S. B. No. 47 As Introduced

As Introduced

130th General Assembly

Regular Session

2013-2014

S. B. No. 47

Senator Seitz

Cosponsor: Senator Eklund

A BILL

To amend sections 3.02, 302.09, 305.02, 503.24,

733.31, 1901.10, 2301.02, 3501.301, 3501.38,

3503.06, 3503.14, 3503.16, 3503.19, 3503.28,

3505.13, 3505.18, 3505.181, 3505.182, 3505.183,

3509.03, 3509.04, 3509.05, 3511.02, 3511.05,

3511.09, 3513.04, 3513.262, 3513.263, 3513.30,

3513.31, and 3519.16 and to enact section 3501.302

of the Revised Code to revise the Election Law.

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

Section 1. That sections 3.02, 302.09, 305.02, 503.24,	9
733.31, 1901.10, 2301.02, 3501.301, 3501.38, 3503.06, 3503.14,	10
3503.16, 3503.19, 3503.28, 3505.13, 3505.18, 3505.181, 3505.182,	11
3505.183, 3509.03, 3509.04, 3509.05, 3511.02, 3511.05, 3511.09,	12
3513.04, 3513.262, 3513.263, 3513.30, 3513.31, and 3519.16 be	13
amended and section 3501.302 of the Revised Code be enacted to	14
read as follows:	15

Sec. 3.02. (A) When an elective office becomes vacant and is	16
filled by appointment, such appointee shall hold the office until	17
the appointee's successor is elected and qualified; and such	18
successor shall be elected for the unexpired term, at the first	19
general election for the office which is vacant that occurs more	20
than ~~fifty-six~~forty days after the vacancy has occurred; provided	21
that when the unexpired term ends within one year immediately	22
following the date of such general election, an election to fill	23
such unexpired term shall not be held and the appointment shall be	24
for such unexpired term.	25

(B) When an elective office becomes vacant and is filled by	26
appointment, the appointing authority shall, immediately but no	27
later than seven days after making the appointment, certify it to	28
the board of elections and to the secretary of state. The board of	29
elections or, in the case of an appointment to a statewide office,	30
the secretary of state shall issue a certificate of appointment to	31
the appointee. Certificates of appointment shall be in such form	32
as the secretary of state shall prescribe.	33

(C) When an elected candidate fails to qualify for the office	34
to which the candidate has been elected, the office shall be	35
filled as in the case of a vacancy. Until so filled, the incumbent	36
officer shall continue to hold office. This section does not	37
postpone the time for such election beyond that at which it would	38
have been held had no such vacancy occurred, or affect the	39
official term, or the time for the commencement thereof, of any	40
person elected to such office before the occurrence of such	41
vacancy.	42

Sec. 302.09. When a vacancy occurs in the board of county	43
commissioners or in the office of county auditor, county	44
treasurer, prosecuting attorney, clerk of the court of common	45
pleas, sheriff, county recorder, county engineer, or coroner more	46
than ~~fifty-six~~forty days before the next general election for	47
state and county officers, the vacancy shall be filled as provided	48
for in divisions (A) and (B) of section 305.02 of the Revised	49
Code.	50

Sec. 305.02. (A) If a vacancy in the office of county	51
commissioner, prosecuting attorney, county auditor, county	52
treasurer, clerk of the court of common pleas, sheriff, county	53
recorder, county engineer, or coroner occurs more than ~~fifty-six~~	54
forty days before the next general election for state and county	55
officers, a successor shall be elected at such election for the	56
unexpired term unless such term expires within one year	57
immediately following the date of such general election.	58

In either event, the vacancy shall be filled as provided in	59
this section and the appointee shall hold office until a successor	60
is elected and qualified.	61

(B) If a vacancy occurs from any cause in any of the offices	62
named in division (A) of this section, the county central	63
committee of the political party with which the last occupant of	64
the office was affiliated shall appoint a person to hold the	65
office and to perform the duties thereof until a successor is	66
elected and has qualified, except that if such vacancy occurs	67
because of the death, resignation, or inability to take the office	68
of an officer-elect whose term has not yet begun, an appointment	69
to take such office at the beginning of the term shall be made by	70
the central committee of the political party with which such	71
officer-elect was affiliated.	72

(C) Not less than five nor more than forty-five days after a	73
vacancy occurs, the county central committee shall meet for the	74
purpose of making an appointment under this section. Not less than	75
four days before the date of such meeting the chairperson or	76
secretary of such central committee shall send by first class mail	77
to every member of such central committee a written notice which	78
shall state the time and place of such meeting and the purpose	79
thereof. A majority of the members of the central committee	80
present at such meeting may make the appointment.	81

(D) If the last occupant of the office or the officer-elect	82
was elected as an independent candidate, the board of county	83
commissioners shall make such appointment at the time when the	84
vacancy occurs, except where the vacancy is in the office of	85
county commissioner, in which case the prosecuting attorney and	86
the remaining commissioners or a majority of them shall make the	87
appointment.	88

(E) Appointments made under this section shall be certified	89
by the appointing county central committee or by the board of	90
county commissioners to the county board of elections and to the	91
secretary of state, and the persons so appointed and certified	92
shall be entitled to all remuneration provided by law for the	93
offices to which they are appointed.	94

(F) The board of county commissioners may appoint a person to	95
hold any of the offices named in division (A) of this section as	96
an acting officer and to perform the duties thereof between the	97
occurrence of the vacancy and the time when the officer appointed	98
by the central committee qualifies and takes the office.	99

(G) A person appointed prosecuting attorney or assistant	100
prosecuting attorney shall give bond and take the oath of office	101
prescribed by section 309.03 of the Revised Code for the	102
prosecuting attorney.	103

Sec. 503.24. If there is a vacancy by reason of the	104
nonacceptance, death, or removal of a person chosen to an office	105
in any township at the regular election, or if there is a vacancy	106
from any other cause, the board of township trustees shall appoint	107
a person having the qualifications of an elector to fill such	108
vacancy for the unexpired term or until a successor is elected.	109

If a township is without a board or if no appointment is made	110
within thirty days after the occurrence of a vacancy, a majority	111
of the persons designated as the committee of five on the	112
last-filed nominating petition of the township officer whose	113
vacancy is to be filled who are residents of the township shall	114
appoint a person having the qualifications of an elector to fill	115
the vacancy for the unexpired term or until a successor is	116
elected. If at least three of the committee members who are	117
residents of the township cannot be found, or if that number of	118
such members fails to make an appointment within ten days after	119
the thirty-day period in which the board of township trustees is	120
authorized to make an appointment, then the presiding probate	121
judge of the county shall appoint a suitable person having the	122
qualifications of an elector in the township to fill the vacancy	123
for the unexpired term or until a successor is elected.	124

If a vacancy occurs in a township elective office more than	125
~~fifty-six~~forty days before the next general election for	126
municipal and township officers a successor shall be chosen at	127
that election to fill the unexpired term, provided the term does	128
not expire within one year from the day of the election. If the	129
term expires within one year from the day of the next general	130
election for municipal and township officers, a successor	131
appointed pursuant to this section shall serve out the unexpired	132
term.	133

Sec. 733.31. (A) Unless otherwise provided by law, vacancies	134
arising in appointive and elective offices of villages shall be	135
filled by appointment by the mayor for the remainder of the	136
unexpired term, provided that:	137

(1) Vacancies in the office of mayor shall be filled in the	138
manner provided by section 733.25 of the Revised Code;	139

(2) Vacancies in the membership of the legislative authority	140
shall be filled in the manner provided by section 731.43 of the	141
Revised Code;	142

(3) Vacancies in the office of president pro tempore of a	143
village legislative authority shall be filled in the manner	144
provided by section 731.11 of the Revised Code.	145

In the event of a vacancy in the office of village clerk or	146
treasurer, the mayor may appoint a person to serve as an acting	147
officer to perform the duties of the office until a permanent	148
officer is appointed to fill the vacancy.	149

(B) Unless otherwise provided by law, vacancies arising in	150
appointive offices of cities shall be filled by appointment by the	151
mayor for the remainder of the unexpired term.	152

(C) A vacancy in the office of president of the legislative	153
authority of a city shall be filled in the same manner as provided	154
in division (D) of this section. Vacancies in the office of mayor	155
of a city shall be filled in the manner provided in section 733.08	156
of the Revised Code. Vacancies in the membership of the	157
legislative authority of a city shall be filled in the manner	158
provided in section 731.43 of the Revised Code.	159

(D) In case of the death, resignation, removal, or disability	160
of the director of law, auditor, or treasurer of a city and such	161
vacancy occurs more than ~~fifty-six~~forty days before the next	162
general election for such office, a successor shall be elected at	163
such election for the unexpired term unless such term expires	164
within one year immediately following the date of such general	165
election. In either event, the vacancy shall be filled as provided	166
in this section and the appointee shall hold office until a	167
successor is elected and qualified.	168

(1) The county central committee of the political party with	169
which the last occupant of the office was affiliated, acting	170
through its members who reside in the city where the vacancy	171
occurs, shall appoint a person to hold the office and to perform	172
the duties thereof until a successor is elected and has qualified,	173
except that if such vacancy occurs because of the death,	174
resignation, or inability to take the office of an officer-elect	175
whose term has not yet begun, an appointment to take such office	176
at the beginning of the term shall be made by the members of the	177
central committee who reside in the city where the vacancy occurs.	178

(2) Not less than five nor more than forty-five days after a	179
vacancy occurs, the county central committee, acting through its	180
members who reside in the city where the vacancy occurs, shall	181
meet for the purpose of making an appointment. Not less than four	182
days before the date of the meeting the chairperson or secretary	183
of the central committee shall send by first class mail to every	184
member of such central committee who resides in the city where the	185
vacancy occurs a written notice which shall state the time and	186
place of such meeting and the purpose thereof. A majority of the	187
members of the central committee present at such meeting may make	188
the appointment.	189

(E) If the last occupant of the office or the officer-elect,	190
as provided in division (D) of this section, was elected as an	191
independent candidate, the mayor of the city shall make the	192
appointment at the time the vacancy occurs.	193

(F) Appointments made under this section shall be certified	194
by the appointing county central committee or by the mayor of the	195
municipal corporation to the county board of elections and to the	196
secretary of state. The persons so appointed and certified shall	197
be entitled to all remuneration provided by law for the offices to	198
which they are appointed.	199

(G) The mayor of the city may appoint a person to hold the	200
city office of director of law, auditor, or treasurer as an acting	201
officer and to perform the duties thereof between the occurrence	202
of the vacancy and the time when the person appointed by the	203
central committee qualifies and takes the office.	204

Sec. 1901.10. (A)(1)(a) The judges of the municipal court	205
and officers of the court shall take an oath of office as provided	206
in section 3.23 of the Revised Code. The office of judge of the	207
municipal court is subject to forfeiture, and the judge may be	208
removed from office, for the causes and by the procedure provided	209
in sections 3.07 to 3.10 of the Revised Code. A vacancy in the	210
office of judge exists upon the death, resignation, forfeiture,	211
removal from office, or absence from official duties for a period	212
of six consecutive months, as determined under this section, of	213
the judge and also by reason of the expiration of the term of an	214
incumbent when no successor has been elected or qualified. The	215
chief justice of the supreme court may designate a judge of	216
another municipal court to act until that vacancy is filled in	217
accordance with section 107.08 of the Revised Code. A vacancy	218
resulting from the absence of a judge from official duties for a	219
period of six consecutive months shall be determined and declared	220
by the legislative authority.	221

(b) If a vacancy occurs in the office of judge or clerk of	222
the municipal court after the one-hundredth day before the first	223
Tuesday after the first Monday in May and prior to the ~~fifty-sixth~~	224
fortieth day before the day of the general election, all	225
candidates for election to the unexpired term of the judge or	226
clerk shall file nominating petitions with the board of elections	227
not later than four p.m. on the tenth day following the day on	228
which the vacancy occurs, except that, when the vacancy occurs	229
fewer than ~~four~~six days before the ~~fifty-sixth~~fortieth day	230
before the general election, the deadline for filing shall be four	231
p.m. on the ~~fiftieth~~thirty-sixth day before the day of the	232
general election.	233

(c) Each nominating petition referred to in division	234
(A)(1)(b) of this section shall be in the form prescribed in	235
section 3513.261 of the Revised Code and shall be signed by at	236
least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the municipal	237
court. No nominating petition shall be accepted for filing or	238
filed if it appears on its face to contain signatures aggregating	239
in number more than twice the minimum aggregate number of	240
signatures required by this section.	241

(2) If a judge of a municipal court that has only one judge	242
is temporarily absent, incapacitated, or otherwise unavailable,	243
the judge may appoint a substitute who has the qualifications	244
required by section 1901.06 of the Revised Code or a retired judge	245
of a court of record who is a qualified elector and a resident of	246
the territory of the court. If the judge is unable to make the	247
appointment, the chief justice of the supreme court shall appoint	248
a substitute. The appointee shall serve during the absence,	249
incapacity, or unavailability of the incumbent, shall have the	250
jurisdiction and powers conferred upon the judge of the municipal	251
court, and shall be styled "acting judge." During that time of	252
service, the acting judge shall sign all process and records and	253
shall perform all acts pertaining to the office, except that of	254
removal and appointment of officers of the court. All courts shall	255
take judicial notice of the selection and powers of the acting	256
judge. The incumbent judge shall establish the amount of	257
compensation of an acting judge upon either a per diem, hourly, or	258
other basis, but the rate of pay shall not exceed the per diem	259
amount received by the incumbent judge.	260

(B) When the volume of cases pending in any municipal court	261
necessitates an additional judge, the chief justice of the supreme	262
court, upon the written request of the judge or presiding judge of	263
that municipal court, may designate a judge of another municipal	264
court or county court to serve for any period of time that the	265
chief justice may prescribe. The compensation of a judge so	266
designated shall be paid from the city treasury or, in the case of	267
a county-operated municipal court, from the county treasury. In	268
addition to the annual salary provided for in section 1901.11 of	269
the Revised Code and in addition to any compensation under	270
division (A)(5) or (6) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code to	271
which the judge is entitled in connection with the judge's own	272
court, a full-time or part-time judge while holding court outside	273
the judge's territory on the designation of the chief justice	274
shall receive actual and necessary expenses and compensation as	275
follows:	276

(1) A full-time judge shall receive thirty dollars for each	277
day of the assignment.	278

(2) A part-time judge shall receive for each day of the	279
assignment the per diem compensation of the judges of the court to	280
which the judge is assigned, less the per diem amount paid to	281
those judges pursuant to section 141.04 of the Revised Code,	282
calculated on the basis of two hundred fifty working days per	283
year.	284

If a request is made by a judge or the presiding judge of a	285
municipal court to designate a judge of another municipal court	286
because of the volume of cases in the court for which the request	287
is made and the chief justice reports, in writing, that no	288
municipal or county court judge is available to serve by	289
designation, the judges of the court requesting the designation	290
may appoint a substitute as provided in division (A)(2) of this	291
section, who may serve for any period of time that is prescribed	292
by the chief justice. The substitute judge shall be paid in the	293
same manner and at the same rate as the incumbent judges, except	294
that, if the substitute judge is entitled to compensation under	295
division (A)(5) or (6) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code, then	296
section 1901.121 of the Revised Code shall govern its payment.	297

Sec. 2301.02. The number of judges of the court of common	298
pleas for each county, the time for the next election of the	299
judges in the several counties, and the beginning of their terms	300
shall be as follows:	301

(A) In Adams, Ashland, Fayette, and Pike counties, one judge,	302
elected in 1956, term to begin February 9, 1957;	303

In Brown, Crawford, Defiance, Highland, Holmes, Morgan,	304
Ottawa, and Union counties, one judge, to be elected in 1954, term	305
to begin February 9, 1955;	306

In Auglaize county, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to	307
begin January 9, 1957;	308

In Coshocton, Darke, Fulton, Gallia, Guernsey, Hardin,	309
Jackson, Knox, Madison, Mercer, Monroe, Paulding, Vinton, and	310
Wyandot counties, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to begin	311
January 1, 1957;	312

In Morrow county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	313
to begin January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 2006, term to	314
begin January 1, 2007;	315

In Logan county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	316
to begin January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 2004, term to	317
begin January 2, 2005;	318

In Carroll, Clinton, Hocking, Meigs, Pickaway, Preble,	319
Shelby, Van Wert, and Williams counties, one judge, to be elected	320
in 1952, term to begin January 1, 1953;	321

In Champaign county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	322
term to begin January 1, 1953, and one to be elected in 2008, term	323
to begin February 10, 2009.;	324

In Harrison and Noble counties, one judge, to be elected in	325
1954, term to begin April 18, 1955;	326

In Henry county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	327
to begin May 9, 1957, and one to be elected in 2004, term to begin	328
January 1, 2005;	329

In Putnam county, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to	330
begin May 9, 1957;	331

In Huron county, one judge, to be elected in 1952, term to	332
begin May 14, 1953;	333

In Perry county, one judge, to be elected in 1954, term to	334
begin July 6, 1956;	335

In Sandusky county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954,	336
term to begin February 10, 1955, and one to be elected in 1978,	337
term to begin January 1, 1979;.	338

(B) In Allen county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,	339
term to begin February 9, 1957, the second to be elected in 1958,	340
term to begin January 1, 1959, and the third to be elected in	341
1992, term to begin January 1, 1993;	342

In Ashtabula county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,	343
term to begin February 9, 1955, one to be elected in 1960, term to	344
begin January 1, 1961, and one to be elected in 1978, term to	345
begin January 2, 1979;	346

In Athens county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, term	347
to begin February 9, 1955, and one to be elected in 1990, term to	348
begin July 1, 1991;	349

In Erie county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	350
to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1970, term	351
to begin January 2, 1971, the third to be elected in 2004, term to	352
begin January 2, 2005, and the fourth to be elected in 2008, term	353
to begin February 9, 2009;	354

In Fairfield county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,	355
term to begin February 9, 1955, the second to be elected in 1970,	356
term to begin January 1, 1971, and the third to be elected in	357
1994, term to begin January 2, 1995;	358

In Geauga county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	359
to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1976,	360
term to begin January 6, 1977;	361

In Greene county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956,	362
term to begin February 9, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,	363
term to begin January 1, 1961, the third to be elected in 1978,	364
term to begin January 2, 1979, and the fourth to be elected in	365
1994, term to begin January 1, 1995;	366

In Hancock county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	367
term to begin January 1, 1953, and the second to be elected in	368
1978, term to begin January 1, 1979;	369

In Lawrence county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954,	370
term to begin February 9, 1955, and the second to be elected in	371
1976, term to begin January 1, 1977;	372

In Marion county, three judges, one to be elected in 1952,	373
term to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1976,	374
term to begin January 2, 1977, and the third to be elected in	375
1998, term to begin February 9, 1999;	376

In Medina county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,	377
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1966,	378
term to begin January 1, 1967, and the third to be elected in	379
1994, term to begin January 1, 1995;	380

In Miami county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, term	381
to begin February 9, 1955, and one to be elected in 1970, term to	382
begin on January 1, 1971;	383

In Muskingum county, three judges, one to be elected in 1968,	384
term to begin August 9, 1969, one to be elected in 1978, term to	385
begin January 1, 1979, and one to be elected in 2002, term to	386
begin January 2, 2003;	387

In Portage county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,	388
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,	389
term to begin January 1, 1961, and the third to be elected in	390
1986, term to begin January 2, 1987;	391

In Ross county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	392
to begin February 9, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1976,	393
term to begin January 1, 1977;	394

In Scioto county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,	395
term to begin February 10, 1955, the second to be elected in 1960,	396
term to begin January 1, 1961, and the third to be elected in	397
1994, term to begin January 2, 1995;	398

In Seneca county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	399
to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1986,	400
term to begin January 2, 1987;	401

In Warren county, four judges, one to be elected in 1954,	402
term to begin February 9, 1955, the second to be elected in 1970,	403
term to begin January 1, 1971, the third to be elected in 1986,	404
term to begin January 1, 1987, and the fourth to be elected in	405
2004, term to begin January 2, 2005;	406

In Washington county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	407
term to begin January 1, 1953, and one to be elected in 1986, term	408
to begin January 1, 1987;	409

In Wood county, three judges, one to be elected in 1968, term	410
beginning January 1, 1969, the second to be elected in 1970, term	411
to begin January 2, 1971, and the third to be elected in 1990,	412
term to begin January 1, 1991;	413

In Belmont and Jefferson counties, two judges, to be elected	414
in 1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	415
respectively;	416

In Clark county, four judges, one to be elected in 1952, term	417
to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1956, term	418
to begin January 2, 1957, the third to be elected in 1986, term to	419
begin January 3, 1987, and the fourth to be elected in 1994, term	420
to begin January 2, 1995.;	421

In Clermont county, five judges, one to be elected in 1956,	422
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1964,	423
term to begin January 1, 1965, the third to be elected in 1982,	424
term to begin January 2, 1983, the fourth to be elected in 1986,	425
term to begin January 2, 1987;, and the fifth to be elected in	426
2006, term to begin January 3, 2007;	427

In Columbiana county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	428
term to begin January 1, 1953, and the second to be elected in	429
1956, term to begin January 1, 1957;	430

In Delaware county, two judges, one to be elected in 1990,	431
term to begin February 9, 1991, the second to be elected in 1994,	432
term to begin January 1, 1995;	433

In Lake county, six judges, one to be elected in 1958, term	434
to begin January 1, 1959, the second to be elected in 1960, term	435
to begin January 2, 1961, the third to be elected in 1964, term to	436
begin January 3, 1965, the fourth and fifth to be elected in 1978,	437
terms to begin January 4, 1979, and January 5, 1979, respectively,	438
and the sixth to be elected in 2000, term to begin January 6,	439
2001;	440

In Licking county, four judges, one to be elected in 1954,	441
term to begin February 9, 1955, one to be elected in 1964, term to	442
begin January 1, 1965, one to be elected in 1990, term to begin	443
January 1, 1991, and one to be elected in 2004, term to begin	444
January 1, 2005;	445

In Lorain county, nine judges, two to be elected in 1952,	446
terms to begin January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1953, respectively,	447
one to be elected in 1958, term to begin January 3, 1959, one to	448
be elected in 1968, term to begin January 1, 1969, two to be	449
elected in 1988, terms to begin January 4, 1989, and January 5,	450
1989, respectively, two to be elected in 1998, terms to begin	451
January 2, 1999, and January 3, 1999, respectively; and one to be	452
elected in 2006, term to begin January 6, 2007;	453

In Butler county, eleven judges, one to be elected in 1956,	454
term to begin January 1, 1957; two to be elected in 1954, terms to	455
begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively; one to	456
be elected in 1968, term to begin January 2, 1969; one to be	457
elected in 1986, term to begin January 3, 1987; two to be elected	458
in 1988, terms to begin January 1, 1989, and January 2, 1989,	459
respectively; one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 4,	460
1993; two to be elected in 2002, terms to begin January 2, 2003,	461
and January 3, 2003, respectively; and one to be elected in 2006,	462
term to begin January 3, 2007;	463

In Richland county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956,	464
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,	465
term to begin February 9, 1961, the third to be elected in 1968,	466
term to begin January 2, 1969, and the fourth to be elected in	467
2004, term to begin January 3, 2005;	468

In Tuscarawas county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956,	469
term to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in	470
1960, term to begin January 2, 1961;	471

In Wayne county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	472
beginning January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 1968, term to	473
begin January 2, 1969;	474

In Trumbull county, six judges, one to be elected in 1952,	475
term to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1954,	476
term to begin January 1, 1955, the third to be elected in 1956,	477
term to begin January 1, 1957, the fourth to be elected in 1964,	478
term to begin January 1, 1965, the fifth to be elected in 1976,	479
term to begin January 2, 1977, and the sixth to be elected in	480
1994, term to begin January 3, 1995;	481

(C) In Cuyahoga county, thirty-nine judges; eight to be	482
elected in 1954, terms to begin on successive days beginning from	483
January 1, 1955, to January 7, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	484
respectively; eight to be elected in 1956, terms to begin on	485
successive days beginning from January 1, 1957, to January 8,	486
1957; three to be elected in 1952, terms to begin from January 1,	487
1953, to January 3, 1953; two to be elected in 1960, terms to	488
begin on January 8, 1961, and January 9, 1961, respectively; two	489
to be elected in 1964, terms to begin January 4, 1965, and January	490
5, 1965, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to begin on	491
January 10, 1967; four to be elected in 1968, terms to begin on	492
successive days beginning from January 9, 1969, to January 12,	493
1969; two to be elected in 1974, terms to begin on January 18,	494
1975, and January 19, 1975, respectively; five to be elected in	495
1976, terms to begin on successive days beginning January 6, 1977,	496
to January 10, 1977; two to be elected in 1982, terms to begin	497
January 11, 1983, and January 12, 1983, respectively; and two to	498
be elected in 1986, terms to begin January 13, 1987, and January	499
14, 1987, respectively;	500

In Franklin county, twenty-two judges; two to be elected in	501
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	502
respectively; four to be elected in 1956, terms to begin January	503
1, 1957, to January 4, 1957; four to be elected in 1958, terms to	504
begin January 1, 1959, to January 4, 1959; three to be elected in	505
1968, terms to begin January 5, 1969, to January 7, 1969; three to	506
be elected in 1976, terms to begin on successive days beginning	507
January 5, 1977, to January 7, 1977; one to be elected in 1982,	508
term to begin January 8, 1983; one to be elected in 1986, term to	509
begin January 9, 1987; two to be elected in 1990, terms to begin	510
July 1, 1991, and July 2, 1991, respectively; one to be elected in	511
1996, term to begin January 2, 1997; and one to be elected in	512
2004, term to begin July 1, 2005;	513

In Hamilton county, twenty-one judges; eight to be elected in	514
1966, terms to begin January 1, 1967, January 2, 1967, and from	515
February 9, 1967, to February 14, 1967, respectively; five to be	516
elected in 1956, terms to begin from January 1, 1957, to January	517
5, 1957; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 1, 1965;	518
one to be elected in 1974, term to begin January 15, 1975; one to	519
be elected in 1980, term to begin January 16, 1981; two to be	520
elected at large in the general election in 1982, terms to begin	521
April 1, 1983; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin July 1,	522
1991; and two to be elected in 1996, terms to begin January 3,	523
1997, and January 4, 1997, respectively;	524

In Lucas county, fourteen judges; two to be elected in 1954,	525
terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	526
respectively; two to be elected in 1956, terms to begin January 1,	527
1957, and October 29, 1957, respectively; two to be elected in	528
1952, terms to begin January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1953,	529
respectively; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 3,	530
1965; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January 4, 1969;	531
two to be elected in 1976, terms to begin January 4, 1977, and	532
January 5, 1977, respectively; one to be elected in 1982, term to	533
begin January 6, 1983; one to be elected in 1988, term to begin	534
January 7, 1989; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin January	535
2, 1991; and one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 2,	536
1993;	537

In Mahoning county, seven judges; three to be elected in	538
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, and	539
February 9, 1955, respectively; one to be elected in 1956, term to	540
begin January 1, 1957; one to be elected in 1952, term to begin	541
January 1, 1953; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January	542
2, 1969; and one to be elected in 1990, term to begin July 1,	543
1991;	544

In Montgomery county, fifteen judges; three to be elected in	545
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, and January	546
3, 1955, respectively; four to be elected in 1952, terms to begin	547
January 1, 1953, January 2, 1953, July 1, 1953, and July 2, 1953,	548
respectively; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 3,	549
1965; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January 3, 1969;	550
three to be elected in 1976, terms to begin on successive days	551
beginning January 4, 1977, to January 6, 1977; two to be elected	552
in 1990, terms to begin July 1, 1991, and July 2, 1991,	553
respectively; and one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January	554
1, 1993.;	555

In Stark county, eight judges; one to be elected in 1958,	556
term to begin on January 2, 1959; two to be elected in 1954, terms	557
to begin on January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively;	558
two to be elected in 1952, terms to begin January 1, 1953, and	559
April 16, 1953, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to	560
begin on January 4, 1967; and two to be elected in 1992, terms to	561
begin January 1, 1993, and January 2, 1993, respectively;	562

In Summit county, thirteen judges; four to be elected in	563
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, January 3,	564
1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively; three to be elected in	565
1958, terms to begin January 1, 1959, January 2, 1959, and May 17,	566
1959, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to begin	567
January 4, 1967; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January	568
5, 1969; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin May 1, 1991; one	569
to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 6, 1993; and two to	570
be elected in 2008, terms to begin January 5, 2009, and January 6,	571
2009, respectively.	572

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, in any county	573
having two or more judges of the court of common pleas, in which	574
more than one-third of the judges plus one were previously elected	575
at the same election, if the office of one of those judges so	576
elected becomes vacant more than ~~fifty-six~~forty days prior to the	577
second general election preceding the expiration of that judge's	578
term, the office that that judge had filled shall be abolished as	579
of the date of the next general election, and a new office of	580
judge of the court of common pleas shall be created. The judge who	581
is to fill that new office shall be elected for a six-year term at	582
the next general election, and the term of that judge shall	583
commence on the first day of the year following that general	584
election, on which day no other judge's term begins, so that the	585
number of judges that the county shall elect shall not be reduced.	586

Judges of the probate division of the court of common pleas	587
are judges of the court of common pleas but shall be elected	588
pursuant to sections 2101.02 and 2101.021 of the Revised Code,	589
except in Adams, Harrison, Henry, Morgan, Noble, and Wyandot	590
counties in which the judge of the court of common pleas elected	591
pursuant to this section also shall serve as judge of the probate	592
division, except in Lorain county in which the judges of the	593
domestic relations division of the Lorain county court of common	594
pleas elected pursuant to this section also shall perform the	595
duties and functions of the judge of the probate division from	596
February 9, 2009, through September 28, 2009, and except in Morrow	597
county in which the judges of the court of common pleas elected	598
pursuant to this section also shall perform the duties and	599
functions of the judge of the probate division.	600

Sec. 3501.301. A contract involving a cost in excess of ~~ten~~	601
twenty-five thousand dollars for printing and furnishing the	602
supplies, other than the official ballots, required in section	603
3501.30 of the Revised Code, shall not be let until the board of	604
elections has caused notice to be published once in a newspaper of	605
general circulation within the county or upon notice given by	606
mail, addressed to the responsible suppliers within the state. The	607
board of elections may require that each bid be accompanied by a	608
bond, with at least two individual sureties, or a surety company,	609
satisfactory to the board, in a sum double the amount of the bid,	610
conditioned upon the faithful performance of the contract awarded	611
and for the payment as damages by such bidder to the board of any	612
excess of cost over the bid which it may be required to pay for	613
such work by reason of the failure of the bidder to complete the	614
contract. The contract shall be let to the lowest and best bidder.	615

Sec. 3501.302. The secretary of state may enter into	616
agreements for the bulk purchase of election supplies in order to	617
reduce the costs for such purchases by individual boards of	618
elections. A board of elections desiring to participate in such	619
purchase agreements shall file with the secretary of state a	620
written request for inclusion. A request for inclusion shall	621
include an agreement to be bound by such terms and conditions as	622
the secretary of state prescribes and to make direct payments to	623
the vendor under each purchase agreement.	624

Sec. 3501.38. All declarations of candidacy, nominating	625
petitions, or other petitions presented to or filed with the	626
secretary of state or a board of elections or with any other	627
public office for the purpose of becoming a candidate for any	628
nomination or office or for the holding of an election on any	629
issue shall, in addition to meeting the other specific	630
requirements prescribed in the sections of the Revised Code	631
relating to them, be governed by the following rules:	632

(A) Only electors qualified to vote on the candidacy or issue	633
which is the subject of the petition shall sign a petition. Each	634
signer shall be a registered elector pursuant to section ~~3503.11~~	635
3503.01 of the Revised Code. The facts of qualification shall be	636
determined as of the date when the petition is filed.	637

(B) Signatures shall be affixed in ink. Each signer may also	638
print the signer's name, so as to clearly identify the signer's	639
signature.	640

(C) Each signer shall place on the petition after the	641
signer's name the date of signing and the location of the signer's	642
voting residence, including the street and number if in a	643
municipal corporation or the rural route number, post office	644
address, or township if outside a municipal corporation. The	645
voting address given on the petition shall be the address	646
appearing in the registration records at the board of elections.	647

(D) Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the	648
Revised Code, no person shall write any name other than the	649
person's own on any petition. Except as otherwise provided in	650
section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, no person may authorize	651
another to sign for the person. If a petition contains the	652
signature of an elector two or more times, only the first	653
signature shall be counted.	654

(E)(1) On each petition paper, the circulator shall indicate	655
the number of signatures contained on it, and shall sign a	656
statement made under penalty of election falsification that the	657
circulator witnessed the affixing of every signature, that all	658
signers were to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief	659
qualified to sign, and that every signature is to the best of the	660
circulator's knowledge and belief the signature of the person	661
whose signature it purports to be or of an attorney in fact acting	662
pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code. On the	663
circulator's statement for a declaration of candidacy or	664
nominating petition for a person seeking to become a statewide	665
candidate or for a statewide initiative or a statewide referendum	666
petition, the circulator shall identify the circulator's name, the	667
address of the circulator's permanent residence, and the name and	668
address of the person employing the circulator to circulate the	669
petition, if any.	670

(2) As used in division (E) of this section, "statewide	671
candidate" means the joint candidates for the offices of governor	672
and lieutenant governor or a candidate for the office of secretary	673
of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, or attorney	674
general.	675

(F) Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the	676
Revised Code, if a circulator knowingly permits an unqualified	677
person to sign a petition paper or permits a person to write a	678
name other than the person's own on a petition paper, that	679
petition paper is invalid; otherwise, the signature of a person	680
not qualified to sign shall be rejected but shall not invalidate	681
the other valid signatures on the paper.	682

(G) The circulator of a petition may, before filing it in a	683
public office, strike from it any signature the circulator does	684
not wish to present as a part of the petition.	685

(H) Any signer of a petition or an attorney in fact acting	686
pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code on behalf of a	687
signer may remove the signer's signature from that petition at any	688
time before the petition is filed in a public office by striking	689
the signer's name from the petition; no signature may be removed	690
after the petition is filed in any public office.	691

(I)(1) No alterations, corrections, or additions may be made	692
to a petition after it is filed in a public office.	693

(2)(a) No declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, or	694
other petition for the purpose of becoming a candidate may be	695
withdrawn after it is filed in a public office. Nothing in this	696
division prohibits a person from withdrawing as a candidate as	697
otherwise provided by law.	698

(b) No petition presented to or filed with the secretary of	699
state, a board of elections, or any other public office for the	700
purpose of the holding of an election on any question or issue may	701
be resubmitted after it is withdrawn from a public office or	702
rejected as containing insufficient signatures. Nothing in this	703
division prevents a question or issue petition from being	704
withdrawn by the filing of a written notice of the withdrawal by a	705
majority of the members of the petitioning committee with the same	706
public office with which the petition was filed prior to the	707
sixtieth day before the election at which the question or issue is	708
scheduled to appear on the ballot.	709

(J) All declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, or	710
other petitions under this section shall be accompanied by the	711
following statement in boldface capital letters: WHOEVER COMMITS	712
ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE.	713

(K) All separate petition papers shall be filed at the same	714
time, as one instrument.	715

(L) If a board of elections distributes for use a petition	716
form for a declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, or any	717
type of question or issue petition that does not satisfy the	718
requirements of law as of the date of that distribution, the board	719
shall not invalidate the petition on the basis that the petition	720
form does not satisfy the requirements of law, if the petition	721
otherwise is valid. Division (L) of this section applies only if	722
the candidate received the petition from the board within ninety	723
days of when the petition is required to be filed.	724

Sec. 3503.06. (A) No person shall be entitled to vote at any	725
election, ~~or to sign or circulate any declaration of candidacy or~~	726
~~any nominating, or recall petition,~~ unless the person is	727
registered as an elector and will have resided in the county and	728
precinct where the person is registered for at least thirty days	729
at the time of the next election.	730

(B)~~(1)~~No person shall be entitled to sign any petition,	731
unless the person is registered as an elector and resides in a	732
precinct in which the candidacy or issue that is the subject of	733
the petition will appear on the ballot.	734

(C) No person shall be entitled to circulate any ~~initiative~~	735
~~or referendum~~ petition unless the person is ~~a resident of this~~	736
~~state~~at least eighteen years of age.	737

~~(2) All election officials, in determining the residence of a~~	738
~~person circulating a petition under division (B)(1) of this~~	739
~~section, shall be governed by the following rules:~~	740

~~(a) That place shall be considered the residence of a person~~	741
~~in which the person's habitation is fixed and to which, whenever~~	742
~~the person is absent, the person has the intention of returning.~~	743

~~(b) A person shall not be considered to have lost the~~	744
~~person's residence who leaves the person's home and goes into~~	745
~~another state for temporary purposes only, with the intention of~~	746
~~returning.~~	747

~~(c) A person shall not be considered to have gained a~~	748
~~residence in any county of this state into which the person comes~~	749
~~for temporary purposes only, without the intention of making that~~	750
~~county the permanent place of abode.~~	751

~~(d) If a person removes to another state with the intention~~	752
~~of making that state the person's residence, the person shall be~~	753
~~considered to have lost the person's residence in this state.~~	754

~~(e) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2)(f) of~~	755
~~this section, if a person removes from this state and continuously~~	756
~~resides outside this state for a period of four years or more, the~~	757
~~person shall be considered to have lost the person's residence in~~	758
~~this state, notwithstanding the fact that the person may entertain~~	759
~~an intention to return at some future period.~~	760

~~(f) If a person removes from this state to engage in the~~	761
~~services of the United States government, the person shall not be~~	762
~~considered to have lost the person's residence in this state~~	763
~~during the period of that service, and likewise should the person~~	764
~~enter the employment of the state, the place where that person~~	765
~~resided at the time of the person's removal shall be considered to~~	766
~~be the person's place of residence.~~	767

~~(g) If a person goes into another state and, while there,~~	768
~~exercises the right of a citizen by voting, the person shall be~~	769
~~considered to have lost the person's residence in this state.~~	770

~~(C) No person shall be entitled to sign any initiative or~~	771
~~referendum petition unless the person is registered as an elector~~	772
~~and will have resided in the county and precinct where the person~~	773
~~is registered for at least thirty days at the time of the next~~	774
~~election.~~	775

Sec. 3503.14. (A) The secretary of state shall prescribe the	776
form and content of the registration, change of residence, and	777
change of name forms used in this state. The forms shall meet the	778
requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and	779
shall include spaces for all of the following:	780

(1) The voter's name;

781

(2) The voter's address;

782

(3) The current date;

783

(4) The voter's date of birth;

784

(5) The voter to provide one or more of the following:

785

(a) The voter's driver's license number, if any;

786

(b) The last four digits of the voter's social security	787
number, if any;	788

(c) A copy of a current and valid photo identification, a	789
copy of a military identification, or a copy of a current utility	790
bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other	791
government document, other than ~~a notice of an election mailed by~~	792
~~a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or~~	793
a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections	794
under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the voter's	795
name and address.	796

(6) The voter's signature.

797

The registration form shall include a space on which the	798
person registering an applicant shall sign the person's name and	799
provide the person's address and a space on which the person	800
registering an applicant shall name the employer who is employing	801
that person to register the applicant.	802

Except for forms prescribed by the secretary of state under	803
section 3503.11 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall	804
permit boards of elections to produce forms that have subdivided	805
spaces for each individual alphanumeric character of the	806
information provided by the voter so as to accommodate the	807
electronic reading and conversion of the voter's information to	808
data and the subsequent electronic transfer of that data to the	809
statewide voter registration database established under section	810
3503.15 of the Revised Code.	811

(B) None of the following persons who are registering an	812
applicant in the course of that official's or employee's normal	813
duties shall sign the person's name, provide the person's address,	814
or name the employer who is employing the person to register an	815
applicant on a form prepared under this section:	816

(1) An election official;

817

(2) A county treasurer;

818

(3) A deputy registrar of motor vehicles;

819

(4) An employee of a designated agency;

820

(5) An employee of a public high school;

821

(6) An employee of a public vocational school;

822

(7) An employee of a public library;

823

(8) An employee of the office of a county treasurer;

824

(9) An employee of the bureau of motor vehicles;

825

(10) An employee of a deputy registrar of motor vehicles;

826

(11) An employee of an election official.

827

(C) Except as provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised	828
Code, any applicant who is unable to sign the applicant's own name	829
shall make an "X," if possible, which shall be certified by the	830
signing of the name of the applicant by the person filling out the	831
form, who shall add the person's own signature. If an applicant is	832
unable to make an "X," the applicant shall indicate in some manner	833
that the applicant desires to register to vote or to change the	834
applicant's name or residence. The person registering the	835
applicant shall sign the form and attest that the applicant	836
indicated that the applicant desired to register to vote or to	837
change the applicant's name or residence.	838

(D) No registration, change of residence, or change of name	839
form shall be rejected solely on the basis that a person	840
registering an applicant failed to sign the person's name or	841
failed to name the employer who is employing that person to	842
register the applicant as required under division (A) of this	843
section.	844

(E) As used in this section, "registering an applicant"	845
includes any effort, for compensation, to provide voter	846
registration forms or to assist persons in completing or returning	847
those forms.	848

Sec. 3503.16. (A) Whenever a registered elector changes the	849
place of residence of that registered elector from one precinct to	850
another within a county or from one county to another, or has a	851
change of name, that registered elector shall report the change by	852
delivering a change of residence or change of name form, whichever	853
is appropriate, as prescribed by the secretary of state under	854
section 3503.14 of the Revised Code to the state or local office	855
of a designated agency, a public high school or vocational school,	856
a public library, the office of the county treasurer, the office	857
of the secretary of state, any office of the registrar or deputy	858
registrar of motor vehicles, or any office of a board of elections	859
in person or by a third person. Any voter registration, change of	860
address, or change of name application, returned by mail, may be	861
sent only to the secretary of state or the board of elections.	862

A registered elector also may update the registration of that	863
registered elector by filing a change of residence or change of	864
name form on the day of a special, primary, or general election at	865
the polling place in the precinct in which that registered elector	866
resides or at the board of elections or at another site designated	867
by the board.	868

(B)(1)(a) Any registered elector who moves within a precinct	869
on or prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election	870
and has not filed a notice of change of residence with the board	871
of elections may vote in that election by going to that registered	872
elector's assigned polling place, completing and signing a notice	873
of change of residence, showing identification in the form of a	874
current and valid photo identification, a military identification,	875
or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government	876
check, paycheck, or other government document, other than ~~a notice~~	877
~~of an election mailed by a board of elections under section~~	878
~~3501.19 of the Revised Code or~~ a notice of voter registration	879
mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the	880
Revised Code, that shows the name and current address of the	881
elector, and casting a ballot. If the elector provides either a	882
driver's license or a state identification card issued under	883
section 4507.50 of the Revised Code that does not contain the	884
elector's current residence address, the elector shall provide the	885
last four digits of the elector's driver's license number or state	886
identification card number, and the precinct election official	887
shall mark the poll list or signature pollbook to indicate that	888
the elector has provided a driver's license or state	889
identification card number with a former address and record the	890
last four digits of the elector's driver's license number or state	891
identification card number.	892

(b) Any registered elector who changes the name of that	893
registered elector and remains within a precinct on or prior to	894
the day of a general, primary, or special election and has not	895
filed a notice of change of name with the board of elections may	896
vote in that election by going to that registered elector's	897
assigned polling place, completing and signing a notice of a	898
change of name, and casting a provisional ballot under section	899
3505.181 of the Revised Code.	900

(2) Any registered elector who moves from one precinct to	901
another within a county or moves from one precinct to another and	902
changes the name of that registered elector on or prior to the day	903
of a general, primary, or special election and has not filed a	904
notice of change of residence or change of name, whichever is	905
appropriate, with the board of elections may vote in that election	906
if that registered elector complies with division (G) of this	907
section or does all of the following:	908

(a) Appears at anytime during regular business hours on or	909
after the twenty-eighth day prior to the election in which that	910
registered elector wishes to vote or, if the election is held on	911
the day of a presidential primary election, the twenty-fifth day	912
prior to the election, through noon of the Saturday prior to the	913
election at the office of the board of elections, appears at any	914
time during regular business hours on the Monday prior to the	915
election at the office of the board of elections, or appears on	916
the day of the election at either of the following locations:	917

(i) The polling place in the precinct in which that	918
registered elector resides;	919

(ii) The office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to	920
division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has	921
designated another location in the county at which registered	922
electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of	923
the board of elections.	924

(b) Completes and signs, under penalty of election	925
falsification, a notice of change of residence or change of name,	926
whichever is appropriate, and files it with election officials at	927
the polling place, at the office of the board of elections, or, if	928
pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code	929
the board has designated another location in the county at which	930
registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of	931
the office of the board of elections, whichever is appropriate;	932

(c) Votes a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the	933
Revised Code at the polling place, at the office of the board of	934
elections, or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of	935
the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the	936
county at which registered electors may vote, at that other	937
location instead of the office of the board of elections,	938
whichever is appropriate, using the address to which that	939
registered elector has moved or the name of that registered	940
elector as changed, whichever is appropriate;	941

(d) Completes and signs, under penalty of election	942
falsification, a statement attesting that that registered elector	943
moved or had a change of name, whichever is appropriate, on or	944
prior to the day of the election, has voted a provisional ballot	945
at the polling place in the precinct in which that registered	946
elector resides, at the office of the board of elections, or, if	947
pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code	948
the board has designated another location in the county at which	949
registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of	950
the office of the board of elections, whichever is appropriate,	951
and will not vote or attempt to vote at any other location for	952
that particular election. The statement required under division	953
(B)(2)(d) of this section shall be included on the notice of	954
change of residence or change of name, whichever is appropriate,	955
required under division (B)(2)(b) of this section.	956

(C) Any registered elector who moves from one county to	957
another county within the state on or prior to the day of a	958
general, primary, or special election and has not registered to	959
vote in the county to which that registered elector moved may vote	960
in that election if that registered elector complies with division	961
(G) of this section or does all of the following:	962

(1) Appears at any time during regular business hours on or	963
after the twenty-eighth day prior to the election in which that	964
registered elector wishes to vote or, if the election is held on	965
the day of a presidential primary election, the twenty-fifth day	966
prior to the election, through noon of the Saturday prior to the	967
election at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant	968
to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board	969
has designated another location in the county at which registered	970
electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of	971
the board of elections, appears during regular business hours on	972
the Monday prior to the election at the office of the board of	973
elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of	974
the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the	975
county at which registered electors may vote, at that other	976
location instead of the office of the board of elections, or	977
appears on the day of the election at the office of the board of	978
elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of	979
the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the	980
county at which registered electors may vote, at that other	981
location instead of the office of the board of elections;	982

(2) Completes and signs, under penalty of election	983
falsification, a notice of change of residence and files it with	984
election officials at the board of elections or, if pursuant to	985
division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has	986
designated another location in the county at which registered	987
electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of	988
the board of elections;	989

(3) Votes a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the	990
Revised Code at the office of the board of elections or, if	991
pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code	992
the board has designated another location in the county at which	993
registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of	994
the office of the board of elections, using the address to which	995
that registered elector has moved;	996

(4) Completes and signs, under penalty of election	997
falsification, a statement attesting that that registered elector	998
has moved from one county to another county within the state on or	999
prior to the day of the election, has voted at the office of the	1000
board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section	1001
3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another	1002
location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at	1003
that other location instead of the office of the board of	1004
elections, and will not vote or attempt to vote at any other	1005
location for that particular election. The statement required	1006
under division (C)(4) of this section shall be included on the	1007
notice of change of residence required under division (C)(2) of	1008
this section.	1009

(D) A person who votes by absent voter's ballots pursuant to	1010
division (G) of this section shall not make written application	1011
for the ballots pursuant to Chapter 3509. of the Revised Code.	1012
Ballots cast pursuant to division (G) of this section shall be set	1013
aside in a special envelope and counted during the official	1014
canvass of votes in the manner provided for in sections 3505.32	1015
and 3509.06 of the Revised Code insofar as that manner is	1016
applicable. The board shall examine the pollbooks to verify that	1017
no ballot was cast at the polls or by absent voter's ballots under	1018
Chapter 3509. or 3511. of the Revised Code by an elector who has	1019
voted by absent voter's ballots pursuant to division (G) of this	1020
section. Any ballot determined to be insufficient for any of the	1021
reasons stated above or stated in section 3509.07 of the Revised	1022
Code shall not be counted.	1023

Subject to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised	1024
Code, a board of elections may lease or otherwise acquire a site	1025
different from the office of the board at which registered	1026
electors may vote pursuant to division (B) or (C) of this section.	1027

(E) Upon receiving a change of residence or change of name	1028
form, the board of elections shall immediately send the registrant	1029
an acknowledgment notice. If the change of residence or change of	1030
name form is valid, the board shall update the voter's	1031
registration as appropriate. If that form is incomplete, the board	1032
shall inform the registrant in the acknowledgment notice specified	1033
in this division of the information necessary to complete or	1034
update that registrant's registration.	1035

(F) Change of residence and change of name forms shall be	1036
available at each polling place, and when these forms are	1037
completed, noting changes of residence or name, as appropriate,	1038
they shall be filed with election officials at the polling place.	1039
Election officials shall return completed forms, together with the	1040
pollbooks and tally sheets, to the board of elections.	1041

The board of elections shall provide change of residence and	1042
change of name forms to the probate court and court of common	1043
pleas. The court shall provide the forms to any person eighteen	1044
years of age or older who has a change of name by order of the	1045
court or who applies for a marriage license. The court shall	1046
forward all completed forms to the board of elections within five	1047
days after receiving them.	1048

(G) A registered elector who otherwise would qualify to vote	1049
under division (B) or (C) of this section but is unable to appear	1050
at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to	1051
division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has	1052
designated another location in the county at which registered	1053
electors may vote, at that other location, on account of personal	1054
illness, physical disability, or infirmity, may vote on the day of	1055
the election if that registered elector does all of the following:	1056

(1) Makes a written application that includes all of the	1057
information required under section 3509.03 of the Revised Code to	1058
the appropriate board for an absent voter's ballot on or after the	1059
twenty-seventh day prior to the election in which the registered	1060
elector wishes to vote through noon of the Saturday prior to that	1061
election and requests that the absent voter's ballot be sent to	1062
the address to which the registered elector has moved if the	1063
registered elector has moved, or to the address of that registered	1064
elector who has not moved but has had a change of name;	1065

(2) Declares that the registered elector has moved or had a	1066
change of name, whichever is appropriate, and otherwise is	1067
qualified to vote under the circumstances described in division	1068
(B) or (C) of this section, whichever is appropriate, but that the	1069
registered elector is unable to appear at the board of elections	1070
because of personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity;	1071

(3) Completes and returns along with the completed absent	1072
voter's ballot a notice of change of residence indicating the	1073
address to which the registered elector has moved, or a notice of	1074
change of name, whichever is appropriate;	1075

(4) Completes and signs, under penalty of election	1076
falsification, a statement attesting that the registered elector	1077
has moved or had a change of name on or prior to the day before	1078
the election, has voted by absent voter's ballot because of	1079
personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity that prevented	1080
the registered elector from appearing at the board of elections,	1081
and will not vote or attempt to vote at any other location or by	1082
absent voter's ballot mailed to any other location or address for	1083
that particular election.	1084

Sec. 3503.19. (A) Persons qualified to register or to change	1085
their registration because of a change of address or change of	1086
name may register or change their registration in person at any	1087
state or local office of a designated agency, at the office of the	1088
registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, at a public	1089
high school or vocational school, at a public library, at the	1090
office of a county treasurer, or at a branch office established by	1091
the board of elections, or in person, through another person, or	1092
by mail at the office of the secretary of state or at the office	1093
of a board of elections. A registered elector may also change the	1094
elector's registration on election day at any polling place where	1095
the elector is eligible to vote, in the manner provided under	1096
section 3503.16 of the Revised Code.	1097

Any state or local office of a designated agency, the office	1098
of the registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, a	1099
public high school or vocational school, a public library, or the	1100
office of a county treasurer shall transmit any voter registration	1101
application or change of registration form that it receives to the	1102
board of elections of the county in which the state or local	1103
office is located, within five days after receiving the voter	1104
registration application or change of registration form.	1105

An otherwise valid voter registration application that is	1106
returned to the appropriate office other than by mail must be	1107
received by a state or local office of a designated agency, the	1108
office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles,	1109
a public high school or vocational school, a public library, the	1110
office of a county treasurer, the office of the secretary of	1111
state, or the office of a board of elections no later than the	1112
thirtieth day preceding a primary, special, or general election	1113
for the person to qualify as an elector eligible to vote at that	1114
election. An otherwise valid registration application received	1115
after that day entitles the elector to vote at all subsequent	1116
elections.	1117

Any state or local office of a designated agency, the office	1118
of the registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, a	1119
public high school or vocational school, a public library, or the	1120
office of a county treasurer shall date stamp a registration	1121
application or change of name or change of address form it	1122
receives using a date stamp that does not disclose the identity of	1123
the state or local office that receives the registration.	1124

Voter registration applications, if otherwise valid, that are	1125
returned by mail to the office of the secretary of state or to the	1126
office of a board of elections must be postmarked no later than	1127
the thirtieth day preceding a primary, special, or general	1128
election in order for the person to qualify as an elector eligible	1129
to vote at that election. If an otherwise valid voter registration	1130
application that is returned by mail does not bear a postmark or a	1131
legible postmark, the registration shall be valid for that	1132
election if received by the office of the secretary of state or	1133
the office of a board of elections no later than twenty-five days	1134
preceding any special, primary, or general election.	1135

(B)(1) Any person may apply in person, by telephone, by mail,	1136
or through another person for voter registration forms to the	1137
office of the secretary of state or the office of a board of	1138
elections. An individual who is eligible to vote as a uniformed	1139
services voter or an overseas voter in accordance with 42 U.S.C.	1140
1973ff-6 also may apply for voter registration forms by electronic	1141
means to the office of the secretary of state or to the board of	1142
elections of the county in which the person's voting residence is	1143
located pursuant to section 3503.191 of the Revised Code.	1144

(2)(a) An applicant may return the applicant's completed	1145
registration form in person or by mail to any state or local	1146
office of a designated agency, to a public high school or	1147
vocational school, to a public library, to the office of a county	1148
treasurer, to the office of the secretary of state, or to the	1149
office of a board of elections. An applicant who is eligible to	1150
vote as a uniformed services voter or an overseas voter in	1151
accordance with 42 U.S.C. 1973ff-6 also may return the applicant's	1152
completed voter registration form electronically to the office of	1153
the secretary of state or to the board of elections of the county	1154
in which the person's voting residence is located pursuant to	1155
section 3503.191 of the Revised Code.	1156

(b) Subject to division (B)(2)(c) of this section, an	1157
applicant may return the applicant's completed registration form	1158
through another person to any board of elections or the office of	1159
the secretary of state.	1160

(c) A person who receives compensation for registering a	1161
voter shall return any registration form entrusted to that person	1162
by an applicant to any board of elections or to the office of the	1163
secretary of state.	1164

(d) If a board of elections or the office of the secretary of	1165
state receives a registration form under division (B)(2)(b) or (c)	1166
of this section before the thirtieth day before an election, the	1167
board or the office of the secretary of state, as applicable,	1168
shall forward the registration to the board of elections of the	1169
county in which the applicant is seeking to register to vote	1170
within ten days after receiving the application. If a board of	1171
elections or the office of the secretary of state receives a	1172
registration form under division (B)(2)(b) or (c) of this section	1173
on or after the thirtieth day before an election, the board or the	1174
office of the secretary of state, as applicable, shall forward the	1175
registration to the board of elections of the county in which the	1176
applicant is seeking to register to vote within thirty days after	1177
that election.	1178

(C)(1) A board of elections that receives a voter	1179
registration application and is satisfied as to the truth of the	1180
statements made in the registration form shall register the	1181
applicant not later than twenty business days after receiving the	1182
application, unless that application is received during the thirty	1183
days immediately preceding the day of an election. The board shall	1184
promptly notify the applicant in writing of each of the following:	1185

(a) The applicant's registration;

1186

(b) The precinct in which the applicant is to vote;

1187

1188

"Voters must bring identification to the polls in order to	1189
verify identity. Identification may include a current and valid	1190
photo identification, a military identification, or a copy of a	1191
current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck,	1192
or other government document, other than this notification ~~or a~~	1193
~~notification of an election mailed by a board of elections~~, that	1194
shows the voter's name and current address. Voters who do not	1195
provide one of these documents will still be able to vote by	1196
casting a provisional ballot. Voters who do not have any of the	1197
above forms of identification, including a social security number,	1198
will still be able to vote by signing an affirmation swearing to	1199
the voter's identity under penalty of election falsification and	1200
by casting a provisional ballot."	1201

The notification shall be by nonforwardable mail. If the mail	1202
is returned to the board, it shall investigate and cause the	1203
notification to be delivered to the correct address.	1204

(2) If, after investigating as required under division (C)(1)	1205
of this section, the board is unable to verify the voter's correct	1206
address, it shall cause the voter's name in the official	1207
registration list and in the poll list or signature pollbook to be	1208
marked to indicate that the voter's notification was returned to	1209
the board.	1210

At the first election at which a voter whose name has been so	1211
marked appears to vote, the voter shall be required to provide	1212
identification to the election officials and to vote by	1213
provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. If	1214
the provisional ballot is counted pursuant to division (B)(3) of	1215
section 3505.183 of the Revised Code, the board shall correct that	1216
voter's registration, if needed, and shall remove the indication	1217
that the voter's notification was returned from that voter's name	1218
on the official registration list and on the poll list or	1219
signature pollbook. If the provisional ballot is not counted	1220
pursuant to division (B)(4)(a)(i), (v), or (vi) of section	1221
3505.183 of the Revised Code, the voter's registration shall be	1222
canceled. The board shall notify the voter by United States mail	1223
of the cancellation.	1224

(3) If a notice of the disposition of an otherwise valid	1225
registration application is sent by nonforwardable mail and is	1226
returned undelivered, the person shall be registered as provided	1227
in division (C)(2) of this section and sent a confirmation notice	1228
by forwardable mail. If the person fails to respond to the	1229
confirmation notice, update the person's registration, or vote by	1230
provisional ballot as provided in division (C)(2) of this section	1231
in any election during the period of two federal elections	1232
subsequent to the mailing of the confirmation notice, the person's	1233
registration shall be canceled.	1234

Sec. 3503.28. (A) The secretary of state shall develop an	1235
information brochure regarding voter registration. The brochure	1236
shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following	1237
information:	1238

(1) The applicable deadlines for registering to vote or for	1239
returning an applicant's completed registration form;	1240

(2) The applicable deadline for returning an applicant's	1241
completed registration form if the person returning the form is	1242
being compensated for registering voters;	1243

(3) The locations to which a person may return an applicant's	1244
completed registration form;	1245

(4) The location to which a person who is compensated for	1246
registering voters may return an applicant's completed	1247
registration form;	1248

(5) The registration and affirmation requirements applicable	1249
to persons who are compensated for registering voters under	1250
section 3503.29 of the Revised Code;	1251

(6) A notice, which shall be written in bold type, stating as	1252
follows:	1253

"Voters must bring identification to the polls in order to	1254
verify identity. Identification may include a current and valid	1255
photo identification, a military identification, or a copy of a	1256
current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck,	1257
or other government document, other than ~~a notice of an election~~	1258
or a voter registration notification sent by a board of elections,	1259
that shows the voter's name and current address. Voters who do not	1260
provide one of these documents will still be able to vote by	1261
casting a provisional ballot. Voters who do not have any of the	1262
above forms of identification, including a social security number,	1263
will still be able to vote by signing an affirmation swearing to	1264
the voter's identity under penalty of election falsification and	1265
by casting a provisional ballot."	1266

(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this	1267
section, a board of elections, designated agency, public high	1268
school, public vocational school, public library, office of a	1269
county treasurer, or deputy registrar of motor vehicles shall	1270
distribute a copy of the brochure developed under division (A) of	1271
this section to any person who requests more than two voter	1272
registration forms at one time.	1273

(C)(1) The secretary of state shall provide the information	1274
required to be included in the brochure developed under division	1275
(A) of this section to any person who prints a voter registration	1276
form that is made available on a web site of the office of the	1277
secretary of state.	1278

(2) If a board of elections operates and maintains a web	1279
site, the board shall provide the information required to be	1280
included in the brochure developed under division (A) of this	1281
section to any person who prints a voter registration form that is	1282
made available on that web site.	1283

(D) A board of elections shall not be required to distribute	1284
a copy of a brochure under division (B) of this section to any of	1285
the following officials or employees who are requesting more than	1286
two voter registration forms at one time in the course of the	1287
official's or employee's normal duties:	1288

(1) An election official;

1289

(2) A county treasurer;

1290

(3) A deputy registrar of motor vehicles;

1291

(4) An employee of a designated agency;

1292

(5) An employee of a public high school;

1293

(6) An employee of a public vocational school;

1294

(7) An employee of a public library;

1295

(8) An employee of the office of a county treasurer;

1296

(9) An employee of the bureau of motor vehicles;

1297

(10) An employee of a deputy registrar of motor vehicles;

1298

(11) An employee of an election official.

1299

(E) As used in this section, "registering voters" includes	1300
any effort, for compensation, to provide voter registration forms	1301
or to assist persons in completing or returning those forms.	1302

Sec. 3505.13. A contract for the printing of ballots	1303
involving a cost in excess of ~~ten~~twenty-five thousand dollars	1304
shall not be let until after five days' notice published once in a	1305
newspaper of general circulation published in the county or upon	1306
notice given by mail by the board of elections, addressed to the	1307
responsible printing offices within the state. Except as otherwise	1308
provided in this section, each bid for such printing must be	1309
accompanied by a bond with at least two sureties, or a surety	1310
company, satisfactory to the board, in a sum double the amount of	1311
the bid, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the contract	1312
for such printing as is awarded and for the payment as damages by	1313
such bidder to the board of any excess of cost over the bid which	1314
it may be obliged to pay for such work by reason of the failure of	1315
the bidder to complete the contract. No bid unaccompanied by such	1316
bond shall be considered by the board. The board may, however,	1317
waive the requirement that each bid be accompanied by a bond if	1318
the cost of the contract is ~~ten~~twenty-five thousand dollars or	1319
less. The contract shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder	1320
in the state. All ballots shall be printed within the state.	1321

Sec. 3505.18. (A)(1) When an elector appears in a polling	1322
place to vote, the elector shall announce to the precinct election	1323
officials the elector's full name and current address and provide	1324
proof of the elector's identity in the form of a current and valid	1325
photo identification, a military identification, or a copy of a	1326
current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck,	1327
or other government document, other than ~~a notice of an election~~	1328
~~mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the~~	1329
~~Revised Code or~~ a notice of voter registration mailed by a board	1330
of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows	1331
the name and current address of the elector. If the elector	1332
provides either a driver's license or a state identification card	1333
issued under section 4507.50 of the Revised Code that does not	1334
contain the elector's current residence address, the elector shall	1335
provide the last four digits of the elector's driver's license	1336
number or state identification card number, and the precinct	1337
election official shall mark the poll list or signature pollbook	1338
to indicate that the elector has provided a driver's license or	1339
state identification card number with a former address and record	1340
the last four digits of the elector's driver's license number or	1341
state identification card number.	1342

(2) If an elector has but is unable to provide to the	1343
precinct election officials any of the forms of identification	1344
required under division (A)(1) of this section, but has a social	1345
security number, the elector may provide the last four digits of	1346
the elector's social security number. Upon providing the social	1347
security number information, the elector may cast a provisional	1348
ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code, the envelope of	1349
which ballot shall include that social security number	1350
information.	1351

(3) If an elector has but is unable to provide to the	1352
precinct election officials any of the forms of identification	1353
required under division (A)(1) of this section and if the elector	1354
has a social security number but is unable to provide the last	1355
four digits of the elector's social security number, the elector	1356
may cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the	1357
Revised Code.	1358

(4) If an elector does not have any of the forms of	1359
identification required under division (A)(1) of this section and	1360
cannot provide the last four digits of the elector's social	1361
security number because the elector does not have a social	1362
security number, the elector may execute an affirmation under	1363
penalty of election falsification that the elector cannot provide	1364
the identification required under that division or the last four	1365
digits of the elector's social security number for those reasons.	1366
Upon signing the affirmation, the elector may cast a provisional	1367
ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The secretary	1368
of state shall prescribe the form of the affirmation, which shall	1369
include spaces for all of the following:	1370

(a) The elector's name;

1371

(b) The elector's address;

1372

1373

(d) The elector's date of birth;

1374

(e) The elector's signature.

1375

(5) If an elector does not have any of the forms of	1376
identification required under division (A)(1) of this section and	1377
cannot provide the last four digits of the elector's social	1378
security number because the elector does not have a social	1379
security number, and if the elector declines to execute an	1380
affirmation under division (A)(4) of this section, the elector may	1381
cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised	1382
Code, the envelope of which ballot shall include the elector's	1383
name.	1384

(6) If an elector has but declines to provide to the precinct	1385
election officials any of the forms of identification required	1386
under division (A)(1) of this section or the elector has a social	1387
security number but declines to provide to the precinct election	1388
officials the last four digits of the elector's social security	1389
number, the elector may cast a provisional ballot under section	1390
3505.181 of the Revised Code.	1391

(B) After the elector has announced the elector's full name	1392
and current address and provided any of the forms of	1393
identification required under division (A)(1) of this section, the	1394
elector shall write the elector's name and address at the proper	1395
place in the poll list or signature pollbook provided for the	1396
purpose, except that if, for any reason, an elector is unable to	1397
write the elector's name and current address in the poll list or	1398
signature pollbook, the elector may make the elector's mark at the	1399
place intended for the elector's name, and a precinct election	1400
official shall write the name of the elector at the proper place	1401
on the poll list or signature pollbook following the elector's	1402
mark. The making of such a mark shall be attested by the precinct	1403
election official, who shall evidence the same by signing the	1404
precinct election official's name on the poll list or signature	1405
pollbook as a witness to the mark. Alternatively, if applicable,	1406
an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the	1407
Revised Code may sign the elector's signature in the poll list or	1408
signature pollbook in accordance with that section.	1409

The elector's signature in the poll list or signature	1410
pollbook then shall be compared with the elector's signature on	1411
the elector's registration form or a digitized signature list as	1412
provided for in section 3503.13 of the Revised Code, and if, in	1413
the opinion of a majority of the precinct election officials, the	1414
signatures are the signatures of the same person, the election	1415
officials shall enter the date of the election on the registration	1416
form or shall record the date by other means prescribed by the	1417
secretary of state. The validity of an attorney in fact's	1418
signature on behalf of an elector shall be determined in	1419
accordance with section 3501.382 of the Revised Code.	1420

If the right of the elector to vote is not then challenged,	1421
or, if being challenged, the elector establishes the elector's	1422
right to vote, the elector shall be allowed to proceed to use the	1423
voting machine. If voting machines are not being used in that	1424
precinct, the judge in charge of ballots shall then detach the	1425
next ballots to be issued to the elector from Stub B attached to	1426
each ballot, leaving Stub A attached to each ballot, hand the	1427
ballots to the elector, and call the elector's name and the stub	1428
number on each of the ballots. The judge shall enter the stub	1429
numbers opposite the signature of the elector in the pollbook. The	1430
elector shall then retire to one of the voting compartments to	1431
mark the elector's ballots. No mark shall be made on any ballot	1432
which would in any way enable any person to identify the person	1433
who voted the ballot.	1434

Sec. 3505.181. (A) All of the following individuals shall be	1435
permitted to cast a provisional ballot at an election:	1436

(1) An individual who declares that the individual is a	1437
registered voter in the jurisdiction in which the individual	1438
desires to vote and that the individual is eligible to vote in an	1439
election, but the name of the individual does not appear on the	1440
official list of eligible voters for the polling place or an	1441
election official asserts that the individual is not eligible to	1442
vote;	1443

(2) An individual who has a social security number and	1444
provides to the election officials the last four digits of the	1445
individual's social security number as permitted by division	1446
(A)(2) of section 3505.18 of the Revised Code;	1447

(3) An individual who has but is unable to provide to the	1448
election officials any of the forms of identification required	1449
under division (A)(1) of section 3505.18 of the Revised Code and	1450
who has a social security number but is unable to provide the last	1451
four digits of the individual's social security number as	1452
permitted under division (A)(2) of that section;	1453

(4) An individual who does not have any of the forms of	1454
identification required under division (A)(1) of section 3505.18	1455
of the Revised Code, who cannot provide the last four digits of	1456
the individual's social security number under division (A)(2) of	1457
that section because the individual does not have a social	1458
security number, and who has executed an affirmation as permitted	1459
under division (A)(4) of that section;	1460

(5) An individual whose name in the poll list or signature	1461
pollbook has been marked under section 3509.09 or 3511.13 of the	1462
Revised Code as having requested an absent voter's ballot or an	1463
armed service absent voter's ballot for that election and who	1464
appears to vote at the polling place;	1465

(6) An individual whose notification of registration has been	1466
returned undelivered to the board of elections and whose name in	1467
the official registration list and in the poll list or signature	1468
pollbook has been marked under division (C)(2) of section 3503.19	1469
of the Revised Code;	1470

(7) An individual who is challenged under section 3505.20 of	1471
the Revised Code and the election officials determine that the	1472
person is ineligible to vote or are unable to determine the	1473
person's eligibility to vote;	1474

(8) An individual whose application or challenge hearing has	1475
been postponed until after the day of the election under division	1476
(D)(1) of section 3503.24 of the Revised Code;	1477

(9) An individual who changes the individual's name and	1478
remains within the precinct, moves from one precinct to another	1479
within a county, moves from one precinct to another and changes	1480
the individual's name, or moves from one county to another within	1481
the state, and completes and signs the required forms and	1482
statements under division (B) or (C) of section 3503.16 of the	1483
Revised Code;	1484

(10) An individual whose signature, in the opinion of the	1485
precinct officers under section 3505.22 of the Revised Code, is	1486
not that of the person who signed that name in the registration	1487
forms;	1488

(11) An individual who is challenged under section 3513.20 of	1489
the Revised Code who refuses to make the statement required under	1490
that section or who a majority of the precinct officials find	1491
lacks any of the qualifications to make the individual a qualified	1492
elector;	1493

(12) An individual who does not have any of the forms of	1494
identification required under division (A)(1) of section 3505.18	1495
of the Revised Code, who cannot provide the last four digits of	1496
the individual's social security number under division (A)(2) of	1497
that section because the person does not have a social security	1498
number, and who declines to execute an affirmation as permitted	1499
under division (A)(4) of that section;	1500

(13) An individual who has but declines to provide to the	1501
precinct election officials any of the forms of identification	1502
required under division (A)(1) of section 3501.18 of the Revised	1503
Code or who has a social security number but declines to provide	1504
to the precinct election officials the last four digits of the	1505
individual's social security number.	1506

(B) An individual who is eligible to cast a provisional	1507
ballot under division (A) of this section shall be permitted to	1508
cast a provisional ballot as follows:	1509

(1) An election official at the polling place shall notify	1510
the individual that the individual may cast a provisional ballot	1511
in that election.	1512

(2) The individual shall be permitted to cast a provisional	1513
ballot at that polling place upon the execution of a written	1514
affirmation by the individual before an election official at the	1515
polling place stating that the individual is both of the	1516
following:	1517

(a) A registered voter in the jurisdiction in which the	1518
individual desires to vote;	1519

(b) Eligible to vote in that election.

1520

(3) An election official at the polling place shall transmit	1521
the ballot cast by the individual, the voter information contained	1522
in the written affirmation executed by the individual under	1523
division (B)(2) of this section, or the individual's name if the	1524
individual declines to execute such an affirmation to an	1525
appropriate local election official for verification under	1526
division (B)(4) of this section.	1527

(4) If the appropriate local election official to whom the	1528
ballot or voter or address information is transmitted under	1529
division (B)(3) of this section determines that the individual is	1530
eligible to vote, the individual's provisional ballot shall be	1531
counted as a vote in that election.	1532

(5)(a) At the time that an individual casts a provisional	1533
ballot, the appropriate local election official shall give the	1534
individual written information that states that any individual who	1535
casts a provisional ballot will be able to ascertain under the	1536
system established under division (B)(5)(b) of this section	1537
whether the vote was counted, and, if the vote was not counted,	1538
the reason that the vote was not counted.	1539

(b) The appropriate state or local election official shall	1540
establish a free access system, in the form of a toll-free	1541
telephone number, that any individual who casts a provisional	1542
ballot may access to discover whether the vote of that individual	1543
was counted, and, if the vote was not counted, the reason that the	1544
vote was not counted. The free access system established under	1545
this division also shall provide to an individual whose	1546
provisional ballot was not counted information explaining how that	1547
individual may contact the board of elections to register to vote	1548
or to resolve problems with the individual's voter registration.	1549

The appropriate state or local election official shall	1550
establish and maintain reasonable procedures necessary to protect	1551
the security, confidentiality, and integrity of personal	1552
information collected, stored, or otherwise used by the free	1553
access system established under this division. Access to	1554
information about an individual ballot shall be restricted to the	1555
individual who cast the ballot.	1556

(6) If, at the time that an individual casts a provisional	1557
ballot, the individual provides identification in the form of a	1558
current and valid photo identification, a military identification,	1559
or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government	1560
check, paycheck, or other government document, other than ~~a notice~~	1561
~~of an election mailed by a board of elections under section~~	1562
~~3501.19 of the Revised Code or~~ a notice of voter registration	1563
mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the	1564
Revised Code, that shows the individual's name and current	1565
address, or provides the last four digits of the individual's	1566
social security number, or executes an affirmation that the	1567
elector does not have any of those forms of identification or the	1568
last four digits of the individual's social security number	1569
because the individual does not have a social security number, or	1570
declines to execute such an affirmation, the appropriate local	1571
election official shall record the type of identification	1572
provided, the social security number information, the fact that	1573
the affirmation was executed, or the fact that the individual	1574
declined to execute such an affirmation and include that	1575
information with the transmission of the ballot or voter or	1576
address information under division (B)(3) of this section. If the	1577
individual declines to execute such an affirmation, the	1578
appropriate local election official shall record the individual's	1579
name and include that information with the transmission of the	1580
ballot under division (B)(3) of this section.	1581

(7) If an individual casts a provisional ballot pursuant to	1582
division (A)(3), (7), (8), (12), or (13) of this section, the	1583
election official shall indicate, on the provisional ballot	1584
verification statement required under section 3505.182 of the	1585
Revised Code, that the individual is required to provide	1586
additional information to the board of elections or that an	1587
application or challenge hearing has been postponed with respect	1588
to the individual, such that additional information is required	1589
for the board of elections to determine the eligibility of the	1590
individual who cast the provisional ballot.	1591

(8) During the ten days after the day of an election, an	1592
individual who casts a provisional ballot pursuant to division	1593
(A)(3), (7), (12), or (13) of this section shall appear at the	1594
office of the board of elections and provide to the board any	1595
additional information necessary to determine the eligibility of	1596
the individual who cast the provisional ballot.	1597

(a) For a provisional ballot cast pursuant to division	1598
(A)(3), (12), or (13) of this section to be eligible to be	1599
counted, the individual who cast that ballot, within ten days	1600
after the day of the election, shall do any of the following:	1601

(i) Provide to the board of elections proof of the	1602
individual's identity in the form of a current and valid photo	1603
identification, a military identification, or a copy of a current	1604
utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other	1605
government document, other than ~~a notice of an election mailed by~~	1606
~~a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or~~	1607
a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections	1608
under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the	1609
individual's name and current address;	1610

(ii) Provide to the board of elections the last four digits	1611
of the individual's social security number;	1612

(iii) In the case of a provisional ballot executed pursuant	1613
to division (A)(12) of this section, execute an affirmation as	1614
permitted under division (A)(4) of section 3505.18 of the Revised	1615
Code.	1616

(b) For a provisional ballot cast pursuant to division (A)(7)	1617
of this section to be eligible to be counted, the individual who	1618
cast that ballot, within ten days after the day of that election,	1619
shall provide to the board of elections any identification or	1620
other documentation required to be provided by the applicable	1621
challenge questions asked of that individual under section 3505.20	1622
of the Revised Code.	1623

(C)(1) If an individual declares that the individual is	1624
eligible to vote in a jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction in	1625
which the individual desires to vote, or if, upon review of the	1626
precinct voting location guide using the residential street	1627
address provided by the individual, an election official at the	1628
polling place at which the individual desires to vote determines	1629
that the individual is not eligible to vote in that jurisdiction,	1630
the election official shall direct the individual to the polling	1631
place for the jurisdiction in which the individual appears to be	1632
eligible to vote, explain that the individual may cast a	1633
provisional ballot at the current location but the ballot will not	1634
be counted if it is cast in the wrong precinct, and provide the	1635
telephone number of the board of elections in case the individual	1636
has additional questions.	1637

(2) If the individual refuses to travel to the polling place	1638
for the correct jurisdiction or to the office of the board of	1639
elections to cast a ballot, the individual shall be permitted to	1640
vote a provisional ballot at that jurisdiction in accordance with	1641
division (B) of this section. If any of the following apply, the	1642
provisional ballot cast by that individual shall not be opened or	1643
counted:	1644

(a) The individual is not properly registered in that	1645
jurisdiction.	1646

(b) The individual is not eligible to vote in that election	1647
in that jurisdiction.	1648

(c) The individual's eligibility to vote in that jurisdiction	1649
in that election cannot be established upon examination of the	1650
records on file with the board of elections.	1651

(D) The appropriate local election official shall cause	1652
voting information to be publicly posted at each polling place on	1653
the day of each election.	1654

(E) As used in this section and sections 3505.182 and	1655
3505.183 of the Revised Code:	1656

(1) "Jurisdiction" means the precinct in which a person is a	1657
legally qualified elector.	1658

(2) "Precinct voting location guide" means either of the	1659
following:	1660

(a) An electronic or paper record that lists the correct	1661
jurisdiction and polling place for either each specific	1662
residential street address in the county or the range of	1663
residential street addresses located in each neighborhood block in	1664
the county;	1665

(b) Any other method that a board of elections creates that	1666
allows a precinct election official or any elector who is at a	1667
polling place in that county to determine the correct jurisdiction	1668
and polling place of any qualified elector who resides in the	1669
county.	1670

(3) "Voting information" means all of the following:

1671

(a) A sample version of the ballot that will be used for that	1672
election;	1673

(b) Information regarding the date of the election and the	1674
hours during which polling places will be open;	1675

(c) Instructions on how to vote, including how to cast a vote	1676
and how to cast a provisional ballot;	1677

(d) Instructions for mail-in registrants and first-time	1678
voters under applicable federal and state laws;	1679

(e) General information on voting rights under applicable	1680
federal and state laws, including information on the right of an	1681
individual to cast a provisional ballot and instructions on how to	1682
contact the appropriate officials if these rights are alleged to	1683
have been violated;	1684

(f) General information on federal and state laws regarding	1685
prohibitions against acts of fraud and misrepresentation.	1686

Sec. 3505.182. Each individual who casts a provisional	1687
ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code shall execute a	1688
written affirmation. The form of the written affirmation shall be	1689
printed upon the face of the provisional ballot envelope and shall	1690
be substantially as follows:	1691

"Provisional Ballot Affirmation	1692

STATE OF OHIO	1693

I, .................... (Name of provisional voter), solemnly	1694
swear or affirm that I am a registered voter in the jurisdiction	1695
in which I am voting this provisional ballot and that I am	1696
eligible to vote in the election in which I am voting this	1697
provisional ballot.	1698

I understand that, if the above-provided information is not	1699
fully completed and correct, if the board of elections determines	1700
that I am not registered to vote, a resident of this precinct, or	1701
eligible to vote in this election, or if the board of elections	1702
determines that I have already voted in this election, my	1703
provisional ballot will not be counted. I further understand that	1704
knowingly providing false information is a violation of law and	1705
subjects me to possible criminal prosecution.	1706

I hereby declare, under penalty of election falsification,	1707
that the above statements are true and correct to the best of my	1708
knowledge and belief.	1709

			1710
	(Signature of Voter)		1711
			1712
	(Voter's date of birth)		1713

	The last four digits of the voter's social security number		1714
			1715
	(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)		1716

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY	1717
OF THE FIFTH DEGREE.	1718

Additional Information For Determining Ballot Validity	1719

(May be completed at voter's discretion)	1720

Voter's current address:				1721
Voter's former address if photo identification does not contain voter's current address				1722
Voter's driver's license number or, if not provided above, the last four digits of voter's social security number				1723
(Please circle number type)				1724
(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.)				1725
Reason for voting provisional ballot (Check one):				1726
..... Requested, but did not receive, absent voter's ballot				1727
..... Other				1728

Verification Statement	1729

(To be completed by election official)	1730

The Provisional Ballot Affirmation printed above was	1731
subscribed and affirmed before me this .......... day of	1732
.......... (Month), .......... (Year).	1733

(If applicable, the election official must check the	1734
following true statement concerning additional information needed	1735
to determine the eligibility of the provisional voter.)	1736

...... The provisional voter is required to provide	1737
additional information to the board of elections.	1738

...... An application or challenge hearing regarding this	1739
voter has been postponed until after the election.	1740

(The election official must check the following true	1741
statement concerning identification provided by the provisional	1742
voter, if any.)	1743

...... The provisional voter provided a current and valid	1744
photo identification.	1745

...... The provisional voter provided a current valid photo	1746
identification, other than a driver's license or a state	1747
identification card, with the voter's former address instead of	1748
current address and has provided the election official both the	1749
current and former addresses.	1750

...... The provisional voter provided a military	1751
identification or a copy of a current utility bill, bank	1752
statement, government check, paycheck, or other government	1753
document, other than ~~a notice of an election mailed by a board of~~	1754
~~elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or~~ a notice of	1755
voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section	1756
3503.19 of the Revised Code, with the voter's name and current	1757
address.	1758

...... The provisional voter provided the last four digits of	1759
the voter's social security number.	1760

...... The provisional voter is not able to provide a current	1761
and valid photo identification, a military identification, or a	1762
copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check,	1763
paycheck, or other government document, other than ~~a notice of an~~	1764
~~election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of~~	1765
~~the Revised Code or~~ a notice of voter registration mailed by a	1766
board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, with	1767
the voter's name and current address but does have one of these	1768
forms of identification. The provisional voter must provide one of	1769
the foregoing items of identification to the board of elections	1770
within ten days after the election.	1771

..... The provisional voter is not able to provide a current	1772
and valid photo identification, a military identification, or a	1773
copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check,	1774
paycheck, or other government document, other than ~~a notice of an~~	1775
~~election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of~~	1776
~~the Revised Code or~~ a notice of voter registration mailed by a	1777
board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, with	1778
the voter's name and current address but does have one of these	1779
forms of identification. Additionally, the provisional voter does	1780
have a social security number but is not able to provide the last	1781
four digits of the voter's social security number before voting.	1782
The provisional voter must provide one of the foregoing items of	1783
identification or the last four digits of the voter's social	1784
security number to the board of elections within ten days after	1785
the election.	1786

..... The provisional voter does not have a current and valid	1787
photo identification, a military identification, a copy of a	1788
current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck,	1789
or other government document with the voter's name and current	1790
address, or a social security number, but has executed an	1791
affirmation.	1792

..... The provisional voter does not have a current and valid	1793
photo identification, a military identification, a copy of a	1794
current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck,	1795
or other government document with the voter's name and current	1796
address, or a social security number, and has declined to execute	1797
an affirmation.	1798

..... The provisional voter declined to provide a current and	1799
valid photo identification, a military identification, a copy of a	1800
current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck,	1801
or other government document with the voter's name and current	1802
address, or the last four digits of the voter's social security	1803
number but does have one of these forms of identification or a	1804
social security number. The provisional voter must provide one of	1805
the foregoing items of identification or the last four digits of	1806
the voter's social security number to the board of elections	1807
within ten days after the election.	1808

			1809
	(Signature of Election Official)"		1810

In addition to any information required to be included on the	1811
written affirmation, an individual casting a provisional ballot	1812
may provide additional information to the election official to	1813
assist the board of elections in determining the individual's	1814
eligibility to vote in that election, including the date and	1815
location at which the individual registered to vote, if known.	1816

If the individual declines to execute the affirmation, an	1817
appropriate local election official shall comply with division	1818
(B)(6) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.	1819

Sec. 3505.183. (A) When the ballot boxes are delivered to	1820
the board of elections from the precincts, the board shall	1821
separate the provisional ballot envelopes from the rest of the	1822
ballots. Teams of employees of the board consisting of one member	1823
of each major political party shall place the sealed provisional	1824
ballot envelopes in a secure location within the office of the	1825
board. The sealed provisional ballot envelopes shall remain in	1826
that secure location until the validity of those ballots is	1827
determined under division (B) of this section. While the	1828
provisional ballot is stored in that secure location, and prior to	1829
the counting of the provisional ballots, if the board receives	1830
information regarding the validity of a specific provisional	1831
ballot under division (B) of this section, the board may note, on	1832
the sealed provisional ballot envelope for that ballot, whether	1833
the ballot is valid and entitled to be counted.	1834

(B)(1) To determine whether a provisional ballot is valid and	1835
entitled to be counted, the board shall examine its records and	1836
determine whether the individual who cast the provisional ballot	1837
is registered and eligible to vote in the applicable election. The	1838
board shall examine the information contained in the written	1839
affirmation executed by the individual who cast the provisional	1840
ballot under division (B)(2) of section 3505.181 of the Revised	1841
Code. If the individual declines to execute such an affirmation,	1842
the individual's name, written by either the individual or the	1843
election official at the direction of the individual, shall be	1844
included in a written affirmation in order for the provisional	1845
ballot to be eligible to be counted; otherwise, the following	1846
information shall be included in the written affirmation in order	1847
for the provisional ballot to be eligible to be counted:	1848

(a) The individual's name and signature;

1849

(b) A statement that the individual is a registered voter in	1850
the jurisdiction in which the provisional ballot is being voted;	1851

(c) A statement that the individual is eligible to vote in	1852
the election in which the provisional ballot is being voted.	1853

(2) In addition to the information required to be included in	1854
an affirmation under division (B)(1) of this section, in	1855
determining whether a provisional ballot is valid and entitled to	1856
be counted, the board also shall examine any additional	1857
information for determining ballot validity provided by the	1858
provisional voter on the affirmation, provided by the provisional	1859
voter to an election official under section 3505.182 of the	1860
Revised Code, or provided to the board of elections during the ten	1861
days after the day of the election under division (B)(8) of	1862
section 3505.181 of the Revised Code, to assist the board in	1863
determining the individual's eligibility to vote.	1864

(3) If, in examining a provisional ballot affirmation and	1865
additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this	1866
section and comparing the information required under division	1867
(B)(1) of this section with the elector's information in the	1868
statewide voter registration database, the board determines that	1869
all of the following apply, the provisional ballot envelope shall	1870
be opened, and the ballot shall be placed in a ballot box to be	1871
counted:	1872

(a) The individual named on the affirmation is properly	1873
registered to vote.	1874

(b) The individual named on the affirmation is eligible to	1875
cast a ballot in the precinct and for the election in which the	1876
individual cast the provisional ballot.	1877

(c) The individual provided all of the information required	1878
under division (B)(1) of this section in the affirmation that the	1879
individual executed at the time the individual cast the	1880
provisional ballot.	1881

(d) The last four digits of the elector's social security	1882
number or the elector's driver's license number or state	1883
identification number are not different from the last four digits	1884
of the elector's social security number or the elector's driver's	1885
license number or state identification number contained in the	1886
statewide voter registration database.	1887

(e) If applicable, the individual provided any additional	1888
information required under division (B)(8) of section 3505.181 of	1889
the Revised Code within ten days after the day of the election.	1890

(f) If applicable, the hearing conducted under division (B)	1891
of section 3503.24 of the Revised Code after the day of the	1892
election resulted in the individual's inclusion in the official	1893
registration list.	1894

(4)(a) If, in examining a provisional ballot affirmation and	1895
additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this	1896
section and comparing the information required under division	1897
(B)(1) of this section with the elector's information in the	1898
statewide voter registration database, the board determines that	1899
any of the following applies, the provisional ballot envelope	1900
shall not be opened, and the ballot shall not be counted:	1901

(i) The individual named on the affirmation is not qualified	1902
or is not properly registered to vote.	1903

(ii) The individual named on the affirmation is not eligible	1904
to cast a ballot in the precinct or for the election in which the	1905
individual cast the provisional ballot.	1906

(iii) The individual did not provide all of the information	1907
required under division (B)(1) of this section in the affirmation	1908
that the individual executed at the time the individual cast the	1909
provisional ballot.	1910

(iv) The individual has already cast a ballot for the	1911
election in which the individual cast the provisional ballot.	1912

(v) If applicable, the individual did not provide any	1913
additional information required under division (B)(8) of section	1914
3505.181 of the Revised Code within ten days after the day of the	1915
election.	1916

(vi) If applicable, the hearing conducted under division (B)	1917
of section 3503.24 of the Revised Code after the day of the	1918
election did not result in the individual's inclusion in the	1919
official registration list.	1920

(vii) The individual failed to provide a current and valid	1921
photo identification, a military identification, a copy of a	1922
current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck,	1923
or other government document, other than ~~a notice of an election~~	1924
~~mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the~~	1925
~~Revised Code or~~ a notice of voter registration mailed by a board	1926
of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, with the	1927
voter's name and current address, or the last four digits of the	1928
individual's social security number or to execute an affirmation	1929
under division (A) of section 3505.18 or division (B) of section	1930
3505.181 of the Revised Code.	1931

(viii) The last four digits of the elector's social security	1932
number or the elector's driver's license number or state	1933
identification number are different from the last four digits of	1934
the elector's social security number or the elector's driver's	1935
license number or state identification number contained in the	1936
statewide voter registration database.	1937

(b) If, in examining a provisional ballot affirmation and	1938
additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this	1939
section and comparing the information required under division	1940
(B)(1) of this section with the elector's information in the	1941
statewide voter registration database, the board is unable to	1942
determine either of the following, the provisional ballot envelope	1943
shall not be opened, and the ballot shall not be counted:	1944

(i) Whether the individual named on the affirmation is	1945
qualified or properly registered to vote;	1946

(ii) Whether the individual named on the affirmation is	1947
eligible to cast a ballot in the precinct or for the election in	1948
which the individual cast the provisional ballot.	1949

(C)(1) For each provisional ballot rejected under division	1950
(B)(4) of this section, the board shall record the name of the	1951
provisional voter who cast the ballot, the identification number	1952
of the provisional ballot envelope, the names of the election	1953
officials who determined the validity of that ballot, the date and	1954
time that the determination was made, and the reason that the	1955
ballot was not counted.	1956

(2) Provisional ballots that are rejected under division	1957
(B)(4) of this section shall not be counted but shall be preserved	1958
in their provisional ballot envelopes unopened until the time	1959
provided by section 3505.31 of the Revised Code for the	1960
destruction of all other ballots used at the election for which	1961
ballots were provided, at which time they shall be destroyed.	1962

(D) Provisional ballots that the board determines are	1963
eligible to be counted under division (B)(3) of this section shall	1964
be counted in the same manner as provided for other ballots under	1965
section 3505.27 of the Revised Code. No provisional ballots shall	1966
be counted in a particular county until the board determines the	1967
eligibility to be counted of all provisional ballots cast in that	1968
county under division (B) of this section for that election.	1969
Observers, as provided in section 3505.21 of the Revised Code, may	1970
be present at all times that the board is determining the	1971
eligibility of provisional ballots to be counted and counting	1972
those provisional ballots determined to be eligible. No person	1973
shall recklessly disclose the count or any portion of the count of	1974
provisional ballots in such a manner as to jeopardize the secrecy	1975
of any individual ballot.	1976

(E)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (E)(2) of	1977
this section, nothing in this section shall prevent a board of	1978
elections from examining provisional ballot affirmations and	1979
additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this	1980
section to determine the eligibility of provisional ballots to be	1981
counted during the ten days after the day of an election.	1982

(2) A board of elections shall not examine the provisional	1983
ballot affirmation and additional information under divisions	1984
(B)(1) and (2) of this section of any provisional ballot for which	1985
an election official has indicated under division (B)(7) of	1986
section 3505.181 of the Revised Code that additional information	1987
is required for the board of elections to determine the	1988
eligibility of the individual who cast that provisional ballot	1989
until the individual provides any information required under	1990
division (B)(8) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code, until any	1991
hearing required to be conducted under section 3503.24 of the	1992
Revised Code with regard to the provisional voter is held, or	1993
until the eleventh day after the day of the election, whichever is	1994
earlier.	1995

Sec. 3509.03. Except as provided in division (B) of section	1996
3509.08 of the Revised Code, any qualified elector desiring to	1997
vote absent voter's ballots at an election shall make written	1998
application for those ballots to the director of elections of the	1999
county in which the elector's voting residence is located. The	2000
application need not be in any particular form but shall contain	2001
all of the following:	2002

(A) The elector's name;

2003

(B) The elector's signature;

2004

2005

(D) The elector's date of birth;

2006

(E) One of the following:

2007

(1) The elector's driver's license number;

2008

(2) The last four digits of the elector's social security	2009
number;	2010

(3) A copy of the elector's current and valid photo	2011
identification, a copy of a military identification, or a copy of	2012
a current utility bill, bank statement, government check,	2013
paycheck, or other government document, other than ~~a notice of an~~	2014
~~election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of~~	2015
~~the Revised Code or~~ a notice of voter registration mailed by a	2016
board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that	2017
shows the name and address of the elector.	2018

(F) A statement identifying the election for which absent	2019
voter's ballots are requested;	2020

(G) A statement that the person requesting the ballots is a	2021
qualified elector;	2022

(H) If the request is for primary election ballots, the	2023
elector's party affiliation;	2024

(I) If the elector desires ballots to be mailed to the	2025
elector, the address to which those ballots shall be mailed.	2026

Each application for absent voter's ballots shall be	2027
delivered to the director not earlier than the first day of	2028
January of the year of the elections for which the absent voter's	2029
ballots are requested or not earlier than ninety days before the	2030
day of the election at which the ballots are to be voted,	2031
whichever is earlier, and not later than twelve noon of the third	2032
day before the day of the election at which the ballots are to be	2033
voted, or not later than six p.m. on the ~~the~~ last Friday before	2034
the day of the election at which the ballots are to be voted if	2035
the application is delivered in person to the office of the board.	2036

Sec. 3509.04. (A) If a director of a board of elections	2037
receives an application for absent voter's ballots that does not	2038
contain all of the required information, the director promptly	2039
shall notify the applicant of the additional information required	2040
to be provided by the applicant to complete that application.	2041

(B) Upon receipt by the director of elections of an	2042
application for absent voter's ballots that contains all of the	2043
required information, as provided by section 3509.03 and division	2044
(G) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code, the director, if the	2045
director finds that the applicant is a qualified elector, shall	2046
deliver to the applicant in person or mail directly to the	2047
applicant by special delivery mail, air mail, or regular mail,	2048
postage prepaid, proper absent voter's ballots. The director shall	2049
deliver or mail with the ballots an unsealed identification	2050
envelope upon the face of which shall be printed a form	2051
substantially as follows:	2052

"Identification Envelope Statement of Voter	2053

I, ........................(Name of voter), declare under	2054
penalty of election falsification that the within ballot or	2055
ballots contained no voting marks of any kind when I received	2056
them, and I caused the ballot or ballots to be marked, enclosed in	2057
the identification envelope, and sealed in that envelope.	2058

My voting residence in Ohio is

2059

...................................................................	2060

(Street and Number, if any, or Rural Route and Number)	2061

of ................................ (City, Village, or Township)	2062
Ohio, which is in Ward ............... Precinct ................	2063
in that city, village, or township.	2064

The primary election ballots, if any, within this envelope	2065
are primary election ballots of the ............. Party.	2066

Ballots contained within this envelope are to be voted at the	2067
.......... (general, special, or primary) election to be held on	2068
the .......................... day of ......................, ....	2069

My date of birth is ............... (Month and Day),	2070
.......... (Year).	2071

(Voter must provide one of the following:)

2072

My driver's license number is ............... (Driver's	2073
license number).	2074

The last four digits of my Social Security Number are	2075
............... (Last four digits of Social Security Number).	2076

...... In lieu of providing a driver's license number or the	2077
last four digits of my Social Security Number, I am enclosing a	2078
copy of one of the following in the return envelope in which this	2079
identification envelope will be mailed: a current and valid photo	2080
identification, a military identification, or a current utility	2081
bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other	2082
government document, other than ~~a notice of an election mailed by~~	2083
~~a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or~~	2084
a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections,	2085
that shows my name and address.	2086

I hereby declare, under penalty of election falsification,	2087
that the statements above are true, as I verily believe.	2088

			2089
	(Signature of Voter)		2090

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF	2091
THE FIFTH DEGREE."	2092

The director shall mail with the ballots and the unsealed	2093
identification envelope an unsealed return envelope upon the face	2094
of which shall be printed the official title and post-office	2095
address of the director. In the upper left corner on the face of	2096
the return envelope, several blank lines shall be printed upon	2097
which the voter may write the voter's name and return address. The	2098
return envelope shall be of such size that the identification	2099
envelope can be conveniently placed within it for returning the	2100
identification envelope to the director.	2101

Sec. 3509.05. (A) When an elector receives an absent voter's	2102
ballot pursuant to the elector's application or request, the	2103
elector shall, before placing any marks on the ballot, note	2104
whether there are any voting marks on it. If there are any voting	2105
marks, the ballot shall be returned immediately to the board of	2106
elections; otherwise, the elector shall cause the ballot to be	2107
marked, folded in a manner that the stub on it and the	2108
indorsements and facsimile signatures of the members of the board	2109
of elections on the back of it are visible, and placed and sealed	2110
within the identification envelope received from the director of	2111
elections for that purpose. Then, the elector shall cause the	2112
statement of voter on the outside of the identification envelope	2113
to be completed and signed, under penalty of election	2114
falsification.	2115

If the elector does not provide the elector's driver's	2116
license number or the last four digits of the elector's social	2117
security number on the statement of voter on the identification	2118
envelope, the elector also shall include in the return envelope	2119
with the identification envelope a copy of the elector's current	2120
valid photo identification, a copy of a military identification,	2121
or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government	2122
check, paycheck, or other government document, other than ~~a notice~~	2123
~~of an election mailed by a board of elections under section~~	2124
~~3501.19 of the Revised Code or~~ a notice of voter registration	2125
mailed by a board of elections under section 3503.19 of the	2126
Revised Code, that shows the name and address of the elector.	2127

The elector shall mail the identification envelope to the	2128
director from whom it was received in the return envelope, postage	2129
prepaid, or the elector may personally deliver it to the director,	2130
or the spouse of the elector, the father, mother, father-in-law,	2131
mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother, or sister of the	2132
whole or half blood, or the son, daughter, adopting parent,	2133
adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or	2134
niece of the elector may deliver it to the director. The return	2135
envelope shall be transmitted to the director in no other manner,	2136
except as provided in section 3509.08 of the Revised Code.	2137

When absent voter's ballots are delivered to an elector at	2138
the office of the board, the elector may retire to a voting	2139
compartment provided by the board and there mark the ballots.	2140
Thereupon, the elector shall fold them, place them in the	2141
identification envelope provided, seal the envelope, fill in and	2142
sign the statement on the envelope under penalty of election	2143
falsification, and deliver the envelope to the director of the	2144
board.	2145

Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section,	2146
all other envelopes containing marked absent voter's ballots shall	2147
be delivered to the director not later than the close of the polls	2148
on the day of an election. Absent voter's ballots delivered to the	2149
director later than the times specified shall not be counted, but	2150
shall be kept by the board in the sealed identification envelopes	2151
in which they are delivered to the director, until the time	2152
provided by section 3505.31 of the Revised Code for the	2153
destruction of all other ballots used at the election for which	2154
ballots were provided, at which time they shall be destroyed.	2155

(B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of	2156
this section, any return envelope that is postmarked prior to the	2157
day of the election shall be delivered to the director prior to	2158
the eleventh day after the election. Ballots delivered in	2159
envelopes postmarked prior to the day of the election that are	2160
received after the close of the polls on election day through the	2161
tenth day thereafter shall be counted on the eleventh day at the	2162
board of elections in the manner provided in divisions (C) and (D)	2163
of section 3509.06 of the Revised Code. Any such ballots that are	2164
received by the director later than the tenth day following the	2165
election shall not be counted, but shall be kept by the board in	2166
the sealed identification envelopes as provided in division (A) of	2167
this section.	2168

(2) Division (B)(1) of this section shall not apply to any	2169
mail that is postmarked using a postage evidencing system,	2170
including a postage meter, as defined in 39 C.F.R. 501.1.	2171

Sec. 3511.02. Notwithstanding any section of the Revised	2172
Code to the contrary, whenever any person applies for registration	2173
as a voter on a form adopted in accordance with federal	2174
regulations relating to the "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens	2175
Absentee Voting Act," 100 Stat. 924, 42 U.S.C.A. 1973ff (1986),	2176
this application shall be sufficient for voter registration and as	2177
a request for an absent voter's ballot. Uniformed services or	2178
overseas absent voter's ballots may be obtained by any person	2179
meeting the requirements of section 3511.011 of the Revised Code	2180
by applying electronically to the secretary of state or to the	2181
board of elections of the county in which the person's voting	2182
residence is located in accordance with section 3511.021 of the	2183
Revised Code or by applying to the director of the board of	2184
elections of the county in which the person's voting residence is	2185
located, in one of the following ways:	2186

(A) That person may make written application for those	2187
ballots. The person may personally deliver the application to the	2188
director or may mail it, send it by facsimile machine, send it by	2189
electronic mail, send it through internet delivery if such	2190
delivery is offered by the board of elections or the secretary of	2191
state, or otherwise send it to the director. The application need	2192
not be in any particular form but shall contain all of the	2193
following information:	2194

(1) The elector's name;

2195

(2) The elector's signature;

2196

(3) The address at which the elector is registered to vote;

2197

(4) The elector's date of birth;

2198

(5) One of the following:

2199

(a) The elector's driver's license number;

2200

(b) The last four digits of the elector's social security	2201
number;	2202

(c) A copy of the elector's current and valid photo	2203
identification, a copy of a military identification, or a copy of	2204
a current utility bill, bank statement, government check,	2205
paycheck, or other government document, other than ~~a notice of an~~	2206
~~election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of~~	2207
~~the Revised Code or~~ a notice of voter registration mailed by a	2208
board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that	2209
shows the name and address of the elector.	2210

(6) A statement identifying the election for which absent	2211
voter's ballots are requested;	2212

(7) A statement that the person requesting the ballots is a	2213
qualified elector;	2214

(8) A statement that the elector is an absent uniformed	2215
services voter or overseas voter as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1973ff-6;	2216

(9) A statement of the elector's length of residence in the	2217
state immediately preceding the commencement of service,	2218
immediately preceding the date of leaving to be with or near the	2219
service member, or immediately preceding leaving the United	2220
States, or a statement that the elector's parent or legal guardian	2221
resided in this state long enough to establish residency for	2222
voting purposes immediately preceding leaving the United States,	2223
whichever is applicable;	2224

(10) If the request is for primary election ballots, the	2225
elector's party affiliation;	2226

(11) If the elector desires ballots to be mailed to the	2227
elector, the address to which those ballots shall be mailed;	2228

(12) If the elector desires ballots to be sent to the elector	2229
by facsimile machine, the telephone number to which they shall be	2230
so sent;	2231

(13) If the elector desires ballots to be sent to the elector	2232
by electronic mail or, if offered by the board of elections or the	2233
secretary of state, through internet delivery, the elector's	2234
electronic mail address or other internet contact information.	2235

(B) A voter or any relative of a voter listed in division (C)	2236
of this section may use a single federal post card application to	2237
apply for uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots	2238
for use at the primary and general elections in a given year and	2239
any special election to be held on the day in that year specified	2240
by division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code for the	2241
holding of a primary election, designated by the general assembly	2242
for the purpose of submitting constitutional amendments proposed	2243
by the general assembly to the voters of the state. A single	2244
federal postcard application shall be processed by the board of	2245
elections pursuant to section 3511.04 of the Revised Code the same	2246
as if the voter had applied separately for uniformed services or	2247
overseas absent voter's ballots for each election.	2248

(C) Application to have uniformed services or overseas absent	2249
voter's ballots mailed or sent by facsimile machine to such a	2250
person may be made by the spouse, father, mother, father-in-law,	2251
mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother or sister of the	2252
whole blood or half blood, son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted	2253
child, stepparent, stepchild, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, uncle,	2254
aunt, nephew, or niece of such a person. The application shall be	2255
in writing upon a blank form furnished only by the director or on	2256
a single federal post card as provided in division (B) of this	2257
section. The form of the application shall be prescribed by the	2258
secretary of state. The director shall furnish that blank form to	2259
any of the relatives specified in this division desiring to make	2260
the application, only upon the request of such a relative made in	2261
person at the office of the board or upon the written request of	2262
such a relative mailed to the office of the board. The	2263
application, subscribed and sworn to by the applicant, shall	2264
contain all of the following:	2265

(1) The full name of the elector for whom ballots are	2266
requested;	2267

(2) A statement that the elector is an absent uniformed	2268
services voter or overseas voter as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1973ff-6;	2269

(3) The address at which the elector is registered to vote;

2270

(4) A statement identifying the elector's length of residence	2271
in the state immediately preceding the commencement of service,	2272
immediately preceding the date of leaving to be with or near a	2273
service member, or immediately preceding leaving the United	2274
States, or a statement that the elector's parent or legal guardian	2275
resided in this state long enough to establish residency for	2276
voting purposes immediately preceding leaving the United States,	2277
as the case may be;	2278

(5) The elector's date of birth;

2279

(6) One of the following:

2280

(a) The elector's driver's license number;

2281

(b) The last four digits of the elector's social security	2282
number;	2283

(c) A copy of the elector's current and valid photo	2284
identification, a copy of a military identification, or a copy of	2285
a current utility bill, bank statement, government check,	2286
paycheck, or other government document, other than ~~a notice of an~~	2287
~~election mailed by a board of elections under section 3501.19 of~~	2288
~~the Revised Code or~~ a notice of voter registration mailed by a	2289
board of elections under section 3503.19 of the Revised Code, that	2290
shows the name and address of the elector.	2291

(7) A statement identifying the election for which absent	2292
voter's ballots are requested;	2293

(8) A statement that the person requesting the ballots is a	2294
qualified elector;	2295

(9) If the request is for primary election ballots, the	2296
elector's party affiliation;	2297

(10) A statement that the applicant bears a relationship to	2298
the elector as specified in division (C) of this section;	2299

(11) The address to which ballots shall be mailed, the	2300
telephone number to which ballots shall be sent by facsimile	2301
machine, the electronic mail address to which ballots shall be	2302
sent by electronic mail, or, if internet delivery is offered by	2303
the board of elections or the secretary of state, the internet	2304
contact information to which ballots shall be sent through	2305
internet delivery;	2306

(12) The signature and address of the person making the	2307
application.	2308

Each application for uniformed services or overseas absent	2309
voter's ballots shall be delivered to the director not earlier	2310
than the first day of January of the year of the elections for	2311
which the uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots	2312
are requested or not earlier than ninety days before the day of	2313
the election at which the ballots are to be voted, whichever is	2314
earlier, and not later than twelve noon of the third day preceding	2315
the day of the election, or not later than six p.m. on the last	2316
Friday before the day of the election at which those ballots are	2317
to be voted if the application is delivered in person to the	2318
office of the board.	2319

(D) If the voter for whom the application is made is entitled	2320
to vote for presidential and vice-presidential electors only, the	2321
applicant shall submit to the director in addition to the	2322
requirements of divisions (A), (B), and (C) of this section, a	2323
statement to the effect that the voter is qualified to vote for	2324
presidential and vice-presidential electors and for no other	2325
offices.	2326

Sec. 3511.05. (A) The director of the board of elections	2327
shall place uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots	2328
sent by mail in an unsealed identification envelope, gummed ready	2329
for sealing. The director shall include with uniformed services or	2330
overseas absent voter's ballots sent electronically, including by	2331
facsimile machine, an instruction sheet for preparing a gummed	2332
envelope in which the ballots shall be returned. The envelope for	2333
returning ballots sent by either means shall have printed or	2334
written on its face a form substantially as follows:	2335

"Identification Envelope Statement of Voter	2336

I, ........................(Name of voter), declare under	2337
penalty of election falsification that the within ballot or	2338
ballots contained no voting marks of any kind when I received	2339
them, and I caused the ballot or ballots to be marked, enclosed in	2340
the identification envelope, and sealed in that envelope.	2341

My voting residence in Ohio is

2342

...................................................................	2343

(Street and Number, if any, or Rural Route and Number)	2344

of ................................ (City, Village, or Township)	2345
Ohio, which is in Ward ............... Precinct ................	2346
in that city, village, or township.	2347

The primary election ballots, if any, within this envelope	2348
are primary election ballots of the ............. Party.	2349

Ballots contained within this envelope are to be voted at the	2350
.......... (general, special, or primary) election to be held on	2351
the .......................... day of ......................, ....	2352

My date of birth is ............... (Month and Day),	2353
.......... (Year).	2354

(Voter must provide one of the following:)

2355

My driver's license number is ............... (Driver's	2356
license number).	2357

The last four digits of my Social Security Number are	2358
............... (Last four digits of Social Security Number).	2359

...... In lieu of providing a driver's license number or the	2360
last four digits of my Social Security Number, I am enclosing a	2361
copy of one of the following in the return envelope in which this	2362
identification envelope will be mailed: a current and valid photo	2363
identification, a military identification, or a current utility	2364
bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other	2365
government document, other than ~~a notice of an election mailed by~~	2366
~~a board of elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or~~	2367
a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections,	2368
that shows my name and address.	2369

I hereby declare, under penalty of election falsification,	2370
that the statements above are true, as I verily believe.	2371

			2372
	(Signature of Voter)		2373

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF	2374
THE FIFTH DEGREE."	2375

(B) The director shall also mail with the ballots and the	2376
unsealed identification envelope sent by mail an unsealed return	2377
envelope, gummed, ready for sealing, for use by the voter in	2378
returning the voter's marked ballots to the director. The director	2379
shall send with the ballots and the instruction sheet for	2380
preparing a gummed envelope sent electronically, including by	2381
facsimile machine, an instruction sheet for preparing a second	2382
gummed envelope as described in this division, for use by the	2383
voter in returning that voter's marked ballots to the director.	2384
The return envelope shall have two parallel lines, each one	2385
quarter of an inch in width, printed across its face paralleling	2386
the top, with an intervening space of one quarter of an inch	2387
between such lines. The top line shall be one and one-quarter	2388
inches from the top of the envelope. Between the parallel lines	2389
shall be printed: "OFFICIAL ELECTION UNIFORMED SERVICES OR	2390
OVERSEAS ABSENT VOTER'S BALLOTS -- VIA AIR MAIL." Three blank	2391
lines shall be printed in the upper left corner on the face of the	2392
envelope for the use by the voter in placing the voter's complete	2393
military, naval, or mailing address on these lines, and beneath	2394
these lines there shall be printed a box beside the words "check	2395
if out-of-country." The voter shall check this box if the voter	2396
will be outside the United States on the day of the election. The	2397
official title and the post-office address of the director to whom	2398
the envelope shall be returned shall be printed on the face of	2399
such envelope in the lower right portion below the bottom parallel	2400
line.	2401

(C) On the back of each identification envelope and each	2402
return envelope shall be printed the following:	2403

"Instructions to voter:	2404

If the flap on this envelope is so firmly stuck to the back	2405
of the envelope when received by you as to require forcible	2406
opening in order to use it, open the envelope in the manner least	2407
injurious to it, and, after marking your ballots and enclosing	2408
same in the envelope for mailing them to the director of the board	2409
of elections, reclose the envelope in the most practicable way, by	2410
sealing or otherwise, and sign the blank form printed below.	2411

The flap on this envelope was firmly stuck to the back of the	2412
envelope when received, and required forced opening before sealing	2413
and mailing.	2414

			2415
	(Signature of voter)"		2416

(D) Division (C) of this section does not apply when absent	2417
voter's ballots are sent electronically, including by facsimile	2418
machine.	2419

Sec. 3511.09. Upon receiving uniformed services or overseas	2420
absent voter's ballots, the elector shall cause the questions on	2421
the face of the identification envelope to be answered, and, by	2422
writing the elector's usual signature in the proper place on the	2423
identification envelope, the elector shall declare under penalty	2424
of election falsification that the answers to those questions are	2425
true and correct to the best of the elector's knowledge and	2426
belief. Then, the elector shall note whether there are any voting	2427
marks on the ballot. If there are any voting marks, the ballot	2428
shall be returned immediately to the board of elections;	2429
otherwise, the elector shall cause the ballot to be marked, folded	2430
separately so as to conceal the markings on it, deposited in the	2431
identification envelope, and securely sealed in the identification	2432
envelope. The elector then shall cause the identification envelope	2433
to be placed within the return envelope, sealed in the return	2434
envelope, and mailed to the director of the board of elections to	2435
whom it is addressed. The ballot shall be submitted for mailing	2436
not later than 12:01 a.m. at the place where the voter completes	2437
the ballot, on the date of the election. If the elector does not	2438
provide the elector's driver's license number or the last four	2439
digits of the elector's social security number on the statement of	2440
voter on the identification envelope, the elector also shall	2441
include in the return envelope with the identification envelope a	2442
copy of the elector's current valid photo identification, a copy	2443
of a military identification, or a copy of a current utility bill,	2444
bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government	2445
document, other than ~~a notice of an election mailed by a board of~~	2446
~~elections under section 3501.19 of the Revised Code or~~ a notice of	2447
voter registration mailed by a board of elections under section	2448
3503.19 of the Revised Code, that shows the name and address of	2449
the elector. Each elector who will be outside the United States on	2450
the day of the election shall check the box on the return envelope	2451
indicating this fact and shall mail the return envelope to the	2452
director prior to the close of the polls on election day.	2453

Every uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot	2454
identification envelope shall be accompanied by the following	2455
statement in boldface capital letters: WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION	2456
FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE.	2457

Sec. 3513.04. Candidates for party nominations to state,	2458
district, county, and municipal offices or positions, for which	2459
party nominations are provided by law, and for election as members	2460
of party controlling committees shall have their names printed on	2461
the official primary ballot by filing a declaration of candidacy	2462
and paying the fees specified for the office under divisions (A)	2463
and (B) of section 3513.10 of the Revised Code, except that the	2464
joint candidates for party nomination to the offices of governor	2465
and lieutenant governor shall, for the two of them, file one	2466
declaration of candidacy. The joint candidates also shall pay the	2467
fees specified for the joint candidates under divisions (A) and	2468
(B) of section 3513.10 of the Revised Code.	2469

The secretary of state shall not accept for filing the	2470
declaration of candidacy of a candidate for party nomination to	2471
the office of governor unless the declaration of candidacy also	2472
shows a joint candidate for the same party's nomination to the	2473
office of lieutenant governor, shall not accept for filing the	2474
declaration of candidacy of a candidate for party nomination to	2475
the office of lieutenant governor unless the declaration of	2476
candidacy also shows a joint candidate for the same party's	2477
nomination to the office of governor, and shall not accept for	2478
filing a declaration of candidacy that shows a candidate for party	2479
nomination to the office of governor or lieutenant governor who,	2480
for the same election, has already filed a declaration of	2481
candidacy or a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate,	2482
or has become a candidate by the filling of a vacancy under	2483
section 3513.30 of the Revised Code for any other state office or	2484
any federal or county office.	2485

No person who seeks party nomination for an office or	2486
position at a primary election by declaration of candidacy or by	2487
declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate and no person who	2488
is a first choice for president of candidates seeking election as	2489
delegates and alternates to the national conventions of the	2490
different major political parties who are chosen by direct vote of	2491
the electors as provided in this chapter shall be permitted to	2492
become a candidate by nominating petition or, by declaration of	2493
intent to be a write-in candidate, or by filling a vacancy under	2494
section 3513.31 of the Revised Code at the following general	2495
election for any office other than the office of member of the	2496
state board of education, office of member of a city, local, or	2497
exempted village board of education, office of member of a	2498
governing board of an educational service center, or office of	2499
township trustee.	2500

Sec. 3513.262. The nominating petitions of all candidates	2501
required to be filed before four p.m. of the day before the day of	2502
the primary election immediately preceding the general election	2503
shall be processed as follows:	2504

If such petition is filed with the secretary of state, he	2505
the secretary of state shall, not later than the fifteenth day of	2506
June following the filing of such petition, or if the primary	2507
election was a presidential primary election, not later than the	2508
end of the sixth week after the day of that election, transmit to	2509
each board such separate petition papers as purport to contain	2510
signatures of electors of the county of such board. If such	2511
petition is filed with the board of the most populous county of a	2512
district or of a county in which the major portion of the	2513
population of a subdivision is located, such board shall, not	2514
later than the fifteenth day of June, or if the primary election	2515
was a presidential primary election, not later than the end of the	2516
sixth week after the day of that election, transmit to each board	2517
within such district such separate petition papers of the petition	2518
as purport to contain signatures of electors of the county of such	2519
board.	2520

All petition papers so transmitted to a board and all	2521
nominating petitions filed with a board shall, under proper	2522
regulations, be open to public inspection from the fifteenth day	2523
of June until four p.m. of the thirtieth day of that month, or if	2524
the primary election was a presidential primary election, from the	2525
end of the sixth week after the election until four p.m. of the	2526
end of the seventh week after the election. Each board shall, not	2527
later than the next fifteenth day of July, or if the primary	2528
election was a presidential primary election, not later than the	2529
end of the tenth week after the day of that election, examine and	2530
determine the sufficiency of the signatures on the petition papers	2531
transmitted to or filed with it, and the validity of the petitions	2532
filed with it, and shall return to the secretary of state all	2533
petition papers transmitted to it by ~~him~~the secretary of state,	2534
together with its certification of its determination as to the	2535
validity or invalidity of signatures thereon, and shall return to	2536
each other board all petition papers transmitted to it by such	2537
other board, as provided in this section, together with its	2538
certification of its determination as to the validity or	2539
invalidity of signatures thereon. A signature on a nominating	2540
petition is not valid if it is dated more than one year before the	2541
date the nominating petition was filed. All other matters	2542
affecting the validity or invalidity of such petition papers shall	2543
be determined by the secretary of state or the board with whom	2544
such petition papers were filed.	2545

Written protests against nominating petitions may be filed by	2546
any qualified elector eligible to vote for the candidate whose	2547
nominating petition hethe elector objects to, not later than four	2548
p.m. of the thirtieth day of July, or if the primary election was	2549
a presidential primary election, not later than the end of the	2550
twelfth week after the day of that election. Such protests shall	2551
be filed with the election officials with whom the nominating	2552
petition was filed. Upon the filing of such protest, the election	2553
officials with whom it is filed shall promptly fix the time and	2554
place for hearing it, and shall forthwith mail notice of the	2555
filing of such protest and the time and place for hearing it to	2556
the person whose nomination is protested. They shall also	2557
forthwith mail notice of the time and place fixed for the hearing	2558
to the person who filed the protest. At the time fixed, such	2559
election officials shall hear the protest and determine the	2560
validity or invalidity of the petition. Such determination shall	2561
be final.	2562

A protest against the nominating petition filed by joint	2563
candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor	2564
shall be filed, heard, and determined in the same manner as a	2565
protest against the nominating petition of a candidate who files	2566
~~by himself~~individually.	2567

Sec. 3513.263. The nominating petitions of all candidates	2568
required to be filed before four p.m. of the ninetieth day before	2569
the day of the general election, shall be processed as follows:	2570

If such petition is filed with the secretary of state, the	2571
secretary of state shall promptly transmit to each board such	2572
separate petition papers as purports to contain signatures of	2573
electors of the county of such board.	2574

If such petition is filed with the board of a county in which	2575
the major portion of the population of a subdivision is located,	2576
such board shall promptly transmit to the board of each county in	2577
which other portions of such subdivision are located such separate	2578
petition papers of the petition as purport to contain signatures	2579
of electors of such county.	2580

All petition papers so transmitted to a board of elections,	2581
and all nominating petitions filed with a board of elections	2582
shall, under proper regulation, be open to public inspection until	2583
four p.m. of the eightieth day before the day of such general	2584
election. Each board shall, not later than the seventy-eighth day	2585
before the day of such general election examine and determine the	2586
sufficiency of the signatures on the petition papers transmitted	2587
to or filed with it and the validity or invalidity of petitions	2588
filed with it, and shall return to each other board all petition	2589
papers transmitted to it by such other board, together with its	2590
certification of its determination as to the validity or	2591
invalidity of signatures thereon. A signature on a nominating	2592
petition is not valid if it is dated more than one year before the	2593
date the nominating petition was filed. All other matters	2594
affecting the validity or invalidity of such petition papers shall	2595
be determined by the board with whom such petition papers were	2596
filed.	2597

Written protests against such nominating petitions may be	2598
filed by any qualified elector eligible to vote for the candidate	2599
whose nominating petition the elector objects to, not later than	2600
the seventy-fourth day before the general election. Such protests	2601
shall be filed with the election officials with whom the	2602
nominating petition was filed. Upon the filing of such protests,	2603
the election officials with whom it is filed shall promptly fix	2604
the time and place for hearing it, and shall forthwith mail notice	2605
of the filing of such protest and the time and place for hearing	2606
it to the person whose nomination is protested. They shall also	2607
forthwith mail notice of the time and place fixed for the hearing	2608
to the person who filed the protest. At the time and place fixed,	2609
such election officials shall hear the protest and determine the	2610
validity or invalidity of the petition. Such determination shall	2611
be final.	2612

Sec. 3513.30. (A)(1) If only one valid declaration of	2613
candidacy is filed for nomination as a candidate of a political	2614
party for an office and that candidate dies prior to the tenth day	2615
before the primary election, both of the following may occur:	2616

(a) The political party whose candidate died may fill the	2617
vacancy so created as provided in division (A)(2) of this section.	2618

(b) Any major political party other than the one whose	2619
candidate died may select a candidate as provided in division	2620
(A)(2) of this section under either of the following	2621
circumstances:	2622

(i) No person has filed a valid declaration of candidacy for	2623
nomination as that party's candidate at the primary election.	2624

(ii) Only one person has filed a valid declaration of	2625
candidacy for nomination as that party's candidate at the primary	2626
election, that person has withdrawn, died, or been disqualified	2627
under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, and the vacancy so	2628
created has not been filled.	2629

(2) A vacancy may be filled under division (A)(1)(a) and a	2630
selection may be made under division (A)(1)(b) of this section by	2631
the appropriate committee of the political party in the same	2632
manner as provided in divisions (A) to (E) of section 3513.31 of	2633
the Revised Code for the filling of similar vacancies created by	2634
withdrawals or disqualifications under section 3513.052 of the	2635
Revised Code after the primary election, except that the	2636
certification required under that section may not be filed with	2637
the secretary of state, or with a board of the most populous	2638
county of a district, or with the board of a county in which the	2639
major portion of the population of a subdivision is located, later	2640
than four p.m. of the tenth day before the day of such primary	2641
election, or with any other board later than four p.m. of the	2642
fifth day before the day of such primary election.	2643

(3) If only one valid declaration of candidacy is filed for	2644
nomination as a candidate of a political party for an office and	2645
that candidate dies on or after the tenth day before the day of	2646
the primary election, that candidate is considered to have	2647
received the nomination of that candidate's political party at	2648
that primary election, and, for purposes of filling the vacancy so	2649
created, that candidate's death shall be treated as if that	2650
candidate died on the day after the day of the primary election.	2651

(B) Any person filing a declaration of candidacy may withdraw	2652
as such candidate at any time prior to the primary election. The	2653
withdrawal shall be effected and the statement of withdrawal shall	2654
be filed in accordance with the procedures prescribed in division	2655
(D) of this section for the withdrawal of persons nominated in a	2656
primary election or by nominating petition.	2657

(C) A person who is the first choice for president of the	2658
United States by a candidate for delegate or alternate to a	2659
national convention of a political party may withdraw consent for	2660
the selection of the person as such first choice no later than	2661
four p.m. of the fortieth day before the day of the presidential	2662
primary election. Withdrawal of consent shall be for the entire	2663
slate of candidates for delegates and alternates who named such	2664
person as their presidential first choice and shall constitute	2665
withdrawal from the primary election by such delegates and	2666
alternates. The withdrawal shall be made in writing and delivered	2667
to the secretary of state. If the withdrawal is delivered to the	2668
secretary of state on or before the seventieth day before the day	2669
of the primary election, the boards of elections shall remove both	2670
the name of the withdrawn first choice and the names of such	2671
withdrawn candidates from the ballots according to the directions	2672
of the secretary of state. If the withdrawal is delivered to the	2673
secretary of state after the seventieth day before the day of the	2674
primary election, the board of elections shall not remove the name	2675
of the withdrawn first choice and the names of the withdrawn	2676
candidates from the ballots. The board of elections shall post a	2677
notice at each polling location on the day of the primary	2678
election, and shall enclose with each absent voter's ballot given	2679
or mailed after the candidate withdraws, a notice that votes for	2680
the withdrawn first choice or the withdrawn candidates will be	2681
void and will not be counted. If such names are not removed from	2682
all ballots before the day of the election, the votes for the	2683
withdrawn first choice or the withdrawn candidates are void and	2684
shall not be counted.	2685

(D) Any person nominated in a primary election or by	2686
nominating petition as a candidate for election at the next	2687
general election may withdraw as such candidate at any time prior	2688
to the general election. Such withdrawal may be effected by the	2689
filing of a written statement by such candidate announcing the	2690
candidate's withdrawal and requesting that the candidate's name	2691
not be printed on the ballots. If such candidate's declaration of	2692
candidacy or nominating petition was filed with the secretary of	2693
state, the candidate's statement of withdrawal shall be addressed	2694
to and filed with the secretary of state. If such candidate's	2695
declaration of candidacy or nominating petition was filed with a	2696
board of elections, the candidate's statement of withdrawal shall	2697
be addressed to and filed with such board.	2698

(E) When a person withdraws under division (B) or (D) of this	2699
section on or before the seventieth day before the day of the	2700
primary election or the general election, the board of elections	2701
shall remove the name of the withdrawn candidate from the ballots	2702
according to the directions of the secretary of state. When a	2703
person withdraws under division (B) or (D) of this section after	2704
the seventieth day before the day of the primary election or the	2705
general election, the board of elections shall not remove the name	2706
of the withdrawn candidate from the ballots. The board of	2707
elections shall post a notice at each polling place on the day of	2708
the ~~primary~~ election, and shall enclose with each absent voter's	2709
ballot given or mailed after the candidate withdraws, a notice	2710
that votes for the withdrawn candidate will be void and will not	2711
be counted. If the name is not removed from all ballots before the	2712
day of the election, the votes for the withdrawn candidate are	2713
void and shall not be counted.	2714

Sec. 3513.31. (A) If a person nominated in a primary	2715
election as a candidate for election at the next general election,	2716
whose candidacy is to be submitted to the electors of the entire	2717
state, withdraws as that candidate or is disqualified as that	2718
candidate under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the vacancy	2719
in the party nomination so created may be filled by the state	2720
central committee of the major political party that made the	2721
nomination at the primary election, if the committee's chairperson	2722
and secretary certify the name of the person selected to fill the	2723
vacancy by the time specified in this division, at a meeting	2724
called for that purpose. The meeting shall be called by the	2725
chairperson of that committee, who shall give each member of the	2726
committee at least two days' notice of the time, place, and	2727
purpose of the meeting. If a majority of the members of the	2728
committee are present at the meeting, a majority of those present	2729
may select a person to fill the vacancy. The chairperson and	2730
secretary of the meeting shall certify in writing and under oath	2731
to the secretary of state, not later than the eighty-sixth day	2732
before the day of the general election, the name of the person	2733
selected to fill the vacancy. The certification must be	2734
accompanied by the written acceptance of the nomination by the	2735
person whose name is certified. A vacancy that may be filled by an	2736
intermediate or minor political party shall be filled in	2737
accordance with the party's rules by authorized officials of the	2738
party. Certification must be made as in the manner provided for a	2739
major political party.	2740

(B) If a person nominated in a primary election as a party	2741
candidate for election at the next general election, whose	2742
candidacy is to be submitted to the electors of a district	2743
comprised of more than one county but less than all of the	2744
counties of the state, withdraws as that candidate or is	2745
disqualified as that candidate under section 3513.052 of the	2746
Revised Code, the vacancy in the party nomination so created may	2747
be filled by a district committee of the major political party	2748
that made the nomination at the primary election, if the	2749
committee's chairperson and secretary certify the name of the	2750
person selected to fill the vacancy by the time specified in this	2751
division, at a meeting called for that purpose. The district	2752
committee shall consist of the chairperson and secretary of the	2753
county central committee of such political party in each county in	2754
the district. The district committee shall be called by the	2755
chairperson of the county central committee of such political	2756
party of the most populous county in the district, who shall give	2757
each member of the district committee at least two days' notice of	2758
the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. If a majority of the	2759
members of the district committee are present at the district	2760
committee meeting, a majority of those present may select a person	2761
to fill the vacancy. The chairperson and secretary of the meeting	2762
shall certify in writing and under oath to the board of elections	2763
of the most populous county in the district, not later than four	2764
p.m. of the eighty-sixth day before the day of the general	2765
election, the name of the person selected to fill the vacancy. The	2766
certification must be accompanied by the written acceptance of the	2767
nomination by the person whose name is certified. A vacancy that	2768
may be filled by an intermediate or minor political party shall be	2769
filled in accordance with the party's rules by authorized	2770
officials of the party. Certification must be made as in the	2771
manner provided for a major political party.	2772

(C) If a person nominated in a primary election as a party	2773
candidate for election at the next general election, whose	2774
candidacy is to be submitted to the electors of a county,	2775
withdraws as that candidate or is disqualified as that candidate	2776
under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the vacancy in the	2777
party nomination so created may be filled by the county central	2778
committee of the major political party that made the nomination at	2779
the primary election, or by the county executive committee if so	2780
authorized, if the committee's chairperson and secretary certify	2781
the name of the person selected to fill the vacancy by the time	2782
specified in this division, at a meeting called for that purpose.	2783
The meeting shall be called by the chairperson of that committee,	2784
who shall give each member of the committee at least two days'	2785
notice of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. If a	2786
majority of the members of the committee are present at the	2787
meeting, a majority of those present may select a person to fill	2788
the vacancy. The chairperson and secretary of the meeting shall	2789
certify in writing and under oath to the board of that county, not	2790
later than four p.m. of the eighty-sixth day before the day of the	2791
general election, the name of the person selected to fill the	2792
vacancy. The certification must be accompanied by the written	2793
acceptance of the nomination by the person whose name is	2794
certified. A vacancy that may be filled by an intermediate or	2795
minor political party shall be filled in accordance with the	2796
party's rules by authorized officials of the party. Certification	2797
must be made as in the manner provided for a major political	2798
party.	2799

(D) If a person nominated in a primary election as a party	2800
candidate for election at the next general election, whose	2801
candidacy is to be submitted to the electors of a district within	2802
a county, withdraws as that candidate or is disqualified as that	2803
candidate under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the vacancy	2804
in the party nomination so created may be filled by a district	2805
committee consisting of those members of the county central	2806
committee or, if so authorized, those members of the county	2807
executive committee in that county of the major political party	2808
that made the nomination at the primary election who represent the	2809
precincts or the wards and townships within the district, if the	2810
committee's chairperson and secretary certify the name of the	2811
person selected to fill the vacancy by the time specified in this	2812
division, at a meeting called for that purpose. The district	2813
committee meeting shall be called by the chairperson of the county	2814
central committee or executive committee, as appropriate, who	2815
shall give each member of the district committee at least two	2816
days' notice of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. If a	2817
majority of the members of the district committee are present at	2818
the district committee meeting, a majority of those present may	2819
select a person to fill the vacancy. The chairperson and secretary	2820
of the district committee meeting shall certify in writing and	2821
under oath to the board of the county, not later than four p.m. of	2822
the eighty-sixth day before the day of the general election, the	2823
name of the person selected to fill the vacancy. The certification	2824
must be accompanied by the written acceptance of the nomination by	2825
the person whose name is certified. A vacancy that may be filled	2826
by an intermediate or minor political party shall be filled in	2827
accordance with the party's rules by authorized officials of the	2828
party. Certification must be made as in the manner provided for a	2829
major political party.	2830

(E) If a person nominated in a primary election as a party	2831
candidate for election at the next general election, whose	2832
candidacy is to be submitted to the electors of a subdivision	2833
within a county, withdraws as that candidate or is disqualified as	2834
that candidate under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the	2835
vacancy in the party nomination so created may be filled by a	2836
subdivision committee consisting of those members of the county	2837
central committee or, if so authorized, those members of the	2838
county executive committee in that county of the major political	2839
party that made the nomination at that primary election who	2840
represent the precincts or the wards and townships within that	2841
subdivision, if the committee's chairperson and secretary certify	2842
the name of the person selected to fill the vacancy by the time	2843
specified in this division, at a meeting called for that purpose.	2844

The subdivision committee meeting shall be called by the	2845
chairperson of the county central committee or executive	2846
committee, as appropriate, who shall give each member of the	2847
subdivision committee at least two days' notice of the time,	2848
place, and purpose of the meeting. If a majority of the members of	2849
the subdivision committee are present at the subdivision committee	2850
meeting, a majority of those present may select a person to fill	2851
the vacancy. The chairperson and secretary of the subdivision	2852
committee meeting shall certify in writing and under oath to the	2853
board of the county, not later than four p.m. of the eighty-sixth	2854
day before the day of the general election, the name of the person	2855
selected to fill the vacancy. The certification must be	2856
accompanied by the written acceptance of the nomination by the	2857
person whose name is certified. A vacancy that may be filled by an	2858
intermediate or minor political party shall be filled in	2859
accordance with the party's rules by authorized officials of the	2860
party. Certification must be made in the manner provided for a	2861
major political party.	2862

(F) If a person nominated by petition as an independent or	2863
nonpartisan candidate for election at the next general election	2864
withdraws as that candidate or is disqualified as that candidate	2865
under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the vacancy so created	2866
may be filled by a majority of the committee of five, as	2867
designated on the candidate's nominating petition, if a member of	2868
that committee certifies in writing and under oath to the election	2869
officials with whom the candidate filed the candidate's nominating	2870
petition, not later than the eighty-sixth day before the day of	2871
the general election, the name of the person selected to fill the	2872
vacancy. The certification shall be accompanied by the written	2873
acceptance of the nomination by the person whose name is certified	2874
and shall be made in the manner provided for a major political	2875
party.	2876

(G) If a person nominated in a primary election as a party	2877
candidate for election at the next general election dies, the	2878
vacancy so created may be filled by the same committee in the same	2879
manner as provided in this section for the filling of similar	2880
vacancies created by withdrawals or disqualifications under	2881
section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, except that the	2882
certification, when filling a vacancy created by death, may not be	2883
filed with the secretary of state, or with a board of the most	2884
populous county of a district, or with the board of a county in	2885
which the major portion of the population of a subdivision is	2886
located, later than four p.m. of the tenth day before the day of	2887
such general election, or with any other board later than four	2888
p.m. of the fifth day before the day of such general election.	2889

(H) If a person nominated by petition as an independent or	2890
nonpartisan candidate for election at the next general election	2891
dies prior to the tenth day before the day of that general	2892
election, the vacancy so created may be filled by a majority of	2893
the committee of five designated in the nominating petition to	2894
represent the candidate named in it. To fill the vacancy a member	2895
of the committee shall, not later than four p.m. of the fifth day	2896
before the day of the general election, file with the election	2897
officials with whom the petition nominating the person was filed,	2898
a certificate signed and sworn to under oath by a majority of the	2899
members, designating the person they select to fill the vacancy.	2900
The certification must be accompanied by the written acceptance of	2901
the nomination by the person whose name is so certified.	2902

(I) If a person holding an elective office dies or resigns	2903
subsequent to the one hundred fifteenth day before the day of a	2904
primary election and prior to the eighty-sixth day before the day	2905
of the next general election, and if, under the laws of this	2906
state, a person may be elected at that general election to fill	2907
the unexpired term of the person who has died or resigned, the	2908
appropriate committee of each political party, acting as in the	2909
case of a vacancy in a party nomination, as provided in divisions	2910
(A) to (D) of this section, may select a person as the party	2911
candidate for election for such unexpired term at that general	2912
election, and certify the person's name to the appropriate	2913
election official not later than four p.m. on the eighty-sixth day	2914
before the day of that general election, or on the tenth day	2915
following the day on which the vacancy occurs, whichever is later.	2916
When the vacancy occurs on or subsequent to the eighty-sixth day	2917
and six or more days prior to the ~~fifty-sixth~~fortieth day before	2918
the general election, the appropriate committee may select a	2919
person as the party candidate and certify the person's name, as	2920
provided in the preceding sentence, not later than four p.m. on	2921
the ~~fiftieth~~tenth day following the day on which the vacancy	2922
occurs. When the vacancy occurs fewer than six days before the	2923
fortieth day before the general election, the deadline for filing	2924
shall be four p.m. on the thirty-sixth day before the general	2925
election. Thereupon the name shall be printed as the party	2926
candidate under proper titles and in the proper place on the	2927
proper ballots for use at the election. If a person has been	2928
nominated in a primary election, the authorized committee of that	2929
political party shall not select and certify a person as the party	2930
candidate.	2931

(J) Each person desiring to become an independent candidate	2932
to fill the unexpired term shall file a statement of candidacy and	2933
nominating petition, as provided in section 3513.261 of the	2934
Revised Code, with the appropriate election official not later	2935
than four p.m. on the tenth day following the day on which the	2936
vacancy occurs, provided that when the vacancy occurs fewer than	2937
six days before the fifty-sixth day before the general election,	2938
the deadline for filing shall be four p.m. on the fiftieth day	2939
before the general election. The nominating petition shall contain	2940
at least seven hundred fifty signatures and no more than one	2941
thousand five hundred signatures of qualified electors of the	2942
district, political subdivision, or portion of a political	2943
subdivision in which the office is to be voted upon, or the amount	2944
provided for in section 3513.257 of the Revised Code, whichever is	2945
less.	2946

(K) When a person nominated as a candidate by a political	2947
party in a primary election or by nominating petition for an	2948
elective office for which candidates are nominated at a party	2949
primary election withdraws, dies, or is disqualified under section	2950
3513.052 of the Revised Code prior to the general election, the	2951
appropriate committee of any other major political party or	2952
committee of five that has not nominated a candidate for that	2953
office, or whose nominee as a candidate for that office has	2954
withdrawn, died, or been disqualified without the vacancy so	2955
created having been filled, may, acting as in the case of a	2956
vacancy in a party nomination or nomination by petition as	2957
provided in divisions (A) to (F) of this section, whichever is	2958
appropriate, select a person as a candidate of that party or of	2959
that committee of five for election to the office.	2960

Sec. 3519.16. (A) Pursuant to Section 1g of Article II, Ohio	2961
Constitution, the supreme court of Ohio shall have exclusive	2962
original jurisdiction in all challenges to initiative and	2963
referendum petitions.	2964

(B) The ~~circulator of any part-petition, the~~ committee	2965
interested in ~~the~~a petition~~, or any elector may file with the~~	2966
~~board of elections a protest against the board's findings made~~	2967
~~pursuant to section 3519.15 of the Revised Code. Protests shall be~~	2968
~~in writing and shall specify reasons for the protest. Protests for~~	2969
~~all initiative and referendum petitions other than those to be~~	2970
~~voted on by electors throughout the entire state shall be filed~~	2971
~~not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fourth day before the day~~	2972
~~of the election. Once a protest is filed, the board shall proceed~~	2973
~~to establish the sufficiency or insufficiency of the signatures~~	2974
~~and of the verification of those signatures in an action before~~	2975
~~the court of common pleas in the county. The action shall be~~	2976
~~brought within three days after the protest is filed, and it shall~~	2977
~~be heard forthwith by a judge of that court, whose decision shall~~	2978
~~be certified to the board. The signatures that are adjudged~~	2979
~~sufficient or the part-petitions that are adjudged properly~~	2980
~~verified shall be included with the others by the board, and those~~	2981
~~found insufficient and all those part-petitions that are adjudged~~	2982
~~not properly verified shall not be included~~shall include upon	2983
each part-petition filed with the secretary of state a designation	2984
of the county in which the part-petition was circulated and a	2985
number for the part-petition. In any county where part-petitions	2986
are circulated, each part-petition shall be numbered sequentially.	2987
The committee shall sort the part-petitions by county. Upon filing	2988
the petition with the secretary of state, the committee also shall	2989
file the following:	2990

(1) An electronic copy of the petition along with a	2991
verification that the electronic copy is a true representation of	2992
the original filed paper petition;	2993

(2) A summary of the number of part-petitions filed per	2994
county, and the number of signatures on each part-petition;	2995

(3) An index of the electronic copy of the petition.

2996

(C) From the time the petition is initially filed with the	2997
secretary of state and until the part-petitions are returned to	2998
the secretary of state by the boards of elections after a	2999
determination of sufficiency under section 3519.15 of the Revised	3000
Code, any request for the inspection or copying of the original	3001
petition filed with the secretary of state under Chapter 149. of	3002
the Revised Code is fulfilled if the secretary of state permits	3003
the inspection of or provides copies of the electronic copy of the	3004
petition filed by the circulator.	3005

(D) Discrepancies between the electronic copy of a petition	3006
filed under division (B)(1) of this section and the original paper	3007
petition filed with the secretary of state shall not render the	3008
petition invalid. Such discrepancies, if the product of fraud,	3009
shall be subject to criminal penalties under section 3599.36 of	3010
the Revised Code.	3011

(E) The properly verified part-petitions, together with ~~the~~	3012
~~report~~an electronic copy of the ~~board~~part-petitions, shall be	3013
returned to the secretary of state not less than ~~sixty~~one hundred	3014
ten days before the election, provided that, in the case of an	3015
initiated law to be presented to the general assembly, the boards	3016
shall promptly check and return the petitions together with their	3017
report. The secretary of state shall determine the sufficiency of	3018
the signatures not later than one hundred five days before the	3019
election. The secretary of state promptly shall notify the	3020
chairperson of the committee in charge of the circulation as to	3021
the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition and the extent of	3022
the insufficiency.	3023

(F) If the petition is found insufficient because of an	3024
insufficient number of valid signatures, the committee shall be	3025
allowed ten additional days after the notification by the	3026
secretary of state for the filing of additional signatures to the	3027
petition. No additional signatures shall be collected or submitted	3028
to the secretary of state by the committee interested in the	3029
petition, or by any person acting on behalf of the committee,	3030
during the period beginning on the date that the petition is	3031
initially submitted to the secretary of state and ending on the	3032
date that the secretary of state notifies the committee that the	3033
petition has an insufficient number of valid signatures. If the	3034
committee, or any person acting on behalf of the committee,	3035
submits additional signatures, only signatures that were signed	3036
and collected during the ten-day period to collect and submit	3037
additional signatures may be submitted. If additional signatures	3038
are filed, the secretary of state shall determine the sufficiency	3039
of those additional signatures not later than sixty-five days	3040
before the election. The part-petitions of the supplementary	3041
petition that appear to the secretary of state to be properly	3042
verified, upon their receipt by the secretary of state, shall	3043
forthwith be forwarded to the boards of the several counties	3044
together with the part-petitions of the original petition that	3045
have been properly verified. They shall be immediately examined	3046
and passed upon as to the validity and sufficiency of the	3047
signatures on them by each of the boards and returned within ~~five~~	3048
eight days to the secretary of state with the report of each	3049
board. No signature on a supplementary part-petition that is the	3050
same as a signature on an original part-petition shall be counted.	3051
The number of signatures in both the original and supplementary	3052
petitions, properly verified, shall be used by the secretary of	3053
state in determining the total number of signatures to the	3054
petition that the secretary of state shall record and announce. If	3055
they are sufficient, the amendment, proposed law, or law shall be	3056
placed on the ballot as required by law. If the petition is found	3057
insufficient, the secretary of state shall notify the committee in	3058
charge of the circulation of the petition.	3059

Section 2. That existing sections 3.02, 302.09, 305.02,	3060
503.24, 733.31, 1901.10, 2301.02, 3501.301, 3501.38, 3503.06,	3061
3503.14, 3503.16, 3503.19, 3503.28, 3505.13, 3505.18, 3505.181,	3062
3505.182, 3505.183, 3509.03, 3509.04, 3509.05, 3511.02, 3511.05,	3063
3511.09, 3513.04, 3513.262, 3513.263, 3513.30, 3513.31, and	3064
3519.16 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.	3065