The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1957-01-24

olllA1 VI obl 1ohlltS ioot'i " VI
Elections.
Only a small percentage of the
electors of Ohio ever become
candidates for public office
However, a great many play an
important part in the candidates.
by circulating or signing nomi-
mating petition papers.
Each separate petition paper
shall be circulated by one per-
son only. The circulator must
take an oath and affirm that he
saw each person sign the peti
ton and that the signatures ap-
pearing thereon are the sigma
lures of the persons they pur-
port to be. The importance of
this oath cannot be over emphas-
lied. If the circulator saw 20
persons each sign his own name,
but the petition contains 25
names, the circulator must state
IN the oath that he witnessed
only the 20 signatures, and line
out the other five signatures he
did not witness. If he gets only
10 signatures, the oath should SO
state. The Board of Elections is
required to reject the entire petit
ton if it finds that the affidavit
of the circulator is false within
the knowledge of such circula-
tor. If the board finds that the
petition contains six signatures
which are invalid by reason of
facts unknown to the circulator,
the petition is accepted but only
the valid signatures thereon are
counted. The petitions of party
| candidates must be circulated by
| a member of the same political
party as the candidate, and must
be signed only by members of
that same political party.
There is no provision in the
law which permits one person
| to affix the signature of another
to petition. Each signature must
be the actual signature of the
person it purportS to be and
must be affixed in ink or in
| delible pencil. In registration
areas, persons must be registered
in order to sign a petition. Any
person signing a petition may not
withdraw his name therefrom
after the petition has been filed
with a Board of Elections.
Persons signing nominating
petitions affirm that they have
not signed the nominating peti-
ton of more candidates for the
office than the number to be
| elected to said office. 1t should
be pointed out that this applies
| only to nominating petitions
filed by independent or non
partisan candidates, and is no
applicable to declarations o.
candidacy filed by party can
didates, For instance, there j:
but one city mayor to be elected
- "a" is a Republican candidate
and "B" and "C' are Independent
candidates; the same person
could sign "A's" declaration o
candidacy petition form ant
"Bs' nominating petition form
Such person could not, however
sign both "B's" and "C's" nomi
mating petition forms. If a per
son signs the nominating peti
ton of more independent can
| didates than there are to b,
elected, his signature is valid OF
the first one he signed 1t il
| therefore important that The
Date of Signing be filled il
for each signature on nominating
| petitions.
Each petition shall contain
| signatures of qualified electors O
one county only. If the petition
| is of candidate for an office
| in a subdivision which extend
into two or more counties
| separate petitions shall be cir
| culated in each county. How
ever, all petitions are filed witt
| the Board of Elections of th'
county in which the most popul
| nIS 1Aal,t nf the Slhdi1riSin.a /