Ohio Rev. Code § 3511.13 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3511 / § 3511.13
§ 3511.13. Poll list to identify electors requesting armed services absent voter's ballot
Status: in_force

April 7, 2023 House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly (A) The poll list or signature pollbook for each precinct shall identify each registered elector in that precinct who has requested a uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot for that election or cast absent voter's ballots in person under section 3509.051 of the Revised Code, other than an elector who has a confidential voter registration record, as described in section 111.44 of the Revised Code. (B) If a registered elector appears to vote and that elector has requested or cast a uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot for that election, the elector shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. (C)(1) In counting uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots under section 3511.11 of the Revised Code, the board of elections shall compare the signature of each elector from whom the board has received a sealed identification envelope purporting to contain that elector's voted uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots for that election to the signature on the elector's registration form. Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(3) of this section, if the board of elections determines that the uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot in the sealed identification envelope is valid, it shall be counted. If the board of elections determines that the signature on the sealed identification envelope purporting to contain the elector's voted uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot does not match the signature on the elector's registration form, the ballot shall be set aside and the board shall examine, during the time prior to the beginning of the official canvass, the poll list or signature pollbook from the precinct in which the elector is registered to vote to determine if the elector also cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. (2) The board of elections shall count the provisional ballot, instead of the uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot, of an elector from whom the board has received an identification envelope purporting to contain that elector's voted uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots, if both of the following apply: (a) The board of elections determines that the signature of the elector on the outside of the identification envelope in which the uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots are enclosed does not match the signature of the elector on the elector's registration form; (b) The elector cast a provisional ballot in the election. (3) If the board of elections does not receive the sealed identification envelope purporting to contain the elector's voted uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot by the applicable deadline established under section 3511.11 of the Revised Code, the provisional ballot cast under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code shall be counted as valid, if that provisional ballot is otherwise determined to be valid pursuant to section 3505.183 of the Revised Code. (D) If the board of elections counts a provisional ballot under division (C)(2) or (3) of this section, the returned identification envelope of that elector shall not be opened, and the ballot within that envelope shall not be counted. The identification envelope shall be endorsed "Not Counted" with the reason the ballot was not counted. Last updated January 19, 2023 at 10:35 AM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3505.39 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3505 / § 3505.39
§ 3505.39. Meeting of state's presidential electors
Status: in_force

September 16, 1957 House Bill 708 - 102nd General Assembly The secretary of state shall immediately upon the completion of the canvass of election returns mail to each presidential elector so elected a certificate of his election and shall notify him to attend, at a place in the state capitol which the secretary of state shall select, at twelve noon on the day designated by the congress of the United States, a meeting of the state's presidential electors for the purpose of discharging the duties enjoined on them by the constitution of the United States. The secretary of state, ten days prior to such meeting, shall by letter remind each such elector of the meeting to be held for casting the vote of the state for president and vice-president of the United States. Each such elector shall give notice to the secretary of state before nine a.m. of that day whether or not he will be present at the appointed hour ready to perform his duties as a presidential elector. If at twelve noon at the place selected by the secretary of state presidential electors equal in number to the whole number of senators and representatives to which the state may at the time be entitled in the congress of the United States, are not present, the presidential electors present shall immediately proceed, in the presence of the governor and secretary of state, to appoint by ballot such number of persons to serve as presidential electors so that the number of duly elected presidential electors present at such time and place plus the presidential electors so appointed shall be equal in number to the whole number of senators and representatives to which the state is at that time entitled in the congress of the United States; provided, that each such appointment shall be made by a separate ballot, and that all appointments to fill vacancies existing because duly elected presidential electors are not present shall be made before other appointments are made, and that in making each such appointment the person appointed shall be of the same political party as the duly elected presidential elector whose absence requires such appointment to be made. In case of a tie vote the governor shall determine the results by lot. The electors making such appointments shall certify forthwith to the secretary of state the names of the persons so appointed and the secretary of state shall immediately issue to such appointees certificates of their appointment and notify them thereof. All of the state's presidential electors, both those duly elected who are then present and those appointed as herein provided, shall then meet and organize by electing one of their number as chairman and by designating the secretary of state as ex officio secretary and shall then and there discharge all of the duties enjoined upon presidential electors by the constitution and laws of the United States. Each presidential elector shall receive ten dollars for each day's attendance in Columbus as such and mileage at the rate of ten cents per mile for the estimated distance by the usual route from his place of residence to Columbus. Such compensation and mileage shall be upon vouchers issued by the secretary of state, and shall be paid by the treasurer of state out of the general fund.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3505.09 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3505 / § 3505.09
§ 3505.09. Separate ballots for each precinct and district
Status: in_force

October 1, 1953 House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly In election precincts composed of a township or a part thereof, and a municipal corporation or a part thereof, separate ballots for each precinct shall be provided for all elections, so as to enable electors residing in such precincts to cast their votes for the proper candidates in such precincts. Separate ballots shall be provided for each district portion of each precinct which shall contain the names of the candidates for members of the board of education for whom the electors residing in such district are entitled to vote. In the case of overlapping school districts, the ballots shall be so printed as to plainly identify each district for which candidates are to be chosen.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3503.26 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3503 / § 3503.26
§ 3503.26. Custody of registration forms, records and lists
Status: in_force

September 8, 2016 House Bill 359 - 131st General Assembly (A) All registration forms and lists, when not in official use by the registrars or precinct election officials, shall be in the possession of the board of elections. Names and addresses of electors may be copied from the registration lists only in the office of the board when it is open for business; but no such copying shall be permitted during the period of time commencing twenty-one days before an election and ending on the eleventh day after an election if such copying will, in the opinion of the board, interfere with the necessary work of the board. Except as provided in section 111.44 of the Revised Code, the board shall keep in convenient form and available for public inspection a correct set of the registration lists of all precincts in the county. (B) Notwithstanding division (A) of this section, and except as provided in section 111.44 of the Revised Code, the board of elections shall maintain and make available for public inspection and copying at a reasonable cost all records concerning the implementation of programs and activities conducted for the purpose of ensuring the accuracy and currency of voter registration lists, including the names and addresses of all registered electors sent confirmation notices and whether or not the elector responded to the confirmation notice. The board shall maintain all records described in this division for a period of two years.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3599.06 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3599 / § 3599.06
§ 3599.06. Employer shall not interfere with employee on election day
Status: in_force

October 1, 1953 House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly No employer, his officer or agent , shall discharge or threaten to discharge an elector for taking a reasonable amount of time to vote on election day; or require or order an elector to accompany him to a voting place upon such day; or refuse to permit such elector to serve as an election official on any registration or election day; or indirectly use any force or restraint or threaten to inflict any injury, harm, or loss; or in any other manner practice intimidation in order to induce or compel such person to vote or refrain from voting for or against any person or question or issue submitted to the voters. Whoever violates this section shall be fined not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3513.14 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3513 / § 3513.14
§ 3513.14. Primary election ballot form
Status: in_force

August 22, 1995 House Bill 99 - 121st General Assembly Except in elections for which the board of elections has received no valid declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate under section 3513.041 of the Revised Code, immediately below the title of each office for which nominations are to be made and the names of candidates for such nomination printed thereunder, there shall be provided on each primary election ballot as many blank spaces as, but not more than, the number of nominations to be made for such office, in which the voter may write the names of persons for whose nomination he desires to vote, provided that inasmuch as candidates for the office of delegate and alternate to the national and state conventions, member of the state central committee, and member of the county central committee are elected at the primary election no blank space shall be left on the ballot after the names of the candidates for such office, and no vote shall be counted for any person whose name has been written in on said ballot for any of such offices. If no person files and qualifies as a candidate for the office of member of the state central committee or member of the county central committee such office shall not appear on the ballot. The face of the ballot below the stub shall be substantially in the following form: OFFICIAL ____________(name of party)__________ PRIMARY BALLOT (A) To vote for a candidate record your vote in the manner provided next to the name of such candidate. (B) If you tear, soil, deface, or erroneously mark this ballot return it to the election officials and obtain another.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3509.08 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3509 / § 3509.08
§ 3509.08. Disabled and confined absent voter's ballots
Status: in_force

April 7, 2023 House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly (A) Any qualified elector, who, on account of the elector's own personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity, or on account of the elector's confinement in a jail or workhouse under sentence for a misdemeanor or awaiting trial on a felony or misdemeanor, will be unable to travel from the elector's home or place of confinement to the voting booth in the elector's precinct on the day of any general, special, or primary election may make application in writing for an absent voter's ballot to the board of elections of the elector's county in the manner described in section 3509.03 of the Revised Code. The application shall state the nature of the elector's illness, physical disability, or infirmity, or the fact that the elector is confined in a jail or workhouse and the elector's resultant inability to travel to the election booth in the elector's precinct on election day. The absent voter's ballot may be mailed directly to the applicant at the applicant's voting residence or place of confinement as stated in the applicant's application, or the board may designate two board employees belonging to the two major political parties for the purpose of delivering the ballot to the disabled or confined elector and returning it to the board, unless the applicant is confined to a public or private institution within the county, in which case the board shall designate two board employees belonging to the two major political parties for the purpose of delivering the ballot to the disabled or confined elector and returning it to the board. In all other instances, the ballot shall be returned to the office of the board in the manner prescribed in section 3509.05 of the Revised Code. Any disabled or confined elector who declares to the two board employees belonging to the two major political parties that the elector is unable to mark the elector's ballot by reason of physical infirmity that is apparent to the employees to be sufficient to incapacitate the voter from marking the elector's ballot properly, may receive, upon request, the assistance of the employees in marking the elector's ballot, and they shall thereafter give no information in regard to this matter. Such assistance shall not be rendered for any other cause. When two board employees belonging to the two major political parties deliver a ballot to a disabled or confined elector, each of the employees shall be present when the ballot is delivered, when assistance is given, and when the ballot is returned to the office of the board, and shall subscribe to the declaration on the identification envelope. The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of application for absent voter's ballots under this division. This chapter applies to disabled and confined absent voter's ballots except as otherwise provided in this section. (B)(1) Any qualified elector who is unable to travel to the voting booth in the elector's precinct on the day of any general, special, or primary election may apply to the board of elections of the county where the elector is a qualified elector to vote in the election by absent voter's ballot if either of the following apply: (a) The elector is confined in a hospital as a result of an accident or unforeseeable medical emergency occurring before the election; (b) The elector's minor child is confined in a hospital as a result of an accident or unforeseeable medical emergency occurring before the election. (2) The application authorized under division (B)(1) of this section shall be made in writing in the manner described in section 3509.03 of the Revised Code, except that the application shall be delivered to the office of the board not later than three p.m. on the day of the election. The application shall indicate the hospital where the applicant or the applicant's child is confined, the date of the applicant's or the applicant's child's admission to the hospital, and the offices for which the applicant is qualified to vote. The applicant may also request that a member of the applicant's family, as listed in section 3509.05 of the Revised Code, deliver the absent voter's ballot to the applicant. The board, after establishing to the board's satisfaction the validity of the circumstances claimed by the applicant, shall supply an absent voter's ballot to be delivered to the applicant. When the applicant or the applicant's child is in a hospital in the county where the applicant is a qualified elector and no request is made for a member of the family to deliver the ballot, the board shall arrange for the delivery of an absent voter's ballot to the applicant, and for its return to the office of the board, by two board employees belonging to the two major political parties according to the procedures prescribed in division (A) of this section. When the applicant or the applicant's child is in a hospital outside the county where the applicant is a qualified elector and no request is made for a member of the family to deliver the ballot, the board shall arrange for the delivery of an absent voter's ballot to the applicant by mail, and the ballot shall be returned to the office of the board in the manner prescribed in section 3509.05 of the Revised Code. (3) Any qualified elector who is eligible to vote under division (B) or (C) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code but is unable to do so because of the circumstances described in division (B)(2) of this section may vote in accordance with division (B)(1) of this section if that qualified elector states in the application for absent voter's ballots that that qualified elector moved or had a change of name under the circumstances described in division (B) or (C) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code and if that qualified elector complies with divisions (G)(1) to (4) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code. (C) Any qualified elector described in division (A) or (B)(1) of this section who needs no assistance to vote or to return absent voter's ballots to the board of elections may apply for absent voter's ballots under section 3509.03 of the Revised Code instead of applying for them under this section or may cast absent voter's ballots in person under section 3509.051 of the Revised Code. (D) Any qualified elector described in division (A) or (B)(1) of this section to whom ballots are delivered by two employees of the board of elections or who votes with the assistance of two employees of the board of elections shall be considered to have cast absent voter's ballots by mail, rather than in person, for the purpose of the laws governing voter identification. Last updated January 24, 2023 at 4:05 PM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3505.29 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3505 / § 3505.29
§ 3505.29. Precinct election officials not to separate or leave until counting completed
Status: in_force

February 25, 2014 Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly From the time the ballot box is opened and the count of ballots begun until the ballots are counted and certificates of votes cast are made out, signed, certified and given to the voting location manager for delivery to the headquarters of the board of elections, the precinct election officials in each precinct shall not separate, nor shall a precinct election official leave the polling place except from unavoidable necessity. In cases of illness or unavoidable necessity, the board may substitute another qualified person for any precinct official so incapacitated.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3501.07 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3501 / § 3501.07
§ 3501.07. Filling vacancies on county boards of elections
Status: in_force

February 5, 2014 Senate Bill 193 - 130th General Assembly At a meeting held not more than sixty nor less than fifteen days before the expiration date of the term of office of a member of the board of elections, or within fifteen days after a vacancy occurs in the board, the county executive committee of the major political party entitled to the appointment may make and file a recommendation with the secretary of state for the appointment of a qualified elector. The secretary of state shall appoint such elector, unless the secretary of state has reason to believe that the elector would not be a competent member of such board. In such cases the secretary of state shall so state in writing to the chairperson of such county executive committee, with the reasons therefor, and such committee may either recommend another elector or may apply for a writ of mandamus to the supreme court to compel the secretary of state to appoint the elector so recommended. In such action the burden of proof to show the qualifications of the person so recommended shall be on the committee making the recommendation. If no such recommendation is made, the secretary of state shall make the appointment. If a vacancy on the board of elections is to be filled by a minor political party, authorized officials of that party may within fifteen days after the vacancy occurs recommend a qualified person to the secretary of state for appointment to such vacancy.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3517.016 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3517 / § 3517.016
§ 3517.016. New party primary vote not barred by prior party affiliation
Status: in_force

August 15, 2012 Senate Bill 295 - 129th General Assembly At the first primary election held by a newly formed political party meeting the requirements of sections 3517.011 and 3517.012 of the Revised Code, any qualified elector who desires to vote the new party primary ballot is not subject to section 3513.19 of the Revised Code and shall be allowed to vote the new party primary ballot regardless of prior political party affiliation.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3517.01 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3517 / § 3517.01
§ 3517.01. Political party definitions
Status: in_force

September 30, 2025 House Bill 96 - 136th General Assembly (A)(1) A political party within the meaning of Title XXXV of the Revised Code is any group of voters that meets either of the following requirements: (a) Except as otherwise provided in this division, at the most recent regular state election, the group polled for its candidate for governor in the state or nominees for presidential electors at least three per cent of the entire vote cast for that office. A group that meets the requirements of this division remains a political party for a period of four years after meeting those requirements. (b) The group filed with the secretary of state, subsequent to its failure to meet the requirements of division (A)(1)(a) of this section, a party formation petition that meets all of the following requirements: (i) The petition is signed by qualified electors equal in number to at least one per cent of the total vote for governor or nominees for presidential electors at the most recent election for such office. (ii) The petition is signed by not fewer than five hundred qualified electors from each of at least a minimum of one-half of the congressional districts in this state. If an odd number of congressional districts exists in this state, the number of districts that results from dividing the number of congressional districts by two shall be rounded up to the next whole number. (iii) The petition declares the petitioners' intention of organizing a political party, the name of which shall be stated in the declaration, and of participating in the succeeding general election, held in even-numbered years, that occurs more than one hundred twenty-five days after the date of filing. (iv) The petition designates a committee of not less than three nor more than five individuals of the petitioners, who shall represent the petitioners in all matters relating to the petition. Notice of all matters or proceedings pertaining to the petition may be served on the committee, or any of them, either personally or by registered mail, or by leaving such notice at the usual place of residence of each of them. (2) No such group of electors shall assume a name or designation that is similar, in the opinion of the secretary of state, to that of an existing political party as to confuse or mislead the voters at an election. (B) A campaign committee shall be legally liable for any debts, contracts, or expenditures incurred or executed in its name. (C) Notwithstanding the definitions found in section 3501.01 of the Revised Code, as used in this section and sections 3517.08 to 3517.991 of the Revised Code: (1) "Campaign committee" means a candidate or a combination of two or more persons authorized by a candidate under section 3517.081 of the Revised Code to receive contributions and make expenditures. (2) "Campaign treasurer" means an individual appointed by a candidate under section 3517.081 of the Revised Code. (3) "Candidate" has the same meaning as in division (H) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code and also includes any person who, at any time before or after an election, receives contributions or makes expenditures or other use of contributions, has given consent for another to receive contributions or make expenditures or other use of contributions, or appoints a campaign treasurer, for the purpose of bringing about the person's nomination or election to public office. When two persons jointly seek the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, "candidate" means the pair of candidates jointly. "Candidate" does not include candidates for election to the offices of member of a county or state central committee, presidential elector, and delegate to a national convention or conference of a political party. (4) "Continuing association" means an association, other than a campaign committee, political party, legislative campaign fund, political contributing entity, or labor organization, that is intended to be a permanent organization that has a primary purpose other than supporting or opposing specific candidates, political parties, or ballot issues, and that functions on a regular basis throughout the year. "Continuing association" includes organizations that are determined to be not organized for profit under subsection 501 and that are described in subsection 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. (5) "Contribution" means a loan, gift, deposit, forgiveness of indebtedness, donation, advance, payment, or transfer of funds or anything of value, including a transfer of funds from an inter vivos or testamentary trust or decedent's estate, and the payment by any person other than the person to whom the services are rendered for the personal services of another person, which contribution is made, received, or used for the purpose of influencing the results of an election. Any loan, gift, deposit, forgiveness of indebtedness, donation, advance, payment, or transfer of funds or of anything of value, including a transfer of funds from an inter vivos or testamentary trust or decedent's estate, and the payment by any campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, political contributing entity, or person other than the person to whom the services are rendered for the personal services of another person, that is made, received, or used by a state or county political party, other than the moneys an entity may receive under sections 3517.101 , 3517.1012 , and 3517.1013 of the Revised Code, shall be considered to be a "contribution" for the purpose of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code and shall be included on a statement of contributions filed under that section. "Contribution" does not include any of the following: (a) Services provided without compensation by individuals volunteering a portion or all of their time on behalf of a person; (b) Ordinary home hospitality; (c) The personal expenses of a volunteer paid for by that volunteer campaign worker; (d) Any gift given to an entity pursuant to section 3517.101 of the Revised Code; (e) Any contribution as defined in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code that is made, received, or used to pay the direct costs of producing or airing an electioneering communication; (f) Any gift given to a state or county political party for the party's restricted fund under division (A)(2) of section 3517.1012 of the Revised Code; (g) Any gift given to a state political party for deposit in a Levin account pursuant to section 3517.1013 of the Revised Code. As used in this division, "Levin account" has the same meaning as in that section. (h) Any donation given to a transition fund under section 3517.1014 of the Revised Code. (6) "Expenditure" means the disbursement or use of a contribution for the purpose of influencing the results of an election or of making a charitable donation under division (G) of section 3517.08 of the Revised Code. Any disbursement or use of a contribution by a state or county political party is an expenditure and shall be considered either to be made for the purpose of influencing the results of an election or to be made as a charitable donation under division (G) of section 3517.08 of the Revised Code and shall be reported on a statement of expenditures filed under section 3517.10 of the Revised Code. During the thirty days preceding a primary or general election, any disbursement to pay the direct costs of producing or airing a broadcast, cable, or satellite communication that refers to a clearly identified candidate shall be considered to be made for the purpose of influencing the results of that election and shall be reported as an expenditure or as an independent expenditure under section 3517.10 or 3517.105 of the Revised Code, as applicable, except that the information required to be reported regarding contributors for those expenditures or independent expenditures shall be the same as the information required to be reported under divisions (D)(1) and (2) of section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code. As used in this division, "broadcast, cable, or satellite communication" and "refers to a clearly identified candidate" have the same meanings as in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code. (7) "Personal expenses" includes, but is not limited to, ordinary expenses for accommodations, clothing, food, personal motor vehicle or airplane, and home telephone. (8) "Political action committee" means a combination of two or more persons, the primary or major purpose of which is to support or oppose any candidate, political party, or issue, or to influence the result of any election through express advocacy, and that is not a political party, a campaign committee, a political contributing entity, or a legislative campaign fund. "Political action committee" does not include either of the following: (a) A continuing association that makes disbursements for the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications and that does not engage in express advocacy; (b) A political club that is formed primarily for social purposes and that consists of one hundred members or less, has officers and periodic meetings, has less than two thousand five hundred dollars in its treasury at all times, and makes an aggregate total contribution of one thousand dollars or less per calendar year. (9) "Public office" means any state, county, municipal, township, or district office, except an office of a political party, that is filled by an election and the offices of United States senator and representative. (10) "Anything of value" has the same meaning as in section 1.03 of the Revised Code. (11) "Beneficiary of a campaign fund" means a candidate, a public official or employee for whose benefit a campaign fund exists, and any other person who has ever been a candidate or public official or employee and for whose benefit a campaign fund exists. (12) "Campaign fund" means money or other property, including contributions. (13) "Public official or employee" has the same meaning as in section 102.01 of the Revised Code. (14) "Caucus" means all of the members of the house of representatives or all of the members of the senate of the general assembly who are members of the same political party. (15) "Legislative campaign fund" means a fund that is established as an auxiliary of a state political party and associated with one of the houses of the general assembly. (16) "In-kind contribution" means anything of value other than money that is used to influence the results of an election or is transferred to or used in support of or in opposition to a candidate, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, political action committee, or political contributing entity and that is made with the consent of, in coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, or at the request or suggestion of the benefited candidate, committee, fund, party, or entity. The financing of the dissemination, distribution, or republication, in whole or part, of any broadcast or of any written, graphic, or other form of campaign materials prepared by the candidate, the candidate's campaign committee, or their authorized agents is an in-kind contribution to the candidate and an expenditure by the candidate. (17) "Independent expenditure" means an expenditure by a person advocating the election or defeat of an identified candidate or candidates, that is not made with the consent of, in coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, or at the request or suggestion of any candidate or candidates or of the campaign committee or agent of the candidate or candidates. As used in division (C)(17) of this section: (a) "Person" means an individual, partnership, unincorporated business organization or association, political action committee, political contributing entity, separate segregated fund, association, or other organization or group of persons, but not a labor organization or a corporation unless the labor organization or corporation is a political contributing entity. (b) "Advocating" means any communication containing a message advocating election or defeat. (c) "Identified candidate" means that the name of the candidate appears, a photograph or drawing of the candidate appears, or the identity of the candidate is otherwise apparent by unambiguous reference. (d) "Made in coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or the campaign committee or agent of the candidate" means made pursuant to any arrangement, coordination, or direction by the candidate, the candidate's campaign committee, or the candidate's agent prior to the publication, distribution, display, or broadcast of the communication. An expenditure is presumed to be so made when it is any of the following: (i) Based on information about the candidate's plans, projects, or needs provided to the person making the expenditure by the candidate, or by the candidate's campaign committee or agent, with a view toward having an expenditure made; (ii) Made by or through any person who is, or has been, authorized to raise or expend funds, who is, or has been, an officer of the candidate's campaign committee, or who is, or has been, receiving any form of compensation or reimbursement from the candidate or the candidate's campaign committee or agent; (iii) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of section 3517.105 of the Revised Code, made by a political party in support of a candidate, unless the expenditure is made by a political party to conduct voter registration or voter education efforts. (e) "Agent" means any person who has actual oral or written authority, either express or implied, to make or to authorize the making of expenditures on behalf of a candidate, or means any person who has been placed in a position with the candidate's campaign committee or organization such that it would reasonably appear that in the ordinary course of campaign-related activities the person may authorize expenditures. (18) "Labor organization" means a labor union; an employee organization; a federation of labor unions, groups, locals, or other employee organizations; an auxiliary of a labor union, employee organization, or federation of labor unions, groups, locals, or other employee organizations; or any other bona fide organization in which employees participate and that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. (19) "Separate segregated fund" means a separate segregated fund established pursuant to the Federal Election Campaign Act. (20) "Federal Election Campaign Act" means the "Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971," 86 Stat. 11, 2 U.S.C.A. 431, et seq., as amended. (21) "Restricted fund" means the fund a state or county political party must establish under division (A)(1) of section 3517.1012 of the Revised Code. (22) "Electioneering communication" has the same meaning as in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code. (23) "Express advocacy" means a communication that contains express words advocating the nomination, election, or defeat of a candidate or that contains express words advocating the adoption or defeat of a question or issue, as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. (24) "Political committee" has the same meaning as in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code. (25) "Political contributing entity" means any entity, including a corporation or labor organization, that may lawfully make contributions and expenditures and that is not an individual or a political action committee, continuing association, campaign committee, political party, legislative campaign fund, designated state campaign committee, or state candidate fund. For purposes of this division, "lawfully" means not prohibited by any section of the Revised Code, or authorized by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. (26) "Internet identifier of record" has the same meaning as in section 9.312 of the Revised Code. Last updated July 24, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3515.01 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3515 / § 3515.01
§ 3515.01. Eligibility for recount
Status: in_force

September 23, 1974 Senate Bill 237 - 110th General Assembly Any person for whom votes were cast in a primary election for nomination as a candidate for election to an office who was not declared nominated may file with the board of elections of a county a written application for a recount of the votes cast at such primary election in any precinct in such county for all persons for whom votes were cast in such precinct for such nomination. Any person who was a candidate at a general, special, or primary election for election to an office or postion who was not declared elected may file with the board of a county a written application for a recount of the votes cast at such election in any precinct in such county for all candidates for election to such office or position. Any group of five or more qualified electors may file with the board of a county a written application for a recount of the votes cast at an election in any precinct in such county upon any question or issue, provided that the members of such group shall state in such application either that they voted "Yes" or in favor of such question or issue and that such question or issue was declared defeated or rejected, or that they voted "No" or against such question or issue and that such question or issue was declared carried or adopted. Such group of electors shall, in such application, designate one of the members of the group as chairman, and shall indicate therein the voting residence of each member of such group. In all such applications the person designated as chairman is the applicant for the purposes of sections 3515.01 to 3515.07 of the Revised Code, and all notices required by section 3515.03 of the Revised Code to be given to an applicant for a recount shall be given to such person. In the recount of absentee ballots that are tallied by county instead of by precinct, as provided in section 3509.06 of the Revised Code, the county shall be considered a separate precinct for purposes of recounting such absentee ballots.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3505.07 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3505 / § 3505.07
§ 3505.07. Separate ballots for candidates, question, or issue
Status: in_force

February 25, 2014 Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly (A) If the board of elections, by a unanimous vote of its members, or if the secretary of state, in the secretary of state's sole discretion, finds it impracticable to place the names of candidates for any office of a minor political subdivision in the county or the wording of any question or issue to be voted upon in such minor political subdivision on the ballots under sections 3505.01 to 3505.09 of the Revised Code, then such board may, or at the direction of the secretary of state shall, provide separate ballots for the candidates, question, or issue. (B) If the secretary of state, in the secretary of state's sole discretion, determines that it is impracticable to place the names of candidates for any office or the wording for any question or issue to be voted upon on the ballot when the candidates, question, issue, or wording for the question or issue was ordered onto the ballot by a court of competent jurisdiction and the ballots have been printed prior to the court order, the board of elections, at the direction of the secretary of state, shall provide separate ballots for the candidates, question, or issue. (C) All separate ballots provided for in this section shall conform in quality of paper, style of printing, form of ballot, arrangement of names, and in all other ways, in so far as practicable, with the provisions relating to the printing of the general official ballot.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3513.31 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3513 / § 3513.31
§ 3513.31. Withdrawal, disqualification, or death of candidate prior to general election
Status: in_force

February 5, 2014 Senate Bill 193 - 130th General Assembly (A) If a person nominated in a primary election as a candidate for election at the next general election, whose candidacy is to be submitted to the electors of the entire state, withdraws as that candidate or is disqualified as that candidate under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the vacancy in the party nomination so created may be filled by the state central committee of the major political party that made the nomination at the primary election, if the committee's chairperson and secretary certify the name of the person selected to fill the vacancy by the time specified in this division, at a meeting called for that purpose. The meeting shall be called by the chairperson of that committee, who shall give each member of the committee at least two days' notice of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. If a majority of the members of the committee are present at the meeting, a majority of those present may select a person to fill the vacancy. The chairperson and secretary of the meeting shall certify in writing and under oath to the secretary of state, not later than the eighty-sixth day before the day of the general election, the name of the person selected to fill the vacancy. The certification must be accompanied by the written acceptance of the nomination by the person whose name is certified. A vacancy in a party nomination that may be filled by a minor political party shall be filled in accordance with the party's rules by authorized officials of the party. Certification must be made as in the manner provided for a major political party. (B) If a person nominated in a primary election as a party candidate for election at the next general election, whose candidacy is to be submitted to the electors of a district comprised of more than one county but less than all of the counties of the state, withdraws as that candidate or is disqualified as that candidate under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the vacancy in the party nomination so created may be filled by a district committee of the major political party that made the nomination at the primary election, if the committee's chairperson and secretary certify the name of the person selected to fill the vacancy by the time specified in this division, at a meeting called for that purpose. The district committee shall consist of the chairperson and secretary of the county central committee of such political party in each county in the district. The district committee shall be called by the chairperson of the county central committee of such political party of the most populous county in the district, who shall give each member of the district committee at least two days' notice of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. If a majority of the members of the district committee are present at the district committee meeting, a majority of those present may select a person to fill the vacancy. The chairperson and secretary of the meeting shall certify in writing and under oath to the board of elections of the most populous county in the district, not later than four p.m. of the eighty-sixth day before the day of the general election, the name of the person selected to fill the vacancy. The certification must be accompanied by the written acceptance of the nomination by the person whose name is certified. A vacancy in a party nomination that may be filled by a minor political party shall be filled in accordance with the party's rules by authorized officials of the party. Certification must be made as in the manner provided for a major political party. (C) If a person nominated in a primary election as a party candidate for election at the next general election, whose candidacy is to be submitted to the electors of a county, withdraws as that candidate or is disqualified as that candidate under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the vacancy in the party nomination so created may be filled by the county central committee of the major political party that made the nomination at the primary election, or by the county executive committee if so authorized, if the committee's chairperson and secretary certify the name of the person selected to fill the vacancy by the time specified in this division, at a meeting called for that purpose. The meeting shall be called by the chairperson of that committee, who shall give each member of the committee at least two days' notice of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. If a majority of the members of the committee are present at the meeting, a majority of those present may select a person to fill the vacancy. The chairperson and secretary of the meeting shall certify in writing and under oath to the board of that county, not later than four p.m. of the eighty-sixth day before the day of the general election, the name of the person selected to fill the vacancy. The certification must be accompanied by the written acceptance of the nomination by the person whose name is certified. A vacancy in a party nomination that may be filled by a minor political party shall be filled in accordance with the party's rules by authorized officials of the party. Certification must be made as in the manner provided for a major political party. (D) If a person nominated in a primary election as a party candidate for election at the next general election, whose candidacy is to be submitted to the electors of a district within a county, withdraws as that candidate or is disqualified as that candidate under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the vacancy in the party nomination so created may be filled by a district committee consisting of those members of the county central committee or, if so authorized, those members of the county executive committee in that county of the major political party that made the nomination at the primary election who represent the precincts or the wards and townships within the district, if the committee's chairperson and secretary certify the name of the person selected to fill the vacancy by the time specified in this division, at a meeting called for that purpose. The district committee meeting shall be called by the chairperson of the county central committee or executive committee, as appropriate, who shall give each member of the district committee at least two days' notice of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. If a majority of the members of the district committee are present at the district committee meeting, a majority of those present may select a person to fill the vacancy. The chairperson and secretary of the district committee meeting shall certify in writing and under oath to the board of the county, not later than four p.m. of the eighty-sixth day before the day of the general election, the name of the person selected to fill the vacancy. The certification must be accompanied by the written acceptance of the nomination by the person whose name is certified. A vacancy in a party nomination that may be filled by a minor political party shall be filled in accordance with the party's rules by authorized officials of the party. Certification must be made as in the manner provided for a major political party. (E) If a person nominated in a primary election as a party candidate for election at the next general election, whose candidacy is to be submitted to the electors of a subdivision within a county, withdraws as that candidate or is disqualified as that candidate under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the vacancy in the party nomination so created may be filled by a subdivision committee consisting of those members of the county central committee or, if so authorized, those members of the county executive committee in that county of the major political party that made the nomination at that primary election who represent the precincts or the wards and townships within that subdivision, if the committee's chairperson and secretary certify the name of the person selected to fill the vacancy by the time specified in this division, at a meeting called for that purpose. The subdivision committee meeting shall be called by the chairperson of the county central committee or executive committee, as appropriate, who shall give each member of the subdivision committee at least two days' notice of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. If a majority of the members of the subdivision committee are present at the subdivision committee meeting, a majority of those present may select a person to fill the vacancy. The chairperson and secretary of the subdivision committee meeting shall certify in writing and under oath to the board of the county, not later than four p.m. of the eighty-sixth day before the day of the general election, the name of the person selected to fill the vacancy. The certification must be accompanied by the written acceptance of the nomination by the person whose name is certified. A vacancy in a party nomination that may be filled by a minor political party shall be filled in accordance with the party's rules by authorized officials of the party. Certification must be made in the manner provided for a major political party. (F) If a person nominated by petition as an independent or nonpartisan candidate for election at the next general election withdraws as that candidate or is disqualified as that candidate under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, the vacancy so created may be filled by a majority of the committee of five, as designated on the candidate's nominating petition, if a member of that committee certifies in writing and under oath to the election officials with whom the candidate filed the candidate's nominating petition, not later than the eighty-sixth day before the day of the general election, the name of the person selected to fill the vacancy. The certification shall be accompanied by the written acceptance of the nomination by the person whose name is certified and shall be made in the manner provided for a major political party. (G) If a person nominated in a primary election or nominated by petition under section 3517.012 of the Revised Code as a party candidate for election at the next general election dies, the vacancy so created may be filled by the same committee in the same manner as provided in this section for the filling of similar vacancies created by withdrawals or disqualifications under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, except that the certification, when filling a vacancy created by death, 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 general election, or with any other board later than four p.m. of the fifth day before the day of such general election. (H) If a person nominated by petition as an independent or nonpartisan candidate for election at the next general election dies prior to the tenth day before the day of that general election, the vacancy so created may be filled by a majority of the committee of five designated in the nominating petition to represent the candidate named in it. To fill the vacancy a member of the committee shall, not later than four p.m. of the fifth day before the day of the general election, file with the election officials with whom the petition nominating the person was filed, a certificate signed and sworn to under oath by a majority of the members, designating the person they select to fill the vacancy. The certification must be accompanied by the written acceptance of the nomination by the person whose name is so certified. (I) If a person holding an elective office dies or resigns subsequent to the one hundred fifteenth day before the day of a primary election and prior to the eighty-sixth day before the day of the next general election, and if, under the laws of this state, a person may be elected at that general election to fill the unexpired term of the person who has died or resigned, the appropriate committee of each political party, acting as in the case of a vacancy in a party nomination, as provided in divisions (A) to (D) of this section, may select a person as the party candidate for election for such unexpired term at that general election, and certify the person's name to the appropriate election official not later than four p.m. on the eighty-sixth day before the day of that general election, or on the tenth day following the day on which the vacancy occurs, whichever is later. When the vacancy occurs on or subsequent to the eighty-sixth day and six or more days prior to the fortieth day before the general election, the appropriate committee may select a person as the party candidate and certify the person's name, as provided in the preceding sentence, not later than four p.m. on the tenth day following the day on which the vacancy occurs. When the vacancy occurs fewer than six days before the fortieth day before the general election, the deadline for filing shall be four p.m. on the thirty-sixth day before the general election. Thereupon the name shall be printed as the party candidate under proper titles and in the proper place on the proper ballots for use at the election. If a person has been nominated in a primary election or nominated by petition under section 3517.012 of the Revised Code, the authorized committee of that political party shall not select and certify a person as the party candidate. (J) Each person desiring to become an independent candidate to fill the unexpired term shall file a statement of candidacy and nominating petition, as provided in section 3513.261 of the Revised Code, with the appropriate election official not later than four p.m. on the tenth day following the day on which the vacancy occurs, provided that when the vacancy occurs fewer than six days before the fifty-sixth day before the general election, the deadline for filing shall be four p.m. on the fiftieth day before the general election. The nominating petition shall contain at least seven hundred fifty signatures and no more than one thousand five hundred signatures of qualified electors of the district, political subdivision, or portion of a political subdivision in which the office is to be voted upon, or the amount provided for in section 3513.257 of the Revised Code, whichever is less. (K) When a person nominated as a candidate by a political party in a primary election or by nominating petition for an elective office for which candidates are nominated at a party primary election withdraws, dies, or is disqualified under section 3513.052 of the Revised Code prior to the general election, the appropriate committee of any other major political party or committee of five that has not nominated a candidate for that office, or whose nominee as a candidate for that office has withdrawn, died, or been disqualified without the vacancy so created having been filled, may, acting as in the case of a vacancy in a party nomination or nomination by petition as provided in divisions (A) to (F) of this section, whichever is appropriate, select a person as a candidate of that party or of that committee of five for election to the office.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3509.09 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3509 / § 3509.09
§ 3509.09. Poll list to identify electors requesting absent voter's ballot
Status: in_force

April 7, 2023 House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly (A) The poll list or signature pollbook for each precinct shall identify each registered elector in that precinct who has requested an absent voter's ballot for that election or cast absent voter's ballots in person under section 3509.051 of the Revised Code, other than an elector who has a confidential voter registration record, as described in section 111.44 of the Revised Code. (B) If a registered elector appears to vote and that elector has requested or cast an absent voter's ballot for that election, the elector shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. (C)(1) In counting absent voter's ballots under section 3509.06 of the Revised Code, the board of elections shall compare the signature of each elector from whom the board has received a sealed identification envelope purporting to contain that elector's voted absent voter's ballots for that election to the signature on that elector's registration form. Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(3) of this section, if the board of elections determines that the absent voter's ballot in the sealed identification envelope is valid, it shall be counted. If the board of elections determines that the signature on the sealed identification envelope purporting to contain the elector's voted absent voter's ballot does not match the signature on the elector's registration form, the ballot shall be set aside and the board shall examine, during the time prior to the beginning of the official canvass, the poll list or signature pollbook from the precinct in which the elector is registered to vote to determine if the elector also cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. (2) The board of elections shall count the provisional ballot, instead of the absent voter's ballot, if both of the following apply: (a) The board of elections determines that the signature of the elector on the outside of the identification envelope in which the absent voter's ballots are enclosed does not match the signature of the elector on the elector's registration form; (b) The elector cast a provisional ballot in the election. (3) If the board of elections does not receive the sealed identification envelope purporting to contain the elector's voted absent voter's ballot by the applicable deadline established under section 3509.05 of the Revised Code, the provisional ballot cast under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code shall be counted as valid, if that provisional ballot is otherwise determined to be valid pursuant to section 3505.183 of the Revised Code. (D) If the board of elections counts a provisional ballot under division (C)(2) or (3) of this section, the returned identification envelope of that elector shall not be opened, and the ballot within that envelope shall not be counted. The identification envelope shall be endorsed "Not Counted" with the reason the ballot was not counted. Last updated January 24, 2023 at 4:06 PM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3519.051 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3519 / § 3519.051
§ 3519.051. Original ink signatures required for initiative and referendum
Status: in_force

May 2, 2006 House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly Each signature of a voter who signs an initiative or referendum petition shall be an original signature of that voter in ink. Only initiative and referendum petitions containing those original signatures in ink shall be filed with the office of the secretary of state or a board of elections.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3513.141 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3513 / § 3513.141
§ 3513.141. Ranked choice voting in primaries prohibited
Status: in_force

June 16, 2026 Senate Bill 63 - 136th General Assembly (A) Except as otherwise permitted under Article X or Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution, no primary election shall be conducted in this state using ranked choice voting or instant runoff voting. (B) If the secretary of state determines that a county or municipal corporation has, by resolution or ordinance, approved the use of ranked choice voting or instant runoff voting in a primary election, then the county or municipal corporation is ineligible to receive any local government fund distributions from the state during the period beginning with the month following the adoption of the resolution or ordinance and ending with the month following the last day it is in effect. Upon making that determination, the secretary of state promptly shall notify the tax commissioner of the county or municipal corporation's ineligibility. (C) Upon determining that a county or municipal corporation has, by resolution or ordinance, rescinded previous approval for the use of ranked choice voting that resulted in notice to the tax commissioner under division (B) of this section, the secretary of state shall promptly notify the tax commissioner of the rescission. Last updated April 2, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3513.01 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3513 / § 3513.01
§ 3513.01. Primary elections
Status: in_force

October 17, 2019 House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly (A) Except as otherwise provided in this section and section 3517.012 of the Revised Code, primary elections shall be held as provided in division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code for the purpose of nominating persons as candidates of political parties for election to offices to be voted for at the succeeding general election. (B) The manner of nominating persons as candidates for election as officers of a municipal corporation having a population of two thousand or more, as ascertained by the most recent federal census, shall be the same as the manner in which candidates were nominated for election as officers in the municipal corporation in 1989 unless the manner of nominating such candidates is changed under division (C), (D), or (E) of this section. (C) Primary elections shall not be held for the nomination of candidates for election as officers of any township, or any municipal corporation having a population of less than two thousand, unless a majority of the electors of any such township or municipal corporation, as determined by the total number of votes cast in such township or municipal corporation for the office of governor at the most recent regular state election, files with the board of elections of the county within which such township or municipal corporation is located, or within which the major portion of the population thereof is located, if the municipal corporation is situated in more than one county, not later than one hundred twenty days before the day of a primary election, a petition signed by such electors asking that candidates for election as officers of such township or municipal corporation be nominated as candidates of political parties, in which event primary elections shall be held in such township or municipal corporation for the purpose of nominating persons as candidates of political parties for election as officers of such township or municipal corporation to be voted for at the succeeding regular municipal election. In a township or municipal corporation where a majority of the electors have filed a petition asking that candidates for election as officers of the township or municipal corporation be nominated as candidates of political parties, the nomination of candidates for a nonpartisan election may be reestablished in the manner prescribed in division (E) of this section. (D)(1) The electors in a municipal corporation having a population of two thousand or more, in which municipal officers were nominated in the most recent election by nominating petition and elected by nonpartisan election, may place on the ballot in the manner prescribed in division (D)(2) of this section the question of changing to the primary-election method of nominating persons as candidates for election as officers of the municipal corporation. (2) The board of elections of the county within which the municipal corporation is located, or, if the municipal corporation is located in more than one county, of the county within which the major portion of the population of the municipal corporation is located, shall, upon receipt of a petition signed by electors of the municipal corporation equal in number to at least ten per cent of the vote cast at the most recent regular municipal election, submit to the electors of the municipal corporation the question of changing to the primary-election method of nominating persons as candidates for election as officers of the municipal corporation. The ballot language shall be substantially as follows: "Shall candidates for election as officers of ____________ (name of municipal corporation) in the county of ____________ (name of county) be nominated as candidates of political parties? ________ yes ________ no" The question shall be placed on the ballot at the next general election in an even-numbered year occurring at least ninety days after the petition is filed with the board. If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote in the affirmative, candidates for election as officers of the municipal corporation shall thereafter be nominated as candidates of political parties in primary elections, under division (A) of this section, unless a change in the manner of nominating persons as candidates for election as officers of the municipal corporation is made under division (E) of this section. (E)(1) The electors in a township or municipal corporation in which the township or municipal officers are nominated as candidates of political parties in a primary election may place on the ballot, in the manner prescribed in division (E)(2) of this section, the question of changing to the nonpartisan method of nominating persons as candidates for election as officers of the township or municipal corporation. (2) The board of elections of the county within which the township or municipal corporation is located, or, if the municipal corporation is located in more than one county, of the county within which the major portion of the population of the municipal corporation is located, shall, upon receipt of a petition signed by electors of the township or municipal corporation equal in number to at least ten per cent of the vote cast at the most recent regular township or municipal election, as appropriate, submit to the electors of the township or municipal corporation, as appropriate, the question of changing to the nonpartisan method of nominating persons as candidates for election as officers of the township or municipal corporation. The ballot language shall be substantially as follows: "Shall candidates for election as officers of ____________ (name of the township or municipal corporation) in the county of ____________ (name of county) be nominated as candidates by nominating petition and be elected only in a nonpartisan election? ________ yes ________ no" The question shall appear on the ballot at the next general election in an even-numbered year occurring at least ninety days after the petition is filed with the board. If a majority of electors voting on the question vote in the affirmative, candidates for officer of the township or municipal corporation shall thereafter be nominated by nominating petition and be elected only in a nonpartisan election, unless a change in the manner of nominating persons as candidates for election as officers of the township or municipal corporation is made under division (C) or (D) of this section.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3504.02 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3504 / § 3504.02
§ 3504.02. Certificate of intent to vote
Status: in_force

September 8, 2016 House Bill 359 - 131st General Assembly (A) Any citizen who desires to vote in a presidential election under this chapter shall, not later than four p.m. of the thirtieth day prior to the date of the presidential election, complete a certificate of intent to vote for presidential and vice-presidential electors. The certificate of intent shall be completed in duplicate on a form prescribed by the secretary of state that may be obtained and filed personally in the office of the board of elections of the county in which such person last resided before removal from this state, or mailed to such board of elections. (B) Immediately following the spaces on the certificate for inserting information as requested by the secretary of state, the following statement shall be printed: "I declare under penalty of election falsification that the statements herein contained are true to the best of my knowledge and belief; that I am legally qualified to vote; that I am not registered to vote in any other state; and that I have not voted in an election in any other state since removing myself from the state of Ohio. __________________________________ Signature of applicant __________________________________ Date WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE." (C) If the applicant has a confidential voter registration record, as described in section 111.44 of the Revised Code, the applicant may include the applicant's program participant identification number instead of the applicant's residence address or precinct in the certificate of intent.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3511.02 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3511 / § 3511.02
§ 3511.02. Application for registration and absent voter's ballot
Status: in_force

April 9, 2025 House Bill 74 - 135th General Assembly (A) Notwithstanding any section of the Revised Code to the contrary, whenever any person applies for registration as a voter on a form adopted in accordance with federal regulations relating to the "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act," 100 Stat. 924, 52 U.S.C.A. 20301, this application shall be sufficient for voter registration and as a request for an absent voter's ballot. Uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots may be obtained by any person meeting the requirements of section 3511.011 of the Revised Code by applying electronically to the secretary of state or to the board of elections of the county in which the person's voting residence is located in accordance with section 3511.021 of the Revised Code or by applying to the board of elections of the county in which the person's voting residence is located, in one of the following ways: (1) That person may make written application for those ballots. The person may personally deliver the application to the office of the board or may mail it, send it by facsimile machine, send it by electronic mail, send it through internet delivery if such delivery is offered by the board of elections or the secretary of state, or otherwise send it to the board. Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, the application shall be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state and shall contain all of the following information: (a) The elector's name; (b) The elector's signature; (c) The address at which the elector is registered to vote; (d) The elector's date of birth; (e) One of the following: (i) The elector's Ohio driver's license or state identification card number; (ii) The last four digits of the elector's social security number; (iii) A copy of the elector's photo identification. (f) A statement identifying the election for which absent voter's ballots are requested; (g) A statement that the person requesting the ballots is a qualified elector; (h) A statement that the elector is an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter as defined in 52 U.S.C. 20310; (i) A statement of the elector's length of residence in the state immediately preceding the commencement of service, immediately preceding the date of leaving to be with or near the service member, or immediately preceding leaving the United States, or a statement that the elector's parent or legal guardian resided in this state long enough to establish residency for voting purposes immediately preceding leaving the United States, whichever is applicable; (j) If the request is for primary election ballots, the elector's party affiliation; (k) If the elector desires ballots to be mailed to the elector, the address to which those ballots shall be mailed; (l) If the elector desires ballots to be sent to the elector by facsimile machine, the telephone number to which they shall be so sent; (m) If the elector desires ballots to be sent to the elector by electronic mail or, if offered by the board of elections or the secretary of state, through internet delivery, the elector's electronic mail address or other internet contact information. (2) A voter or any relative of a voter listed in division (A)(3) of this section may use a single federal post card application to apply for uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots for use at the primary and general elections in a given year and any special election to be held on the day in that year specified by division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code for the holding of a primary election, designated by the general assembly for the purpose of submitting constitutional amendments proposed by the general assembly to the voters of the state. A single federal postcard application shall be processed by the board of elections pursuant to section 3511.04 of the Revised Code the same as if the voter had applied separately for uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots for each election. (3) Application to have uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots mailed or sent by facsimile machine to such a person may be made by the spouse, father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother or sister of the whole blood or half blood, son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of such a person. The application shall be in writing upon a blank form furnished only by the board or on a single federal post card as provided in division (A)(2) of this section. The form of the application shall be prescribed by the secretary of state. The board shall furnish that blank form to any of the relatives specified in this division desiring to make the application, only upon the request of such a relative made in person at the office of the board or upon the written request of such a relative mailed to the office of the board. Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, the application, subscribed and sworn to by the applicant, shall contain all of the following: (a) The full name of the elector for whom ballots are requested; (b) A statement that the elector is an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter as defined in 52 U.S.C. 20310; (c) The address at which the elector is registered to vote; (d) A statement identifying the elector's length of residence in the state immediately preceding the commencement of service, immediately preceding the date of leaving to be with or near a service member, or immediately preceding leaving the United States, or a statement that the elector's parent or legal guardian resided in this state long enough to establish residency for voting purposes immediately preceding leaving the United States, as the case may be; (e) The elector's date of birth; (f) One of the following: (i) The elector's Ohio driver's license or state identification card number; (ii) The last four digits of the elector's social security number; (iii) A copy of the elector's photo identification. (g) A statement identifying the election for which absent voter's ballots are requested; (h) A statement that the person requesting the ballots is a qualified elector; (i) If the request is for primary election ballots, the elector's party affiliation; (j) A statement that the applicant bears a relationship to the elector as specified in division (A)(3) of this section; (k) The address to which ballots shall be mailed, the telephone number to which ballots shall be sent by facsimile machine, the electronic mail address to which ballots shall be sent by electronic mail, or, if internet delivery is offered by the board of elections or the secretary of state, the internet contact information to which ballots shall be sent through internet delivery; (l) The signature and address of the person making the application. (B) If the elector has a confidential voter registration record, as described in section 111.44 of the Revised Code, the application may include the elector's program participant identification number instead of the address at which the elector is registered to vote. (C) Each application for uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots shall be delivered to the office of the board not earlier than the first day of January of the year of the elections for which the uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots are requested or not earlier than ninety days before the day of the election at which the ballots are to be voted, whichever is earlier. An application to receive uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots by mail or by another method permitted under section 3511.021 of the Revised Code shall be delivered to the office of the board not later than the close of business on the seventh day preceding the day of the election. (D) If the voter for whom the application is made is entitled to vote for presidential and vice-presidential electors only, the applicant shall submit to the board, in addition to the requirements of division (A) of this section, a statement to the effect that the voter is qualified to vote for presidential and vice-presidential electors and for no other offices. (E) Except as permitted under section 111.31 of the Revised Code, no public office, and no public official or employee who is acting in an official capacity, shall do either of the following: (1) Prepay the return postage for an application for absent voter's ballots; (2) Mail or otherwise deliver an unsolicited application for absent voter's ballots to any person. (F)(1) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (A)(2) and (3) and (F)(2) of this section and in sections 3505.24 and 3509.08 of the Revised Code, no person shall fill out any portion of a federal post card application or other application for absent voter's ballots on behalf of an applicant. (2) The secretary of state or a board of elections may preprint only an applicant's name and address on a federal post card application or other application for absent voter's ballots before mailing that application to the applicant, except that if the applicant has a confidential voter registration record, the secretary of state or the board of elections shall not preprint the applicant's address on the application. (3) A completed application for absent voter's ballots is not valid if any portion of it has been completed by any person other than the applicant in violation of division (F) of this section. Last updated January 17, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3599.07 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3599 / § 3599.07
§ 3599.07. Unlawful possession or distribution of ballots
Status: in_force

February 25, 2014 Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly No precinct election official, observer, or police officer admitted into the polling rooms at the election, at any time while the polls are open, shall have in the individual's possession, distribute, or give out any ballot or ticket to any person on any pretense during the receiving, counting, or certifying of the votes, or have any ballot or ticket in the individual's possession or control, except in the proper discharge of the individual's official duty in receiving, counting, or canvassing the votes. This section does not prevent the lawful exercise by a precinct election official or observer of the individual right to vote at such election.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3509.02 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3509 / § 3509.02
§ 3509.02. Qualifications for voting by absent voter's ballot
Status: in_force

August 15, 2012 Senate Bill 295 - 129th General Assembly (A) Any qualified elector may vote by absent voter's ballots at an election. (B) Any qualified elector who is unable to appear at the office of the board of elections or, if pursuant to division (C) of section 3501.10 of the Revised Code the board has designated another location in the county at which registered electors may vote, at that other location on account of personal illness, physical disability, or infirmity, and who moves from one precinct to another within a county, changes the elector's name and moves from one precinct to another within a county, or moves from one county to another county within the state, on or prior to the day of a general, primary, or special election and has not filed a notice of change of residence or change of name may vote by absent voter's ballots in that election as specified in division (G) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3599.16 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3599 / § 3599.16
§ 3599.16. Misconduct of member, director, or employee of board of elections - dismissal
Status: in_force

July 1, 1983 Senate Bill 199 - 114th General Assembly No member, director, or employee of a board of elections shall: (A) Willfully or negligently violate or neglect to perform any duty imposed upon him by law, or willfully perform or neglect to perform it in such a way as to hinder the objects of the law, or willfully disobey any law incumbent upon him so to do; (B) Willfully or knowingly report as genuine a false or fraudulent signature on a petition or registration form, or willfully or knowingly report as false or fraudulent any such genuine signature; (C) Willfully add to or subtract from the votes actually cast at an election in any official returns, or add to or take away or attempt to add to or take away any ballot from those legally polled at such election; (D) Carry away, destroy, or mutilate any registration cards or forms, pollbooks, or other records of any election; (E) Act as an election official in any capacity in an election, except as specifically authorized in his official capacity; (F) In any other way willfully and knowingly or unlawfully violate or seek to prevent the enforcement of any other provisions of the election laws. Whoever violates this section shall be dismissed from his position as a member or employee of the board and is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3517.012 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3517 / § 3517.012
§ 3517.012. Party comes into legal existence on date of filing
Status: in_force

February 5, 2014 Senate Bill 193 - 130th General Assembly (A)(1) When a party formation petition meeting the requirements of section 3517.01 of the Revised Code declaring the intention to organize a political party is filed with the secretary of state, the new party comes into legal existence on the date of filing and is entitled to nominate candidates to appear on the ballot at the general election held in even-numbered years that occurs more than one hundred twenty-five days after the date of filing. (2)(a) Upon receiving a party formation petition filed under division (A)(1) of this section, the secretary of state shall promptly transmit to each board of elections the separate petition papers that purport to contain signatures of electors of that board's county. (b) Not later than the one hundred eighteenth day before the day of the general election, each board shall examine and determine the sufficiency of the signatures on the petition papers and shall return them to the secretary of state, together with the board's certification of its determination as to the validity or invalidity of the signatures on the petition. (c) Any qualified elector may file a written protest against the petition with the secretary of state not later than the one hundred fourteenth day before the day of the general election. Any such protest shall be resolved in the manner specified under section 3501.39 of the Revised Code. (d) Not later than the ninety-fifth day before the day of the general election, the secretary of state shall determine whether the party formation petition is sufficient and shall notify the committee designated in the petition of that determination. (B)(1) Not later than one hundred ten days before the day of that general election and not earlier than the day the applicable party formation petition is filed, each candidate or pair of joint candidates wishing to appear on the ballot at the general election as the nominee or nominees of the party that filed the party formation petition shall file a nominating petition, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, that includes the name of the political party that submitted the party formation petition. Except as otherwise provided in this section and sections 3505.03 , 3505.08 , 3506.11 , 3513.31 , 3513.311 , and 3513.312 of the Revised Code, the provisions of the Revised Code concerning independent candidates who file nominating petitions apply to candidates who file nominating petitions under this section. (2)(a) If the candidacy is to be submitted to electors throughout the entire state, the nominating petition, including a petition for joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, shall be signed by at least fifty qualified electors who have not voted as a member of a different political party at any primary election within the current year or the immediately preceding two calendar years. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this division, if the candidacy is to be submitted only to electors within a district, political subdivision, or portion thereof, the nominating petition shall be signed by not less than five qualified electors who have not voted as a member of a different political party at any primary election within the current year or the immediately preceding two calendar years. (3)(a) Each board of elections that is responsible to verify signatures on the nominating petition shall examine and determine the sufficiency of those signatures not later than the one hundred fifth day before the day of the general election and shall be resolved as specified in that section. (b) Written protests against the petition may be filed in the manner specified under section 3513.263 of the Revised Code not later than the one hundredth day before the general election and shall be resolved as specified in that section. (c) Not later than the ninety-fifth day before the day of the general election, the secretary of state or the board of elections, as applicable, shall determine whether the nominating petition is sufficient and shall notify the candidate and the committee designated in the party formation petition of that determination. (C)(1) After being notified that the political party has submitted a sufficient party formation petition under division (A) of this section, the committee designated in a party formation petition shall, not later than the seventy-fifth day before the day of the general election, certify to the secretary of state a slate of candidates consisting of candidates or joint candidates who submitted sufficient nominating petitions under division (B) of this section. The slate certifying the candidates shall be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state and signed by all of the individuals of the committee designated in the party formation petition. In no event shall the slate of candidates include more than one candidate for any public office or more than one set of joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor. The names of the candidates or joint candidates so certified shall appear on the ballot at the general election as that party's nominees for those offices. For purposes of this division, "joint candidates" means the joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor. (2) If a candidate's nominating petition is insufficient or if the committee does not certify the candidate's name under division (C)(1) of this section, the candidate shall not appear on the ballot in the general election. (3) If a party formation petition is insufficient, no candidate shall appear on the ballot in the general election as that political party's nominee, regardless of whether any candidate's nominating petition is sufficient.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3505.011 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3505 / § 3505.011
§ 3505.011. Ranked choice voting prohibited
Status: in_force

June 16, 2026 Senate Bill 63 - 136th General Assembly (A) Except as otherwise permitted under Article X or Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution, no election shall be conducted in this state using ranked choice voting or instant runoff voting. (B) If the secretary of state determines that a county or municipal corporation has, by resolution or ordinance, approved the use of ranked choice voting or instant runoff voting in an election, then the county or municipal corporation is ineligible to receive any local government fund distributions from the state during the period beginning with the month following the adoption of the resolution or ordinance and ending with the month following the last day it is in effect. Upon making that determination, the secretary of state promptly shall notify the tax commissioner of the county or municipal corporation's ineligibility. (C) Upon determining that a county or municipal corporation has, by resolution or ordinance, rescinded previous approval for the use of ranked choice voting that resulted in notice to the tax commissioner under division (B) of this section, the secretary of state shall promptly notify the tax commissioner of the rescission. Last updated April 2, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3519.16 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3519 / § 3519.16
§ 3519.16. Jurisdiction over challenges to petitions; part-petitions
Status: in_force

June 21, 2013 Senate Bill 47 - 130th General Assembly (A) Pursuant to Section 1g of Article II, Ohio Constitution, the supreme court of Ohio shall have exclusive original jurisdiction in all challenges to initiative and referendum petitions. (B) The committee interested in a petition shall include upon each part-petition filed with the secretary of state a designation of the county in which the part-petition was circulated and a number for the part-petition. In any county where part-petitions are circulated, each part-petition shall be numbered sequentially. The committee shall sort the part-petitions by county. Upon filing the petition with the secretary of state, the committee also shall file the following: (1) An electronic copy of the petition along with a verification that the electronic copy is a true representation of the original filed paper petition; (2) A summary of the number of part-petitions filed per county, and the number of signatures on each part-petition; (3) An index of the electronic copy of the petition. (C) From the time the petition is initially filed with the secretary of state and until the part-petitions are returned to the secretary of state by the boards of elections after a determination of sufficiency under section 3519.15 of the Revised Code, any request for the inspection or copying of the original petition filed with the secretary of state under Chapter 149. of the Revised Code is fulfilled if the secretary of state permits the inspection of or provides copies of the electronic copy of the petition filed by the circulator. (D) Discrepancies between the electronic copy of a petition filed under division (B)(1) of this section and the original paper petition filed with the secretary of state shall not render the petition invalid. Such discrepancies, if the product of fraud, shall be subject to criminal penalties under section 3599.36 of the Revised Code. (E) The properly verified part-petitions, together with an electronic copy of the part-petitions, shall be returned to the secretary of state not less than one hundred ten days before the election, provided that, in the case of an initiated law to be presented to the general assembly, the boards shall promptly check and return the petitions together with their report. The secretary of state shall determine the sufficiency of the signatures not later than one hundred five days before the election. The secretary of state promptly shall notify the chairperson of the committee in charge of the circulation as to the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition and the extent of the insufficiency. (F) If the petition is found insufficient because of an insufficient number of valid signatures, the committee shall be allowed ten additional days after the notification by the secretary of state for the collection and filing of additional signatures to the petition. When the secretary of state makes that notification, the secretary of state simultaneously shall provide the chairperson with both a paper copy and an electronic copy of the unique petition form described in division (D) of section 3519.05 of the Revised Code. At that time, the secretary of state also shall make the form available to the public on the secretary of state's official web site and shall transmit the form electronically to the boards of elections. Upon request, a board of elections shall provide a paper or electronic copy of the form to any person. No additional signatures shall be collected or submitted to the secretary of state by the committee interested in the petition, or by any person acting on behalf of the committee, during the period beginning on the date that the petition is initially submitted to the secretary of state and ending on the date that the secretary of state notifies the chairperson of the committee that the petition has an insufficient number of valid signatures. If the committee, or any person acting on behalf of the committee, submits additional signatures, the signatures must be on the form provided by the secretary of state under this division and only signatures that were signed and collected during the ten-day period to collect and submit additional signatures may be submitted. If additional signatures are filed, the secretary of state shall determine the sufficiency of those additional signatures not later than sixty-five days before the election. The part-petitions of the supplementary petition that appear to the secretary of state to be properly verified, upon their receipt by the secretary of state, shall forthwith be forwarded to the boards of the several counties together with the part-petitions of the original petition that have been properly verified. They shall be immediately examined and passed upon as to the validity and sufficiency of the signatures on them by each of the boards and returned within eight days to the secretary of state with the report of each board. No signature on a supplementary part-petition that is the same as a signature on an original part-petition shall be counted. The number of signatures in both the original and supplementary petitions, properly verified, shall be used by the secretary of state in determining the total number of signatures to the petition that the secretary of state shall record and announce. If they are sufficient, the amendment, proposed law, or law shall be placed on the ballot as required by law. If the petition is found insufficient, the secretary of state shall notify the committee in charge of the circulation of the petition.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3599.14 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3599 / § 3599.14
§ 3599.14. Prohibited acts concerning declarations or petitions
Status: in_force

May 2, 2006 House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly (A) No person shall knowingly, directly or indirectly, do any of the following in connection with any declaration of candidacy and petition, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, nominating petition, or other petition presented to or filed with the secretary of state, a board of elections, or any other public office for the purpose of becoming a candidate for any elective office, including the office of a political party, for the purpose of submitting a question or issue to the electors at an election, or for the purpose of forming a political party: (1) Misrepresent the contents, purpose, or effect of the petition or declaration for the purpose of persuading a person to sign or refrain from signing the petition or declaration; (2) Pay or offer to pay anything of value for signing or refraining from signing the petition or declaration; (3) Promise to assist any person to obtain appointment to an office or position as a consideration for obtaining or preventing signatures to the petition or declaration; (4) Obtain or prevent signatures to the petition or declaration as a consideration for the assistance or promise of assistance of a person in securing appointment to an office or position; (5) Circulate or cause to be circulated the petition or declaration knowing it to contain false, forged, or fictitious names; (6) Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, add signatures or names except the person's own name on the petition or declaration; (7) Make a false certification or statement concerning the petition or declaration; (8) File with the election authorities the petition or declaration knowing it to contain false, forged, or fictitious names; (9) Fail to fill out truthfully and file all itemized statements required by law in connection with the petition or declaration. (B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3513.111 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3513 / § 3513.111
§ 3513.111. Nominating candidates for election as presidential electors
Status: in_force

September 23, 1992 House Bill 438 - 119th General Assembly (A) Any major political party that does not hold a state convention under section 3513.11 of the Revised Code shall nominate candidates for election as presidential electors in accordance with this section. (B) In accordance with party rules, in 1992 and in each fourth year thereafter, the executive committee of the state central committee of a major political party described in division (A) of this section shall nominate candidates for election as presidential electors to be voted for at the general election to be held that year. The nomination of these candidates shall occur no later than forty days prior to the general election. Within five days after these candidates are nominated, the chairman or secretary of the executive committee, or, in the absence of the chairman or secretary, a member of the committee designated by a majority of the other members of the committee, shall certify in writing to the secretary of state the names of all persons so nominated.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3505.16 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3505 / § 3505.16
§ 3505.16. Ballot boxes and supplies placement at polling place
Status: in_force

February 25, 2014 Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly Before the opening of the polls, the package of supplies and the ballot box shall be opened in the presence of the precinct officials. The ballot box, the package of ballots, registration forms, and other supplies shall at all times be in full sight of the observers, and no ballot box or unused ballots during the balloting or counting shall be removed or screened from their full sight until the counting has been closed and the final returns completed and the certificate signed by the judges.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3506.15 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3506 / § 3506.15
§ 3506.15. Secretary of state to promulgate rules for equipment and conduct of elections
Status: in_force

February 25, 2014 Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly The secretary of state shall provide each board of elections with rules, instructions, directives, and advisories regarding the examination, testing, and use of the voting machine and tabulating equipment, the assignment of duties of booth officials, the procedure for casting a vote on the machine, and how the vote shall be tallied and reported to the board, and with other rules, instructions, directives, and advisories the secretary of state finds necessary to ensure the adequate care and custody of voting equipment, and the accurate registering, counting, and canvassing of the votes as required by this chapter. The boards of elections shall be charged with the responsibility of providing for the adequate instruction of voters and election officials in the proper use of the voting machine and marking devices. The secretary of state's rules, instructions, directives, and advisories provided under this section shall comply, insofar as practicable, with this chapter. The provisions of Title XXXV of the Revised Code, not inconsistent with the provisions relating to voting machines, apply in any county using a voting machine.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3513.20 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3513 / § 3513.20
§ 3513.20. Effect of challenge to voter at primary
Status: in_force

May 2, 2006 House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly Before any challenged person shall be allowed to vote at a primary election, the person shall make a statement, under penalty of election falsification, before one of the precinct officials, blanks for which shall be furnished by the board of elections, giving name, age, residence, length of residence in the precinct, county, and state; stating that the person desires to be affiliated with and supports the principles of the political party whose ballot the person desires to vote; and giving all other facts necessary to determine whether the person is entitled to vote in that primary election. The statement shall be returned to the office of the board with the pollbooks and tally sheets. If a person challenged refuses to make that statement under penalty of election falsification, the person shall be permitted to vote a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. If a majority of the precinct officials finds that the statements of a person challenged or the person's voting record or other evidence shows that the person lacks any of the qualifications required to make the person a qualified elector at the primary election or that the person is not affiliated with or is not a member of the political party whose ballot the person desires to vote, the person shall be permitted to vote a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. Last updated May 3, 2021 at 10:53 AM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3519.08 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3519 / § 3519.08
§ 3519.08. Withdrawal of petition - ballot procedure
Status: in_force

July 2, 2010 House Bill 48 - 128th General Assembly (A) Notwithstanding division (I)(2) of section 3501.38 of the Revised Code, at any time prior to the seventieth day before the day of an election at which an initiative or referendum is scheduled to appear on the ballot, a majority of the members of the committee named to represent the petitioners in the petition proposing that initiative or referendum under section 3519.02 of the Revised Code may withdraw the petition by giving written notice of the withdrawal to the secretary of state. (B) After a majority of the members of the committee named to represent the petitioners gives notice to the secretary of state that the petition proposing the initiative or referendum is withdrawn under division (A) of this section, all of the following shall apply: (1) If the Ohio ballot board has not already certified the ballot language at the time a majority of the members of the committee gives the written notice of withdrawal, the board shall not certify ballot language for that proposed initiative or referendum to the secretary of state. (2) The secretary of state shall not certify a ballot form or wording to the boards of elections under sections 3501.05 and 3505.01 of the Revised Code that includes ballot language for that proposed initiative or referendum. (3) The proposed initiative or referendum shall not appear on the ballot. (C) No petition that has been filed, and subsequently withdrawn under this section, may be resubmitted.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3599.08 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3599 / § 3599.08
§ 3599.08. Corrupt practices - influencing candidates and voters by publications
Status: in_force

October 1, 1953 House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly No owner, editor, writer, or employee of any newspaper, magazine, or other publication of any description, whether published regularly or irregularly, shall use the columns of any such publication for the printing of any threats, direct or implied, in the columns of any such publication for the purpose of controlling or intimidating candidates for public office. Such person shall not directly or indirectly solicit, receive, or accept any payment, promise, or compensation for influencing or attempting to influence votes through any printing matter, except through matter inserted in such publication as "paid advertisement" and so designated. Whoever violates this section is guilty of a corrupt practice and shall be fined not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3517.05 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3517 / § 3517.05
§ 3517.05. Terms of party committees - determining rightful county central or executive committee
Status: in_force

October 19, 1978 House Bill 655 - 112th General Assembly All party committees, the selection of which is provided for in sections 3517.02 and 3517.03 of the Revised Code, shall, except as otherwise provided in this section, serve until the date of the organizational meeting provided for in section 3517.04 of the Revised Code. A county central committee shall serve until the sixth day after the date of the declaration of the results by the board of elections of the primary election in that county. In case of vacancies caused by death, resignation, failure to elect, or removal from the precinct, ward, township, or district from which a committeeman was chosen, the controlling committee or, if authorized, the executive committee shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term by a majority vote of the members of such committee. If more than one organized group claims to be the rightful county central or executive committee, each such group shall file a list of its officers and members as provided in section 3517.06 of the Revised Code, and the board of elections with which such lists are filed shall certify them to the state central committee of the party concerned. The state central committee shall meet within thirty days after receipt of such certification and forthwith determine and certify which committee shall be recognized as the rightful county central or executive committee.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3519.15 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3519 / § 3519.15
§ 3519.15. Part-petitions
Status: in_force

August 5, 1981 House Bill 1 - 114th General Assembly Whenever any initiative or referendum petition has been filed with the secretary of state, he shall forthwith separate the part-petitions by counties and transmit such part-petitions to the boards of elections in the respective counties. The several boards shall proceed at once to ascertain whether each part-petition is properly verified, and whether the names on each part-petition are on the registration lists of such county, or whether the persons whose names appear on each part-petition are eligible to vote in such county, and to determine any repetition or duplication of signatures, the number of illegal signatures, and the omission of any necessary details required by law. The boards shall make note opposite such signatures and submit a report to the secretary of state indicating the sufficiency or insufficiency of such signatures and indicating whether or not each part-petition is properly verified, eliminating, for the purpose of such report, all signatures on any part-petition that are not properly verified. In determining the sufficiency of such a petition, only the signatures of those persons shall be counted who are electors at the time the boards examine the petition.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3503.153 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3503 / § 3503.153
§ 3503.153. Database website
Status: in_force

October 3, 2023 House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly (A) The statewide voter registration database shall be made available on a web site of the office of the secretary of state as follows: (1) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(2) of this section, the following information from the statewide voter registration database regarding a registered elector shall be made available on the web site: (a) The elector's name; (b) The elector's birth date; (c) The elector's current residence address; (d) The elector's precinct number; (e) The elector's voter registration date, as described in division (C)(9) of section 3503.15 of the Revised Code; (f) The elector's voting history, as described in division (C)(10) of section 3503.15 of the Revised Code; (g) The elector's last activity date, as described in division (C)(11) of section 3503.15 of the Revised Code. (2) During the thirty days before the day of a primary or general election, the web site interface of the statewide voter registration database shall permit an elector to search for the polling location at which that elector may cast a ballot. (3) No information in the statewide voter registration database that is exempt from disclosure under division (A)(2) of section 3503.13 of the Revised Code shall be made available on the web site. (B)(1) The secretary of state shall establish, by rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, a process for boards of elections to notify the secretary of state of changes in the locations of precinct polling places for the purpose of updating the information made available on the secretary of state's web site under division (A)(2) of this section. Those rules shall require a board of elections, during the thirty days before the day of a primary or general election, to notify the secretary of state within one business day of any change to the location of a precinct polling place within the county. (2) During the thirty days before the day of a primary or general election, not later than one business day after receiving a notification from a county pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section that the location of a precinct polling place has changed, the secretary of state shall update that information on the secretary of state's web site for the purpose of division (A)(2) of this section. Last updated September 12, 2023 at 9:12 AM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3501.03 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3501 / § 3501.03
§ 3501.03. Notice of election
Status: in_force

September 29, 2011 House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly At least ten days before the time for holding an election the board of elections shall give public notice by a proclamation, posted in a conspicuous place in the courthouse and city hall, or by one insertion in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. The board shall have authority to publicize information relative to registration or elections.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3503.28 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3503 / § 3503.28
§ 3503.28. Information brochure regarding voter registration
Status: in_force

April 7, 2023 House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly (A) The secretary of state shall develop an information brochure regarding voter registration. The brochure shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following information: (1) The applicable deadlines for registering to vote or for returning an applicant's completed registration form; (2) The applicable deadline for returning an applicant's completed registration form if the person returning the form is being compensated for registering voters; (3) The locations to which a person may return an applicant's completed registration form; (4) The location to which a person who is compensated for registering voters may return an applicant's completed registration form; (5) The registration and affirmation requirements applicable to persons who are compensated for registering voters under section 3503.29 of the Revised Code; (6) A notice, which shall be written in bold type, stating as follows: "Voters must bring photo identification to the polls in order to verify identity. Voters who do not provide photo identification will still be able to vote by casting a provisional ballot." (B) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, a board of elections, designated agency, public high school, public vocational school, public library, office of a county treasurer, or deputy registrar of motor vehicles shall distribute a copy of the brochure developed under division (A) of this section to any person who requests more than two voter registration forms at one time. (C)(1) The secretary of state shall provide the information required to be included in the brochure developed under division (A) of this section to any person who prints a voter registration form that is made available on a web site of the office of the secretary of state. (2) If a board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board shall provide the information required to be included in the brochure developed under division (A) of this section to any person who prints a voter registration form that is made available on that web site. (D) A board of elections shall not be required to distribute a copy of a brochure under division (B) of this section to any of the following officials or employees who are requesting more than two voter registration forms at one time in the course of the official's or employee's normal duties: (1) An election official; (2) A county treasurer; (3) A deputy registrar of motor vehicles; (4) An employee of a designated agency; (5) An employee of a public high school; (6) An employee of a public vocational school; (7) An employee of a public library; (8) An employee of the office of a county treasurer; (9) An employee of the bureau of motor vehicles; (10) An employee of a deputy registrar of motor vehicles; (11) An employee of an election official. (E) As used in this section, "registering voters" includes any effort, for compensation, to provide voter registration forms or to assist persons in completing or returning those forms. Last updated January 19, 2023 at 10:32 AM
Ohio Rev. Code § 3599.41 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3599 / § 3599.41
§ 3599.41. Person violating election laws may testify against other violators
Status: in_force

October 1, 1953 House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly A person violating any provision of Title XXXV of the Revised Code is a competent witness against another person so offending, and may attend and testify at a trial, hearing, or investigation thereof.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3501.31 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3501 / § 3501.31
§ 3501.31. Notice of election mailed to precinct officials
Status: in_force

February 25, 2014 Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly The board of elections shall mail to each precinct election official notice of the date, hours, and place of holding each election in the official's respective precinct at which it desires the official to serve. Each of such officials shall notify the board immediately upon receipt of such notice of any inability to serve. The election official designated as voting location manager under section 3501.22 of the Revised Code shall call at the office of the board at such time before the day of the election, not earlier than the tenth day before the day of the election, as the board designates to obtain the ballots, pollbooks, registration forms and lists, and other material to be used in the official's polling place on election day. The board may also provide for the delivery of such materials to polling places in a municipal corporation by members of the police department of such municipal corporation; or the board may provide for the delivery of such materials to the voting location manager not earlier than the tenth day before the election, in any manner it finds to be advisable. On election day the precinct election officials shall punctually attend the polling place one-half hour before the time fixed for opening the polls. Each of the precinct election officials shall thereupon make and subscribe to a statement which shall be as follows: "State of Ohio County of _______________ I do solemnly swear under the penalty of perjury that I will support the constitution of the United States of America and the constitution of the state of Ohio and its laws; that I have not been convicted of a felony or any violation of the election laws; that I will discharge to the best of my ability the duties of precinct election official in and for precinct ____________________ in the ____________________ (township) or (ward and city or village) ____________________ in the county of ____________________, in the election to be held on the __________ day of _______________, _____, as required by law and the rules and instructions of the board of elections of said county; and that I will endeavor to prevent fraud in such election, and will report immediately to said board any violations of the election laws which come to my attention, and will not disclose any information as to how any elector voted which is gained by me in the discharge of my official duties. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ (Signatures of precinct election officials)" If any of the other precinct election officials is absent at that time, the voting location manager, with the concurrence of a majority of the precinct election officials present, shall appoint a qualified elector who is a member of the same political party as the political party of which such absent precinct election official is a member to fill the vacancy until the board appoints a person to fill such vacancy and the person so appointed reports for duty at the polling place. The voting location manager shall promptly notify the board of such vacancy by telephone or otherwise. The voting location manager also shall assign the precinct election officials to their respective duties and shall have general charge of the polling place.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3515.072 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3515 / § 3515.072
§ 3515.072. Biennial adjustment of charges for recounts
Status: in_force

May 2, 2006 House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly (A) In January of each odd-numbered year, the secretary of state, in accordance with this division and division (B) of this section, shall adjust each amount specified in sections 3515.03 and 3515.07 of the Revised Code. The adjustment shall be based on the yearly average of the previous two years of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers or its successive equivalent, as determined by the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, or its successor in responsibility, for all items, Series A. Using the 2005 yearly average as the base year, the secretary of state shall compare the most current average consumer price index with that determined in the preceding odd-numbered year, and shall determine the percentage increase or decrease. The percentage increase or decrease shall be multiplied by each actual dollar figure specified in sections 3515.03 and 3515.07 of the Revised Code as determined in the previous odd-numbered year, and the product shall be added to or subtracted from its corresponding actual dollar figure, as necessary, for that previous odd-numbered year. If the resulting amount is less than five dollars, the secretary of state shall retain a record of the resulting amount and the manner in which it was calculated, but shall not make an adjustment unless the resulting amount, when added to the resulting amount calculated in each prior odd-numbered year since the last adjustment was made, equals or exceeds five dollars. (B)(1) The secretary of state shall calculate the adjustment under division (A) of this section and shall report the calculations and necessary materials to the auditor of state, on or before the thirty-first day of January of each odd-numbered year. The secretary of state shall base the adjustment on the most current consumer price index that is described in division (A) of this section and that is in effect as of the first day of January of each odd-numbered year. (2) The calculations made by the secretary of state under divisions (A) and (B)(1) of this section shall be certified by the auditor of state on or before the fifteenth day of February of each odd-numbered year. (3) On or before the twenty-fifth day of February of each odd-numbered year, the secretary of state shall prepare a report setting forth the amount required to be deposited with a board of elections at the time a recount application is filed for each precinct to be recounted under section 3515.03 of the Revised Code and the minimum and maximum per precinct charge for a recount under section 3515.07 of the Revised Code. The report and all documents relating to the calculations contained in the report are public records. The report shall contain an indication of the period in which the deposit amounts and the minimum and maximum per precinct charges apply, a summary of how the deposit amounts and the minimum and maximum per precinct charges were calculated, and a statement that the report and all related documents are available for inspection and copying at the office of the secretary of state. (4) On or before the twenty-fifth day of February of each odd-numbered year, the secretary of state shall transmit the report to the general assembly and shall send the report by electronic mail or other form of electronic communication to the board of elections of each county.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3599.13 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3599 / § 3599.13
§ 3599.13. Signing of petitions
Status: in_force

May 2, 2006 House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly (A) No person shall do any of the following: (1) Sign an initiative, supplementary, referendum, recall, or nominating petition knowing that the person is not at the time qualified to sign it; (2) Knowingly sign such a petition more than once; (3) Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, sign a name other than the person's own on such a petition; (4) Accept anything of value for signing such a petition; (5) Seek by intimidation or threats to influence any person to sign or refrain from signing such a petition, or from circulating or abstaining from circulating such a petition; (6) Sign a declaration of candidacy and petition for a candidate of a party with which the person is not affiliated, as required by section 3513.05 of the Revised Code; (7) Make a false affidavit or statement concerning the signatures on any such petition. (B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section shall be fined not less than fifty or more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not less than three or more than six months, or both.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3503.04 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3503 / § 3503.04
§ 3503.04. Residence for inmates of a public or private institution
Status: in_force

August 22, 1995 House Bill 99 - 121st General Assembly Persons who are inmates of a public or private institution who are citizens of the United States and have resided in this state thirty days immediately preceding the election, and who are otherwise qualified as to age and residence within the county shall have their lawful residence in the county, city, village and township in which said institution is located provided, that the lawful residence of a qualified elector who is an inmate in such an institution for temporary treatment only, shall be the residence from which he entered such institution.
Ohio Rev. Code § 3513.122 — Ohio Revised Code / Title 35 / Chapter 3513 / § 3513.122
§ 3513.122. Electing delegates and alternates to other national conventions or conferences
Status: in_force

July 2, 2010 House Bill 48 - 128th General Assembly Political parties shall be eligible to elect delegates and alternates to national conventions or conferences of their respective political parties, other than conventions provided for in section 3513.12 of the Revised Code, if they notify the secretary of state that they will elect such delegates. Such notification must be made prior to the one hundred fifth day before the day of the primary election which occurs in any year at which national convention or conference delegates and alternates are elected. Petitions of candidacy for such delegates shall be filed in the form and manner provided by the secretary of state. Any political party electing delegates to a national convention or conference under this section in an odd-numbered year in which a statewide primary election is not otherwise required shall pay all expenses of that election.