, and the year in which the22498
tax first is proposed to be levied. The resolution shall specify22499
the date of holding the special election, which shall not be22500
earlier than eightyninety days after the adoption and 22501
certification of the resolution to the county auditor and not 22502
earlier than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after certification to 22503
the board of elections. The date of the election shall be 22504
consistent with the requirements of section 3501.01 of the Revised 22505
Code.22506

       (2) The board of education, by a vote of two-thirds of all of 22507
its members, may adopt a resolution proposing to renew a tax22508
levied under division (A)(1) of this section. Such a resolution22509
shall provide for levying a tax and specify all of the following:22510

       (a) That the tax shall be called and designated on the ballot 22511
as a renewal levy;22512

       (b) The amount of the renewal tax, which shall be no more22513
than the amount of tax levied during the last year the tax being22514
renewed is authorized to be in effect;22515

       (c) The number of years, not to exceed ten, that the renewal22516
tax will be levied, or that it will be levied for a continuing22517
period of time;22518

       (d) That the purpose of the renewal levy is for current22519
expenses;22520

       (e) Subject to the certification and notification22521
requirements of section 5705.251 of the Revised Code, that the22522
question of the renewal levy shall be submitted to the electors of22523
the school district at the general election held during the last22524
year the tax being renewed may be extended on the real and public22525
utility property tax list and duplicate or at a special election22526
held during the ensuing year.22527

       (3) A resolution adopted under division (A)(1) or (2) of this 22528
section shall go into immediate effect upon its adoption and no 22529
publication of the resolution is necessary other than that22530
provided for in the notice of election. Immediately after its22531
adoption, a copy of the resolution shall be certified to the22532
county auditor of the proper county, who shall, within five days,22533
calculate and certify to the board of education the estimated22534
levy, for the first year, and for each subsequent year for which22535
the tax is proposed to be in effect. The estimates shall be made22536
both in mills for each dollar of valuation, and in dollars and22537
cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation. In making the22538
estimates, the auditor shall assume that the amount of the tax22539
list remains throughout the life of the levy, the same as the tax22540
list for the current year. If the tax list for the current year is 22541
not determined, the auditor shall base histhe auditor's estimates 22542
on the estimated amount of the tax list for the current year as22543
submitted to the county budget commission.22544

       If the board desires to proceed with the submission of the22545
question, it shall certify its resolution, with the estimated tax22546
levy expressed in mills and dollars and cents per hundred dollars22547
of valuation for each year that the tax is proposed to be in22548
effect, to the board of elections of the proper county in the22549
manner provided by division (A) of section 5705.251 of the Revised22550
Code. Section 5705.251 of the Revised Code shall govern the22551
arrangements for the submission of the question and other matters22552
concerning the election to which that section refers. The election22553
shall be held on the date specified in the resolution. If a22554
majority of the electors voting on the question so submitted in an22555
election vote in favor of the tax, and if the tax is authorized to22556
be levied for the current year, the board of education immediately22557
may make the additional levy necessary to raise the amount22558
specified in the resolution or a lesser amount for the purpose22559
stated in the resolution.22560

       (4) The submission of questions to the electors under this22561
section is subject to the limitation on the number of election22562
dates established by section 5705.214 of the Revised Code.22563

       (B) Notwithstanding sections 133.30 and 133.301 of the22564
Revised Code, after the approval of a tax to be levied in the22565
current or the succeeding year and prior to the time when the22566
first tax collection from that levy can be made, the board of22567
education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy22568
and issue anticipation notes in an amount not to exceed fifty per22569
cent of the total estimated proceeds of the levy to be collected22570
during the first year of the levy. The notes shall be sold as22571
provided in Chapter 133. of the Revised Code. If anticipation22572
notes are issued, they shall mature serially and in substantially22573
equal amounts during each year over a period not to exceed five22574
years; and the amount necessary to pay the interest and principal22575
as the anticipation notes mature shall be deemed appropriated for22576
those purposes from the levy, and appropriations from the levy by22577
the board of education shall be limited each fiscal year to the22578
balance available in excess of that amount.22579

       If the auditor of state has certified a deficit pursuant to22580
section 3313.483 of the Revised Code, the notes authorized under22581
this section may be sold in accordance with Chapter 133. of the22582
Revised Code, except that the board may sell the notes after22583
providing a reasonable opportunity for competitive bidding.22584

       Sec. 5705.217.  (A) The board of education of a city, local, 22585
or exempted village school district, at any time by a vote of 22586
two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that the 22587
amount of taxes that can be raised within the ten-mill limitation 22588
will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the present 22589
and future requirements of the school district; that it is 22590
necessary to levy an additional tax in excess of that limitation 22591
for the purposes of providing funds for current operating expenses 22592
and for the acquisition, construction, enlargement, renovation, 22593
and financing of permanent improvements; and that the question of 22594
the tax shall be submitted to the electors of the district at a 22595
special election. The tax may be levied for a specified number of 22596
years not exceeding five or, if the tax is for current operating 22597
expenses or for general, on-going permanent improvements, for a 22598
continuing period of time. The resolution shall specify the 22599
proposed tax rate, the first year the tax will be levied, and the 22600
number of years it will be levied, or that it will be levied for a 22601
continuing period of time. The resolution shall apportion the 22602
annual rate of the tax between current operating expenses and 22603
permanent improvements. The apportionment may but need not be the 22604
same for each year of the tax, but the respective portions of the 22605
rate actually levied each year for current operating expenses and 22606
permanent improvements shall be limited by the apportionment.22607

       The resolution shall specify the date of holding the special 22608
election, which shall not be earlier than seventy-fiveeighty-five22609
days after certification of the resolution to the board of22610
elections and shall be consistent with the requirements of section 22611
3501.01 of the Revised Code. The resolution shall go into 22612
immediate effect upon its passage, and no publication of it is 22613
necessary other than that provided in the notice of election. The 22614
board of education shall certify a copy of the resolution to the 22615
board of elections immediately after its adoption. Section 5705.25 22616
of the Revised Code governs the arrangements and form of the 22617
ballot for the submission of the question to the electors.22618

       If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote in 22619
favor of the tax, the board of education may make the levy at the 22620
additional rate, or at any lesser rate in excess of the ten-mill 22621
limitation. If the tax is for a continuing period of time, it may 22622
be decreased in accordance with section 5705.261 of the Revised 22623
Code.22624

       (B)(1) After the approval of a tax for current operating 22625
expenses under this section and prior to the time the first 22626
collection and distribution from the levy can be made, the board 22627
of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such 22628
levy and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not22629
exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the 22630
tax to be collected during the first year of the levy.22631

       (2) After the approval of a tax under this section for 22632
permanent improvements having a specific purpose, the board of22633
education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such tax 22634
and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding 22635
fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the tax22636
remaining to be collected in each year over a period of five years 22637
after issuance of the notes.22638

       (3) After the approval of a tax for general, on-going22639
permanent improvements under this section, the board of education 22640
may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such tax and issue 22641
anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per 22642
cent of the total estimated proceeds of the tax to be collected in 22643
each year over a specified period of years, not exceeding ten, 22644
after issuance of the notes.22645

       Anticipation notes under this section shall be issued as22646
provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code. Notes issued under 22647
division (B)(1) or (2) of this section shall have principal 22648
payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a22649
period not to exceed five years, and may have a principal payment 22650
in the year of their issuance. Notes issued under division (B)(3) 22651
of this section shall have principal payments during each year 22652
after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed ten 22653
years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their 22654
issuance.22655

       (C) The submission of a question to the electors under this 22656
section is subject to the limitation on the number of elections 22657
that can be held in a year under section 5705.214 of the Revised 22658
Code.22659

       Sec. 5705.218.  (A) The board of education of a city, local,22660
or exempted village school district, at any time by a vote of22661
two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that it22662
may be necessary for the school district to issue general22663
obligation bonds for permanent improvements. The resolution shall22664
state all of the following:22665

       (1) The necessity and purpose of the bond issue;22666

       (2) The date of the special election at which the question22667
shall be submitted to the electors;22668

       (3) The amount, approximate date, estimated rate of interest, 22669
and maximum number of years over which the principal of the bonds 22670
may be paid;22671

       (4) The necessity of levying a tax outside the ten-mill22672
limitation to pay debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory22673
securities.22674

       On adoption of the resolution, the board shall certify a copy22675
of it to the county auditor. The county auditor promptly shall22676
estimate and certify to the board the average annual property tax22677
rate required throughout the stated maturity of the bonds to pay22678
debt charges on the bonds, in the same manner as under division22679
(C) of section 133.18 of the Revised Code.22680

       (B) After receiving the county auditor's certification under22681
division (A) of this section, the board of education of the city,22682
local, or exempted village school district, by a vote of22683
two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that the22684
amount of taxes that can be raised within the ten-mill limitation22685
will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the present22686
and future requirements of the school district; that it is22687
necessary to issue general obligation bonds of the school district22688
for permanent improvements and to levy an additional tax in excess22689
of the ten-mill limitation to pay debt charges on the bonds and22690
any anticipatory securities; that it is necessary for a specified22691
number of years or for a continuing period of time to levy22692
additional taxes in excess of the ten-mill limitation to provide22693
funds for the acquisition, construction, enlargement, renovation,22694
and financing of permanent improvements or to pay for current22695
operating expenses, or both; and that the question of the bonds22696
and taxes shall be submitted to the electors of the school22697
district at a special election, which shall not be earlier than22698
seventy-fiveeighty-five days after certification of the 22699
resolution to the board of elections, and the date of which shall 22700
be consistent with section 3501.01 of the Revised Code. The 22701
resolution shall specify all of the following:22702

       (1) The county auditor's estimate of the average annual22703
property tax rate required throughout the stated maturity of the22704
bonds to pay debt charges on the bonds;22705

       (2) The proposed rate of the tax, if any, for current22706
operating expenses, the first year the tax will be levied, and the22707
number of years it will be levied, or that it will be levied for a22708
continuing period of time;22709

       (3) The proposed rate of the tax, if any, for permanent22710
improvements, the first year the tax will be levied, and the22711
number of years it will be levied, or that it will be levied for a22712
continuing period of time.22713

       The resolution shall apportion the annual rate of the tax22714
between current operating expenses and permanent improvements, if22715
both taxes are proposed. The apportionment may but need not be the 22716
same for each year of the tax, but the respective portions of the 22717
rate actually levied each year for current operating expenses and 22718
permanent improvements shall be limited by the apportionment. The 22719
resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no 22720
publication of it is necessary other than that provided in the22721
notice of election. The board of education shall certify a copy of 22722
the resolution, along with copies of the auditor's estimate and 22723
its resolution under division (A) of this section, to the board of 22724
elections immediately after its adoption.22725

       (C) The board of elections shall make the arrangements for22726
the submission of the question to the electors of the school22727
district, and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and22728
certified in the same manner as regular elections in the district22729
for the election of county officers. The resolution shall be put22730
before the electors as one ballot question, with a favorable vote22731
indicating approval of the bond issue, the levy to pay debt22732
charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities, the current22733
operating expenses levy, and the permanent improvements levy, if22734
either or both levies are proposed. The board of elections shall22735
publish notice of the election in one or more newspapers of22736
general circulation in the school district once a week for two 22737
consecutive weeks prior to the election, and, if a board of 22738
elections operates and maintains a web site, that board also shall 22739
post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior 22740
to the election. The notice of election shall state all of the22741
following:22742

       (1) The principal amount of the proposed bond issue;22743

       (2) The permanent improvements for which the bonds are to be22744
issued;22745

       (3) The maximum number of years over which the principal of22746
the bonds may be paid;22747

       (4) The estimated additional average annual property tax rate 22748
to pay the debt charges on the bonds, as certified by the county 22749
auditor;22750

       (5) The proposed rate of the additional tax, if any, for22751
current operating expenses;22752

       (6) The number of years the current operating expenses tax22753
will be in effect, or that it will be in effect for a continuing22754
period of time;22755

       (7) The proposed rate of the additional tax, if any, for22756
permanent improvements;22757

       (8) The number of years the permanent improvements tax will22758
be in effect, or that it will be in effect for a continuing period22759
of time;22760

       (9) The time and place of the special election.22761

       (D) The form of the ballot for an election under this section 22762
is as follows:22763

       "Shall the .......... school district be authorized to do the22764
following:22765

       (1) Issue bonds for the purpose of .......... in the22766
principal amount of $......, to be repaid annually over a maximum22767
period of ...... years, and levy a property tax outside the22768
ten-mill limitation, estimated by the county auditor to average22769
over the bond repayment period ...... mills for each one dollar of22770
tax valuation, which amounts to ...... (rate expressed in cents or22771
dollars and cents, such as "36 cents" or "$1.41") for each $100 of22772
tax valuation, to pay the annual debt charges on the bonds, and to22773
pay debt charges on any notes issued in anticipation of those22774
bonds?"22775

       If either a levy for permanent improvements or a levy for22776
current operating expenses is proposed, or both are proposed, the22777
ballot also shall contain the following language, as appropriate:22778

       "(2) Levy an additional property tax to provide funds for the 22779
acquisition, construction, enlargement, renovation, and financing 22780
of permanent improvements at a rate not exceeding ....... mills 22781
for each one dollar of tax valuation, which amounts to ....... 22782
(rate expressed in cents or dollars and cents) for each $100 of 22783
tax valuation, for ...... (number of years of the levy, or a 22784
continuing period of time)?22785

       (3) Levy an additional property tax to pay current operating22786
expenses at a rate not exceeding ....... mills for each one dollar22787
of tax valuation, which amounts to ....... (rate expressed in22788
cents or dollars and cents) for each $100 of tax valuation, for22789
....... (number of years of the levy, or a continuing period of22790
time)?22791

        22792

  FOR THE BOND ISSUE AND LEVY (OR LEVIES) 22793
  AGAINST THE BOND ISSUE AND LEVY (OR LEVIES)   " 22794

        22795

       (E) The board of elections promptly shall certify the results 22796
of the election to the tax commissioner and the county auditor of 22797
the county in which the school district is located. If a majority 22798
of the electors voting on the question vote for it, the board of 22799
education may proceed with issuance of the bonds and with the levy 22800
and collection of the property tax or taxes at the additional rate 22801
or any lesser rate in excess of the ten-mill limitation. Any 22802
securities issued by the board of education under this section are 22803
Chapter 133. securities, as that term is defined in section 133.01 22804
of the Revised Code.22805

       (F)(1) After the approval of a tax for current operating22806
expenses under this section and prior to the time the first22807
collection and distribution from the levy can be made, the board22808
of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such22809
levy and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not22810
exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the22811
tax to be collected during the first year of the levy.22812

       (2) After the approval of a tax under this section for22813
permanent improvements having a specific purpose, the board of22814
education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such tax22815
and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding22816
fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the tax22817
remaining to be collected in each year over a period of five years22818
after issuance of the notes.22819

       (3) After the approval of a tax for general, on-going22820
permanent improvements under this section, the board of education22821
may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such tax and issue22822
anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per22823
cent of the total estimated proceeds of the tax to be collected in22824
each year over a specified period of years, not exceeding ten,22825
after issuance of the notes.22826

       Anticipation notes under this section shall be issued as22827
provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code. Notes issued under 22828
division (F)(1) or (2) of this section shall have principal22829
payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a22830
period not to exceed five years, and may have a principal payment22831
in the year of their issuance. Notes issued under division (F)(3)22832
of this section shall have principal payments during each year22833
after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed ten22834
years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their22835
issuance.22836

       (G) A tax for current operating expenses or for permanent22837
improvements levied under this section for a specified number of22838
years may be renewed or replaced in the same manner as a tax for22839
current operating expenses or for permanent improvements levied22840
under section 5705.21 of the Revised Code. A tax for current22841
operating expenses or for permanent improvements levied under this22842
section for a continuing period of time may be decreased in22843
accordance with section 5705.261 of the Revised Code.22844

       (H) The submission of a question to the electors under this22845
section is subject to the limitation on the number of elections22846
that can be held in a year under section 5705.214 of the Revised22847
Code.22848

       (I) A school district board of education proposing a ballot22849
measure under this section to generate local resources for a22850
project under the school building assistance expedited local22851
partnership program under section 3318.36 of the Revised Code may22852
combine the questions under division (D) of this section with a22853
question for the levy of a property tax to generate moneys for22854
maintenance of the classroom facilities acquired under that22855
project as prescribed in section 3318.361 of the Revised Code.22856

       Sec. 5705.219.  (A) As used in this section:22857

       (1) "Eligible school district" means a city, local, or 22858
exempted village school district in which the taxes charged and 22859
payable for current expenses on residential/agricultural real 22860
property in the tax year preceding the year in which the levy 22861
authorized by this section will be submitted for elector approval 22862
or rejection are greater than two per cent of the taxable value of 22863
the residential/agricultural real property.22864

       (2) "Residential/agricultural real property" and 22865
"nonresidential/agricultural real property" means the property 22866
classified as such under section 5713.041 of the Revised Code.22867

       (3) "Effective tax rate" and "taxes charged and payable" have 22868
the same meanings as in division (B) of section 319.301 of the 22869
Revised Code.22870

       (B) On or after January 1, 2010, but before January 1, 2015,22871
the board of education of an eligible school district, by a vote 22872
of two-thirds of all its members, may adopt a resolution 22873
proposing to convert existing levies imposed for the purpose of 22874
current expenses into a levy raising a specified amount of tax 22875
money by repealing all or a portion of one or more of those 22876
existing levies and imposing a levy in excess of the ten-mill 22877
limitation that will raise a specified amount of money for 22878
current expenses of the district.22879

       The board of education shall certify a copy of the resolution 22880
to the tax commissioner not later than ninetyone hundred days 22881
before the election upon which the repeal and levy authorized by 22882
this section will be proposed to the electors. Within ten days 22883
after receiving the copy of the resolution, the tax commissioner 22884
shall determine each of the following and certify the 22885
determinations to the board of education:22886

       (1) The dollar amount to be raised by the proposed levy, 22887
which shall be the product of:22888

       (a) The difference between the aggregate effective tax rate 22889
for residential/agricultural real property for the tax year 22890
preceding the year in which the repeal and levy will be proposed 22891
to the electors and twenty mills per dollar of taxable value;22892

       (b) The total taxable value of all property on the tax list 22893
of real and public utility property for the tax year preceding the 22894
year in which the repeal and levy will be proposed to the 22895
electors.22896

       (2) The estimated tax rate of the proposed levy.22897

       (3) The existing levies and any portion of an existing levy 22898
to be repealed upon approval of the question. Levies shall be 22899
repealed in reverse chronological order from most recently imposed 22900
to least recently imposed until the sum of the effective tax rates 22901
repealed for residential/agricultural real property is equal to 22902
the difference calculated in division (B)(1)(a) of this section. 22903

       (4) The sum of the following:22904

       (a) The total taxable value of nonresidential/agricultural 22905
real property for the tax year preceding the year in which the 22906
repeal and levy will be proposed to the electors multiplied by the 22907
difference between (i) the aggregate effective tax rate for 22908
nonresidential/agricultural real property for the existing levies 22909
and any portion of an existing levy to be repealed and (ii) the 22910
amount determined under division (B)(1)(a) of this section, but 22911
not less than zero;22912

       (b) The total taxable value of public utility tangible 22913
personal property for the tax year preceding the year in which the 22914
repeal and levy will be proposed to the electors multiplied by the 22915
difference between (i) the aggregate voted tax rate for the 22916
existing levies and any portion of an existing levy to be repealed 22917
and (ii) the amount determined under division (B)(1)(a) of this 22918
section, but not less than zero.22919

       (C) Upon receipt of the certification from the tax 22920
commissioner under division (B) of this section, a majority of the 22921
members of the board of education may adopt a resolution proposing 22922
the repeal of the existing levies as identified in the 22923
certification and the imposition of a levy in excess of the 22924
ten-mill limitation that will raise annually the amount certified 22925
by the commissioner. If the board determines that the tax should 22926
be for an amount less than that certified by the commissioner, the 22927
board may request that the commissioner redetermine the rate 22928
under division (B)(2) of this section on the basis of the 22929
lesser amount the levy is to raise as specified by the board. The 22930
amount certified under division (B)(4) and the levies to be 22931
repealed as certified under division (B)(3) of this section shall 22932
not be redetermined. Within ten days after receiving a timely 22933
request specifying the lesser amount to be raised by the levy, 22934
the commissioner shall redetermine the rate and recertify it to 22935
the board as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section. 22936
Only one such request may be made by the board of education of 22937
an eligible school district.22938

       The resolution shall state the first calendar year in which 22939
the levy will be due; the existing levies and any portion of an 22940
existing levy that will be repealed, as certified by the 22941
commissioner; the term of the levy expressed in years, which may 22942
be any number not exceeding ten, or that it will be levied for a 22943
continuing period of time; and the date of the election, which 22944
shall be the date of a primary or general election.22945

       Immediately upon its passage, the resolution shall go into 22946
effect and shall be certified by the board of education to the 22947
county auditor of the proper county. The county auditor and the 22948
board of education shall proceed as required under section 22949
5705.195 of the Revised Code. No publication of the resolution is 22950
necessary other than that provided for in the notice of election. 22951
Section 5705.196 of the Revised Code shall govern the matters 22952
concerning the election. The submission of a question to the 22953
electors under this section is subject to the limitation on the 22954
number of election dates established by section 5705.214 of the 22955
Revised Code.22956

       (D) The form of the ballot to be used at the election 22957
provided for in this section shall be as follows:22958

       "Shall the existing levy of .......... (insert the voted 22959
millage rate of the levy to be repealed), currently being charged 22960
against residential and agricultural property by the .......... 22961
(insert the name of school district) at a rate of .......... 22962
(insert the residential/agricultural real property effective tax 22963
rate of the levy being repealed) for the purpose of .......... 22964
(insert the purpose of the existing levy) be repealed, and shall 22965
a levy be imposed by the .......... (insert the name of school 22966
district) in excess of the ten-mill limitation for the necessary 22967
requirements of the school district in the sum of .......... 22968
(insert the annual amount the levy is to produce), estimated by 22969
the tax commissioner to require .......... (insert the number of 22970
mills) mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to 22971
.......... (insert the rate expressed in dollars and cents) for 22972
each one hundred dollars of valuation for the initial year of the 22973
tax, for a period of .......... (insert the number of years the 22974
levy is to be imposed, or that it will be levied for a continuing 22975
period of time), commencing in .......... (insert the first year 22976
the tax is to be levied), first due in calendar year .......... 22977
(insert the first calendar year in which the tax shall be due)?22978

        22979

 FOR THE REPEAL AND TAX 22980
 AGAINST THE REPEAL AND TAX  " 22981

        22982

       If the question submitted is a proposal to repeal all or a 22983
portion of more than one existing levy, the form of the ballot 22984
shall be modified by substituting the statement "shall the 22985
existing levy of" with "shall existing levies of" and inserting 22986
the aggregate voted and aggregate effective tax rates to be 22987
repealed.22988

       (E) If a majority of the electors voting on the question 22989
submitted in an election vote in favor of the repeal and levy, the 22990
result shall be certified immediately after the canvass by the 22991
board of elections to the board of education. The board of 22992
education may make the levy necessary to raise the amount 22993
specified in the resolution for the purpose stated in the 22994
resolution and shall certify it to the county auditor, who shall 22995
extend it on the current year tax lists for collection. After the 22996
first year, the levy shall be included in the annual tax budget 22997
that is certified to the county budget commission.22998

       (F) A levy imposed under this section for a continuing period 22999
of time may be decreased or repealed pursuant to section 5705.261 23000
of the Revised Code. If a levy imposed under this section is 23001
decreased, the amount calculated under division (B)(4) of this 23002
section and paid under section 5705.2110 of the Revised Code 23003
shall be decreased by the same proportion as the levy is 23004
decreased. If the levy is repealed, no further payments shall be 23005
made to the district under that section.23006

       (G) At any time, the board of education, by a vote of 23007
two-thirds of all of its members, may adopt a resolution to renew 23008
a tax levied under this section. The resolution shall provide for 23009
levying the tax and specifically all of the following:23010

       (1) That the tax shall be called, and designated on the 23011
ballot as, a renewal levy;23012

       (2) The amount of the renewal tax, which shall be no more 23013
than the amount of tax previously collected;23014

       (3) The number of years, not to exceed ten, that the renewal 23015
tax will be levied, or that it will be levied for a continuing 23016
period of time;23017

       (4) That the purpose of the renewal tax is for current 23018
expenses.23019

       The board shall certify a copy of the resolution to the board 23020
of elections not later than seventy-fiveeighty-five days before 23021
the date of the election at which the question is to be 23022
submitted, which shall be the date of a primary or general 23023
election.23024

       (H) The form of the ballot to be used at the election on the 23025
question of renewing a levy under this section shall be as 23026
follows:23027

       "Shall a tax levy renewing an existing levy of .......... 23028
(insert the annual dollar amount the levy is to produce each 23029
year), estimated to require .......... (insert the number of 23030
mills) mills for each one dollar of valuation be imposed by the 23031
.......... (insert the name of school district) for the purpose 23032
of current expenses for a period of .......... (insert the number 23033
of years the levy is to be imposed, or that it will be levied for 23034
a continuing period of time), commencing in .......... (insert 23035
the first year the tax is to be levied), first due in calendar 23036
year .......... (insert the first calendar year in which the tax 23037
shall be due)?23038

        23039

 FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE TAX LEVY 23040
 AGAINST THE RENEWAL OF THE TAX LEVY  " 23041

        23042

       If the levy submitted is to be for less than the amount of 23043
money previously collected, the form of the ballot shall be 23044
modified to add "and reducing" after "renewing" and to add before 23045
"estimated to require" the statement "be approved at a tax rate 23046
necessary to produce .......... (insert the lower annual dollar 23047
amount the levy is to produce each year)."23048

       Sec. 5705.2111.  (A) If the board of directors of a regional 23049
student education district created under section 3313.83 of the 23050
Revised Code desires to levy a tax in excess of the ten-mill 23051
limitation throughout the district for the purpose of funding the 23052
services to be provided by the district to students enrolled in 23053
the school districts of which the district is composed and their 23054
immediate family members, the board shall propose the levy to each 23055
of the boards of education of those school districts. The proposal 23056
shall specify the rate or amount of the tax, the number of years 23057
the tax will be levied or that it will be levied for a continuing 23058
period of time, and that the aggregate rate of the tax shall not 23059
exceed three mills per dollar of taxable value in the regional 23060
student education district.23061

        (B)(1) If a majority of the boards of education of the school 23062
districts of which the regional student education district is 23063
composed approves the proposal for the tax levy, the board of 23064
directors of the regional student education district may adopt a 23065
resolution approved by a majority of the board's full membership 23066
declaring the necessity of levying the proposed tax in excess of 23067
the ten-mill limitation throughout the district for the purpose of 23068
funding the services to be provided by the district to students 23069
enrolled in the school districts of which the district is composed 23070
and their immediate family members. The resolution shall provide 23071
for the question of the tax to be submitted to the electors of the 23072
district at a general, primary, or special election on a day to be 23073
specified in the resolution that is consistent with the 23074
requirements of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code and that 23075
occurs at least seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the resolution 23076
is certified to the board of elections. The resolution shall 23077
specify the rate or amount of the tax and the number of years the 23078
tax will be levied or that the tax will be levied for a 23079
continuing period of time. The aggregate rate of tax levied by a 23080
regional student education district under this section at any 23081
time shall not exceed three mills per dollar of taxable value in 23082
the district. A tax levied under this section may be renewed, 23083
subject to section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, or replaced as 23084
provided in section 5705.192 of the Revised Code.23085

       (2) The resolution shall take effect immediately upon 23086
passage, and no publication of the resolution is necessary other 23087
than that provided in the notice of election. The resolution shall 23088
be certified and submitted in the manner provided under section 23089
5705.25 of the Revised Code, and that section governs the 23090
arrangements governing submission of the question and other 23091
matters concerning the election.23092

       Sec. 5705.22.  The board of county commissioners of any23093
county, at any time and in any year, after providing the normal23094
and customary percentages of the total general fund appropriations 23095
for the support of county hospitals, by vote of two-thirds of all 23096
members of said board, may declare by resolution that the amount 23097
of taxes which may be raised within the ten-mill limitation will 23098
be insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the support of 23099
county hospitals, and that it is necessary to levy a tax in excess 23100
of the ten-mill limitation to supplement such general fund 23101
appropriations for such purpose, but the total levy for this 23102
purpose shall not exceed sixty-five one hundredths of a mill.23103

       Such resolution shall conform to the requirements of section 23104
5705.19 of the Revised Code, and shall be certified to the board 23105
of elections not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days before 23106
the general election and submitted in the manner provided in 23107
section 5705.25 of the Revised Code.23108

       If the majority of electors voting on a levy to supplement23109
the general fund appropriations for the support of county23110
hospitals vote in favor of the levy, the board of said county may23111
levy a tax within such county at the additional rate in excess of23112
the ten-mill limitation during the period for the purpose stated23113
in the resolution or at any less rate or for any of the said23114
years.23115

       Sec. 5705.221.  (A) At any time, the board of county23116
commissioners of any county by a majority vote of the full23117
membership may declare by resolution and certify to the board of23118
elections of the county that the amount of taxes which may be23119
raised within the ten-mill limitation by levies on the current tax 23120
duplicate will be insufficient to provide the necessary23121
requirements of the county's alcohol, drug addiction, and mental23122
health service district established pursuant to Chapter 340. of23123
the Revised Code, or the county's contribution to a joint-county23124
district of which the county is a part, and that it is necessary23125
to levy a tax in excess of such limitation for the operation of23126
alcohol and drug addiction programs and mental health programs and 23127
the acquisition, construction, renovation, financing, maintenance, 23128
and operation of alcohol and drug addiction facilities and mental 23129
health facilities.23130

       Such resolution shall conform to section 5705.19 of the23131
Revised Code, except that the increased rate may be in effect for23132
any number of years not exceeding ten.23133

       The resolution shall be certified and submitted in the manner 23134
provided in section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, except that it 23135
may be placed on the ballot in any election, and shall be23136
certified to the board of elections not less than seventy-five23137
eighty-five days before the election at which it will be voted 23138
upon.23139

       If the majority of the electors voting on a levy to23140
supplement general fund appropriations for the support of the23141
comprehensive alcohol and drug addiction and mental health program 23142
vote in favor of the levy, the board may levy a tax within the 23143
county at the additional rate outside the ten-mill limitation 23144
during the specified or continuing period, for the purpose stated 23145
in the resolution.23146

       (B) When electors have approved a tax levy under this23147
section, the board of county commissioners may anticipate a23148
fraction of the proceeds of the levy and, from time to time, issue 23149
anticipation notes in accordance with section 5705.191 or 5705.193 23150
of the Revised Code.23151

       (C) The county auditor who is the fiscal officer of the23152
alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health service district, upon23153
receipt of a resolution from the board of alcohol, drug addiction, 23154
and mental health services, shall establish for the district a 23155
capital improvements account or a reserve balance account, or 23156
both, as specified in the resolution. The capital improvements 23157
account shall be a contingency fund for the necessary acquisition, 23158
replacement, renovation, or construction of facilities and movable 23159
and fixed equipment. Upon the request of the board, funds not 23160
needed to pay for current expenses may be appropriated to the 23161
capital improvements account, in amounts such that the account 23162
does not exceed twenty-five per cent of the replacement value of 23163
all capital facilities and equipment currently used by the board 23164
for programs and services. Other funds which are available for 23165
current capital expenses from federal, state, or local sources may 23166
also be appropriated to this account.23167

       The reserve balance account shall contain those funds that23168
are not needed to pay for current operating expenses and not23169
deposited in the capital improvements account but that will be23170
needed to pay for operating expenses in the future. Upon the23171
request of a board, such funds shall be appropriated to the23172
reserve balance account. Payments from the capital improvements23173
account and the reserve balance account shall be made by the23174
county treasurer who is the custodian of funds for the district23175
upon warrants issued by the county auditor who is the fiscal23176
officer of the district pursuant to orders of the board.23177

       Sec. 5705.222.  (A) At any time the board of county 23178
commissioners of any county by a majority vote of the full 23179
membership may declare by resolution and certify to the board of 23180
elections of the county that the amount of taxes which may be 23181
raised within the ten-mill limitation by levies on the current tax 23182
duplicate will be insufficient to provide the necessary 23183
requirements of the county board of developmental disabilities 23184
established pursuant to Chapter 5126. of the Revised Code and 23185
that it is necessary to levy a tax in excess of such limitation 23186
for the operation of programs and services by county boards of 23187
developmental disabilities and for the acquisition, construction, 23188
renovation, financing, maintenance, and operation of mental 23189
retardation and developmental disabilities facilities. 23190

       Such resolution shall conform to section 5705.19 of the 23191
Revised Code, except that the increased rate may be in effect for 23192
any number of years not exceeding ten or for a continuing period 23193
of time. 23194

       The resolution shall be certified and submitted in the manner 23195
provided in section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, except that it 23196
may be placed on the ballot in any election, and shall be 23197
certified to the board of elections not less than seventy-five23198
eighty-five days before the election at which it will be voted 23199
upon. 23200

       If the majority of the electors voting on a levy for the 23201
support of the programs and services of the county board of 23202
developmental disabilities vote in favor of the levy, the board 23203
of county commissioners may levy a tax within the county at the 23204
additional rate outside the ten-mill limitation during the 23205
specified or continuing period, for the purpose stated in the 23206
resolution. The county board of developmental disabilities, 23207
within its budget and with the approval of the board of county 23208
commissioners through annual appropriations, shall use the 23209
proceeds of a levy approved under this section solely for the 23210
purposes authorized by this section. 23211

       (B) When electors have approved a tax levy under this 23212
section, the county commissioners may anticipate a fraction of the 23213
proceeds of the levy and issue anticipation notes in accordance 23214
with section 5705.191 or 5705.193 of the Revised Code. 23215

       (C) The county auditor, upon receipt of a resolution from the 23216
county board of developmental disabilities, shall establish a 23217
capital improvements account or a reserve balance account, or 23218
both, as specified in the resolution. The capital improvements 23219
account shall be a contingency account for the necessary 23220
acquisition, replacement, renovation, or construction of 23221
facilities and movable and fixed equipment. Upon the request of 23222
the county board of developmental disabilities, moneys not needed 23223
to pay for current expenses may be appropriated to this account, 23224
in amounts such that this account does not exceed twenty-five per 23225
cent of the replacement value of all capital facilities and 23226
equipment currently used by the county board of developmental 23227
disabilities for mental retardation and developmental disabilities 23228
programs and services. Other moneys available for current capital 23229
expenses from federal, state, or local sources may also be 23230
appropriated to this account. 23231

       The reserve balance account shall contain those moneys that 23232
are not needed to pay for current operating expenses and not 23233
deposited in the capital improvements account but that will be 23234
needed to pay for operating expenses in the future. Upon the 23235
request of a county board of developmental disabilities, the board 23236
of county commissioners may appropriate moneys to the reserve 23237
balance account. 23238

       Sec. 5705.23.  The board of library trustees of any county,23239
municipal corporation, school district, or township public library 23240
by a vote of two-thirds of all its members may at any time declare 23241
by resolution that the amount of taxes which may be raised within 23242
the ten-mill limitation by levies on the current tax duplicate 23243
will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the 23244
necessary requirements of the public library, that it is necessary 23245
to levy a tax in excess of such limitation for current expenses of 23246
the public library or for the construction of any specific 23247
permanent improvement or class of improvements which the board of 23248
library trustees is authorized to make or acquire and which could 23249
be included in a single issue of bonds, and that the question of 23250
such additional tax levy shall be submitted by the taxing 23251
authority of the political subdivision to whose jurisdiction the 23252
board is subject, to the electors of the subdivision, or, if the 23253
resolution so states, to the electors residing within the 23254
boundaries of the library district, as defined by the state 23255
library board pursuant to section 3375.01 of the Revised Code, on 23256
the day specified by division (E) of section 3501.01 of the 23257
Revised Code for the holding of a primary election or at an 23258
election on another day to be specified in the resolution. No more 23259
than two elections shall be held under authority of this section 23260
in any one calendar year. Such resolution shall conform to section 23261
5705.19 of the Revised Code, except that the tax levy may be in 23262
effect for any specified number of years or for a continuing 23263
period of time, as set forth in the resolution, and the resolution 23264
shall specify the date of holding the election, which shall not be 23265
earlier than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the adoption and 23266
certification of the resolution to the taxing authority of the 23267
political subdivision to whose jurisdiction the board is subject, 23268
and which shall be consistent with the requirements of section 23269
3501.01 of the Revised Code. The resolution shall not include a 23270
levy on the current tax list and duplicate unless the election is 23271
to be held at or prior to the first Tuesday after the first Monday 23272
in November of the current tax year.23273

       Upon receipt of the resolution, the taxing authority of the 23274
political subdivision to whose jurisdiction the board is subject 23275
shall adopt a resolution providing for the submission of such 23276
additional tax levy to the electors of the subdivision, or, if the 23277
resolution so states, to the electors residing within the 23278
boundaries of the library district, as defined by the state 23279
library board pursuant to section 3375.01 of the Revised Code, on 23280
the date specified in the resolution of the board of library 23281
trustees. The resolution adopted by the taxing authority shall 23282
otherwise conform to the resolution certified to it by the board. 23283
The resolution of the taxing authority shall be certified to the 23284
board of elections of the proper county not less than seventy-five23285
eighty-five days before the date of such election. Such resolution 23286
shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no 23287
publication of the resolution shall be necessary other than that 23288
provided in the notice of election. Section 5705.25 of the 23289
Revised Code shall govern the arrangements for the submission of 23290
such question and other matters concerning the election, to which 23291
that section refers, except that if the resolution so states, the 23292
question shall be submitted to the electors residing within the 23293
boundaries of the library district, as defined by the state 23294
library board pursuant to section 3375.01 of the Revised Code, and 23295
except that such election shall be held on the date specified in 23296
the resolution. If a majority of the electors voting on the 23297
question so submitted in an election vote in favor of such levy, 23298
the taxing authority may forthwith make the necessary levy within 23299
the subdivision or within the boundaries of the library district, 23300
as defined by the state library board pursuant to section 3375.01 23301
of the Revised Code, at the additional rate in excess of the 23302
ten-mill limitation on the tax list, for the purpose stated in 23303
such resolutions. Such tax levy shall be included in the next 23304
annual tax budget that is certified to the county budget 23305
commission. The proceeds of any library levy in excess of the 23306
ten-mill limitation shall be used for purposes of the board in 23307
accordance with the law applicable to the board.23308

       After the approval of a levy on the current tax list and23309
duplicate to provide an increase in current expenses, and prior to 23310
the time when the first tax collection from such levy can be made, 23311
the taxing authority at the request of the board of library23312
trustees may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such levy23313
and issue anticipation notes in an amount not exceeding fifty per23314
cent of the total estimated proceeds of the levy to be collected23315
during the first year of the levy.23316

       After the approval of a levy to provide revenues for the23317
construction or acquisition of any specific permanent improvement23318
or class of improvements, the taxing authority at the request of23319
the board of library trustees may anticipate a fraction of the23320
proceeds of such levy and issue anticipation notes in a principal23321
amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated23322
proceeds of the levy to be collected in each year over a period of 23323
ten years after the issuance of such notes.23324

       The notes shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of23325
the Revised Code, shall have principal payments during each year23326
after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed ten23327
years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their23328
issuance.23329

       When a board of public library trustees of a county library23330
district, appointed under section 3375.22 of the Revised Code,23331
requests the submission of such special levy, the taxing authority 23332
shall submit the levy to the voters of the county library district 23333
only. For the purposes of this section, and of the board of public 23334
library trustees only, the words "electors of the subdivision," as 23335
used in this section and in section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, 23336
mean "electors of the county library district." Any levy approved 23337
by the electors of the county library district shall be made 23338
within the county library district only.23339

       Sec. 5705.24.  The board of county commissioners of any23340
county, at any time and in any year, after providing the normal23341
and customary percentage of the total general fund appropriations23342
for the support of children services and the care and placement of 23343
children, by vote of two-thirds of all the members of said board 23344
may declare by resolution that the amount of taxes which may be 23345
raised within the ten-mill limitation will be insufficient to 23346
provide an adequate amount for the support of such children23347
services, and that it is necessary to levy a tax in excess of the23348
ten-mill limitation to supplement such general fund appropriations 23349
for such purpose. Taxes collected from a levy imposed under this 23350
section may be expended for any operating or capital improvement 23351
expenditure necessary for the support of children services and the 23352
care and placement of children.23353

       Such resolution shall conform to the requirements of section 23354
5705.19 of the Revised Code, except that the levy may be for any 23355
number of years not exceeding ten. The resolution shall be 23356
certified to the board of elections not less than seventy-five23357
eighty-five days before the general, primary, or special election 23358
upon which it will be voted, and be submitted in the manner 23359
provided in section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, except that it 23360
may be placed on the ballot in any such election.23361

       If the majority of the electors voting on a levy to23362
supplement general fund appropriations for the support of children 23363
services and the care and placement of children vote in favor 23364
thereof, the board may levy a tax within such county at the23365
additional rate outside the ten-mill limitation during the period23366
and for the purpose stated in the resolution or at any less rate23367
or for any of the said years.23368

       After the approval of such levy and prior to the time when23369
the first tax collection from such levy can be made, the board of23370
county commissioners may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of23371
such levy and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not23372
to exceed fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the23373
levy throughout its life.23374

       Such notes shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of23375
the Revised Code, shall have principal payments during each year23376
after the year of their issuance over a period not exceeding the23377
life of the levy, and may have a principal payment in the year of23378
their issuance.23379

       Sec. 5705.25.  (A) A copy of any resolution adopted as23380
provided in section 5705.19 or 5705.2111 of the Revised Code shall 23381
be certified by the taxing authority to the board of elections of23382
the proper county not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days 23383
before the general election in any year, and the board shall 23384
submit the proposal to the electors of the subdivision at the 23385
succeeding November election. Except as otherwise provided in this23386
division, a resolution to renew an existing levy, regardless of23387
the section of the Revised Code under which the tax was imposed,23388
shall not be placed on the ballot unless the question is23389
submitted at the general election held during the last year the23390
tax to be renewed or replaced may be extended on the real and23391
public utility property tax list and duplicate, or at any23392
election held in the ensuing year. The limitation of the23393
foregoing sentence does not apply to a resolution to renew and23394
increase or to renew part of an existing levy that was imposed23395
under section 5705.191 of the Revised Code to supplement the23396
general fund for the purpose of making appropriations for one or23397
more of the following purposes: for public assistance, human or23398
social services, relief, welfare, hospitalization, health, and23399
support of general hospitals. The limitation of the second 23400
preceding sentence also does not apply to a resolution that 23401
proposes to renew two or more existing levies imposed under 23402
section 5705.21 of the Revised Code, in which case the question 23403
shall be submitted on the date of the general or primary election 23404
held during the last year at least one of the levies to be renewed 23405
may be extended on the real and public utility property tax list 23406
and duplicate, or at any election held during the ensuing year. 23407
For purposes of this section, a levy shall be considered to be an23408
"existing levy" through the year following the last year it can be23409
placed on that tax list and duplicate.23410

       The board shall make the necessary arrangements for the23411
submission of such questions to the electors of such subdivision,23412
and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in23413
the same manner as regular elections in such subdivision for the23414
election of county officers. Notice of the election shall be23415
published in a newspaper of general circulation in the subdivision23416
once a week for two consecutive weeks prior to the election, and, 23417
if the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the 23418
board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web 23419
site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state 23420
the purpose, the proposed increase in rate expressed in dollars 23421
and cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation as well as in23422
mills for each one dollar of valuation, the number of years during 23423
which the increase will be in effect, the first month and year in 23424
which the tax will be levied, and the time and place of the 23425
election.23426

       (B) The form of the ballots cast at an election held pursuant 23427
to division (A) of this section shall be as follows:23428

       "An additional tax for the benefit of (name of subdivision or23429
public library) .......... for the purpose of (purpose stated in23430
the resolution) .......... at a rate not exceeding ...... mills23431
for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to (rate expressed23432
in dollars and cents) ............ for each one hundred dollars of23433
valuation, for ...... (life of indebtedness or number of years the23434
levy is to run).23435

        23436

 For the Tax Levy 23437
 Against the Tax Levy  " 23438

        23439

       (C) If the levy is to be in effect for a continuing period of 23440
time, the notice of election and the form of ballot shall so state 23441
instead of setting forth a specified number of years for the levy.23442

       If the tax is to be placed on the current tax list, the form23443
of the ballot shall be modified by adding, after the statement of23444
the number of years the levy is to run, the phrase ", commencing23445
in .......... (first year the tax is to be levied), first due in23446
calendar year .......... (first calendar year in which the tax23447
shall be due)."23448

       If the levy submitted is a proposal to renew, increase, or23449
decrease an existing levy, the form of the ballot specified in23450
division (B) of this section may be changed by substituting for23451
the words "An additional" at the beginning of the form, the words23452
"A renewal of a" in case of a proposal to renew an existing levy23453
in the same amount; the words "A renewal of ........ mills and an23454
increase of ...... mills to constitute a" in the case of an23455
increase; or the words "A renewal of part of an existing levy,23456
being a reduction of ...... mills, to constitute a" in the case of23457
a decrease in the proposed levy.23458

       If the levy submitted is a proposal to renew two or more23459
existing levies imposed under section 5705.21 of the Revised Code,23460
the form of the ballot specified in division (B) of this section23461
shall be modified by substituting for the words "an additional23462
tax" the words "a renewal of ....(insert the number of levies to23463
be renewed) existing taxes."23464

       The question covered by such resolution shall be submitted as23465
a separate proposition but may be printed on the same ballot with23466
any other proposition submitted at the same election, other than23467
the election of officers. More than one such question may be23468
submitted at the same election.23469

       (D) A levy voted in excess of the ten-mill limitation under23470
this section shall be certified to the tax commissioner. In the23471
first year of the levy, it shall be extended on the tax lists23472
after the February settlement succeeding the election. If the23473
additional tax is to be placed upon the tax list of the current23474
year, as specified in the resolution providing for its submission,23475
the result of the election shall be certified immediately after23476
the canvass by the board of elections to the taxing authority, who23477
shall make the necessary levy and certify it to the county23478
auditor, who shall extend it on the tax lists for collection.23479
After the first year, the tax levy shall be included in the annual23480
tax budget that is certified to the county budget commission.23481

       Sec. 5705.251.  (A) A copy of a resolution adopted under23482
section 5705.212 or 5705.213 of the Revised Code shall be23483
certified by the board of education to the board of elections of23484
the proper county not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days 23485
before the date of the election specified in the resolution, and 23486
the board of elections shall submit the proposal to the electors 23487
of the school district at a special election to be held on that 23488
date. The board of elections shall make the necessary arrangements 23489
for the submission of the question or questions to the electors of 23490
the school district, and the election shall be conducted, 23491
canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections 23492
in the school district for the election of county officers. Notice 23493
of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general23494
circulation in the subdivision once a week for two consecutive23495
weeks prior to the election, and, if the board of elections 23496
operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall 23497
post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior 23498
to the election.23499

       (1) In the case of a resolution adopted under section23500
5705.212 of the Revised Code, the notice shall state separately,23501
for each tax being proposed, the purpose; the proposed increase in23502
rate, expressed in dollars and cents for each one hundred dollars23503
of valuation as well as in mills for each one dollar of valuation;23504
the number of years during which the increase will be in effect;23505
and the first calendar year in which the tax will be due. For an23506
election on the question of a renewal levy, the notice shall state23507
the purpose; the proposed rate, expressed in dollars and cents for23508
each one hundred dollars of valuation as well as in mills for each23509
one dollar of valuation; and the number of years the tax will be23510
in effect.23511

       (2) In the case of a resolution adopted under section23512
5705.213 of the Revised Code, the notice shall state the purpose;23513
the amount proposed to be raised by the tax in the first year it23514
is levied; the estimated average additional tax rate for the first23515
year it is proposed to be levied, expressed in mills for each one23516
dollar of valuation and in dollars and cents for each one hundred23517
dollars of valuation; the number of years during which the23518
increase will be in effect; and the first calendar year in which23519
the tax will be due. The notice also shall state the amount by23520
which the amount to be raised by the tax may be increased in each23521
year after the first year. The amount of the allowable increase23522
may be expressed in terms of a dollar increase over, or a23523
percentage of, the amount raised by the tax in the immediately23524
preceding year. For an election on the question of a renewal levy, 23525
the notice shall state the purpose; the amount proposed to be 23526
raised by the tax; the estimated tax rate, expressed in mills for 23527
each one dollar of valuation and in dollars and cents for each one 23528
hundred dollars of valuation; and the number of years the tax will 23529
be in effect.23530

       In any case, the notice also shall state the time and place23531
of the election.23532

       (B) The form of the ballot in an election on taxes proposed23533
under section 5705.212 of the Revised Code shall be as follows:23534

       "Shall the .......... school district be authorized to levy23535
taxes for current expenses, the aggregate rate of which may23536
increase in ...... (number) increment(s) of not more than ......23537
mill(s) for each dollar of valuation, from an original rate of23538
...... mill(s) for each dollar of valuation, which amounts to23539
...... (rate expressed in dollars and cents) for each one hundred23540
dollars of valuation, to a maximum rate of ...... mill(s) for each23541
dollar of valuation, which amounts to ...... (rate expressed in23542
dollars and cents) for each one hundred dollars of valuation? The23543
original tax is first proposed to be levied in ...... (the first23544
year of the tax), and the incremental tax in ...... (the first23545
year of the increment) (if more than one incremental tax is23546
proposed in the resolution, the first year that each incremental23547
tax is proposed to be levied shall be stated in the preceding23548
format, and the increments shall be referred to as the first,23549
second, third, or fourth increment, depending on their number). 23550
The aggregate rate of tax so authorized will .......... (insert23551
either, "expire with the original rate of tax which shall be in23552
effect for ...... years" or "be in effect for a continuing period23553
of time").23554

        23555

 FOR THE TAX LEVIES 23556
 AGAINST THE TAX LEVIES  " 23557

        23558

       The form of the ballot in an election on the question of a23559
renewal levy under section 5705.212 of the Revised Code shall be23560
as follows:23561

       "Shall the ......... school district be authorized to renew a23562
tax for current expenses at a rate not exceeding ......... mills23563
for each dollar of valuation, which amounts to ......... (rate23564
expressed in dollars and cents) for each one hundred dollars of23565
valuation, for .......... (number of years the levy shall be in23566
effect, or a continuing period of time)?23567

        23568

 FOR THE TAX LEVY 23569
 AGAINST THE TAX LEVY  " 23570

        23571

       If the tax is to be placed on the current tax list, the form23572
of the ballot shall be modified by adding, after the statement of23573
the number of years the levy is to be in effect, the phrase ",23574
commencing in .......... (first year the tax is to be levied),23575
first due in calendar year .......... (first calendar year in23576
which the tax shall be due)."23577

       (C) The form of the ballot in an election on a tax proposed23578
under section 5705.213 of the Revised Code shall be as follows:23579

       "Shall the ........ school district be authorized to levy the23580
following tax for current expenses? The tax will first be levied23581
in ...... (year) to raise ...... (dollars). In the ...... (number23582
of years) following years, the tax will increase by not more than23583
...... (per cent or dollar amount of increase) each year, so that,23584
during ...... (last year of the tax), the tax will raise23585
approximately ...... (dollars). The county auditor estimates that23586
the rate of the tax per dollar of valuation will be ......23587
mill(s), which amounts to $..... per one hundred dollars of23588
valuation, both during ...... (first year of the tax) and ......23589
mill(s), which amounts to $...... per one hundred dollars of23590
valuation, during ...... (last year of the tax). The tax will not23591
be levied after ...... (year).23592

        23593

 FOR THE TAX LEVY 23594
 AGAINST THE TAX LEVY  " 23595

        23596

       The form of the ballot in an election on the question of a23597
renewal levy under section 5705.213 of the Revised Code shall be23598
as follows:23599

       "Shall the ......... school district be authorized to renew a23600
tax for current expenses which will raise ......... (dollars),23601
estimated by the county auditor to be ......... mills for each23602
dollar of valuation, which amounts to ......... (rate expressed in23603
dollars and cents) for each one hundred dollars of valuation? The23604
tax shall be in effect for ......... (the number of years the levy23605
shall be in effect, or a continuing period of time).23606

        23607

 FOR THE TAX LEVY 23608
 AGAINST THE TAX LEVY  " 23609

        23610

       If the tax is to be placed on the current tax list, the form23611
of the ballot shall be modified by adding, after the statement of23612
the number of years the levy is to be in effect, the phrase ",23613
commencing in .......... (first year the tax is to be levied),23614
first due in calendar year .......... (first calendar year in23615
which the tax shall be due)."23616

       (D) The question covered by a resolution adopted under23617
section 5705.212 or 5705.213 of the Revised Code shall be23618
submitted as a separate question, but may be printed on the same23619
ballot with any other question submitted at the same election,23620
other than the election of officers. More than one question may be 23621
submitted at the same election.23622

       (E) Taxes voted in excess of the ten-mill limitation under23623
division (B) or (C) of this section shall be certified to the tax23624
commissioner. If an additional tax is to be placed upon the tax23625
list of the current year, as specified in the resolution providing23626
for its submission, the result of the election shall be certified23627
immediately after the canvass by the board of elections to the23628
board of education. The board of education immediately shall make23629
the necessary levy and certify it to the county auditor, who shall23630
extend it on the tax list for collection. After the first year,23631
the levy shall be included in the annual tax budget that is23632
certified to the county budget commission.23633

       Sec. 5705.261.  The question of decrease of an increased rate 23634
of levy approved for a continuing period of time by the voters of 23635
a subdivision may be initiated by the filing of a petition with 23636
the board of elections of the proper county not less than 23637
seventy-fiveeighty-five days before the general election in any23638
year requesting that an election be held on such question. Such23639
petition shall state the amount of the proposed decrease in the23640
rate of levy and shall be signed by qualified electors residing in 23641
the subdivision equal in number to at least ten per cent of the23642
total number of votes cast in the subdivision for the office of 23643
governor at the most recent general election for that office. Only 23644
one such petition may be filed during each five-year period 23645
following the election at which the voters approved the increased 23646
rate for a continuing period of time.23647

       After determination by it that such petition is valid, the23648
board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of23649
the district at the succeeding general election. The election 23650
shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as 23651
regular elections in such subdivision for county offices. Notice 23652
of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general 23653
circulation in the district once a week for two consecutive weeks 23654
prior to the election, and, if the board of elections operates and 23655
maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of 23656
the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the 23657
election. The notice shall state the purpose, the amount of the 23658
proposed decrease in rate, and the time and place of the election. 23659
The form of the ballot cast at such election shall be prescribed 23660
by the secretary of state. The question covered by such petition 23661
shall be submitted as a separate proposition but it may be printed 23662
on the same ballot with any other propositions submitted at the 23663
same election other than the election of officers. If a majority 23664
of the qualified electors voting on the question of a decrease at 23665
such election approve the proposed decrease in rate, the result of 23666
the election shall be certified immediately after the canvass by 23667
the board of elections to the subdivision's taxing authority, 23668
which shall thereupon, after the current year, cease to levy such 23669
increased rate or levy such tax at such reduced rate upon the 23670
duplicate of the subdivision. If notes have been issued in 23671
anticipation of the collection of such levy, the taxing authority 23672
shall continue to levy and collect under authority of the election 23673
authorizing the original levy such amounts as will be sufficient 23674
to pay the principal of and interest on such anticipation notes as 23675
the same fall due.23676

       Sec. 5705.27.  There is hereby created in each county a23677
county budget commission consisting of the county auditor, the23678
county treasurer, and the prosecuting attorney. Upon petition23679
filed with the board of elections, signed by the number of23680
electors of the county equal in amount to three per cent of the23681
total number of votes cast for governor at the most recent 23682
election therefor, there shall be submitted to the electors of the 23683
county at the next general election occurring not sooner than23684
seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the filing of the petition, 23685
the question "Shall the county budget commission consist of two 23686
additional members to be elected from the county?" Provision shall 23687
be made on the ballot for the election from the county at large of 23688
two additional members of the county budget commission who shall 23689
be electors of the county if a majority of the electors voting on23690
the question shall have voted in the affirmative. In such23691
counties, where the electors have voted in the affirmative, the23692
county budget commission shall consist of such two elected members 23693
in addition to the county auditor, the county treasurer and the 23694
prosecuting attorney. Such members, who shall not hold any other 23695
public office, shall serve for a term of four years. The 23696
commission shall meet at the office of the county auditor in each 23697
county on the first Monday in February and on the first Monday in 23698
August, annually, and shall complete its work on or before the 23699
first day of September, annually, unless for good cause the tax 23700
commissioner extends the time for completing the work. A majority 23701
of members shall constitute a quorum, provided that no action of 23702
the commission shall be valid unless agreed to by a majority of 23703
the members of the commission. The auditor shall be the secretary 23704
of the commission and shall keep a full and accurate record of all 23705
proceedings. The auditor shall appoint such messengers and clerks 23706
as the commission deems necessary, and the budget commissioners 23707
shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses. The elected 23708
members of the commission shall also receive twenty dollars for 23709
each day in attendance at commission meetings and in discharge of 23710
official duties. Any vacancy among such elected members shall be 23711
filled by the presiding judge of the court of common pleas. In 23712
adjusting the rates of taxation and fixing the amount of taxes to 23713
be levied each year, the commissioners shall be governed by the 23714
amount of the taxable property shown on the auditor's tax list for 23715
the current year; provided that if the auditor's tax list has not23716
been completed, the auditor shall estimate, as nearly as23717
practicable, the amount of the taxable property for such year, and 23718
such officers shall be governed by such estimate.23719

       In any county in which two members of the commission are23720
elected, upon petition filed with the board of elections, signed23721
by the number of electors of the county equal in amount to three23722
per cent of the votes cast for governor at the most recent23723
election therefor, there shall be submitted to the electors of the 23724
county at the next general election occurring not sooner than23725
seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the filing of the petition, 23726
the question "Shall the elected members be eliminated from the 23727
county budget commission?" If the majority of the electors voting 23728
thereon shall have voted in the affirmative, the county budget 23729
commission shall consist solely of the county auditor, the county 23730
treasurer, and the prosecuting attorney.23731

       Sec. 5705.71.  (A) The electors of a county may initiate the 23732
question of a tax levy for support of senior citizens services or 23733
facilities by the filing of a petition with the board of elections 23734
of that county not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days before 23735
the date of any primary or general election requesting that an 23736
election be held on such question. The petition shall be signed by 23737
at least ten per cent of the qualified electors residing in the 23738
county and voting for the office of governor at the last general 23739
election.23740

       (B) The petition shall state the purpose for which the senior 23741
citizens tax levy is being proposed, shall specify the amount of 23742
the proposed increase in rate, the period of time during which the 23743
increase is to be in effect, and whether the levy is to be imposed 23744
in the current year. The number of years may be any number not 23745
exceeding five, except that when the additional rate is for the 23746
payment of debt charges the increased rate shall be for the life 23747
of the indebtedness.23748

       (C) After determination by it that such petition is valid,23749
the board of elections shall submit the question to the electors23750
of the county at the succeeding primary or general election.23751

       (D) The election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified 23752
in the same manner as regular elections in such county for county 23753
offices. Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper 23754
of general circulation in the county once a week for two 23755
consecutive weeks prior to the election, and, if the board of 23756
elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of 23757
elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for 23758
thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the23759
purpose, the amount of the proposed increase in rate, and the time 23760
and place of the election.23761

       (E) The form of the ballot cast at such election shall be23762
prescribed by the secretary of state. If the tax is to be placed 23763
on the tax list of the current tax year, the form of the ballot 23764
shall include a statement to that effect and shall indicate the 23765
first calendar year the tax will be due. The question covered by 23766
such petition shall be submitted as a separate proposition but it 23767
may be printed on the same ballot with any other propositions 23768
submitted at the same election other than the election of 23769
officers.23770

       (F) If a majority of electors voting on the question vote in 23771
favor of the levy, the board of county commissioners shall levy a 23772
tax, for the period and the purpose stated within the petition. If 23773
the tax is to be placed upon the tax list of the current year, as 23774
specified in the petition, the result of the election shall be 23775
certified immediately after the canvass by the board of elections 23776
to the board of county commissioners, which shall forthwith make 23777
the necessary levy and certify it to the county auditor, who shall 23778
extend it on the tax list for collection. After the first year, 23779
the tax levy shall be included in the annual tax budget that is 23780
certified to the county budget commission.23781

       Sec. 5739.021.  (A) For the purpose of providing additional23782
general revenues for the county or supporting criminal and23783
administrative justice services in the county, or both, and to pay23784
the expenses of administering such levy, any county may levy a tax23785
at the rate of not more than one per cent at any multiple of23786
one-fourth of one per cent upon every retail sale made in the23787
county, except sales of watercraft and outboard motors required to23788
be titled pursuant to Chapter 1548. of the Revised Code and sales23789
of motor vehicles, and may increase the rate of an existing tax to23790
not more than one per cent at any multiple of one-fourth of one23791
per cent.23792

       The tax shall be levied and the rate increased pursuant to a23793
resolution of the board of county commissioners. The resolution23794
shall state the purpose for which the tax is to be levied and the23795
number of years for which the tax is to be levied, or that it is23796
for a continuing period of time. If the tax is to be levied for23797
the purpose of providing additional general revenues and for the23798
purpose of supporting criminal and administrative justice23799
services, the resolution shall state the rate or amount of the tax23800
to be apportioned to each such purpose. The rate or amount may be23801
different for each year the tax is to be levied, but the rates or23802
amounts actually apportioned each year shall not be different from23803
that stated in the resolution for that year. If the resolution is23804
adopted as an emergency measure necessary for the immediate23805
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, it must23806
receive an affirmative vote of all of the members of the board of23807
county commissioners and shall state the reasons for such23808
necessity. The board shall deliver a certified copy of the 23809
resolution to the tax commissioner, not later than the 23810
sixty-fifth day prior to the date on which the tax is to become 23811
effective, which shall be the first day of the calendar quarter.23812

       Prior to the adoption of any resolution under this section,23813
the board of county commissioners shall conduct two public23814
hearings on the resolution, the second hearing to be not less than23815
three nor more than ten days after the first. Notice of the date,23816
time, and place of the hearings shall be given by publication in a23817
newspaper of general circulation in the county once a week on the23818
same day of the week for two consecutive weeks, the second23819
publication being not less than ten nor more than thirty days23820
prior to the first hearing.23821

       Except as provided in division (B)(3) of this section, the23822
resolution shall be subject to a referendum as provided in 23823
sections 305.31 to 305.41 of the Revised Code.23824

       If a petition for a referendum is filed, the county auditor23825
with whom the petition was filed shall, within five days, notify23826
the board of county commissioners and the tax commissioner of the23827
filing of the petition by certified mail. If the board of23828
elections with which the petition was filed declares the petition23829
invalid, the board of elections, within five days, shall notify23830
the board of county commissioners and the tax commissioner of that23831
declaration by certified mail. If the petition is declared to be23832
invalid, the effective date of the tax or increased rate of tax23833
levied by this section shall be the first day of a calendar23834
quarter following the expiration of sixty-five days from the date 23835
the commissioner receives notice from the board of elections that 23836
the petition is invalid.23837

       (B)(1) A resolution that is not adopted as an emergency23838
measure may direct the board of elections to submit the question23839
of levying the tax or increasing the rate of tax to the electors23840
of the county at a special election held on the date specified by23841
the board of county commissioners in the resolution, provided that23842
the election occurs not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days 23843
after a certified copy of such resolution is transmitted to the 23844
board of elections and the election is not held in February or23845
August of any year. Upon transmission of the resolution to the23846
board of elections, the board of county commissioners shall notify 23847
the tax commissioner in writing of the levy question to be 23848
submitted to the electors. No resolution adopted under this 23849
division shall go into effect unless approved by a majority of 23850
those voting upon it, and, except as provided in division (B)(3) 23851
of this section, shall become effective on the first day of a 23852
calendar quarter following the expiration of sixty-five days from 23853
the date the tax commissioner receives notice from the board of 23854
elections of the affirmative vote.23855

       (2) A resolution that is adopted as an emergency measure23856
shall go into effect as provided in division (A) of this section,23857
but may direct the board of elections to submit the question of23858
repealing the tax or increase in the rate of the tax to the23859
electors of the county at the next general election in the county23860
occurring not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after a 23861
certified copy of the resolution is transmitted to the board of23862
elections. Upon transmission of the resolution to the board of23863
elections, the board of county commissioners shall notify the tax23864
commissioner in writing of the levy question to be submitted to23865
the electors. The ballot question shall be the same as that23866
prescribed in section 5739.022 of the Revised Code. The board of23867
elections shall notify the board of county commissioners and the23868
tax commissioner of the result of the election immediately after23869
the result has been declared. If a majority of the qualified23870
electors voting on the question of repealing the tax or increase23871
in the rate of the tax vote for repeal of the tax or repeal of the23872
increase, the board of county commissioners, on the first day of a 23873
calendar quarter following the expiration of sixty-five days after 23874
the date the board and tax commissioner receive notice of the 23875
result of the election, shall, in the case of a repeal of the tax, 23876
cease to levy the tax, or, in the case of a repeal of an increase 23877
in the rate of the tax, cease to levy the increased rate and levy 23878
the tax at the rate at which it was imposed immediately prior to 23879
the increase in rate.23880

       (3) If a vendor that is registered with the central23881
electronic registration system provided for in section 5740.05 of23882
the Revised Code makes a sale in this state by printed catalog and 23883
the consumer computed the tax on the sale based on local rates23884
published in the catalog, any tax levied or repealed or rate 23885
changed under this section shall not apply to such a sale until 23886
the first day of a calendar quarter following the expiration of 23887
one hundred twenty days from the date of notice by the tax 23888
commissioner pursuant to division (H) of this section.23889

       (C) If a resolution is rejected at a referendum or if a23890
resolution adopted after January 1, 1982, as an emergency measure23891
is repealed by the electors pursuant to division (B)(2) of this23892
section or section 5739.022 of the Revised Code, then for one year23893
after the date of the election at which the resolution was23894
rejected or repealed the board of county commissioners may not23895
adopt any resolution authorized by this section as an emergency23896
measure.23897

       (D) The board of county commissioners, at any time while a23898
tax levied under this section is in effect, may by resolution23899
reduce the rate at which the tax is levied to a lower rate23900
authorized by this section. Any reduction in the rate at which the 23901
tax is levied shall be made effective on the first day of a23902
calendar quarter next following the sixty-fifth day after a 23903
certified copy of the resolution is delivered to the tax23904
commissioner.23905

       (E) The tax on every retail sale subject to a tax levied23906
pursuant to this section shall be in addition to the tax levied by23907
section 5739.02 of the Revised Code and any tax levied pursuant to23908
section 5739.023 or 5739.026 of the Revised Code.23909

       A county that levies a tax pursuant to this section shall23910
levy a tax at the same rate pursuant to section 5741.021 of the23911
Revised Code.23912

       The additional tax levied by the county shall be collected23913
pursuant to section 5739.025 of the Revised Code. If the23914
additional tax or some portion thereof is levied for the purpose23915
of criminal and administrative justice services, the revenue from23916
the tax, or the amount or rate apportioned to that purpose, shall23917
be credited to a special fund created in the county treasury for23918
receipt of that revenue.23919

       Any tax levied pursuant to this section is subject to the23920
exemptions provided in section 5739.02 of the Revised Code and in23921
addition shall not be applicable to sales not within the taxing23922
power of a county under the Constitution of the United States or23923
the Ohio Constitution.23924

       (F) For purposes of this section, a copy of a resolution is23925
"certified" when it contains a written statement attesting that23926
the copy is a true and exact reproduction of the original23927
resolution.23928

       (G) If a board of commissioners intends to adopt a resolution 23929
to levy a tax in whole or in part for the purpose of criminal and 23930
administrative justice services, the board shall prepare and make 23931
available at the first public hearing at which the resolution is 23932
considered a statement containing the following information:23933

       (1) For each of the two preceding fiscal years, the amount of 23934
expenditures made by the county from the county general fund for 23935
the purpose of criminal and administrative justice services;23936

       (2) For the fiscal year in which the resolution is adopted,23937
the board's estimate of the amount of expenditures to be made by23938
the county from the county general fund for the purpose of23939
criminal and administrative justice services;23940

       (3) For each of the two fiscal years after the fiscal year in 23941
which the resolution is adopted, the board's preliminary plan for 23942
expenditures to be made from the county general fund for the23943
purpose of criminal and administrative justice services, both23944
under the assumption that the tax will be imposed for that purpose23945
and under the assumption that the tax would not be imposed for23946
that purpose, and for expenditures to be made from the special23947
fund created under division (E) of this section under the23948
assumption that the tax will be imposed for that purpose.23949

       The board shall prepare the statement and the preliminary23950
plan using the best information available to the board at the time23951
the statement is prepared. Neither the statement nor the23952
preliminary plan shall be used as a basis to challenge the23953
validity of the tax in any court of competent jurisdiction, nor23954
shall the statement or preliminary plan limit the authority of the23955
board to appropriate, pursuant to section 5705.38 of the Revised23956
Code, an amount different from that specified in the preliminary23957
plan.23958

       (H) Upon receipt from a board of county commissioners of a 23959
certified copy of a resolution required by division (A) or (D) of 23960
this section, or from the board of elections of a notice of the 23961
results of an election required by division (A) or (B)(1) or (2) 23962
of this section, the tax commissioner shall provide notice of a 23963
tax rate change in a manner that is reasonably accessible to all 23964
affected vendors. The commissioner shall provide this notice at 23965
least sixty days prior to the effective date of the rate change. 23966
The commissioner, by rule, may establish the method by which 23967
notice will be provided.23968

       (I) As used in this section, "criminal and administrative23969
justice services" means the exercise by the county sheriff of all23970
powers and duties vested in that office by law; the exercise by23971
the county prosecuting attorney of all powers and duties vested in23972
that office by law; the exercise by any court in the county of all23973
powers and duties vested in that court; the exercise by the clerk23974
of the court of common pleas, any clerk of a municipal court23975
having jurisdiction throughout the county, or the clerk of any23976
county court of all powers and duties vested in the clerk by law23977
except, in the case of the clerk of the court of common pleas, the23978
titling of motor vehicles or watercraft pursuant to Chapter 1548.23979
or 4505. of the Revised Code; the exercise by the county coroner23980
of all powers and duties vested in that office by law; making23981
payments to any other public agency or a private, nonprofit23982
agency, the purposes of which in the county include the diversion,23983
adjudication, detention, or rehabilitation of criminals or23984
juvenile offenders; the operation and maintenance of any detention23985
facility, as defined in section 2921.01 of the Revised Code; and23986
the construction, acquisition, equipping, or repair of such a23987
detention facility, including the payment of any debt charges23988
incurred in the issuance of securities pursuant to Chapter 133. of23989
the Revised Code for the purpose of constructing, acquiring,23990
equipping, or repairing such a facility.23991

       Sec. 5739.022.  (A) The question of repeal of either a county 23992
permissive tax or an increase in the rate of a county permissive 23993
tax that was adopted as an emergency measure pursuant to section 23994
5739.021 or 5739.026 of the Revised Code may be initiated by 23995
filing with the board of elections of the county not less than 23996
seventy-fiveeighty-five days before the general election in any23997
year a petition requesting that an election be held on the23998
question. The question of repealing an increase in the rate of the 23999
county permissive tax shall be submitted to the electors as a24000
separate question from the repeal of the tax in effect prior to24001
the increase in the rate. Any petition filed under this section24002
shall be signed by qualified electors residing in the county equal24003
in number to ten per cent of those voting for governor at the most24004
recent gubernatorial election.24005

       After determination by it that the petition is valid, the24006
board of elections shall submit the question to the electors of24007
the county at the next general election. The election shall be24008
conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular24009
elections for county offices in the county. The board of elections 24010
shall notify the tax commissioner, in writing, of the election 24011
upon determining that the petition is valid. Notice of the 24012
election shall also be published in a newspaper of general24013
circulation in the district once a week for two consecutive weeks24014
prior to the election, and, if the board of elections operates and 24015
maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of 24016
the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the 24017
election. The notice shall state the purpose, time, and place of 24018
the election. The form of the ballot cast at the election shall be 24019
prescribed by the secretary of state; however, the ballot question 24020
shall read, "shall the tax (or, increase in the rate of the tax) 24021
be retained?24022

        24023

 Yes 24024
 No  " 24025

        24026

The question covered by the petition shall be submitted as a24027
separate proposition, but it may be printed on the same ballot24028
with any other proposition submitted at the same election other24029
than the election of officers.24030

       (B) If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the24031
question of repeal of either a county permissive tax or an24032
increase in the rate of a county permissive tax approve the24033
repeal, the board of elections shall notify the board of county24034
commissioners and the tax commissioner of the result of the24035
election immediately after the result has been declared. The board 24036
of county commissioners shall, on the first day of the calendar 24037
quarter following the expiration of sixty-five days after the date 24038
the board and the tax commissioner receive the notice, in the case 24039
of a repeal of a county permissive tax, cease to levy the tax, or, 24040
in the case of a repeal of an increase in the rate of a county 24041
permissive tax, levy the tax at the rate at which it was imposed 24042
immediately prior to the increase in rate and cease to levy the 24043
increased rate.24044

       (C) Upon receipt from a board of elections of a notice of the 24045
results of an election required by division (B) of this section, 24046
the tax commissioner shall provide notice of a tax repeal or rate 24047
change in a manner that is reasonably accessible to all affected 24048
vendors. The commissioner shall provide this notice at least sixty 24049
days prior to the effective date of the rate change. The 24050
commissioner, by rule, may establish the method by which notice 24051
will be provided.24052

       (D) If a vendor that is registered with the central 24053
electronic registration system provided for in section 5740.05 of 24054
the Revised Code makes a sale in this state by printed catalog and 24055
the consumer computed the tax on the sale based on local rates 24056
published in the catalog, any tax repealed or rate changed under 24057
this section shall not apply to such a sale until the first day of 24058
a calendar quarter following the expiration of one hundred twenty 24059
days from the date of notice by the tax commissioner pursuant to 24060
division (C) of this section.24061

       Sec. 5739.026.  (A) A board of county commissioners may levy24062
a tax of one-fourth or one-half of one per cent on every retail24063
sale in the county, except sales of watercraft and outboard motors24064
required to be titled pursuant to Chapter 1548. of the Revised24065
Code and sales of motor vehicles, and may increase an existing24066
rate of one-fourth of one per cent to one-half of one per cent, to24067
pay the expenses of administering the tax and, except as provided24068
in division (A)(6) of this section, for any one or more of the24069
following purposes provided that the aggregate levy for all such24070
purposes does not exceed one-half of one per cent:24071

       (1) To provide additional revenues for the payment of bonds24072
or notes issued in anticipation of bonds issued by a convention24073
facilities authority established by the board of county24074
commissioners under Chapter 351. of the Revised Code and to24075
provide additional operating revenues for the convention24076
facilities authority;24077

       (2) To provide additional revenues for a transit authority24078
operating in the county;24079

       (3) To provide additional revenue for the county's general24080
fund;24081

       (4) To provide additional revenue for permanent improvements24082
within the county to be distributed by the community improvements24083
board in accordance with section 307.283 and to pay principal,24084
interest, and premium on bonds issued under section 307.284 of the24085
Revised Code;24086

       (5) To provide additional revenue for the acquisition,24087
construction, equipping, or repair of any specific permanent24088
improvement or any class or group of permanent improvements, which24089
improvement or class or group of improvements shall be enumerated24090
in the resolution required by division (D) of this section, and to24091
pay principal, interest, premium, and other costs associated with24092
the issuance of bonds or notes in anticipation of bonds issued24093
pursuant to Chapter 133. of the Revised Code for the acquisition,24094
construction, equipping, or repair of the specific permanent24095
improvement or class or group of permanent improvements;24096

       (6) To provide revenue for the implementation and operation24097
of a 9-1-1 system in the county. If the tax is levied or the rate24098
increased exclusively for such purpose, the tax shall not be24099
levied or the rate increased for more than five years. At the end24100
of the last year the tax is levied or the rate increased, any24101
balance remaining in the special fund established for such purpose24102
shall remain in that fund and be used exclusively for such purpose24103
until the fund is completely expended, and, notwithstanding24104
section 5705.16 of the Revised Code, the board of county24105
commissioners shall not petition for the transfer of money from24106
such special fund, and the tax commissioner shall not approve such24107
a petition.24108

       If the tax is levied or the rate increased for such purpose24109
for more than five years, the board of county commissioners also24110
shall levy the tax or increase the rate of the tax for one or more24111
of the purposes described in divisions (A)(1) to (5) of this24112
section and shall prescribe the method for allocating the revenues24113
from the tax each year in the manner required by division (C) of24114
this section.24115

       (7) To provide additional revenue for the operation or24116
maintenance of a detention facility, as that term is defined under24117
division (F) of section 2921.01 of the Revised Code;24118

       (8) To provide revenue to finance the construction or24119
renovation of a sports facility, but only if the tax is levied for24120
that purpose in the manner prescribed by section 5739.028 of the24121
Revised Code.24122

       As used in division (A)(8) of this section:24123

       (a) "Sports facility" means a facility intended to house24124
major league professional athletic teams.24125

       (b) "Constructing" or "construction" includes providing24126
fixtures, furnishings, and equipment.24127

       (9) To provide additional revenue for the acquisition of24128
agricultural easements, as defined in section 5301.67 of the24129
Revised Code; to pay principal, interest, and premium on bonds24130
issued under section 133.60 of the Revised Code; and for the24131
supervision and enforcement of agricultural easements held by the24132
county;24133

       (10) To provide revenue for the provision of ambulance, 24134
paramedic, or other emergency medical services.24135

       Pursuant to section 755.171 of the Revised Code, a board of24136
county commissioners may pledge and contribute revenue from a tax24137
levied for the purpose of division (A)(5) of this section to the24138
payment of debt charges on bonds issued under section 755.17 of24139
the Revised Code.24140

       The rate of tax shall be a multiple of one-fourth of one per24141
cent, unless a portion of the rate of an existing tax levied under24142
section 5739.023 of the Revised Code has been reduced, and the24143
rate of tax levied under this section has been increased, pursuant24144
to section 5739.028 of the Revised Code, in which case the24145
aggregate of the rates of tax levied under this section and24146
section 5739.023 of the Revised Code shall be a multiple of24147
one-fourth of one per cent. The tax shall be levied and the rate24148
increased pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the24149
members of the board. The board shall deliver a certified copy of 24150
the resolution to the tax commissioner, not later than the 24151
sixty-fifth day prior to the date on which the tax is to become 24152
effective, which shall be the first day of a calendar quarter.24153

       Prior to the adoption of any resolution to levy the tax or to24154
increase the rate of tax exclusively for the purpose set forth in24155
division (A)(3) of this section, the board of county commissioners24156
shall conduct two public hearings on the resolution, the second24157
hearing to be no fewer than three nor more than ten days after the24158
first. Notice of the date, time, and place of the hearings shall24159
be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in24160
the county once a week on the same day of the week for two24161
consecutive weeks, the second publication being no fewer than ten24162
nor more than thirty days prior to the first hearing. Except as24163
provided in division (E) of this section, the resolution shall be 24164
subject to a referendum as provided in sections 305.31 to 305.41 24165
of the Revised Code. If the resolution is adopted as an emergency 24166
measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public 24167
peace, health, or safety, it must receive an affirmative vote of 24168
all of the members of the board of county commissioners and shall 24169
state the reasons for the necessity.24170

       If the tax is for more than one of the purposes set forth in24171
divisions (A)(1) to (7), (9), and (10) of this section, or is24172
exclusively for one of the purposes set forth in division (A)(1), 24173
(2), (4), (5), (6), (7), (9), or (10) of this section, the 24174
resolution shall not go into effect unless it is approved by a 24175
majority of the electors voting on the question of the tax.24176

       (B) The board of county commissioners shall adopt a24177
resolution under section 351.02 of the Revised Code creating the24178
convention facilities authority, or under section 307.283 of the24179
Revised Code creating the community improvements board, before24180
adopting a resolution levying a tax for the purpose of a24181
convention facilities authority under division (A)(1) of this24182
section or for the purpose of a community improvements board under24183
division (A)(4) of this section.24184

       (C)(1) If the tax is to be used for more than one of the24185
purposes set forth in divisions (A)(1) to (7), (9), and (10) of 24186
this section, the board of county commissioners shall establish 24187
the method that will be used to determine the amount or proportion 24188
of the tax revenue received by the county during each year that 24189
will be distributed for each of those purposes, including, if24190
applicable, provisions governing the reallocation of a convention24191
facilities authority's allocation if the authority is dissolved24192
while the tax is in effect. The allocation method may provide that24193
different proportions or amounts of the tax shall be distributed24194
among the purposes in different years, but it shall clearly24195
describe the method that will be used for each year. Except as24196
otherwise provided in division (C)(2) of this section, the 24197
allocation method established by the board is not subject to24198
amendment during the life of the tax.24199

       (2) Subsequent to holding a public hearing on the proposed24200
amendment, the board of county commissioners may amend the24201
allocation method established under division (C)(1) of this24202
section for any year, if the amendment is approved by the24203
governing board of each entity whose allocation for the year would24204
be reduced by the proposed amendment. In the case of a tax that is 24205
levied for a continuing period of time, the board may not so amend 24206
the allocation method for any year before the sixth year that the 24207
tax is in effect.24208

       (a) If the additional revenues provided to the convention24209
facilities authority are pledged by the authority for the payment24210
of convention facilities authority revenue bonds for as long as24211
such bonds are outstanding, no reduction of the authority's24212
allocation of the tax shall be made for any year except to the24213
extent that the reduced authority allocation, when combined with24214
the authority's other revenues pledged for that purpose, is24215
sufficient to meet the debt service requirements for that year on24216
such bonds.24217

       (b) If the additional revenues provided to the county are24218
pledged by the county for the payment of bonds or notes described24219
in division (A)(4) or (5) of this section, for as long as such24220
bonds or notes are outstanding, no reduction of the county's or24221
the community improvements board's allocation of the tax shall be24222
made for any year, except to the extent that the reduced county or24223
community improvements board allocation is sufficient to meet the24224
debt service requirements for that year on such bonds or notes.24225

       (c) If the additional revenues provided to the transit24226
authority are pledged by the authority for the payment of revenue24227
bonds issued under section 306.37 of the Revised Code, for as long24228
as such bonds are outstanding, no reduction of the authority's24229
allocation of tax shall be made for any year, except to the extent24230
that the authority's reduced allocation, when combined with the24231
authority's other revenues pledged for that purpose, is sufficient24232
to meet the debt service requirements for that year on such bonds.24233

       (d) If the additional revenues provided to the county are24234
pledged by the county for the payment of bonds or notes issued24235
under section 133.60 of the Revised Code, for so long as the bonds24236
or notes are outstanding, no reduction of the county's allocation24237
of the tax shall be made for any year, except to the extent that24238
the reduced county allocation is sufficient to meet the debt24239
service requirements for that year on the bonds or notes.24240

       (D)(1) The resolution levying the tax or increasing the rate24241
of tax shall state the rate of the tax or the rate of the24242
increase; the purpose or purposes for which it is to be levied;24243
the number of years for which it is to be levied or that it is for24244
a continuing period of time; the allocation method required by24245
division (C) of this section; and if required to be submitted to24246
the electors of the county under division (A) of this section, the24247
date of the election at which the proposal shall be submitted to24248
the electors of the county, which shall be not less than24249
seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the certification of a copy of 24250
the resolution to the board of elections and, if the tax is to be24251
levied exclusively for the purpose set forth in division (A)(3) of24252
this section, shall not occur in February or August of any year.24253
Upon certification of the resolution to the board of elections,24254
the board of county commissioners shall notify the tax24255
commissioner in writing of the levy question to be submitted to24256
the electors. If approved by a majority of the electors, the tax24257
shall become effective on the first day of a calendar quarter next 24258
following the sixty-fifth day following the date the board of24259
county commissioners and tax commissioner receive from the board 24260
of elections the certification of the results of the election, 24261
except as provided in division (E) of this section.24262

       (2)(a) A resolution specifying that the tax is to be used24263
exclusively for the purpose set forth in division (A)(3) of this24264
section that is not adopted as an emergency measure may direct the24265
board of elections to submit the question of levying the tax or24266
increasing the rate of the tax to the electors of the county at a24267
special election held on the date specified by the board of county24268
commissioners in the resolution, provided that the election occurs24269
not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the resolution 24270
is certified to the board of elections and the election is not 24271
held in February or August of any year. Upon certification of the 24272
resolution to the board of elections, the board of county 24273
commissioners shall notify the tax commissioner in writing of the 24274
levy question to be submitted to the electors. No resolution 24275
adopted under division (D)(2)(a) of this section shall go into 24276
effect unless approved by a majority of those voting upon it and, 24277
except as provided in division (E) of this section, not until the 24278
first day of a calendar quarter following the expiration of 24279
sixty-five days from the date the tax commissioner receives 24280
notice from the board of elections of the affirmative vote.24281

       (b) A resolution specifying that the tax is to be used24282
exclusively for the purpose set forth in division (A)(3) of this24283
section that is adopted as an emergency measure shall become24284
effective as provided in division (A) of this section, but may24285
direct the board of elections to submit the question of repealing24286
the tax or increase in the rate of the tax to the electors of the24287
county at the next general election in the county occurring not24288
less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the resolution is 24289
certified to the board of elections. Upon certification of the 24290
resolution to the board of elections, the board of county 24291
commissioners shall notify the tax commissioner in writing of the 24292
levy question to be submitted to the electors. The ballot question 24293
shall be the same as that prescribed in section 5739.022 of the 24294
Revised Code. The board of elections shall notify the board of 24295
county commissioners and the tax commissioner of the result of the 24296
election immediately after the result has been declared. If a 24297
majority of the qualified electors voting on the question of 24298
repealing the tax or increase in the rate of the tax vote for 24299
repeal of the tax or repeal of the increase, the board of county 24300
commissioners, on the first day of a calendar quarter following 24301
the expiration of sixty-five days after the date the board and tax 24302
commissioner received notice of the result of the election, shall, 24303
in the case of a repeal of the tax, cease to levy the tax, or, in 24304
the case of a repeal of an increase in the rate of the tax, cease 24305
to levy the increased rate and levy the tax at the rate at which 24306
it was imposed immediately prior to the increase in rate.24307

       (c) A board of county commissioners, by resolution, may24308
reduce the rate of a tax levied exclusively for the purpose set24309
forth in division (A)(3) of this section to a lower rate24310
authorized by this section. Any such reduction shall be made24311
effective on the first day of the calendar quarter next following 24312
the sixty-fifth day after the tax commissioner receives a 24313
certified copy of the resolution from the board.24314

       (E) If a vendor that is registered with the central24315
electronic registration system provided for in section 5740.05 of24316
the Revised Code makes a sale in this state by printed catalog and 24317
the consumer computed the tax on the sale based on local rates24318
published in the catalog, any tax levied or repealed or rate 24319
changed under this section shall not apply to such a sale until 24320
the first day of a calendar quarter following the expiration of 24321
one hundred twenty days from the date of notice by the tax 24322
commissioner pursuant to division (G) of this section.24323

       (F) The tax levied pursuant to this section shall be in24324
addition to the tax levied by section 5739.02 of the Revised Code24325
and any tax levied pursuant to section 5739.021 or 5739.023 of the24326
Revised Code.24327

       A county that levies a tax pursuant to this section shall24328
levy a tax at the same rate pursuant to section 5741.023 of the24329
Revised Code.24330

       The additional tax levied by the county shall be collected24331
pursuant to section 5739.025 of the Revised Code.24332

       Any tax levied pursuant to this section is subject to the24333
exemptions provided in section 5739.02 of the Revised Code and in24334
addition shall not be applicable to sales not within the taxing24335
power of a county under the Constitution of the United States or24336
the Ohio Constitution.24337

       (G) Upon receipt from a board of county commissioners of a 24338
certified copy of a resolution required by division (A) of this 24339
section, or from the board of elections a notice of the results of 24340
an election required by division (D)(1), (2)(a), (b), or (c) of 24341
this section, the tax commissioner shall provide notice of a tax 24342
rate change in a manner that is reasonably accessible to all 24343
affected vendors. The commissioner shall provide this notice at 24344
least sixty days prior to the effective date of the rate change. 24345
The commissioner, by rule, may establish the method by which 24346
notice will be provided.24347

       Sec. 5743.021.  (A) As used in this section, "qualifying 24348
regional arts and cultural district" means a regional arts and 24349
cultural district created under section 3381.04 of the Revised 24350
Code in a county having a population of one million two hundred 24351
thousand or more according to the 2000 federal decennial census.24352

       (B) For one or more of the purposes for which a tax may be 24353
levied under section 3381.16 of the Revised Code and for the 24354
purposes of paying the expenses of administering the tax and the 24355
expenses charged by a board of elections to hold an election on a 24356
question submitted under this section, the board of county 24357
commissioners of a county that has within its territorial 24358
boundaries a qualifying regional arts and cultural district may 24359
levy a tax on the sale of cigarettes sold for resale at retail in 24360
the county composing the district. The rate of the tax, when added 24361
to the rate of any other tax concurrently levied by the board 24362
under this section, shall not exceed fifteen mills per cigarette, 24363
and shall be computed on each cigarette sold. Only one sale of the 24364
same article shall be used in computing the amount of tax due. The 24365
tax may be levied for any number of years not exceeding ten years.24366

       The tax shall be levied pursuant to a resolution of the board 24367
of county commissioners approved by a majority of the electors in24368
the county voting on the question of levying the tax. The24369
resolution shall specify the rate of the tax, the number of years24370
the tax will be levied, and the purposes for which the tax is24371
levied. The election may be held on the date of a general, 24372
primary, or special election held not sooner than seventy-five24373
eighty-five days after the date the board certifies its resolution 24374
to the board of elections. If approved by the electors, the tax 24375
shall take effect on the first day of the month specified in the 24376
resolution but not sooner than the first day of the month that is 24377
at least sixty days after the certification of the election 24378
results by the board of elections. A copy of the resolution 24379
levying the tax shall be certified to the tax commissioner at 24380
least sixty days prior to the date on which the tax is to become 24381
effective.24382

       (C) The form of the ballot in an election held under this 24383
section shall be as follows, or in any other form acceptable to 24384
the secretary of state:24385

       "For the purpose of .......... (insert the purpose or 24386
purposes of the tax), shall an excise tax be levied throughout 24387
.......... County for the benefit of the ........... (name of the 24388
qualifying regional arts and cultural district) on the sale of 24389
cigarettes at wholesale at the rate of .... mills per cigarette 24390
for ..... years?24391

        24392

 For the tax 24393
 Against the tax  " 24394

       (D) The treasurer of state shall credit all moneys arising 24395
from taxes levied on behalf of each district under this section 24396
and section 5743.321 of the Revised Code as follows:24397

       (1) To the tax refund fund created by section 5703.052 of the 24398
Revised Code, amounts equal to the refunds from each tax levied 24399
under this section certified by the tax commissioner pursuant to 24400
section 5743.05 of the Revised Code;24401

       (2) Following the crediting of amounts pursuant to division 24402
(D)(1) of this section:24403

       (a) To the permissive tax distribution fund created under24404
section 4301.423 of the Revised Code, an amount equal to 24405
ninety-eight per cent of the remainder collected;24406

       (b) To the local excise tax administrative fund, which is24407
hereby created in the state treasury, an amount equal to two per24408
cent of such remainder, for use by the tax commissioner in24409
defraying costs incurred in administering the tax.24410

       On or before the second working day of each month, the24411
treasurer of state shall certify to the tax commissioner the24412
amount of taxes levied on behalf of each district under sections 24413
5743.021 and 5743.321 of the Revised Code and paid to the 24414
treasurer of state during the preceding month.24415

       On or before the tenth day of each month, the tax24416
commissioner shall distribute the amount credited to the24417
permissive tax distribution fund during the preceding month by24418
providing for payment of the appropriate amount to the county24419
treasurer of the county in which the tax is levied.24420

       Sec. 5743.024.  (A) For the purposes of section 307.696 of 24421
the Revised Code, to pay the expenses of administering the tax, 24422
and to pay any or all of the charge the board of elections makes24423
against the county to hold the election on the question of levying 24424
the tax, or for such purposes and to provide revenues to the 24425
county for permanent improvements, the board of county24426
commissioners may levy a tax on sales of cigarettes sold for24427
resale at retail in the county. The tax shall not exceed two and24428
twenty-five hundredths of a mill per cigarette, and shall be24429
computed on each cigarette sold. The tax may be levied for any24430
number of years not exceeding twenty. Only one sale of the same24431
article shall be used in computing the amount of tax due.24432

       The tax shall be levied pursuant to a resolution of the24433
county commissioners approved by a majority of the electors in the 24434
county voting on the question of levying the tax. The resolution 24435
shall specify the rate of the tax, the number of years the tax 24436
will be levied, and the purposes for which the tax is levied. Such 24437
election may be held on the date of a general or special election 24438
held not sooner than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after the date 24439
the board certifies its resolution to the board of elections. If 24440
approved by the electors, the tax shall take effect on the first 24441
day of the month specified in the resolution but not sooner than 24442
the first day of the month that is at least sixty days after the 24443
certification of the election results by the board of elections. A 24444
copy of the resolution levying the tax shall be certified to the 24445
tax commissioner at least sixty days prior to the date on which 24446
the tax is to become effective.24447

       A resolution under this section may be joined on the ballot24448
as a single question with a resolution adopted under section24449
307.697 or 4301.421 of the Revised Code to levy a tax for the same 24450
purposes and for the purpose of paying the expenses of24451
administering the tax. The form of the ballot in an election held 24452
pursuant to this section shall be as prescribed in section 307.697 24453
of the Revised Code.24454

       (B) The treasurer of state shall credit all moneys arising 24455
from each county's taxes levied under this section and section24456
5743.323 of the Revised Code as follows:24457

       (1) To the tax refund fund created by section 5703.052 of the 24458
Revised Code, amounts equal to the refunds from each tax levied 24459
under this section certified by the tax commissioner pursuant to 24460
section 5743.05 of the Revised Code;24461

       (2) Following the crediting of amounts pursuant to division 24462
(B)(1) of this section:24463

       (a) To the permissive tax distribution fund created by24464
division (B)(1) of section 4301.423 of the Revised Code, an amount 24465
equal to ninety-eight per cent of the remainder collected;24466

       (b) To the local excise tax administrative fund, which is24467
hereby created in the state treasury, an amount equal to two per24468
cent of such remainder, for use by the tax commissioner in24469
defraying costs incurred in administering the tax.24470

       On or before the second working day of each month, the24471
treasurer of state shall certify to the tax commissioner the24472
amount of each county's taxes levied under sections 5743.024 and24473
5743.323 of the Revised Code and paid to the treasurer of state 24474
during the preceding month.24475

       On or before the tenth day of each month, the tax24476
commissioner shall distribute the amount credited to the24477
permissive tax distribution fund during the preceding month by24478
providing for payment of the appropriate amount to the county24479
treasurer of each county levying the tax.24480

       (C) The board of county commissioners of a county in which a 24481
tax is imposed under this section on July 19, 1995, may levy a tax 24482
for the purpose of section 307.673 of the Revised Code regardless 24483
of whether or not the cooperative agreement authorized under that24484
section has been entered into prior to the day the resolution24485
adopted under division (C)(1) or (2) of this section is adopted, 24486
and for the purpose of reimbursing a county for costs incurred in 24487
the construction of a sports facility pursuant to an agreement 24488
entered into by the county under section 307.696 of the Revised 24489
Code. The tax shall be levied and approved in one of the manners24490
prescribed by division (C)(1) or (2) of this section.24491

       (1) The tax may be levied pursuant to a resolution adopted by 24492
a majority of the members of the board of county commissioners not 24493
later than forty-five days after July 19, 1995. A board of county 24494
commissioners approving a tax under division (C)(1) of this 24495
section may approve a tax under division (D)(1) of section 24496
307.697 or division (B)(1) of section 4301.421 of the Revised 24497
Code at the same time. Subject to the resolution being submitted 24498
to a referendum under sections 305.31 to 305.41 of the Revised 24499
Code, the resolution shall take effect immediately, but the tax 24500
levied pursuant to the resolution shall not be levied prior to 24501
the day following the last day taxes levied pursuant to division 24502
(A) of this section may be levied.24503

       (2) The tax may be levied pursuant to a resolution adopted by 24504
a majority of the members of the board of county commissioners not 24505
later than forty-five days after July 19, 1995, and approved by a 24506
majority of the electors of the county voting on the question of 24507
levying the tax at the next succeeding general election following 24508
July 19, 1995. The board of county commissioners shall certify a 24509
copy of the resolution to the board of elections immediately upon 24510
adopting a resolution under division (C)(2) of this section, and 24511
the board of elections shall place the question of levying the 24512
tax on the ballot at that election. The form of the ballot shall 24513
be as prescribed by division (C) of section 307.697 of the 24514
Revised Code, except that the phrase "paying not more than 24515
one-half of the costs of providing a sports facility together 24516
with related redevelopment and economic development projects" 24517
shall be replaced by the phrase "paying the costs of constructing 24518
or renovating a sports facility and reimbursing a county for 24519
costs incurred by the county in the construction of a sports24520
facility," and the phrase ", beginning .......... (here insert24521
the earliest date the tax would take effect)" shall be appended24522
after "years." A board of county commissioners submitting the24523
question of a tax under division (C)(2) of this section may submit 24524
the question of a tax under division (D)(2) of section 307.697 or 24525
division (B)(2) of section 4301.421 of the Revised Code as a 24526
single question, and the form of the ballot shall include each of 24527
the proposed taxes.24528

       If approved by a majority of electors voting on the question, 24529
the tax shall take effect on the day specified on the ballot, 24530
which shall not be earlier than the day following the last day the 24531
tax levied pursuant to division (A) of this section may be levied.24532

       The rate of a tax levied pursuant to division (C)(1) or (2) 24533
of this section shall not exceed the rate specified in division 24534
(A) of this section. A tax levied pursuant to division (C)(1) or 24535
(2) of this section may be levied for any number of years not 24536
exceeding twenty.24537

       A board of county commissioners adopting a resolution under 24538
this division shall certify a copy of the resolution to the tax 24539
commissioner immediately upon adoption of the resolution.24540

       (E) No tax shall be levied under this section on or after the 24541
effective date of the amendment of this section by H.B. 562 of 24542
the 127th general assemblySeptember 23, 2008. This division 24543
does not prevent the collection of any tax levied under this 24544
section before that date so long as that tax remains effective.24545

       Sec. 5743.026.  For the purposes of section 351.26 of the24546
Revised Code, to pay the expenses of administering the tax, and to 24547
pay any or all of the charge the board of elections makes against 24548
the county to hold the election on the question of levying the 24549
tax, the board of county commissioners, in the manner prescribed 24550
by division (A) of section 351.26 of the Revised Code, may levy a 24551
tax on sales of cigarettes sold for resale at retail in the 24552
county. The rate of the tax shall not exceed two and twenty-five 24553
hundredths mills per cigarette, and shall be computed on each 24554
cigarette sold. The tax may be levied for any number of years not 24555
to exceed twenty. Only one sale of the same article shall be used 24556
in computing the amount of tax due.24557

       The tax shall be levied pursuant to a resolution of the board 24558
of county commissioners adopted as prescribed by division (A) of 24559
section 351.26 of the Revised Code and approved by a majority of 24560
the electors in the county voting on the question of levying the 24561
tax. The resolution shall specify the rate of the tax, the number 24562
of years the tax will be levied, and the purposes for which the 24563
tax is levied. Such election may be held on the date of a general 24564
or special election held not sooner than seventy-fiveeighty-five24565
days after the date the board certifies its resolution to the 24566
board of elections. If approved by voters, the tax shall take24567
effect on the first day of the month specified in the resolution24568
but not sooner than the first day of the month that is at least24569
sixty days after the certification of the election results by the24570
board of elections. A copy of the resolution levying the tax shall 24571
be certified to the tax commissioner at least sixty days prior to 24572
the date on which the tax is to become effective.24573

       A resolution under this section may be joined on the ballot24574
as a single question with a resolution adopted under section24575
4301.424 of the Revised Code to levy a tax for the same purposes 24576
and for the purpose of paying the expenses of administering the 24577
tax. The form of the ballot in an election held pursuant to this 24578
section shall be as prescribed in section 351.26 of the Revised 24579
Code.24580

       The treasurer of state shall credit all moneys arising from24581
each tax levied under this section and section 5743.324 of the 24582
Revised Code in the same manner prescribed by section 5743.024 of 24583
the Revised Code for the crediting of money arising from taxes 24584
levied under that section, except that the tax commissioner shall 24585
distribute the amount credited to the permissive tax distribution 24586
fund by providing for payment of the appropriate amount to the 24587
county treasurer of the county in which the tax is levied, who 24588
shall credit the payment to the fund or account designated by the 24589
board of directors of the convention facilities authority levying 24590
the tax.24591

       Sec. 5748.02.  (A) The board of education of any school24592
district, except a joint vocational school district, may declare, 24593
by resolution, the necessity of raising annually a specified 24594
amount of money for school district purposes. The resolution shall 24595
specify whether the income that is to be subject to the tax is 24596
taxable income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions 24597
(E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code or 24598
taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of 24599
that section. A copy of the resolution shall be certified to the 24600
tax commissioner no later than eighty-fiveninety-five days prior 24601
to the date of the election at which the board intends to propose 24602
a levy under this section. Upon receipt of the copy of the 24603
resolution, the tax commissioner shall estimate both of the 24604
following:24605

       (1) The property tax rate that would have to be imposed in24606
the current year by the district to produce an equivalent amount24607
of money;24608

       (2) The income tax rate that would have had to have been in 24609
effect for the current year to produce an equivalent amount of24610
money from a school district income tax.24611

       Within ten days of receiving the copy of the board's24612
resolution, the commissioner shall prepare these estimates and24613
certify them to the board. Upon receipt of the certification, the 24614
board may adopt a resolution proposing an income tax under24615
division (B) of this section at the estimated rate contained in24616
the certification rounded to the nearest one-fourth of one per24617
cent. The commissioner's certification applies only to the board's 24618
proposal to levy an income tax at the election for which the board 24619
requested the certification. If the board intends to submit a 24620
proposal to levy an income tax at any other election, it shall 24621
request another certification for that election in the manner 24622
prescribed in this division.24623

       (B)(1) Upon the receipt of a certification from the tax24624
commissioner under division (A) of this section, a majority of the 24625
members of a board of education may adopt a resolution proposing 24626
the levy of an annual tax for school district purposes on school 24627
district income. The proposed levy may be for a continuing period 24628
of time or for a specified number of years. The resolution shall 24629
set forth the purpose for which the tax is to be imposed, the rate 24630
of the tax, which shall be the rate set forth in the 24631
commissioner's certification rounded to the nearest one-fourth of 24632
one per cent, the number of years the tax will be levied or that 24633
it will be levied for a continuing period of time, the date on 24634
which the tax shall take effect, which shall be the first day of 24635
January of any year following the year in which the question is 24636
submitted, and the date of the election at which the proposal 24637
shall be submitted to the electors of the district, which shall be 24638
on the date of a primary, general, or special election the date of 24639
which is consistent with section 3501.01 of the Revised Code. The 24640
resolution shall specify whether the income that is to be subject 24641
to the tax is taxable income of individuals and estates as defined 24642
in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised 24643
Code or taxable income of individuals as defined in division 24644
(E)(1)(b) of that section. The specification shall be the same as 24645
the specification in the resolution adopted and certified under 24646
division (A) of this section. 24647

       If the tax is to be levied for current expenses and permanent 24648
improvements, the resolution shall apportion the annual rate of 24649
the tax. The apportionment may be the same or different for each 24650
year the tax is levied, but the respective portions of the rate 24651
actually levied each year for current expenses and for permanent 24652
improvements shall be limited by the apportionment.24653

       If the board of education currently imposes an income tax 24654
pursuant to this chapter that is due to expire and a question is 24655
submitted under this section for a proposed income tax to take24656
effect upon the expiration of the existing tax, the board may 24657
specify in the resolution that the proposed tax renews the24658
expiring tax. Two or more expiring income taxes may be renewed 24659
under this paragraph if the taxes are due to expire on the same 24660
date. If the tax rate being proposed is no higher than the total 24661
tax rate imposed by the expiring tax or taxes, the resolution may 24662
state that the proposed tax is not an additional income tax.24663

       (2) A board of education adopting a resolution under division 24664
(B)(1) of this section proposing a school district income tax for 24665
a continuing period of time and limited to the purpose of current 24666
expenses may propose in that resolution to reduce the rate or 24667
rates of one or more of the school district's property taxes 24668
levied for a continuing period of time in excess of the ten-mill 24669
limitation for the purpose of current expenses. The reduction in 24670
the rate of a property tax may be any amount, expressed in mills 24671
per one dollar in valuation, not exceeding the rate at which the 24672
tax is authorized to be levied. The reduction in the rate of a tax 24673
shall first take effect for the tax year that includes the day on 24674
which the school district income tax first takes effect, and shall 24675
continue for each tax year that both the school district income 24676
tax and the property tax levy are in effect.24677

       In addition to the matters required to be set forth in the24678
resolution under division (B)(1) of this section, a resolution24679
containing a proposal to reduce the rate of one or more property24680
taxes shall state for each such tax the maximum rate at which it24681
currently may be levied and the maximum rate at which the tax24682
could be levied after the proposed reduction, expressed in mills24683
per one dollar in valuation, and that the tax is levied for a24684
continuing period of time.24685

       If a board of education proposes to reduce the rate of one or 24686
more property taxes under division (B)(2) of this section, the24687
board, when it makes the certification required under division (A) 24688
of this section, shall designate the specific levy or levies to be 24689
reduced, the maximum rate at which each levy currently is24690
authorized to be levied, and the rate by which each levy is24691
proposed to be reduced. The tax commissioner, when making the24692
certification to the board under division (A) of this section,24693
also shall certify the reduction in the total effective tax rate24694
for current expenses for each class of property that would have24695
resulted if the proposed reduction in the rate or rates had been24696
in effect the previous tax year. As used in this paragraph,24697
"effective tax rate" has the same meaning as in section 323.08 of24698
the Revised Code.24699

       (C) A resolution adopted under division (B) of this section 24700
shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no24701
publication of the resolution shall be necessary other than that24702
provided for in the notice of election. Immediately after its24703
adoption and at least seventy-fiveeighty-five days prior to the 24704
election at which the question will appear on the ballot, a copy 24705
of the resolution shall be certified to the board of elections of 24706
the proper county, which shall submit the proposal to the electors 24707
on the date specified in the resolution. The form of the ballot24708
shall be as provided in section 5748.03 of the Revised Code.24709
Publication of notice of the election shall be made in one or24710
more newspapers of general circulation in the county once a week24711
for two consecutive weeks prior to the election, and, if the 24712
board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board 24713
of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site 24714
for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall contain 24715
the time and place of the election and the question to be 24716
submitted to the electors. The question covered by the resolution 24717
shall be submitted as a separate proposition, but may be printed 24718
on the same ballot with any other proposition submitted at the 24719
same election, other than the election of officers.24720

       (D) No board of education shall submit the question of a tax 24721
on school district income to the electors of the district more 24722
than twice in any calendar year. If a board submits the question 24723
twice in any calendar year, one of the elections on the question24724
shall be held on the date of the general election.24725

       (E)(1) No board of education may submit to the electors of 24726
the district the question of a tax on school district income on 24727
the taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) 24728
of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code if that tax would be in 24729
addition to an existing tax on the taxable income of individuals 24730
and estates as defined in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (2) of that 24731
section.24732

        (2) No board of education may submit to the electors of the 24733
district the question of a tax on school district income on the 24734
taxable income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions 24735
(E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code if that 24736
tax would be in addition to an existing tax on the taxable income 24737
of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of that section.24738

       Sec. 5748.04. (A) The question of the repeal of a school24739
district income tax levied for more than five years may be24740
initiated not more than once in any five-year period by filing24741
with the board of elections of the appropriate counties not later24742
than seventy-fiveeighty-five days before the general election in 24743
any year after the year in which it is approved by the electors a 24744
petition requesting that an election be held on the question. The24745
petition shall be signed by qualified electors residing in the24746
school district levying the income tax equal in number to ten per24747
cent of those voting for governor at the most recent gubernatorial24748
election.24749

       The board of elections shall determine whether the petition24750
is valid, and if it so determines, it shall submit the question to24751
the electors of the district at the next general election. The24752
election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same24753
manner as regular elections for county offices in the county.24754
Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of24755
general circulation in the district once a week for two 24756
consecutive weeks prior to the election, and, if the board of 24757
elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of 24758
elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for 24759
thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the 24760
purpose, time, and place of the election. The form of the ballot 24761
cast at the election shall be as follows:24762

       "Shall the annual income tax of ..... per cent, currently24763
levied on the school district income of individuals and estates by24764
.......... (state the name of the school district) for the purpose24765
of .......... (state purpose of the tax), be repealed?24766

        24767

 For repeal of the income tax 24768
 Against repeal of the income tax  " 24769

        24770

        (B)(1) If the tax is imposed on taxable income as defined in 24771
division (E)(1)(b) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code, the 24772
form of the ballot shall be modified by stating that the tax 24773
currently is levied on the "earned income of individuals residing 24774
in the school district" in lieu of the "school district income of 24775
individuals and estates."24776

       (2) If the rate of one or more property tax levies was 24777
reduced for the duration of the income tax levy pursuant to 24778
division (B)(2) of section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, the form 24779
of the ballot shall be modified by adding the following language24780
immediately after "repealed": ", and shall the rate of an existing 24781
tax on property for the purpose of current expenses, which rate 24782
was reduced for the duration of the income tax, be INCREASED from 24783
..... mills to ..... mills per one dollar of valuation beginning 24784
in ..... (state the first year for which the rate of the property 24785
tax will increase)." In lieu of "for repeal of the income tax" and24786
"against repeal of the income tax," the phrases "for the issue" 24787
and "against the issue," respectively, shall be substituted.24788

       (3) If the rate of more than one property tax was reduced for24789
the duration of the income tax, the ballot language shall be24790
modified accordingly to express the rates at which those taxes24791
currently are levied and the rates to which the taxes would be24792
increased.24793

       (C) The question covered by the petition shall be submitted 24794
as a separate proposition, but it may be printed on the same 24795
ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election 24796
other than the election of officers. If a majority of the 24797
qualified electors voting on the question vote in favor of it, the 24798
result shall be certified immediately after the canvass by the 24799
board of elections to the board of education of the school 24800
district and the tax commissioner, who shall thereupon, after the 24801
current year, cease to levy the tax, except that if notes have 24802
been issued pursuant to section 5748.05 of the Revised Code the 24803
tax commissioner shall continue to levy and collect under 24804
authority of the election authorizing the levy an annual amount, 24805
rounded upward to the nearest one-fourth of one per cent, as will 24806
be sufficient to pay the debt charges on the notes as they fall 24807
due.24808

       (D) If a school district income tax repealed pursuant to this24809
section was approved in conjunction with a reduction in the rate24810
of one or more school district property taxes as provided in24811
division (B)(2) of section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, then each24812
such property tax may be levied after the current year at the rate24813
at which it could be levied prior to the reduction, subject to any24814
adjustments required by the county budget commission pursuant to24815
Chapter 5705. of the Revised Code. Upon the repeal of a school24816
district income tax under this section, the board of education may24817
resume levying a property tax, the rate of which has been reduced24818
pursuant to a question approved under section 5748.02 of the24819
Revised Code, at the rate the board originally was authorized to24820
levy the tax. A reduction in the rate of a property tax under24821
section 5748.02 of the Revised Code is a reduction in the rate at24822
which a board of education may levy that tax only for the period24823
during which a school district income tax is levied prior to any24824
repeal pursuant to this section. The resumption of the authority24825
to levy the tax upon such a repeal does not constitute a tax24826
levied in excess of the one per cent limitation prescribed by24827
Section 2 of Article XII, Ohio Constitution, or in excess of the24828
ten-mill limitation.24829

       (E) This section does not apply to school district income tax24830
levies that are levied for five or fewer years.24831

       Sec. 5748.08.  (A) The board of education of a city, local,24832
or exempted village school district, at any time by a vote of24833
two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that it24834
may be necessary for the school district to do all of the24835
following:24836

       (1) Raise a specified amount of money for school district24837
purposes by levying an annual tax on school district income;24838

       (2) Issue general obligation bonds for permanent24839
improvements, stating in the resolution the necessity and purpose24840
of the bond issue and the amount, approximate date, estimated rate24841
of interest, and maximum number of years over which the principal24842
of the bonds may be paid;24843

       (3) Levy a tax outside the ten-mill limitation to pay debt24844
charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities;24845

       (4) Submit the question of the school district income tax and 24846
bond issue to the electors of the district at a special election.24847

       The resolution shall specify whether the income that is to be 24848
subject to the tax is taxable income of individuals and estates as 24849
defined in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the 24850
Revised Code or taxable income of individuals as defined in 24851
division (E)(1)(b) of that section.24852

       On adoption of the resolution, the board shall certify a copy24853
of it to the tax commissioner and the county auditor no later than24854
ninetyone hundred days prior to the date of the special election 24855
at which the board intends to propose the income tax and bond 24856
issue. Not later than ten days of receipt of the resolution, the 24857
tax commissioner, in the same manner as required by division (A) 24858
of section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, shall estimate the rates24859
designated in divisions (A)(1) and (2) of that section and certify 24860
them to the board. Not later than ten days of receipt of the 24861
resolution, the county auditor shall estimate and certify to the 24862
board the average annual property tax rate required throughout the 24863
stated maturity of the bonds to pay debt charges on the bonds, in 24864
the same manner as under division (C) of section 133.18 of the 24865
Revised Code.24866

       (B) On receipt of the tax commissioner's and county auditor's 24867
certifications prepared under division (A) of this section, the 24868
board of education of the city, local, or exempted village school 24869
district, by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may adopt a 24870
resolution proposing for a specified number of years or for a 24871
continuing period of time the levy of an annual tax for school 24872
district purposes on school district income and declaring that the 24873
amount of taxes that can be raised within the ten-mill limitation 24874
will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the present 24875
and future requirements of the school district; that it is 24876
necessary to issue general obligation bonds of the school district 24877
for specified permanent improvements and to levy an additional tax24878
in excess of the ten-mill limitation to pay the debt charges on24879
the bonds and any anticipatory securities; and that the question 24880
of the bonds and taxes shall be submitted to the electors of the24881
school district at a special election, which shall not be earlier24882
than seventy-fiveeighty-five days after certification of the 24883
resolution to the board of elections, and the date of which shall 24884
be consistent with section 3501.01 of the Revised Code. The 24885
resolution shall specify all of the following:24886

       (1) The purpose for which the school district income tax is24887
to be imposed and the rate of the tax, which shall be the rate set24888
forth in the tax commissioner's certification rounded to the24889
nearest one-fourth of one per cent;24890

       (2) Whether the income that is to be subject to the tax is 24891
taxable income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions 24892
(E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code or 24893
taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of 24894
that section. The specification shall be the same as the 24895
specification in the resolution adopted and certified under 24896
division (A) of this section.24897

       (3) The number of years the tax will be levied, or that it24898
will be levied for a continuing period of time;24899

       (4) The date on which the tax shall take effect, which shall24900
be the first day of January of any year following the year in24901
which the question is submitted;24902

       (5) The county auditor's estimate of the average annual24903
property tax rate required throughout the stated maturity of the24904
bonds to pay debt charges on the bonds.24905

       (C) A resolution adopted under division (B) of this section24906
shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no24907
publication of the resolution shall be necessary other than that24908
provided for in the notice of election. Immediately after its24909
adoption and at least seventy-fiveeighty-five days prior to the 24910
election at which the question will appear on the ballot, the 24911
board of education shall certify a copy of the resolution, along 24912
with copies of the auditor's estimate and its resolution under24913
division (A) of this section, to the board of elections of the 24914
proper county. The board of education shall make the arrangements 24915
for the submission of the question to the electors of the school24916
district, and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and24917
certified in the same manner as regular elections in the district24918
for the election of county officers.24919

       The resolution shall be put before the electors as one ballot24920
question, with a majority vote indicating approval of the school24921
district income tax, the bond issue, and the levy to pay debt24922
charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities. The board of24923
elections shall publish the notice of the election in one or more 24924
newspapers of general circulation in the school district once a 24925
week for two consecutive weeks prior to the election and, if the 24926
board of elections operates and maintains a web site, also shall 24927
post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior 24928
to the election. The notice of election shall state all of the24929
following:24930

       (1) The questions to be submitted to the electors;24931

       (2) The rate of the school district income tax;24932

       (3) The principal amount of the proposed bond issue;24933

       (4) The permanent improvements for which the bonds are to be24934
issued;24935

       (5) The maximum number of years over which the principal of24936
the bonds may be paid;24937

       (6) The estimated additional average annual property tax rate 24938
to pay the debt charges on the bonds, as certified by the county 24939
auditor;24940

       (7) The time and place of the special election.24941

       (D) The form of the ballot on a question submitted to the24942
electors under this section shall be as follows:24943

       "Shall the ........ school district be authorized to do both24944
of the following:24945

       (1) Impose an annual income tax of ...... (state the proposed 24946
rate of tax) on the school district income of individuals and of 24947
estates, for ........ (state the number of years the tax would be 24948
levied, or that it would be levied for a continuing period of 24949
time), beginning ........ (state the date the tax would first take 24950
effect), for the purpose of ........ (state the purpose of the 24951
tax)?24952

       (2) Issue bonds for the purpose of ....... in the principal24953
amount of $......, to be repaid annually over a maximum period of24954
....... years, and levy a property tax outside the ten-mill24955
limitation estimated by the county auditor to average over the24956
bond repayment period ....... mills for each one dollar of tax24957
valuation, which amounts to ....... (rate expressed in cents or24958
dollars and cents, such as "36 cents" or "$1.41") for each $100 of24959
tax valuation, to pay the annual debt charges on the bonds, and to24960
pay debt charges on any notes issued in anticipation of those24961
bonds?24962

        24963

 FOR THE INCOME TAX AND BOND ISSUE 24964
 AGAINST THE INCOME TAX AND BOND ISSUE  " 24965

        24966

       (E) If the question submitted to electors proposes a school 24967
district income tax only on the taxable income of individuals as 24968
defined in division (E)(1)(b) of section 5748.01 of the Revised 24969
Code, the form of the ballot shall be modified by stating that the 24970
tax is to be levied on the "earned income of individuals residing 24971
in the school district" in lieu of the "school district income of 24972
individuals and of estates."24973

       (F) The board of elections promptly shall certify the results 24974
of the election to the tax commissioner and the county auditor of 24975
the county in which the school district is located. If a majority 24976
of the electors voting on the question vote in favor of it, the 24977
income tax and the applicable provisions of Chapter 5747. of the24978
Revised Code shall take effect on the date specified in the24979
resolution, and the board of education may proceed with issuance24980
of the bonds and with the levy and collection of the property24981
taxes to pay debt charges on the bonds, at the additional rate or24982
any lesser rate in excess of the ten-mill limitation. Any24983
securities issued by the board of education under this section are24984
Chapter 133. securities, as that term is defined in section 133.0124985
of the Revised Code.24986

       (G) After approval of a question under this section, the24987
board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of24988
the school district income tax in accordance with section 5748.0524989
of the Revised Code. Any anticipation notes under this division24990
shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code,24991
shall have principal payments during each year after the year of24992
their issuance over a period not to exceed five years, and may24993
have a principal payment in the year of their issuance.24994

       (H) The question of repeal of a school district income tax24995
levied for more than five years may be initiated and submitted in24996
accordance with section 5748.04 of the Revised Code.24997

       (I) No board of education shall submit a question under this24998
section to the electors of the school district more than twice in24999
any calendar year. If a board submits the question twice in any25000
calendar year, one of the elections on the question shall be held25001
on the date of the general election.25002

       Sec. 6105.18.  At any time after the third year following the 25003
creation of a watershed district a referendum may be held on the 25004
question of dissolution of the district. The question of25005
dissolution of a watershed district may be presented to the25006
electors within the territorial boundaries of the district, at any 25007
general election, by the filing of a petition, signed by at least 25008
two hundred qualified electors residing within the territorial 25009
boundaries of the district, with the board of elections of that 25010
county or part of a county with a population within the 25011
territorial boundaries of the district, according to the last 25012
federal decennial census, greater than that of any other county or 25013
part of a county within the territorial boundaries of the 25014
district.25015

       Such petition shall be filed with such board not later than25016
four p.m. of the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the day of 25017
the general election at which such question is to be presented to 25018
the electors.25019

       Sec. 6105.20.  The board of elections with which a petition 25020
has been filed under section 6105.18 of the Revised Code, after 25021
determining that the petition is in proper form and is signed by 25022
at least two hundred qualified electors residing within the 25023
territorial boundaries of the watershed district, shall, on or 25024
before the seventy-fiftheighty-fifth day before the day of the 25025
election at which the question of dissolving the district is to be 25026
submitted to the electors, certify to the board of elections of 25027
each watershed county the question of whether or not the district 25028
shall be dissolved.25029

       The board of elections of each of such counties shall place 25030
such question on the questions and issues ballot, to be voted at 25031
such election by the electors of the county residing within the 25032
territorial boundaries of the district, by placing on such ballot 25033
the words "For continuing the existence of (name of the district 25034
to be here inserted)" and "Against continuing the existence of 25035
(name of the district to be here inserted)," with a square before 25036
each proposition and a direction to record the vote in the square 25037
before one or the other of said propositions as the voter favors 25038
or opposes the dissolution of the district.25039

       The vote on the question of the dissolution of the district 25040
shall be counted and canvassed in the same manner as the vote for 25041
candidates for district office are counted and canvassed.25042

       The board of elections with which the petition was originally25043
filed shall certify the results of such election.25044

       If a majority of the electors voting upon the proposition 25045
vote against continuing the existence of the district, the 25046
district shall be dissolved as of the thirty-first day of December25047
immediately thereafter.25048

       If a majority of the electors voting upon the proposition 25049
vote for continuing the existence of the district, no further 25050
referendum shall be held on the same proposition for a period of 25051
three years.25052

       Sec. 6119.31.  The board of county commissioners at any time 25053
not less than seventy-fiveeighty-five days before the general 25054
election in any year, by a vote of two-thirds of its members, may 25055
declare by resolution that the amount of taxes which may be raised 25056
within the ten-mill limitation will be insufficient to provide an25057
adequate amount for the necessary requirements of the county, and25058
that it is necessary to levy a tax in excess of such limitation25059
for the purpose of paying the cost of the preparation of plans,25060
specifications, surveys, soundings, drillings, maps, and other25061
data needed or determined necessary in order to develop plans for25062
the proper purification, filtration, and distribution of water or25063
proper collection and treatment of sewage within the county or a25064
part thereof, or beyond the limits of the county but within the25065
same drainage area as is in part within the county.25066

       Such resolution shall be confined to a single purpose and25067
shall specify the amount of increase in rate which it is necessary 25068
to levy, not to exceed three-tenths of a mill, the purpose 25069
thereof, the number of years during which such increase shall be 25070
in effect, not to exceed five years, which increase may or may not 25071
include a levy upon the duplicate of the current year.25072

       Such resolution shall go into effect upon its passage and no 25073
publication of it is necessary other than that provided for in the 25074
notice of election.25075

       Sec. 6119.32. A copy of the resolution provided for in 25076
section 6119.31 of the Revised Code shall be certified to the 25077
board of elections for the county not less than seventy-five25078
eighty-five days before the general election in any year and said25079
board shall submit the proposal to the electors of the county at 25080
the succeeding November election in accordance with section 25081
5705.25 of the Revised Code.25082

       If the per cent required for approval of a levy as set forth 25083
in section 5705.26 of the Revised Code vote in favor thereof, the 25084
board of county commissioners may levy a tax within the county at 25085
the additional rate outside the ten-mill limitation during the 25086
period and for the purpose stated in the resolution, or at any 25087
less rate or for any less number of years.25088

       Section 2. That existing sections 133.06, 133.18, 302.03, 25089
302.09, 303.11, 303.12, 303.25, 305.02, 305.31, 306.32, 306.321, 25090
306.70, 306.71, 307.676, 307.677, 307.695, 307.697, 307.791, 25091
307.94, 307.95, 322.02, 322.021, 324.02, 324.021, 345.03, 351.26, 25092
503.02, 503.161, 503.24, 503.41, 504.01, 504.03, 505.13, 505.14, 25093
511.01, 511.22, 511.27, 511.28, 511.33, 511.34, 513.06, 513.13, 25094
513.18, 517.05, 519.11, 519.12, 519.25, 705.01, 707.21, 709.29, 25095
709.39, 709.45, 709.462, 709.48, 709.50, 715.69, 715.691, 715.70, 25096
715.71, 715.77, 718.01, 718.09, 718.10, 731.03, 731.28, 731.29, 25097
733.09, 733.261, 733.262, 733.31, 733.48, 749.021, 755.01, 25098
757.02, 759.25, 1515.28, 1545.21, 1545.36, 1711.30, 1901.07, 25099
1901.10, 1901.31, 1907.13, 2101.43, 2301.02, 3311.053, 3311.059, 25100
3311.21, 3311.213, 3311.22, 3311.231, 3311.25, 3311.26, 3311.37, 25101
3311.38, 3311.50, 3311.73, 3316.08, 3318.06, 3318.061, 3318.361, 25102
3354.12, 3355.02, 3355.09, 3357.02, 3357.11, 3375.19, 3375.201, 25103
3375.211, 3375.212, 3501.01, 3501.02, 3501.03, 3501.05, 3501.07, 25104
3501.10, 3501.11, 3501.17, 3501.18, 3501.21, 3501.22, 3501.38, 25105
3501.39, 3501.90, 3503.01, 3503.04, 3503.06, 3503.10, 3503.11, 25106
3503.14, 3503.15, 3503.16, 3503.19, 3503.21, 3503.24, 3503.28, 25107
3505.01, 3505.03, 3505.04, 3505.06, 3505.062, 3505.08, 3505.10, 25108
3505.11, 3505.12, 3505.13, 3505.18, 3505.181, 3505.182, 25109
3505.183, 3505.20, 3505.21, 3505.23, 3505.28, 3505.30, 25110
3505.32, 3506.02, 3506.11, 3506.12, 3506.21, 3509.01, 3509.02, 25111
3509.03, 3509.031, 3509.04, 3509.05, 3509.06, 3509.08, 25112
3509.09, 3511.01, 3511.02, 3511.03, 3511.04, 3511.05, 3511.06, 25113
3511.08, 3511.10, 3511.11, 3511.13, 3513.01, 3513.02, 3513.041, 25114
3513.05, 3513.052, 3513.121, 3513.122, 3513.151, 3513.19, 25115
3513.251, 3513.253, 3513.254, 3513.255, 3513.256, 3513.257, 25116
3513.259, 3513.263, 3513.30, 3513.31, 3513.311, 3513.312, 25117
3517.01, 3517.012, 3517.02, 3517.03, 3519.08, 3519.16, 25118
3521.03, 3709.051, 3709.071, 3709.29, 3767.05, 3769.27, 4301.33, 25119
4301.331, 4301.332, 4301.333, 4301.334, 4301.356, 4301.421, 25120
4301.424, 4303.29, 4305.14, 4504.021, 4504.15, 4504.16, 4504.21, 25121
4506.03, 4507.13, 4507.52, 4928.20, 4929.26, 4931.51, 4931.52, 25122
4931.53, 4951.44, 4955.05, 5705.19, 5705.191, 5705.195, 5705.199, 25123
5705.20, 5705.21, 5705.211, 5705.212, 5705.213, 5705.217, 25124
5705.218, 5705.219, 5705.2111, 5705.22, 5705.221, 5705.222, 25125
5705.23, 5705.24, 5705.25, 5705.251, 5705.261, 5705.27, 5705.71, 25126
5739.021, 5739.022, 5739.026, 5743.021, 5743.024, 5743.026, 25127
5748.02, 5748.04, 5748.08, 6105.18, 6105.20, 6119.31, and 25128
6119.32, and sections 3503.18, 3503.33, 3505.19, 3505.22, 25129
3506.13,3509.022, 3509.07, 3511.07, 3511.09, 3511.12, and 25130
3513.20 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed. 25131

       Section 3. (A) As used in this section, "county vote center" 25132
means a polling location at which any person registered to vote in 25133
a county may appear to cast a ballot on the day of a general 25134
election, regardless of the location of the precinct within the 25135
county in which the person resides. 25136

       (B)(1) The Secretary of State may implement a pilot project 25137
to evaluate the use of county vote centers for general elections 25138
for state and county office in the year 2011 as an alternative to 25139
operating precinct polling places. 25140

       (2) A board of elections that desires to participate in the 25141
pilot project authorized by this section shall hold a public 25142
hearing regarding the county's potential participation in the 25143
pilot project. The board of elections shall submit a transcript or 25144
audio and video recording of the public comments made at the 25145
hearing to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State may 25146
consider the public comments when selecting counties to 25147
participate in the pilot project. A board of elections that 25148
desires to participate in the pilot project authorized by this 25149
section shall notify the board of county commissioners of its 25150
desire to participate not later than the date for increasing the 25151
pay of a judge of election under division (E)(1)(a) of section 25152
3501.28 of the Revised Code for the year the board of elections 25153
wishes to participate. 25154

       (C)(1) If the Secretary of State implements a pilot project 25155
under this section, the Secretary of State shall select one or 25156
more counties to participate in the project that meet all of the 25157
following requirements: 25158

       (a) The county board of elections has held a public hearing 25159
as required under division (B)(2) of this section and submitted 25160
the required information to the Secretary of State; 25161

       (b) The county board of elections has implemented a 25162
computerized voter registration list that allows an election 25163
official at the county vote center to verify that a person who 25164
appears to vote at the county vote center has not otherwise voted 25165
in the same election; and 25166

       (c) The Secretary of State has determined that the county has 25167
the appropriate capabilities to implement county vote centers. 25168

       (2) In selecting one or more counties for participation in a 25169
pilot project under this section, the Secretary of State shall 25170
attempt to include counties of diverse geography, population, 25171
race, and location within the state, to the extent practicable. 25172

       (D) Following the conclusion of the pilot project, and not 25173
later than January 1, 2012, the Secretary of State shall file a 25174
report regarding the pilot project with the Speaker of the House 25175
of Representatives and the President of the Senate. The report may 25176
include the Secretary of State's recommendations on the future use 25177
of county vote centers and suggestions for permanent statutory 25178
authority regarding county vote centers. 25179

       Section 4. (A) Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 3509. 25180
or 3511. of the Revised Code to the contrary, the Secretary of 25181
State may implement a pilot project to evaluate the effectiveness 25182
and reliability of transmitting unvoted absent voter's ballots and 25183
unvoted armed service absent voter's ballots by secure electronic 25184
transmission to voters who are eligible to vote those ballots 25185
under the "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absent Voting Act," 25186
Pub. L. No. 99-410, 100 Stat. 924, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff, et seq., as 25187
amended. Any pilot project implemented under this section shall be 25188
concluded not later than December 1, 2010. 25189

       (B) If the Secretary of State implements a pilot project 25190
under this section, the Secretary of State shall select one or 25191
more counties to participate in the project. In selecting one or 25192
more counties for participation in a pilot project under this 25193
section, the Secretary of State shall do both of the following: 25194

       (1) Select counties that have the necessary technological 25195
means to transmit ballots by secure electronic transmission; and 25196

       (2) Attempt to include counties of diverse geography, 25197
population, race, and location within the state, to the extent 25198
practicable. 25199

       (C) Following the conclusion of the pilot project, and not 25200
later than January 1, 2011, the Secretary of State shall file a 25201
report regarding the pilot project with the Speaker of the House 25202
of Representatives and the President of the Senate. The report may 25203
include the Secretary of State's recommendations on the future 25204
use of secure electronic transmission of unvoted absent voter's 25205
ballots and armed service absent voter's ballots and suggestions 25206
for permanent statutory authority regarding such electronic ballot 25207
transmission. 25208

       Section 5.  (A) There is hereby created the Joint Task Force 25209
on Special Elections and Cost Reductions, which shall study both 25210
of the following:25211

       (1) The timing and conduct of special elections, including 25212
special elections conducted pursuant to a municipal or county 25213
charter on a day other than the day of a statewide primary, 25214
general, or special election for the purpose of developing 25215
recommendations to unify, to the extent practical, the dates of 25216
elections throughout the state; 25217

       (2) Opportunities to reduce the cost of election 25218
administration, including partnerships between government agencies 25219
and streamlining elections processes, for the purpose of 25220
developing recommendations to maintain unfettered voter access to 25221
democracy while reducing the cost of election administration.25222

       (B) The Task Force shall be composed of the following 25223
eighteen members, to be appointed by the Governor:25224

       (1) Three members of the House of Representatives who are 25225
members of the same political party as the Speaker of the House of 25226
Representatives;25227

       (2) Two members of the House of Representatives who are 25228
members of the largest political party represented in the House of 25229
Representatives of which the Speaker of the House is not a member;25230

       (3) Two members of the Senate who are members of the same 25231
political party as the President of the Senate;25232

       (4) One member of the Senate who is a member of the largest 25233
party represented in the Senate of which the President of the 25234
Senate is not a member;25235

       (5) Two representatives from the Ohio Association of 25236
Elections Officials who are members of different political 25237
parties;25238

       (6) Two representatives from the County Commissioners 25239
Association of Ohio who are members of different political 25240
parties;25241

       (7) Two representatives from the Ohio Municipal League who 25242
are members of different political parties;25243

       (8) Two representatives from the general public; and25244

       (9) Two representatives from the office of the Secretary of 25245
State.25246

       The Governor shall designate two members of the Task Force 25247
who are members of different political parties as co-chairs of the 25248
Task Force: 25249

       (B) The Task Force shall forward its findings to the Speaker 25250
of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and 25251
all charter counties and charter municipal corporations in Ohio 25252
not later than December 31, 2010, at which time the Task Force is 25253
abolished.25254

       Section 6. The General Assembly, applying the principle 25255
stated in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that 25256
amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of 25257
simultaneous operation, finds that the following section, 25258
presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by 25259
the acts indicated, is the resulting versions of the section in 25260
effect prior to the effective date of the section as presented in 25261
this act:25262

       Section 3509.05 of the Revised Code as amended by both Am. 25263
Sub. H.B. 350 and Am. Sub. H.B. 562 of the 127th General 25264
Assembly. 25265

       Section 7.  Section 1901.31 of the Revised Code is presented 25266
in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both Am. 25267
Sub. H.B. 420 of the 127th General Assembly and Am. Sub. H.B. 1 25268
of the 128th General Assembly. Section 3357.02 of the Revised 25269
Code is presented in this act as a composite of the section as 25270
amended by both Am. Sub. H.B. 99 and Am. Sub. H.B. 117 of the 25271
121st General Assembly. Section 4504.21 of the Revised Code is 25272
presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by 25273
both H.B. 353 and S.B. 310 of the 121st General Assembly. The 25274
General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) 25275
of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be 25276
harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, 25277
finds that the composites are the resulting versions of the 25278
sections in effect prior to the effective date of the sections 25279
as presented in this act.25280