To amend section 3501.22 of the Revised Code to permit a student at an Ohio institution of higher education to serve as a precinct election official in the county where they attend school, and to permit up to two high school seniors to serve as precinct officers at a polling place with six or more precinct officers.

Section 1. That section 3501.22 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 3501.22.  (A) On or before the fifteenth day of September in each year, the board of elections by a majority vote shall, after careful examination and investigation as to their qualifications, appoint for each election precinct four residents of the county in which the precinct is located, as judges. Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(D) of this section, all judges of election shall be qualified electors. The judges shall constitute the election officers of the precinct. Not more than one-half of the total number of judges shall be members of the same political party. The term of such precinct officers shall be for one year. The board may, at any time, designate any number of election officers, not more than one-half of whom shall be members of the same political party, to perform their duties at any precinct in any election. The board may appoint additional officials, equally divided between the two major political parties, when necessary to expedite voting.

Vacancies for unexpired terms shall be filled by the board. When new precincts have been created, the board shall appoint judges for those precincts for the unexpired term. Any judge may be summarily removed from office at any time by the board for neglect of duty, malfeasance, or misconduct in office or for any other good and sufficient reason.

Precinct election officials shall perform all of the duties provided by law for receiving the ballots and supplies, opening and closing the polls, and overseeing the casting of ballots during the time the polls are open, and any other duties required by section 3501.26 of the Revised Code.

A board of elections may designate two precinct election officials as counting officials to count and tally the votes cast and certify the results of the election at each precinct, and perform other duties as provided by law. To expedite the counting of votes at each precinct, the board may appoint additional officials, not more than one-half of whom shall be members of the same political party.

The board shall designate one of the precinct election officials who is a member of the dominant political party to serve as a presiding judge, whose duty it is to deliver the returns of the election and all supplies to the office of the board. For these services, the presiding judge shall receive additional compensation in an amount, consistent with section 3501.28 of the Revised Code, determined by the board of elections.

The board shall issue to each precinct election official a certificate of appointment, which the official shall present to the presiding judge at the time the polls are opened.

(B) A person who is currently enrolled as a student at an institution of higher education located within Ohio and who is registered to vote in Ohio may serve as a precinct election official in either of the following locations:

(1) A precinct in the county in which the person is registered to vote.

(2) A precinct in the county in which the institution of higher education the person currently attends is located, if the person can provide proof to the board of elections that the person is currently enrolled at the institution of higher education.

As used in this division, "institution of higher education" means a state institution of higher education, a private college, university, or other postsecondary institution located in this state that possesses a certificate of authorization issued by the Ohio board of regents pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code or a certificate of registration issued by the state board of career colleges and schools under Chapter 3332. of the Revised Code.

(C) If the board of elections determines that not enough qualified electors in a precinct are available to serve as precinct officers, it may appoint persons to serve as precinct officers at a primary, special, or general election who are at least seventeen years of age and are registered to vote in accordance with section 3503.07 of the Revised Code.

(C)(D)(1) A board of elections, in conjunction with the board of education of a city, local, or exempted village school district, the governing authority of a community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, or the chief administrator of a nonpublic school may establish a program permitting certain high school students to apply and, if appointed by the board of elections, to serve as precinct officers at a primary, special, or general election.

In addition to the requirements established by division (C)(D)(2) of this section, a board of education, governing authority, or chief administrator that establishes a program under this division in conjunction with a board of elections may establish additional criteria that students shall meet to be eligible to participate in that program.

(2)(a) To be eligible to participate in a program established under division (C)(D)(1) of this section, a student shall be a United States citizen, a resident of the county, at least seventeen years of age, and enrolled in the senior year of high school.

(b) Any student applying to participate in a program established under division (C)(D)(1) of this section, as part of the student's application process, shall declare the student's political party affiliation with the board of elections.

(3) No student appointed as a precinct officer pursuant to a program established under division (C)(D)(1) of this section shall be designated as a presiding judge.

(4) Any student participating in a program established under division (C)(D)(1) of this section shall be excused for that student's absence from school on the day of an election at which the student is serving as a precinct officer.

(D)(E) In any precinct with six or more precinct officers, up to two students participating in a program established under division (D)(1) of this section who are under eighteen years of age may serve as precinct officers. Not more than one precinct officer in any given precinct with fewer than six precinct officers shall be under eighteen years of age.

Section 2. That existing section 3501.22 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.