Ohio Rev. Code § 3517.105 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3517 / § 3517.105
§ 3517.105. Identification of source of political advertising
Status: in_force

January 1, 2021 Senate Bill 107 - 133rd General Assembly (A)(1) As used in this section, "public political advertising" means advertising to the general public through a broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, poster, yard sign, or outdoor advertising facility, by direct mail, or by any other means of advertising to the general public. (2) For purposes of this section and section 3517.20 of the Revised Code, a person is a member of a political action committee if the person makes one or more contributions to that political action committee, and a person is a member of a political contributing entity if the person makes one or more contributions to, or pays dues, membership fees, or other assessments to, that political contributing entity. (B)(1) Whenever a candidate, a campaign committee, a political action committee or political contributing entity with ten or more members, or a legislative campaign fund makes an independent expenditure, or whenever a political action committee or political contributing entity with fewer than ten members makes an independent expenditure in excess of one hundred dollars for a local candidate, in excess of two hundred fifty dollars for a candidate for the office of member of the general assembly, or in excess of five hundred dollars for a statewide candidate, for the purpose of financing communications advocating the election or defeat of an identified candidate or solicits without the candidate's express consent a contribution for or against an identified candidate through public political advertising, a statement shall appear or be presented in a clear and conspicuous manner in the advertising that does both of the following: (a) Clearly indicates that the communication or public political advertising is not authorized by the candidate or the candidate's campaign committee; (b) Clearly identifies the candidate, campaign committee, political action committee, political contributing entity, or legislative campaign fund that has paid for the communication or public political advertising in accordance with section 3517.20 of the Revised Code. (2)(a) Whenever any campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, political contributing entity, or political party makes an independent expenditure in support of or opposition to any candidate, the committee, entity, fund, or party shall report the independent expenditure and identify the candidate on a statement prescribed by the secretary of state and filed by the committee, entity, fund, or party as part of its statement of contributions and expenditures pursuant to division (A) of section 3517.10 and division (A) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code. (b) Whenever any individual, partnership, or other entity, except a corporation, labor organization, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, political contributing entity, or political party, makes one or more independent expenditures in support of or opposition to any candidate, the individual, partnership, or other entity shall file with the secretary of state in the case of a statewide candidate, or with the board of elections in the county in which the candidate files the candidate's petitions for nomination or election for district or local office, not later than the dates specified in divisions (A)(1), (2), (3), and (4) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code, and, except as otherwise provided in that section, a statement itemizing all independent expenditures made during the period since the close of business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed such statement, if any. The statement shall be made on a form prescribed by the secretary of state or shall be filed by electronic means of transmission pursuant to division (E) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code as authorized or required by that division. The statement shall indicate the date and the amount of each independent expenditure and the candidate on whose behalf it was made and shall be made under penalty of election falsification. (C)(1) Whenever a corporation, labor organization, campaign committee, political action committee with ten or more members, or legislative campaign fund makes an independent expenditure, or whenever a political action committee with fewer than ten members makes an independent expenditure in excess of one hundred dollars for a local ballot issue or question, or in excess of five hundred dollars for a statewide ballot issue or question, for the purpose of financing communications advocating support of or opposition to an identified ballot issue or question or solicits without the express consent of the ballot issue committee a contribution for or against an identified ballot issue or question through public political advertising, a statement shall appear or be presented in a clear and conspicuous manner in the advertising that does both of the following: (a) Clearly indicates that the communication or public political advertising is not authorized by the identified ballot issue committee; (b) Clearly identifies the corporation, labor organization, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, or political action committee that has paid for the communication or public political advertising in accordance with section 3517.20 of the Revised Code. (2)(a) Whenever any corporation, labor organization, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political action committee makes an independent expenditure in support of or opposition to any ballot issue or question, the corporation or labor organization shall report the independent expenditure in accordance with division (C) of section 3599.03 of the Revised Code, and the campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or political action committee shall report the independent expenditure and identify the ballot issue or question on a statement prescribed by the secretary of state and filed by the committee, fund, or party as part of its statement of contributions and expenditures pursuant to division (A) of section 3517.10 and division (A) of section 3517.11 of the Revised Code. (b) Whenever any individual, partnership, or other entity, except a corporation, labor organization, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, or political party, makes one or more independent expenditures in excess of one hundred dollars in support of or opposition to any ballot issue or question, the individual, partnership, or other entity shall file with the secretary of state in the case of a statewide ballot issue or question, or with the board of elections in the county that certifies the issue or question for placement on the ballot in the case of a district or local issue or question, not later than the dates specified in divisions (A)(1), (2), (3), and (4) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code, and, except as otherwise provided in that section, a statement itemizing all independent expenditures made during the period since the close of business on the last day reflected in the last previously filed such statement, if any. The statement shall be made on a form prescribed by the secretary of state or shall be filed by electronic means of transmission pursuant to division (E) of section 3517.106 of the Revised Code as authorized or required by that division. The statement shall indicate the date and the amount of each independent expenditure and the ballot issue or question in support of or opposition to which it was made and shall be made under penalty of election falsification. (3) No person, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, corporation, labor organization, or other organization or association shall use or cause to be used a false or fictitious name in making an independent expenditure in support of or opposition to any candidate or any ballot issue or question. A name is false or fictitious if the person, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, corporation, labor organization, or other organization or association does not actually exist or operate, if the corporation, labor organization, or other organization or association has failed to file a fictitious name or other registration with the secretary of state, if it is required to do so, or if the person, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, or political action committee has failed to file a designation of the appointment of a treasurer, if it is required to do so by division (D)(1) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. (D) Any expenditure by a political party for the purpose of financing communications advocating the election or defeat of a candidate for judicial office shall be deemed to be an independent expenditure subject to the provisions of this section.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3503.01 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3503 / § 3503.01
§ 3503.01. Qualifications of electors - precinct assignment for school elections
Status: in_force

September 12, 2008 House Bill 350 - 127th General Assembly (A) Every citizen of the United States who is of the age of eighteen years or over and who has been a resident of the state thirty days immediately preceding the election at which the citizen offers to vote, is a resident of the county and precinct in which the citizen offers to vote, and has been registered to vote for thirty days, has the qualifications of an elector and may vote at all elections in the precinct in which the citizen resides. (B) When only a portion of a precinct is included within the boundaries of an election district, the board of elections may assign the electors residing in such portion of a precinct to the nearest precinct or portion of a precinct within the boundaries of such election district for the purpose of voting at any special election held in such district. In any election in which only a part of the electors in a precinct is qualified to vote, the board may assign voters in such part to an adjoining precinct. Such assignment may be made to an adjoining precinct in another county with the consent and approval of the board of elections of such other county if the number of voters assigned to vote in a precinct in another county is two hundred or less. The board shall notify all such electors so assigned, at least ten days prior to the holding of any such election, of the location of the polling place where they are entitled to vote at such election. As used in division (B) of this section, "election district" means a school district, municipal corporation, township, or other political subdivision that includes territory in more than one precinct or any other district or authority that includes territory in more than one precinct and that is authorized by law to place an issue on the ballot at a special election.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3513.07 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3513 / § 3513.07
§ 3513.07. Form of declaration of candidacy and petition
Status: in_force

June 1, 2006 House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly The form of declaration of candidacy and petition of a person desiring to be a candidate for a party nomination or a candidate for election to an office or position to be voted for at a primary election shall be substantially as follows: "DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY PARTY PRIMARY ELECTION I, ___________________________ (Name of Candidate), the undersigned, hereby declare under penalty of election falsification that my voting residence is in _______________ precinct of the _____________________________ (Township) or (Ward and City or Village) in the county of ________________, Ohio; that my voting residence is _______________ (Street and Number, if any, or Rural Route and Number) of the _____________________________ (City or Village) of _________________, Ohio; and that I am a qualified elector in the precinct in which my voting residence is located. I am a member of the ________ Party. I hereby declare that I desire to be ____________________ (a candidate for nomination as a candidate of the Party for election to the office of _____________) (a candidate for election to the office or position of ______________) for the ____________ in the state, district, (Full term or unexpired term ending _______________) county, city, or village of ___________________, at the primary election to be held on the _____________ day of _________, ____, and I hereby request that my name be printed upon the official primary election ballot of the said __________ Party as a candidate for _________ (such nomination) or (such election) as provided by law. I further declare that, if elected to said office or position, I will qualify therefor, and that I will support and abide by the principles enunciated by the ____________ Party. Dated this __________ day of _________________, _________ __________________________________ (Signature of candidate) WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE. PETITION OF CANDIDATE We, the undersigned, qualified electors of the state of Ohio, whose voting residence is in the county, city, village, ward, township, or school district, and precinct set opposite our names, and members of the _______________________________________ Party, hereby certify that ____________________________ (Name of candidate) whose declaration of candidacy is filed herewith, is a member of the ____________ Party, and is, in our opinion, well qualified to perform the duties of the office or position to which that candidate desires to be elected. Street City, and Village or Signature Number Township Ward Precinct County Date (Must use address on file with the board of elections) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ - _______________________________________ (Name of circulator of petition), declares under penalty of election falsification that the circulator of the petition is a qualified elector of the state of Ohio and resides at the address appearing below the signature of that circulator; that the circulator is a member of the ___________ Party; that the circulator is the circulator of the foregoing petition paper containing _____________ (Number) signatures; that the circulator witnessed the affixing of every signature; that all signers were to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief qualified to sign; and that every signature is to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief the signature of the person whose signature it purports to be or of an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code. _____________________________ (Signature of circulator) ____________________________ (Address of circulator's permanent residence in this state) _________________________ (If petition is for a statewide candidate, the name and address of person employing to circulate petition, if any) WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE." The secretary of state shall prescribe a form of declaration of candidacy and petition, and the form shall be substantially similar to the declaration of candidacy and petition set forth in this section, that will be suitable for joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor. The petition provided for in this section shall be circulated only by a member of the same political party as the candidate.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3501.90 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3501 / § 3501.90
§ 3501.90. Civil action by elector for harassment
Status: in_force

June 1, 2006 House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly (A) As used in this section: (1) "Harassment in violation of the election law" means either of the following: (a) Any of the following types of conduct in or about a polling place or a place of registration or election: obstructing access of an elector to a polling place; another improper practice or attempt tending to obstruct, intimidate, or interfere with an elector in registering or voting at a place of registration or election; molesting or otherwise engaging in violence against observers in the performance of their duties at a place of registration or election; or participating in a riot, violence, tumult, or disorder in and about a place of registration or election; (b) A violation of division (A)(1), (2), (3), or (5) or division (B) of section 3501.35 of the Revised Code. (2) "Person" has the same meaning as in division (C) of section 1.59 of the Revised Code and also includes any organization that is not otherwise covered by that division. (3) "Trier of fact" means the jury or, in a nonjury action, the court. (B) An elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law has a cause of action against each person that committed the harassment in violation of the election law. In any civil action based on this cause of action, the elector may seek a declaratory judgment, an injunction, or other appropriate equitable relief. The civil action may be commenced by an elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law either alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23. (C)(1) In addition to the equitable relief authorized by division (B) of this section, an elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law may be entitled to relief under division (C)(2) or (3) of this section. (2) If the harassment in violation of the election law involved intentional or reckless threatening or causing of bodily harm to the elector while the elector was attempting to register to vote, to obtain an absent voter's ballot, or to vote, the elector may seek, in a civil action based on the cause of action created by division (B) of this section, monetary damages as prescribed in this division. The civil action may be commenced by the elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law either alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23. Upon proof by a preponderance of the evidence in the civil action that the harassment in violation of the election law involved intentional or reckless threatening or causing of bodily harm to the elector, the trier of fact shall award the elector the greater of three times of the amount of the elector's actual damages or one thousand dollars. The court also shall award a prevailing elector reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. (3) Whether a civil action on the cause of action created by division (B) of this section is commenced by an elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23, if the defendant in the action is an organization that has previously been determined in a court of this state to have engaged in harassment in violation of the election law, the elector may seek an order of the court granting any of the following forms of relief upon proof by a preponderance of the evidence: (a) Divestiture of the organization's interest in any enterprise or in any real property; (b) Reasonable restrictions upon the future activities or investments of the organization, including, but not limited to, prohibiting the organization from engaging in any harassment in violation of the election law; (c) The dissolution or reorganization of the organization; (d) The suspension or revocation of any license, permit, or prior approval granted to the organization by any state agency; (e) The revocation of the organization's authorization to do business in this state if the organization is a foreign corporation or other form of foreign entity. (D) It shall not be a defense in a civil action based on the cause of action created by division (B) of this section, whether commenced by an elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23, that no criminal prosecution was commenced or conviction obtained in connection with the conduct alleged to be the basis of the civil action. (E) In a civil action based on the cause of action created by division (B) of this section, whether commenced by an elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23, the elector may name as defendants each individual who engaged in conduct constituting harassment in violation of the election law as well as any person that employs, sponsors, or uses as an agent any such individual or that has organized a common scheme to cause harassment in violation of the election law. Disclaimer Contact About
Ohio Rev. Code § 3513.16 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3513 / § 3513.16
§ 3513.16. Designation of term for judge of court of common pleas on primary ballot
Status: in_force

October 1, 1953 House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly When two or more judges of the court of common pleas are to be elected in a county at any one election, the name of each candidate shall be placed upon the primary ballot under the designation of the term for which he is a candidate. Such designation shall correspond to that required by section 3513.08 of the Revised Code. The candidates for each term so designated shall be candidates for that term only, unless two or more new judgeships have been created, in which case from all candidates for a newly-created judgeship those receiving the highest number of votes shall be nominated.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3501.35 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3501 / § 3501.35
§ 3501.35. No loitering or congregating near polling places
Status: in_force

June 26, 2013 Senate Bill 109, Senate Bill 10 - 130th General Assembly (A) During an election and the counting of the ballots, no person shall do any of the following: (1) Loiter, congregate, or engage in any kind of election campaigning within the area between the polling place and the small flags of the United States placed on the thoroughfares and walkways leading to the polling place, and if the line of electors waiting to vote extends beyond those small flags, within ten feet of any elector in that line; (2) In any manner hinder or delay an elector in reaching or leaving the place fixed for casting the elector's ballot; (3) Give, tender, or exhibit any ballot or ticket to any person other than the elector's own ballot to the precinct election officials within the area between the polling place and the small flags of the United States placed on the thoroughfares and walkways leading to the polling place, and if the line of electors waiting to vote extends beyond those small flags, within ten feet of any elector in that line; (4) Exhibit any ticket or ballot which the elector intends to cast; (5) Solicit or in any manner attempt to influence any elector in casting the elector's vote. (B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of this section and division (C) of section 3503.23 of the Revised Code, no person who is not an election official, employee, observer, or police officer shall be allowed to enter the polling place during the election, except for the purpose of voting or assisting another person to vote as provided in section 3505.24 of the Revised Code. (2) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a journalist shall be allowed reasonable access to a polling place during an election. As used in this division, "journalist" has the same meaning as in division (B)(2) of section 2923.129 of the Revised Code. (C) No more electors shall be allowed to approach the voting shelves at any time than there are voting shelves provided. (D) The precinct election officials and the police officer shall strictly enforce the observance of this section.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3517.09 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3517 / § 3517.09
§ 3517.09. Coercing political contributions
Status: in_force

April 26, 2005 Senate Bill 115 - 126th General Assembly (A) No person or committee shall solicit, ask, invite, or demand, directly or indirectly, orally or in writing, a contribution, subscription, or payment from a candidate for nomination or election or from the campaign committee of that candidate, and no person shall solicit, ask, invite, or demand that a candidate for nomination or election or the campaign committee of that candidate subscribe to the support of a club or organization, buy tickets to an entertainment, ball, supper, or other meeting, or pay for space in a book, program, or publication. This division does not apply to any of the following: (1) Regular advertisements in periodicals having an established circulation; (2) Regular payments to civic, political, fraternal, social, charitable, or religious organizations of which the candidate was a member or contributor six months before the candidate's candidacy; (3) Regular party assessments made by a party against its own candidates. (B) No person shall coerce, intimidate, or cause harm to another person by an act or failure to act, or shall threaten to coerce, intimidate, or cause harm to another person, because that other person makes or does not make a contribution to a candidate, campaign committee, political party, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, political contributing entity, or person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications. (C) An employer or labor organization, directly or through another person, may obtain contributions for a candidate, campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications from an employee or member from whom the employer or labor organization was not obtaining contributions for that candidate, campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications before March 31, 2005, on an automatic basis pursuant to a payroll deduction plan only if the employee or member who is contributing to that candidate, campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications affirmatively consents to the contribution in writing. (D) In addition to the laws listed in division (A) of section 4117.10 of the Revised Code that prevail over conflicting agreements between employee organizations and public employers, this section prevails over any conflicting provisions of agreements between labor organizations and public employers that are entered into on or after March 31, 2005, pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3505.063 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3505 / § 3505.063
§ 3505.063. Proposed constitutional amendments - official explanation and arguments
Status: in_force

September 29, 2007 House Bill 119 - 127th General Assembly (A) When the general assembly adopts a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment, it may, by resolution, designate a group of members who voted in support of the resolution to prepare arguments for the proposed amendment, and a group of members who voted in opposition to the resolution to prepare arguments against the proposed amendment. If no members voted in opposition to the resolution, or if the general assembly chooses not to designate a group of members to prepare arguments for the proposed amendment or chooses not to designate a group of members to prepare arguments against the proposed amendment, the Ohio ballot board shall prepare or designate a group of persons to prepare the relevant arguments. All arguments prepared under this division shall be filed with the secretary of state not later than eighty days before the date of the election. No argument shall exceed three hundred words. (B)(1) If the group of members of the general assembly or other group of persons designated under division (A) of this section fail to prepare and file their arguments in support of or in opposition to the proposed amendment by the eightieth day before the date of the election, the secretary of state shall notify the Ohio ballot board that those arguments have not been so prepared and filed. The board then shall prepare the missing arguments or designate a group of persons to prepare those arguments. All arguments prepared under this division shall be filed with the secretary of state not later than seventy-five days before the date of the election. No argument shall exceed three hundred words. (2) If the Ohio ballot board fails to provide for the preparation of missing arguments under division (B)(1) of this section after being notified by the secretary of state that one or more arguments have not been timely prepared and filed, the positions of the four appointed members of the board shall be considered vacant, and new members shall be appointed in the manner provided for original appointments.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3503.03 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3503 / § 3503.03
§ 3503.03. Residence for soldiers in national home for such soldiers
Status: in_force

August 22, 1995 House Bill 99 - 121st General Assembly Infirm or disabled soldiers who are inmates of a national home for such soldiers, who are citizens of the United States and have resided in this state thirty days immediately preceding any election, and who are otherwise qualified as to age and residence within the county and township shall have their lawful residence in the county and township in which such home is located.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3503.08 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3503 / § 3503.08
§ 3503.08. Registration equipment, supplies and rules
Status: in_force

May 31, 1977 Senate Bill 125 - 112th General Assembly The board of elections shall provide such printed forms, blanks, supplies, and equipment and prescribe such reasonable rules as are necessary to carry out sections 3503.06 to 3503.32 of the Revised Code.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3505.10 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3505 / § 3505.10
§ 3505.10. Presidential ballot
Status: in_force

February 5, 2014 Senate Bill 193 - 130th General Assembly (A) On the presidential ballot below the stubs at the top of the face of the ballot shall be printed "Official Presidential Ballot" centered between the side edges of the ballot. Below "Official Presidential Ballot" shall be printed a heavy line centered between the side edges of the ballot. Below the line shall be printed "Instruction to Voters" centered between the side edges of the ballot, and below those words shall be printed the following instructions: "(1) To vote for the candidates for president and vice-president whose names are printed below, record your vote in the manner provided next to the names of such candidates. That recording of the vote will be counted as a vote for each of the candidates for presidential elector whose names have been certified to the secretary of state and who are members of the same political party as the nominees for president and vice-president. A recording of the vote for independent candidates for president and vice-president shall be counted as a vote for the presidential electors filed by such candidates with the secretary of state. (2) To vote for candidates for president and vice-president in the blank space below, record your vote in the manner provided and write the names of your choice for president and vice-president under the respective headings provided for those offices. Such write-in will be counted as a vote for the candidates' presidential electors whose names have been properly certified to the secretary of state. (3) If you tear, soil, deface, or erroneously mark this ballot, return it to the precinct election officers or, if you cannot return it, notify the precinct election officers, and obtain another ballot." (B) Below those instructions to the voter shall be printed a single vertical column of enclosed rectangular spaces equal in number to the number of presidential candidates plus one additional space for write-in candidates. Each of those rectangular spaces shall be enclosed by a heavy line along each of its four sides, and such spaces shall be separated from each other by one-half inch of open space. In each of those enclosed rectangular spaces, except the space provided for write-in candidates, shall be printed the names of the candidates for president and vice-president certified to the secretary of state or nominated in one of the following manners: (1) Nominated by the national convention of a political party to which delegates and alternates were elected in this state at the next preceding primary election. A political party certifying candidates so nominated shall certify the names of those candidates to the secretary of state on or before the ninetieth day before the day of the general election. (2) Nominated by nominating petition in accordance with section 3513.257 of the Revised Code. Such a petition shall be filed on or before the ninetieth day before the day of the general election to provide sufficient time to verify the sufficiency and accuracy of signatures on it. (3) Certified to the secretary of state for placement on the presidential ballot by authorized officials of a minor political party that has held a state or national convention for the purpose of choosing those candidates or that may, without a convention, certify those candidates in accordance with the procedure authorized by its party rules. The officials shall certify the names of those candidates to the secretary of state on or before the ninetieth day before the day of the general election. The certification shall be accompanied by a designation of a sufficient number of presidential electors to satisfy the requirements of law. The names of candidates for electors of president and vice-president shall not be placed on the ballot, but shall be certified to the secretary of state as required by sections 3513.11 and 3513.257 of the Revised Code. A vote for any candidates for president and vice-president shall be a vote for the electors of those candidates whose names have been certified to the secretary of state. (C) The arrangement of the printing in each of the enclosed rectangular spaces shall be substantially as follows: Near the top and centered within the rectangular space shall be printed "For President" in ten-point boldface upper and lower case type. Below "For President" shall be printed the name of the candidate for president in twelve-point boldface upper case type. Below the name of the candidate for president shall be printed the name of the political party by which that candidate for president was nominated in eight-point lightface upper and lower case type. Below the name of such political party shall be printed "For Vice-President" in ten-point boldface upper and lower case type. Below "For Vice-President" shall be printed the name of the candidate for vice-president in twelve-point boldface upper case type. Below the name of the candidate for vice-president shall be printed the name of the political party by which that candidate for vice-president was nominated in eight-point lightface upper and lower case type. Except for candidates nominated by petition under section 3517.012 of the Revised Code, no political identification or name of any political party shall be printed below the names of presidential and vice-presidential candidates nominated by petition. The rectangular spaces on the ballot described in this section shall be rotated and printed as provided in section 3505.03 of the Revised Code.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3517.082 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3517 / § 3517.082
§ 3517.082. Political action committee - separate segregated fund
Status: in_force

March 31, 2005 House Bill 1SPECIALSESSION - 125th General Assembly (A) Any corporation, any nonprofit corporation, or any labor organization may establish, administer, and solicit contributions from the persons listed in division (B) of this section, to either or both of the following: (1) A political action committee of the corporation or labor organization with respect to state and local elections; (2) A separate segregated fund pursuant to the Federal Election Campaign Act. (B)(1) A corporation and a nonprofit corporation may solicit contributions from its stockholders, officers, directors, trustees that are not corporations or labor organizations, and employees. (2) A nonprofit corporation also may solicit contributions from: (a) Its members that are not corporations or labor organizations; (b) Officers, directors, trustees that are not corporations or labor organizations, and employees of any members of the nonprofit corporation. (3) A labor organization may solicit contributions from its members, officers, and employees. (C) A corporation, nonprofit corporation, or labor organization shall report to a political action committee, or to a separate segregated fund with respect to state and local elections, the following costs expended by the corporation, nonprofit corporation, or labor organization that are associated with establishing, administering, and soliciting contributions to the political action committee or separate segregated fund pursuant to division (A) of this section: (1) Mailing and printing expenses for direct solicitation of contributions pursuant to this section; (2) The portion of an employee's salary or wages attributable to time the employee spends in activities related to establishing, administering, and soliciting contributions to a political action committee or separate segregated fund, if that time exceeds during a reporting period fifty per cent of the time for which the employee is compensated by the corporation, nonprofit corporation, or labor organization; (3) The cost associated with the purchase, lease, operation, and use of equipment for activities related to establishing, administering, and soliciting contributions to a political action committee or separate segregated fund if during a reporting period more than fifty per cent of the use of the equipment is for those activities; (4) Professional fees paid by the corporation, nonprofit corporation, or labor organization for establishing, administering, and soliciting contributions to a political action committee or separate segregated fund. The political action committee shall itemize the amounts and purposes of those costs expended by the corporation, nonprofit corporation, or labor organization and file them as part of the statement required of political action committees under division (A) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. The separate segregated fund with respect to state and local elections shall file with the secretary of state a copy of the portion of each report and statement required under the Federal Election Campaign Act that applies to state and local elections at the same time that the entire original report is filed in accordance with that act. (D) A corporation, nonprofit corporation, or labor organization may obtain contributions for a political action committee or a separate segregated fund under this section from an individual described in division (B) of this section from whom the corporation, nonprofit corporation, or labor organization was not obtaining contributions for that political action committee or separate segregated fund before the effective date of this amendment on an automatic basis pursuant to a payroll deduction plan only if the individual who is contributing to that political action committee or separate segregated fund affirmatively consents to the contribution in writing. (E) In addition to the laws listed in division (A) of section 4117.10 of the Revised Code that prevail over conflicting agreements between employee organizations and public employers, this section prevails over any conflicting provisions of agreements between labor organizations and public employers that are entered into on or after the effective date of this amendment pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3503.18 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3503 / § 3503.18
§ 3503.18. Cancellation of registration
Status: in_force

March 20, 2026 Senate Bill 293 - 136th General Assembly (A)(1) Not later than the last day of each month, the director of health shall file with the secretary of state the names, social security numbers, dates of birth, dates of death, and residences of all persons, over eighteen years of age, who have died within this state or another state during the period beginning on the date of the most recent filing and ending on the day before the date of the current filing. If the director is notified of the death of such a person after the director has filed the report for the period during which the person died, the director shall file with the secretary of state a supplemental report containing that information concerning the person not later than one month after the director is notified of the person's death. (2) The secretary of state and the director of health shall jointly establish a secure electronic system through which they shall exchange the information described in division (A)(1) of this section regarding the death of a registered elector. (B) The secretary of state shall prepare and transmit a monthly report to each board of elections that identifies each registered elector in the county who has died, based on information the secretary of state receives from the United States social security administration, from the systematic alien verification for entitlements (SAVE) program, or its successor program, operated by the United States department of homeland security or its successor agency, or from the state and territorial exchange of vital events (STEVE) administered by the national association for public health statistics and information systems. (C) At least once each month, each probate judge in this state shall file with the board of elections the names and residence addresses of all persons over eighteen years of age who have been adjudicated incompetent for the purpose of voting, as provided in section 5122.301 of the Revised Code. (D) At least once each month the clerk of the court of common pleas shall file with the board the names and residence addresses of all persons who have been convicted during the previous month of crimes that would disfranchise such persons under existing laws of the state. Reports of conviction of crimes under the laws of the United States that would disfranchise an elector and that are provided to the secretary of state by any United States attorney shall be forwarded by the secretary of state to the appropriate board of elections. (E) Upon receiving a report required by this section, the board of elections shall promptly cancel the registration of each elector named in the report in accordance with section 3503.21 of the Revised Code. If the report contains a residence address of an elector in a county other than the county in which the board of elections is located, the director shall promptly send a copy of the report to the appropriate board of elections, which shall cancel the registration in accordance with that section. Last updated January 9, 2026 at 11:33 AM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3506.08 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3506 / § 3506.08
§ 3506.08. Printed ballot card specifications
Status: in_force

August 22, 1995 House Bill 99 - 121st General Assembly When a marking device designed for use with printed ballot cards has been approved by the secretary of state pursuant to section 3506.05 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall for each election prescribe specifications for the printing of such ballot cards that will present to voters the same information with respect to candidates, offices, questions, and issues obtainable from paper ballots for the same election prepared pursuant to Chapter 3505. of the Revised Code. Each ballot card shall have attached two stubs, each of the width of the ballot and each at least one-half inch in length, except that, if the board of elections has an alternate method to account for the ballots that the secretary of state has authorized, each ballot card may have only one stub that shall be the width of the ballot and not less than one-half inch in length. In the case of ballot cards with two stubs, the stubs shall be separated from the ballot card and from each other by perforated lines. One stub shall be known as Stub A and shall have printed on its face "Stub A" and "Consecutive Number _____" The other stub shall be known as Stub B and shall have printed on its face "Stub B" and "Consecutive Number _____" and the instructions to the voter which shall be printed in upper and lower case ten point type. Each ballot card of each kind of ballot provided for use in each precinct shall be numbered consecutively by printing such number upon both of the stubs attached thereto. The board of elections may order the ballot type, part, rotation series, and the precinct designation printed and pre-punched at the top of each ballot card. This information shall be separated from the remaining portion of the ballot card. The secretary of state shall further prescribe the supplementary means, whether paper ballots, ballot envelopes, or other, by which a voter may write in the names of candidates whose names do not appear on the ballot.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3513.131 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3513 / § 3513.131
§ 3513.131. Candidates with identical surnames
Status: in_force

February 25, 2014 Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly In the event two or more persons with identical surnames run for the same office in a primary election on the same ballot, the names of the candidates shall be differentiated on the ballot by varying combinations of first and middle names and initials. Within twenty-four hours after the final date for filing declarations of candidacy or petitions for candidacy, the director of the board of elections for local, municipal, county, general, or special elections, or the director of the board of elections of the most populous county for district, general, or special elections, or the secretary of state for state-wide general and special elections shall notify the persons with identical given names and surnames that the names of such persons will be differentiated on the ballot. If one of the candidates is an incumbent who is a candidate to succeed self for the office the incumbent occupies, the incumbent shall have first choice of the name by which the incumbent is designated on the ballot. If an incumbent does not make a choice within two days after notification or if none of the candidates is an incumbent, the board of elections within three days after notification shall designate the names by which the candidates are identified on the ballot. In case of a district candidate the board of elections in the most populous county shall make the determination. In case of state-wide candidates, or in the case any board of elections fails to make a designation within three days after notification, the secretary of state shall immediately make the determination. "Notification" as required by this section shall be by the director of the board of elections or secretary of state by certified mail at the candidate's address listed in the candidate's declaration or petition of candidacy.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3505.13 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3505 / § 3505.13
§ 3505.13. Contract for printing ballots
Status: in_force

April 3, 2023 House Bill 487 - 134th General Assembly (A) A contract for the printing of ballots involving a cost in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars shall not be awarded until after a proposal period of fifteen days. During the proposal period, a notice shall be published once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county, may be posted electronically by email or other electronic means by the board of elections, and may be given by mail by the board of elections, addressed to the responsible printing offices. (B) Except as otherwise provided in this section, each proposal for a contract described in division (A) of this section must be accompanied by a bid bond in a sum of ten per cent of the amount of the proposal. No proposal unaccompanied by such bid bond shall be considered by the board. (C) The contract shall be awarded to the most qualified responsible proposer that meets the minimum standards established by the secretary of state under division (D) of this section. The proposer shall post a performance bond equal to one hundred per cent of a single election's contract amount. If the contract is for multiple elections, then the board instead may require the proposer to post a performance bond of a sum equal to one hundred per cent of the board's estimated ballot printing costs for the largest election to be conducted during the contract period. (D) The secretary of state shall adopt rules establishing printing, mailing, and security standards for vendors that print ballots under contracts entered into under this section, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. Last updated January 24, 2023 at 12:16 PM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3503.16 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3503 / § 3503.16
§ 3503.16. Change of address or name
Status: in_force

April 7, 2023 House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly (A) Except as otherwise provided in division (E) of section 111.44 of the Revised Code, whenever a registered elector changes the place of residence of that registered elector from one precinct to another within a county or from one county to another, or has a change of name, that registered elector shall report the change by delivering a change of residence or change of name form, whichever is appropriate, as prescribed by the secretary of state under section 3503.14 of the Revised Code to the state or local office of a designated agency, a public high school or vocational school, a public library, the office of the county treasurer, the office of the secretary of state, any office of the registrar or deputy registrar of motor vehicles, or any office of a board of elections in person or by a third person. Any voter registration, change of address, or change of name application, returned by mail, may be sent only to the secretary of state or the board of elections. A registered elector also may update the registration of that registered elector by filing a change of residence or change of name form on the day of a special, primary, or general election at the polling place in the precinct in which that registered elector resides or at the board of elections or at another site designated by the board. (B)(1)(a) Any registered elector who moves within a precinct on or prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election and has not filed a notice of change of residence with the board of elections may vote in that election by going to that registered elector's assigned polling place, completing and signing a notice of change of residence, showing photo identification, and casting a ballot. (b) Any registered elector who changes the name of that registered elector and remains within a precinct on or prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election and has not filed a notice of change of name with the board of elections may vote in that election by going to that registered elector's assigned polling place, completing and signing a notice of a change of name, and casting a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. If the registered elector provides to the precinct election officials proof of a legal name change, such as a marriage license or court order that includes the elector's current and prior names, the elector may complete and sign a notice of change of name and cast a regular ballot. (2) Any registered elector who moves from one precinct to another within a county or moves from one precinct to another and changes the name of that registered elector on or prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election and has not filed a notice of change of residence or change of name, whichever is appropriate, with the board of elections may vote in that election if that registered elector complies with division (G) of this section or does all of the following: (a) Appears at anytime during regular business hours on or after the twenty-eighth day prior to the election in which that registered elector wishes to vote or, if the election is held on the day of a presidential primary election, the twenty-fifth day prior to the election, through noon of the Saturday prior to the election at the office of the board of elections, appears at any time during regular business hours on the Monday prior to the election at the office of the board of elections, or appears on the day of the election at either of the following locations: (i) The polling place for the precinct in which that registered elector resides; (ii) The office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections. (b) Completes and signs, under penalty of election falsification, the written affirmation on the provisional ballot envelope, which shall serve as a notice of change of residence or change of name, whichever is appropriate; (c) Votes a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code at the polling place, at the office of the board of elections, or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections, whichever is appropriate, using the address to which that registered elector has moved or the name of that registered elector as changed, whichever is appropriate; (d) Completes and signs, under penalty of election falsification, a statement attesting that that registered elector moved or had a change of name, whichever is appropriate, on or prior to the day of the election, has voted a provisional ballot at the polling place for the precinct in which that registered elector resides, at the office of the board of elections, or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections, whichever is appropriate, and will not vote or attempt to vote at any other location for that particular election. (C) Any registered elector who moves from one county to another county within the state on or prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election and has not registered to vote in the county to which that registered elector moved may vote in that election if that registered elector complies with division (G) of this section or does all of the following: (1) Appears at any time during regular business hours on or after the twenty-eighth day prior to the election in which that registered elector wishes to vote or, if the election is held on the day of a presidential primary election, the twenty-fifth day prior to the election, through noon of the Saturday prior to the election at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections, appears during regular business hours on the Monday prior to the election at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections, or appears on the day of the election at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections; (2) Completes and signs, under penalty of election falsification, the written affirmation on the provisional ballot envelope, which shall serve as a notice of change of residence; (3) Votes a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections, using the address to which that registered elector has moved; (4) Completes and signs, under penalty of election falsification, a statement attesting that that registered elector has moved from one county to another county within the state on or prior to the day of the election, has voted at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location instead of the office of the board of elections, and will not vote or attempt to vote at any other location for that particular election. (D) A person who votes by absent voter's ballots pursuant to division (G) of this section shall not make written application for the ballots pursuant to Chapter 3509. of the Revised Code. Ballots cast pursuant to division (G) of this section shall be set aside in a special envelope and counted during the official canvass of votes in the manner provided for in sections 3505.32 and 3509.06 of the Revised Code insofar as that manner is applicable. The board shall examine the pollbooks to verify that no ballot was cast at the polls or by absent voter's ballots under Chapter 3509. or 3511. of the Revised Code by an elector who has voted by absent voter's ballots pursuant to division (G) of this section. Any ballot determined to be insufficient for any of the reasons stated above or stated in section 3509.07 of the Revised Code shall not be counted. Subject to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code, a board of elections may lease or otherwise acquire a site different from the office of the board at which registered electors may vote pursuant to division (B) or (C) of this section. (E) Upon receiving a notice of change of residence or change of name, the board of elections shall immediately send the registrant an acknowledgment notice. If the change of residence or change of name notice is valid, the board shall update the voter's registration as appropriate. If that form is incomplete, the board shall inform the registrant in the acknowledgment notice specified in this division of the information necessary to complete or update that registrant's registration. (F) Change of residence and change of name forms shall be available at each polling place, and when these forms are completed, noting changes of residence or name, as appropriate, they shall be filed with election officials at the polling place. Election officials shall return completed forms, together with the pollbooks and tally sheets, to the board of elections. The board of elections shall provide change of residence and change of name forms to the probate court and court of common pleas. The court shall provide the forms to any person eighteen years of age or older who has a change of name by order of the court or who applies for a marriage license. The court shall forward all completed forms to the board of elections within five days after receiving them. (G) A registered elector who otherwise would qualify to vote under division (B) or (C) of this section but is unable to appear at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location, on account of personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity, may vote on the day of the election if that registered elector does all of the following: (1) Makes a written application on a form prescribed by the secretary of state that includes all of the information required under section 3509.03 of the Revised Code to the appropriate board for an absent voter's ballot on or after the twenty-seventh day prior to the election in which the registered elector wishes to vote through the close of business on the seventh day prior to that election and requests that the absent voter's ballot be sent to the address to which the registered elector has moved if the registered elector has moved, or to the address of that registered elector who has not moved but has had a change of name; (2) Declares that the registered elector has moved or had a change of name, whichever is appropriate, and otherwise is qualified to vote under the circumstances described in division (B) or (C) of this section, whichever is appropriate, but that the registered elector is unable to appear at the board of elections because of personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity; (3) Completes and returns along with the completed absent voter's ballot a notice of change of residence indicating the address to which the registered elector has moved, or a notice of change of name, whichever is appropriate; (4) Completes and signs, under penalty of election falsification, a statement attesting that the registered elector has moved or had a change of name on or prior to the day before the election, has voted by absent voter's ballot because of personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity that prevented the registered elector from appearing at the board of elections, and will not vote or attempt to vote at any other location or by absent voter's ballot mailed to any other location or address for that particular election. Last updated January 24, 2023 at 3:56 PM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3501.15 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3501 / § 3501.15
§ 3501.15. Election officials not to be candidates - exceptions
Status: in_force

February 26, 1986 House Bill 555 - 116th General Assembly No person shall serve as a member, director, deputy director, or employee of the board of elections who is a candidate for any office to be filled at an election, except the office of delegate or alternate to a convention, member of the board of directors of a county agricultural society, presidential elector, or a member of a party committee. No person who is a candidate for an office or position to be voted for by the electors of a precinct, except for a candidate for county central committee who is not opposed by any other candidate in that election and precinct, shall serve as a precinct election officer in said precinct.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3505.33 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3505 / § 3505.33
§ 3505.33. Declaration of election results - tie votes - abstracts and report of votes
Status: in_force

September 30, 2025 House Bill 96 - 136th General Assembly When the board of elections has completed the canvass of the election returns from the precincts in its county, in which electors were entitled to vote at any general or special election, it shall determine and declare the results of the elections determined by the electors of such county or of a district or subdivision within such county. If more than the number of candidates to be elected to an office received the largest and an equal number of votes, such tie shall be resolved by lot by the chairperson of the board in the presence of a majority of the members of the board. Such declaration shall be in writing and shall be signed by at least a majority of the members of the board. It shall bear the date of the day upon which it is made, and a copy thereof shall be posted by the board in a conspicuous place in its office. The board shall keep such copy posted for a period of at least five days. Thereupon the board shall promptly certify abstracts of the results of such elections within its county, in such forms as the secretary of state prescribes. Such forms shall be designated and shall contain abstracts as follows: Form No. 1. An abstract of the votes cast for the office of president and vice-president of the United States. Form No. 2. An abstract of the votes cast for the office of governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, attorney general, chief justice of the supreme court of Ohio, judge of the supreme court of Ohio, member of the senate of the congress of the United States, member at large of the house of representatives of the congress of the United States, district member of the house of representatives of the congress of the United States, and an abstract of the votes cast upon each question or issue submitted at such election to electors throughout the entire state. Form No. 3. An abstract of the votes cast for the office of member of the senate of the general assembly, and member of the house of representatives of the general assembly. Form No. 4. A report of the votes cast for judge of the court of appeals, judge of the court of common pleas, judge of the probate court, judge of the county court, county commissioner, county auditor, prosecuting attorney, clerk of the court of common pleas, sheriff, county recorder, county treasurer, county engineer, and coroner. Form No. 5. A report of the votes cast upon all questions and issues other than such questions and issues which were submitted to electors throughout the entire state. Form No. 6. A report of the votes cast for municipal offices, judge of the municipal court, township offices, and the office of member of a board of education. One copy of each of these forms shall be kept in the office of the board. One copy of each of these forms shall promptly be sent to the secretary of state, who shall place the records contained in forms No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 6 in electronic format. One copy of Form No. 2 shall promptly be sent by electronic mail to the president of the senate of the general assembly. The board shall also at once upon completion of the official count send a certified copy of that part of each of the forms which pertains to an election in which only electors of a district comprised of more than one county but less than all of the counties of the state voted to the board of the most populous county in such district. It shall also at once upon completion of the official count send a certified copy of that part of each of the forms which pertains to an election in which only electors of a subdivision located partly within the county voted to the board of the county in which the major portion of the population of such subdivision is located. If, after certifying and sending abstracts and parts thereof, a board finds that any such abstract or part thereof is incorrect, it shall promptly prepare, certify, and send a corrected abstract or part thereof to take the place of each incorrect abstract or part thereof theretofore certified and sent. Last updated July 29, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3517.121 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3517 / § 3517.121
§ 3517.121. Contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals
Status: in_force

September 30, 2025 House Bill 96 - 136th General Assembly Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Revised Code: (A) As used in this section: (1) "Electioneering communication" has the same meaning as in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code. (2) "Foreign national" means any of the following, as applicable: (a) In the case of an individual, an individual who is not a United States citizen or national; (b) A government of a foreign country or of a political subdivision of a foreign country; (c) A foreign political party; (d) A person, other than an individual, that is organized under the laws of, or has its principal place of business in, a foreign country. (B) No foreign national shall, directly or indirectly through any person or entity, do any of the following: (1) Make a contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure in support of or opposition to a candidate for any elective office in this state, including an office of a political party; (2) Make a contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure in support of or opposition to a statewide ballot issue or question, regardless of whether the ballot issue or question has yet been certified to appear on the ballot; (3) Make a disbursement for the direct cost of producing or airing an electioneering communication; (4) Make a contribution to a candidate, campaign committee, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, state candidate fund, political party, or separate segregated fund, to any committee created to support or oppose a ballot issue or question, or, to the maximum extent permitted by law and by the constitutions of the United States and of this state, to a continuing association; (5) Promise, either expressly or implicitly, to make a contribution, expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement described in division (B)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of this section. (C) No individual, candidate, campaign committee, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, state candidate fund, political party, separate segregated fund, or committee created to support or oppose a ballot issue or question and, to the maximum extent permitted by law and by the constitutions of the United States and of this state, no continuing association shall, directly or indirectly through any other person or entity, knowingly do either of the following: (1) Solicit, accept, or receive any funds from a foreign national for any purpose described in division (B) of this section; (2) Make a contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure using any funds the person knows were received from a foreign national for any purpose described in division (B) of this section. (D) No person shall knowingly aid or facilitate a violation of division (B) or (C) of this section. (E) Any complaint that alleges a violation of division (W) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code shall be treated as instead alleging a violation of this section. (F)(1) Whoever knowingly violates division (B) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree on a first offense and is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree on a second or subsequent offense. The violator also shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount involved in the violation or ten thousand dollars, whichever amount is greater. (2) Whoever knowingly violates division (C) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree on a first offense and is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree on a second or subsequent offense. The violator also shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount involved in the violation or ten thousand dollars, whichever amount is greater, and shall be required to return the total amount accepted in violation of that division to the foreign national from whom it was accepted. (3) Whoever knowingly violates division (D) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree and shall be fined one thousand dollars. (G)(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (G)(1)(b) of this section, the attorney general has exclusive authority to prosecute a violation of this section and has exclusive supervision and control of all investigations, prosecutions, and enforcement proceedings under this section. (b) If the attorney general is a victim or witness or otherwise involved in an alleged violation of this section, the attorney general shall refer the matter to the appropriate prosecutor, as determined under division (C) of section 3517.17 of the Revised Code, except that if applicable, the attorney general shall make the determination described in division (B)(2) of that section instead of the Ohio election integrity commission. (2) Upon the occurrence of either of the following, the attorney general shall investigate an alleged violation of this section in consultation with the secretary of state: (a) The submission of a written request to the attorney general by the governor, the secretary of state, the general assembly, or the Ohio election integrity commission, alleging a violation of this section; (b) The filing of a complaint with the attorney general by an elector of this state, alleging a violation of this section. (3) If it appears to the attorney general, after conducting an investigation under division (G)(2) of this section, that there is probable cause to believe that a violation of this section has occurred, the attorney general may prosecute the violation in a court of competent jurisdiction. (H) When proceeding under this section, the attorney general and any assistant or special counsel designated by the attorney general for that purpose have all the rights, privileges, and powers conferred by law on prosecuting attorneys, including the power to appear before grand juries and to interrogate witnesses before such grand juries. These powers of the attorney general are in addition to any other applicable powers of the attorney general. Last updated July 24, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3501.011 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3501 / § 3501.011
§ 3501.011. Legal mark of registered elector
Status: in_force

September 26, 2003 House Bill 95 - 125th General Assembly (A) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B) and (C) of this section, and except as otherwise provided in any section of Title XXXV of the Revised Code to the contrary, as used in the sections of the Revised Code relating to elections and political communications, whenever a person is required to sign or affix a signature to a declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, initiative petition, referendum petition, recall petition, or any other kind of petition, or to sign or affix a signature on any other document that is filed with or transmitted to a board of elections or the office of the secretary of state, "sign" or "signature" means that person's written, cursive-style legal mark written in that person's own hand. (B) For persons who do not use a cursive-style legal mark during the course of their regular business and legal affairs, "sign" or "signature" means that person's other legal mark that the person uses during the course of that person's regular business and legal affairs that is written in the person's own hand. (C) Any voter registration record requiring a person's signature shall be signed using the person's legal mark used in the person's regular business and legal affairs. For any purpose described in division (A) of this section, the legal mark of a registered elector shall be considered to be the mark of that elector as it appears on the elector's voter registration record.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3523.08 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3523 / § 3523.08
§ 3523.08. Convention powers and rules
Status: in_force

October 1, 1953 House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly The convention shall be the judge of the election and qualification of its members, and may elect its president, secretary, and other officers and adopt its own rules.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3505.31 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3505 / § 3505.31
§ 3505.31. Sealing ballots, pollbooks, poll lists or signature pollbooks, tally sheets
Status: in_force

October 3, 2023 House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly When the results of the voting in a polling place on the day of an election have been determined and entered upon the proper forms and the certifications of those results have been signed by the precinct officials, those officials, before leaving the polling place, shall place all ballots that they have counted in containers provided for that purpose by the board of elections, and shall seal each container in a manner that it cannot be opened without breaking the seal or the material of which the container is made. They shall also seal the pollbook, poll list or signature pollbook, and tally sheet in a manner that the data contained in these items cannot be seen without breaking the seals. On the outside of these items shall be a plain indication that they are to be filed with the board. The voting location manager and an employee or appointee of the board of elections who has taken an oath to uphold the laws and constitution of this state, including an oath that the person will promptly and securely perform the duties required under this section and who is a member of a different political party than the voting location manager, shall then deliver to the board the containers of ballots and the sealed pollbook, poll list, and tally sheet, together with all other election reports, materials, and supplies required to be delivered to the board. The board shall carefully preserve all ballots prepared and provided by it for use in an election, whether used or unused, including any electronic images of ballots, for at least eighty-one days after the day of the election, except that, if an election includes the nomination or election of candidates for any of the offices of president, vice-president, presidential elector, member of the senate of the congress of the United States, or member of the house of representatives of the congress of the United States, the board shall carefully preserve all ballots prepared and provided by it for use in that election, whether used or unused, for twenty-two months after the day of the election. If an election is held within that eighty-one-day period, the board shall have authority to transfer those ballots to other containers to preserve them until the eighty-one-day period has expired. After that eighty-one-day period, the ballots shall be disposed of by the board in a manner that the board orders, or where voting machines have been used the counters may be turned back to zero; provided that the secretary of state, within that eighty-one-day period, may order the board to preserve the ballots or any part of the ballots for a longer period of time, in which event the board shall preserve those ballots for that longer period of time. In counties where voting machines are used, if an election is to be held within the eighty-one days immediately following a primary, general, or special election or within any period of time within which the ballots have been ordered preserved by the secretary of state or a court of competent jurisdiction, the board, after giving notice to all interested parties and affording them an opportunity to have a representative present, shall open the compartments of the machines and, without unlocking the machines, shall recanvass the vote cast in them as if a recount were being held. The results shall be certified by the board, and this certification shall be filed in the board's office and retained for the remainder of the period for which ballots must be kept. After preparation of the certificate, the counters may be turned back to zero, and the machines may be used for the election. The board shall carefully preserve the pollbook, poll list or signature pollbook, and tally sheet delivered to it from each polling place until it has completed the official canvass of the election returns from all precincts in which electors were entitled to vote at an election, and has prepared and certified the abstracts of election returns, as required by law. The board shall not break, or permit anyone to break, the seals upon the pollbook, poll list or signature pollbook, and tally sheet, or make, or permit any one to make, any changes or notations in these items, while they are in its custody, except as provided by section 3505.32 of the Revised Code. Pollbooks and poll lists or signature pollbooks of a party primary election delivered to the board from polling places shall be carefully preserved by it for two years after the day of election in which they were used, and shall then be disposed of by the board in a manner that the board orders. Pollbooks, poll lists or signature pollbooks, tally sheets, summary statements, and other records and returns of an election delivered to it from polling places shall be carefully preserved by the board for two years after the day of the election in which they were used, and shall then be disposed of by the board in a manner that the board orders. Last updated September 6, 2023 at 11:16 AM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3513.30 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3513 / § 3513.30
§ 3513.30. Death or withdrawal of candidate before primary election
Status: in_force

June 21, 2013 Senate Bill 47 - 130th General Assembly (A)(1) If only one valid declaration of candidacy is filed for nomination as a candidate of a political party for an office and that candidate dies prior to the tenth day before the primary election, both of the following may occur: (a) The political party whose candidate died may fill the vacancy so created as provided in division (A)(2) of this section. (b) Any major political party other than the one whose candidate died may select a candidate as provided in division (A)(2) of this section under either of the following circumstances: (i) No person has filed a valid declaration of candidacy for nomination as that party's candidate at the primary election. (ii) Only one person has filed a valid declaration of candidacy for nomination as that party's candidate at the primary election, that person has withdrawn, died, or been disqualified under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, and the vacancy so created has not been filled. (2) A vacancy may be filled under division (A)(1)(a) and a selection may be made under division (A)(1)(b) of this section by the appropriate committee of the political party in the same manner as provided in divisions (A) to (E) of section 3513.31 of the Revised Code for the filling of similar vacancies created by withdrawals or disqualifications under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code after the primary election, except that the certification required under that section may not be filed with the secretary of state, or with a board of the most populous county of a district, or with the board of a county in which the major portion of the population of a subdivision is located, later than four p.m. of the tenth day before the day of such primary election, or with any other board later than four p.m. of the fifth day before the day of such primary election. (3) If only one valid declaration of candidacy is filed for nomination as a candidate of a political party for an office and that candidate dies on or after the tenth day before the day of the primary election, that candidate is considered to have received the nomination of that candidate's political party at that primary election, and, for purposes of filling the vacancy so created, that candidate's death shall be treated as if that candidate died on the day after the day of the primary election. (B) Any person filing a declaration of candidacy may withdraw as such candidate at any time prior to the primary election. The withdrawal shall be effected and the statement of withdrawal shall be filed in accordance with the procedures prescribed in division (D) of this section for the withdrawal of persons nominated in a primary election or by nominating petition. (C) A person who is the first choice for president of the United States by a candidate for delegate or alternate to a national convention of a political party may withdraw consent for the selection of the person as such first choice no later than four p.m. of the fortieth day before the day of the presidential primary election. Withdrawal of consent shall be for the entire slate of candidates for delegates and alternates who named such person as their presidential first choice and shall constitute withdrawal from the primary election by such delegates and alternates. The withdrawal shall be made in writing and delivered to the secretary of state. If the withdrawal is delivered to the secretary of state on or before the seventieth day before the day of the primary election, the boards of elections shall remove both the name of the withdrawn first choice and the names of such withdrawn candidates from the ballots according to the directions of the secretary of state. If the withdrawal is delivered to the secretary of state after the seventieth day before the day of the primary election, the board of elections shall not remove the name of the withdrawn first choice and the names of the withdrawn candidates from the ballots. The board of elections shall post a notice at each polling location on the day of the primary election, and shall enclose with each absent voter's ballot given or mailed after the candidate withdraws, a notice that votes for the withdrawn first choice or the withdrawn candidates will be void and will not be counted. If such names are not removed from all ballots before the day of the election, the votes for the withdrawn first choice or the withdrawn candidates are void and shall not be counted. (D) Any person nominated in a primary election or by nominating petition as a candidate for election at the next general election may withdraw as such candidate at any time prior to the general election. Such withdrawal may be effected by the filing of a written statement by such candidate announcing the candidate's withdrawal and requesting that the candidate's name not be printed on the ballots. If such candidate's declaration of candidacy or nominating petition was filed with the secretary of state, the candidate's statement of withdrawal shall be addressed to and filed with the secretary of state. If such candidate's declaration of candidacy or nominating petition was filed with a board of elections, the candidate's statement of withdrawal shall be addressed to and filed with such board. (E) When a person withdraws under division (B) or (D) of this section on or before the seventieth day before the day of the primary election or the general election, the board of elections shall remove the name of the withdrawn candidate from the ballots according to the directions of the secretary of state. When a person withdraws under division (B) or (D) of this section after the seventieth day before the day of the primary election or the general election, the board of elections shall not remove the name of the withdrawn candidate from the ballots. The board of elections shall post a notice at each polling place on the day of the election, and shall enclose with each absent voter's ballot given or mailed after the candidate withdraws, a notice that votes for the withdrawn candidate will be void and will not be counted. If the name is not removed from all ballots before the day of the election, the votes for the withdrawn candidate are void and shall not be counted.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3599.36 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3599 / § 3599.36
§ 3599.36. Election falsification
Status: in_force

December 9, 1997 Senate Bill 116 - 122nd General Assembly No person, either orally or in writing, on oath lawfully administered or in a statement made under penalty of election falsification, shall knowingly state a falsehood as to a material matter relating to an election in a proceeding before a court, tribunal, or election official, or in a matter in relation to which an oath or statement under penalty of election falsification is authorized by law, including a statement required for verifying or filing any declaration of candidacy, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, nominating petition, or other petition presented to or filed with the secretary of state, a board of elections, or any other public office for the purpose of becoming a candidate for any elective office, including the office of a political party, for the purpose of submitting a question or issue to the electors at an election, or for the purpose of forming a political party. Whoever violates this section is guilty of election falsification, a felony of the fifth degree. Every paper, card, or other document relating to any election matter that calls for a statement to be made under penalty of election falsification shall be accompanied by the following statement in bold face capital letters: "Whoever commits election falsification is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree."
Ohio Rev. Code § 3501.06 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3501 / § 3501.06
§ 3501.06. County board of elections
Status: in_force

February 25, 2014 Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly (A) There shall be in each county of the state a board of elections consisting of four qualified electors of the county, who shall be appointed by the secretary of state, as the secretary's representatives. (B)(1) On the first day of March in the years 2014 and 2016, the secretary of state shall appoint two of such board members for a term of three years. One of those board members shall be from the political party which cast the highest number of votes for the office of governor at the most recent regular state election, and the other shall be from the political party which cast the next highest number of votes for the office of governor at such election. (2) Beginning in 2017, on the first day of March in odd-numbered years, the secretary of state shall appoint two of such board members for a term of four years. One of those board members shall be from the political party which cast the highest number of votes for the office of governor at the most recent regular state election, and the other shall be from the political party which cast the next highest number of votes for the office of governor at such election. Thereafter, all appointments shall be made on the first day of March in odd-numbered years for a term of four years. (C) All vacancies filled for unexpired terms and all appointments to new terms shall be made from the political party to which the vacating or outgoing member belonged, unless there is a third political party which cast a greater number of votes in the state at the most recent regular state election for the office of governor than did the party to which the retiring member belonged, in which event the vacancy shall be filled from such third party.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3513.301 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3513 / § 3513.301
§ 3513.301. Special election of party candidate for Congress
Status: in_force

October 29, 2018 House Bill 18 - 132nd General Assembly (A) Notwithstanding section 3513.30 of the Revised Code and except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of this section, if only one person has filed a valid declaration of candidacy for nomination as the candidate of a political party for the office of representative to congress and that person withdraws as a candidate or dies at any time before the primary election, a special election shall be held under division (B) (1) of this section as soon as reasonably practicable to nominate the following: (1) That party's candidate for congress; (2) The candidate for congress of any other major political party under either of the following circumstances: (a) No person has filed a valid declaration of candidacy for nomination as that party's candidate at the primary election. (b) Only one person has filed a valid declaration of candidacy for nomination as that party's candidate at the primary election, that person has withdrawn or died, and the vacancy so created has not been filled. (B) (1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) (2) of this section, the boards of elections of all the counties contained in whole or in part within the congressional district for which a special election is being held under this section shall conduct the special election on a date designated by the secretary of state and give notice of the time and places of holding the election as provided in section 3501.03 of the Revised Code. The election shall be held and conducted and returns of it made as in the case of a primary election, except that the secretary of state shall designate the deadline to file a declaration of candidacy or a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for the election. (2) If, for each nomination to be made at the special election to be held under division (B)(1) of this section, only one person has filed a valid declaration of candidacy or no person has filed a valid declaration of candidacy, then no special election shall be held. If no special election is held, then for each nomination for which only one person has filed a valid declaration of candidacy, the secretary of state, upon receiving certification of that fact from the board of elections of the most populous county of the congressional district, shall issue a certificate of nomination to the person and the person's name shall appear on the ballot as that party's candidate at the general election. (C) The state shall pay all costs of any special election held under this section.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3517.12 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3517 / § 3517.12
§ 3517.12. Itemized statement of expenditures on issues
Status: in_force

May 2, 2006 House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly (A) Prior to receiving a contribution or making an expenditure, the circulator or committee in charge of an initiative or referendum petition, or supplementary petition for additional signatures, for the submission of a constitutional amendment, proposed law, section, or item of any law shall appoint a treasurer and shall file with the secretary of state, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, a designation of that appointment, including the full name and address of the treasurer and of the circulator or committee. (B) The circulator or the committee in charge of an initiative or referendum petition, or supplementary petition for additional signatures, for the submission of a constitutional amendment, proposed law, section, or item of any law shall, within thirty days after those petition papers are filed, file with the secretary of state, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, an itemized statement, made under penalty of election falsification, showing in detail the following: (1) All money or things of value paid, given, promised, or received for circulating the petitions; (2) All appointments, promotions, or increases in salary, in positions which were given, promised, or received, or to obtain which assistance was given, promised, or received as a consideration for work done in circulating petitions; (3) Full names and addresses, including street, city, and state, of all persons to whom such payments or promises were made and of all persons from whom such payments or promises were received; (4) Full names and addresses, including street, city, and state, of all persons who contributed anything of value to be used in circulating the petitions, and the amounts of those contributions; (5) Time spent and salaries earned while soliciting signatures to petitions by persons who were regular salaried employees of some person or whom that employer authorized to solicit as part of their regular duties. If no money or things of value were paid or received or if no promises were made or received as a consideration for work done in circulating a petition, the statement shall contain words to that effect. (C) The treasurer designated under division (A) of this section shall file statements of contributions and expenditures in accordance with section 3517.10 of the Revised Code regarding all contributions made or received and all expenditures made by that treasurer or the circulator or committee in connection with the initiative or referendum petition, or supplementary petition for additional signatures, for the submission of a constitutional amendment, proposed law, section, or item of any law.