The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1957-09-05
-.--As-ss@.S..2ss~
| Your
| Election
| Lows 80
l. By Ted w. Brown :
Secretary of stots of Ohio

L. Dy leu w. DfOwH -
Secretary of stots of Ohio
Numerous bond issue and tax
levy questions appear on the bal
lots each year. In order to sub
NIT such a question to the voters,
the taxing authority of the sub
division (the city council, the
village council, the township
trustees, or the board of educa-
ton, etc. must pass resolution
declaring the necessity of the
bond issue or tax levy. The pur
pose for which the money is to
be used must also be included in
the resolution. If it is for a bond
issue, the amount of the adj
ditional tax levy which will be
necessary to pay the principal
and interest on the bonds, as
calculated by the county auditor,
must also be stated in the resolu-
ton.
The resolution must then be
certified to the Board of Elec-
tions not later than the ninetieth
day before the day Of the cleo
ton. The question is then SUBJ
mitted to the voters on ballot,
the form of which is prescribed
by the statutes. Various percent
ages of affirmative votes are
necessary for passage, depending
upon such things as: what sub
division is submitting the ques-
ton; what purpose the money
is to be used for; and when the
election is to be held.
Provision is made in the law
for submitting bond issues and
tax levy questions at primary or
special elections as well as at
November elections. AS a rule,
however, it is necessary to obtain
a large number of affirmative
votes in order to approve an
issue at a primary or special
election than is necessary at
November election. The percent
age of affirmative votes neceS-
sary for passage must always
appear on the bnllot for each
question. In addition, the length
of time that tax can be levied
is usually shorter if it is voted
on at a primary or special cleo
ton than it would be if voted on
at general election.
After a bill is passed by the
Legislature and signed by the
Governor, it is filed in the office
of the Secretary of State At that
time, the Secretary of State must
determine what the effective
date of the act is. If a bill con-
tains an emergency clause, if it
| makes an appropriation for cur
| rent expenses, of if it levies a
tax, it takes effect Immediately
upon the signature of the Gov
ernor; otherwise it does not take
effect until the expiration of
ninety days after it is filed with
the Secretary of State.
Under the Ohio Constitution,
these laws that do not take effect
for ninety days are subject to the
| referendum; that is. the right
of the people to petition and
| order that the law be submitted
to the voters for approval. This
| petition must be signed by six
per cent of the electors of the
state and filed with the Secretary
of State within the ninety days.
Such a petition, if valid, will
postpone the effective date
again, until the election. Upon
the filing of the petition, the
| Secretary of State arranges to
have the question placed on the
ballot. If a majority of those
voting on the question approve
the act, it becomes effective i'm
mediately If a majority does not
approve Of the act, it is of no
effect.
Although emergency measures,
appropriations for current ex-
penses, and tax levy measures
take effect Immediately and are
not subject to referendum, the
people still have the right to
voice their opinions at the polls.
They can do this by use of the
initiative. This power, also given
by the Constitution, enables the
electors to propose legislation
which is first submitted to the
General Assembly and, if not
passed, can later be placed on
the ballot. This method could be
4 used to repeal statute on which
there was no right Of referen-
1 dun.
| Well informed and educated
precinct officials are essential tc
the conduct of efficient and i'm