reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.05 | Terms of Party Committees - Determining Rightful County Central or Executive Committee.

Effective:
October 19, 1978
Latest Legislation:
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.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.06 | Names and Addresses of Members and Officers of County Central Committee and County Executive Committee.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
A list of the names and addresses of the members and officers of the county central committee and the county executive committee of each political party shall be filed by the secretary of each committee in the office of the board of elections of the county in which such committee exists and in the office of the secretary of state promptly after the organization of each of such committees. A list of the names and addresses of the members of the state central committee and the state executive committee of each political party shall be filed by the secretary of each committee in the office of the secretary of state promptly after the organization of each of such committees.
All changes occurring in the membership of a county central or executive committee after such filing shall be reported promptly by the secretary of such committee to the board and to the secretary of state. All changes occurring in the membership of a state central or executive committee after such filing shall be reported promptly by the secretary of such committee to the secretary of state. All such lists shall be open to public inspection at all times when the offices in which they are filed are open for business.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.07 | Parties or Groups Advocating Overthrow of Government by Force or Violence.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
No political party or group which advocates, either directly or indirectly, the overthrow, by force or violence, of our local, state, or national government or which carries on a program of sedition or treason by radio, speech, or press or which has in any manner any connection with any foreign government or power or which in any manner has any connection with any group or organization so connected or so advocating the overthrow, by force or violence, of our local, state, or national government or so carrying on a program of sedition or treason by radio, speech, or press shall be recognized or be given a place on the ballot in any primary or general election held in the state or in any political subdivision thereof.
Any party or group desiring to have a place on the ballot shall file with the secretary of state and with the board of elections in each county in which it desires to have a place on the ballot an affidavit made by not less than ten members of such party, not less than three of whom shall be executive officers thereof, under oath stating that it does not advocate, either directly or indirectly, the overthrow, by force or violence, of our local, state, or national government; that it does not carry on any program of sedition or treason by radio, speech, or press; that it has no connection with any foreign government or power; that it has no connection with any group or organization so connected or so advocating, either directly or indirectly, the overthrow, by force or violence, of our local, state, or national government or so carrying on a program of sedition or treason by radio, speech, or press.
Said affidavit shall be filed not less than six nor more than nine months prior to the primary or general election in which the party or group desires to have a place on the ballot. The secretary of state shall investigate the facts appearing in the affidavit and shall within sixty days after the filing thereof find and certify whether or not this party or group is entitled under this section to have a place on the ballot.
Any qualified member of such party or group or any elector of this state may appeal from the finding of the secretary of state to the supreme court of Ohio.
This section does not apply to any political party or group which has had a place on the ballot in each national and gubernatorial election since the year 1900.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.09 | Coercing Political Contributions.

Effective:
April 26, 2005
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 115 - 126th General Assembly
(A) No person or committee shall solicit, ask, invite, or demand, directly or indirectly, orally or in writing, a contribution, subscription, or payment from a candidate for nomination or election or from the campaign committee of that candidate, and no person shall solicit, ask, invite, or demand that a candidate for nomination or election or the campaign committee of that candidate subscribe to the support of a club or organization, buy tickets to an entertainment, ball, supper, or other meeting, or pay for space in a book, program, or publication. This division does not apply to any of the following:
(1) Regular advertisements in periodicals having an established circulation;
(2) Regular payments to civic, political, fraternal, social, charitable, or religious organizations of which the candidate was a member or contributor six months before the candidate's candidacy;
(3) Regular party assessments made by a party against its own candidates.
(B) No person shall coerce, intimidate, or cause harm to another person by an act or failure to act, or shall threaten to coerce, intimidate, or cause harm to another person, because that other person makes or does not make a contribution to a candidate, campaign committee, political party, legislative campaign fund, political action committee, political contributing entity, or person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications.
(C) An employer or labor organization, directly or through another person, may obtain contributions for a candidate, campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications from an employee or member from whom the employer or labor organization was not obtaining contributions for that candidate, campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications before March 31, 2005, on an automatic basis pursuant to a payroll deduction plan only if the employee or member who is contributing to that candidate, campaign committee, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications affirmatively consents to the contribution in writing.
(D) In addition to the laws listed in division (A) of section 4117.10 of the Revised Code that prevail over conflicting agreements between employee organizations and public employers, this section prevails over any conflicting provisions of agreements between labor organizations and public employers that are entered into on or after March 31, 2005, pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.091 | Door-to-Door Solicitations for Political Contributions.

Effective:
October 5, 1987
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 231 - 117th General Assembly
(A) Except as otherwise provided in division (E) of this section, any person or organization that makes door-to-door solicitations for contributions to influence legislation, for contributions to influence the actions of any regulatory agency, or for contributions to support or oppose the campaign of any candidate for political office shall report in writing to the secretary of state by the thirty-first day of July of each year with regard to actions taken during the first six months of that calendar year, and by the thirty-first day of January of each year with regard to actions taken during the second six months of the previous calendar year, all of the following:
(1) The name and address of the solicitor and of the organization, if any, for which the solicitation is made, and the name and address of the organization's director or chief executive officer;
(2) The name and address of each person or organization from which it received one or more contributions, and the amount and date of each such contribution;
(3) A complete list of all receipts and expenditures it has made to influence legislation, to influence the actions of any regulatory agency, or to support or oppose the campaign of any candidate for political office.
(B) Before making any solicitation described in division (A) of this section, the solicitor shall give the person being solicited a written notice that contains all of the following:
(1) The information described in division (A)(1) of this section;
(2) A list of any purposes for which money contributed might be used;
(3) The amount of compensation, if any, being paid to the solicitor;
(4) A statement that the person being solicited may refuse to make a contribution without suffering any reprisal.
(C) No person or organization shall fail to comply with the requirements of division (A) or (B) of this section.
(D) This section does not apply to the solicitation activities of any charitable organization as defined in division (H) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.103 | Deposit of Personal Funds in Candidate's Own Campaign Fund.

Effective:
September 29, 2013
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly
(A) For purposes of this section:
(1) "Statewide candidate" means the joint candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor or a candidate for the office of secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, attorney general, or member of the state board of education.
(2)(a) "Personal funds" means contributions to the campaign committee of a candidate by the candidate.
(b) A loan obtained by, guaranteed by, or for the benefit of a statewide candidate, senate candidate, or house candidate shall be considered "personal funds" subject to the provisions of this section to the extent that the loan is obtained or guaranteed by the candidate. A loan that is obtained or guaranteed and that is for the benefit of a statewide candidate, senate candidate, or house candidate shall not be considered "personal funds" for the purposes of this section but shall be considered to be a "contribution" for the purposes of this chapter if the loan is obtained or guaranteed by anyone other than the candidate.
(c) When a debt or other obligation incurred by a committee or by a candidate on behalf of the candidate's committee is to be paid from "personal funds," those funds are considered to be expended when the debt or other obligation is incurred, regardless of when it is paid.
(B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of this section, no statewide candidate or candidate for the office of member of the general assembly shall make an expenditure of personal funds to influence the results of an election for that candidate's nomination or election to office unless the personal funds are first deposited into the campaign fund of that candidate's campaign committee.
(2) A statewide candidate or candidate for the office of member of the general assembly may make an expenditure of personal funds without first depositing those funds into the campaign committee's funds as long as the aggregate total of those expenditures does not exceed five hundred dollars at any time during an election period. After the candidate's campaign committee reimburses the candidate for any direct expenditure of personal funds, the amount that was reimbursed is no longer included in the aggregate total of expenditures of personal funds subject to the five-hundred-dollar limit.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.1012 | Political Parties to Establish Restricted Funds - Deposits and Disbursements.

Effective:
October 17, 2019
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly
(A)(1) Each state and county political party shall establish a restricted fund that is separate from all other accounts of the political party.
(2) A state or county political party shall deposit into its restricted fund all gifts that are made to or accepted by the political party from a corporation or labor organization subject to the applicable limitations prescribed in division (X) of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code. A state or county political party may deposit into its restricted fund any gifts that are made to or accepted by the political party from a source other than a corporation or labor organization.
(3) Moneys in a state or county political party's restricted fund may be disbursed to pay costs incurred for any of the purposes specified in division (A) of section 3517.18 of the Revised Code.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in this division, a state or county political party shall file deposit and disbursement statements, in the same manner as the party is required to file statements of contributions and expenditures under section 3517.10 of the Revised Code, regarding all deposits made into, and all disbursements made from, the party's restricted fund. Deposit and disbursement statements filed in accordance with this division by a county political party shall be filed by electronic means of transmission to the office of the secretary of state at the times specified in division (A) of section 3517.10 of the Revised Code for the filing of statements of contributions and expenditures if the county political party accepts gifts from a corporation or labor organization under division (A)(2) of this section.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.1015 | Disclosure of Contributions.

Effective:
September 10, 2010
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 519 - 128th General Assembly
Each person licensed under Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code shall disclose quarterly to the secretary of state any contribution of one hundred dollars or more made to any ballot issue.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.12 | Itemized Statement of Expenditures on Issues.

Effective:
May 2, 2006
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly
(A) Prior to receiving a contribution or making an expenditure, the circulator or committee in charge of an initiative or referendum petition, or supplementary petition for additional signatures, for the submission of a constitutional amendment, proposed law, section, or item of any law shall appoint a treasurer and shall file with the secretary of state, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, a designation of that appointment, including the full name and address of the treasurer and of the circulator or committee.
(B) The circulator or the committee in charge of an initiative or referendum petition, or supplementary petition for additional signatures, for the submission of a constitutional amendment, proposed law, section, or item of any law shall, within thirty days after those petition papers are filed, file with the secretary of state, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, an itemized statement, made under penalty of election falsification, showing in detail the following:
(1) All money or things of value paid, given, promised, or received for circulating the petitions;
(2) All appointments, promotions, or increases in salary, in positions which were given, promised, or received, or to obtain which assistance was given, promised, or received as a consideration for work done in circulating petitions;
(3) Full names and addresses, including street, city, and state, of all persons to whom such payments or promises were made and of all persons from whom such payments or promises were received;
(4) Full names and addresses, including street, city, and state, of all persons who contributed anything of value to be used in circulating the petitions, and the amounts of those contributions;
(5) Time spent and salaries earned while soliciting signatures to petitions by persons who were regular salaried employees of some person or whom that employer authorized to solicit as part of their regular duties.
If no money or things of value were paid or received or if no promises were made or received as a consideration for work done in circulating a petition, the statement shall contain words to that effect.
(C) The treasurer designated under division (A) of this section shall file statements of contributions and expenditures in accordance with section 3517.10 of the Revised Code regarding all contributions made or received and all expenditures made by that treasurer or the circulator or committee in connection with the initiative or referendum petition, or supplementary petition for additional signatures, for the submission of a constitutional amendment, proposed law, section, or item of any law.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.151 | Filing Complaints for Acts Occurring Before July 13, 1998.

Effective:
September 29, 2005
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 66 - 126th General Assembly
(A) On and after January 1, 1996, complaints with respect to acts or failures to act under the sections listed in division (A) of section 3517.153 of the Revised Code shall be filed with the Ohio elections commission created under section 3517.152 of the Revised Code.
(B)(1) If a complaint filed with the Ohio elections commission created under section 3517.152 of the Revised Code alleges an act or failure to act that occurred before August 24, 1995, and the commission imposes a fine, sections 3517.99 and 3517.991 of the Revised Code, and not sections 3517.992 and 3517.993 of the Revised Code, shall apply.
(2) If a complaint filed with the Ohio elections commission created under section 3517.152 of the Revised Code alleges an act or failure to act that is a violation of section 3517.13 of the Revised Code, former divisions (A) to (R) of that section apply to the act or failure to act if it occurred before August 24, 1995, former divisions (A) to (U) of that section apply to the act or failure to act if it occurs on or after August 24, 1995, but before July 13, 1998, former divisions (A) to (V) of that section apply to the act or failure to act if it occurs on or after July 13, 1998, but before December 22, 1999, former divisions (A) to (W) of that section apply to the act or failure to act if it occurs on or after December 22, 1999, but before March 31, 2005, former divisions (A) to (X) of that section apply to the act or failure to act if it occurs on or after March 31, 2005, and divisions (A) to (Z) of that section apply to the act or failure to act if it occurs on or after the effective date of this amendment.
(C) The Ohio elections commission created under section 3517.14 of the Revised Code is abolished at the close of business on December 31, 1995.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.153 | Filing Complaint.

Effective:
October 17, 2019
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly
(A) Upon the filing of a complaint with the Ohio elections commission, which shall be made by affidavit of any person, on personal knowledge, and subject to the penalties for perjury, or upon the filing of a complaint made by the secretary of state or an official at the board of elections, setting forth a failure to comply with or a violation of any provision in sections 3517.08 to 3517.13, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03, or 3599.031 of the Revised Code, the commission shall proceed in accordance with sections 3517.154 to 3517.157 of the Revised Code.
(B) The commission shall prescribe the form for complaints made under division (A) of this section. The secretary of state and boards of elections shall furnish the information that the commission requests. The commission or a member of the commission may administer oaths, and the commission may issue subpoenas to any person in the state compelling the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant papers, books, accounts, and reports. Section 101.42 of the Revised Code governs the issuance of subpoenas insofar as applicable. Upon the refusal of any person to obey a subpoena or to be sworn or to answer as a witness, the commission may apply to the court of common pleas of Franklin county under section 2705.03 of the Revised Code. The court shall hold proceedings in accordance with Chapter 2705. of the Revised Code.
(C) No prosecution shall commence for a violation of a provision in sections 3517.08 to 3517.13, 3517.17, 3517.18, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03, or 3599.031 of the Revised Code unless a complaint has been filed with the commission under this section and all proceedings of the commission or a panel of the commission, as appropriate, under sections 3517.154 to 3517.157 of the Revised Code are completed.
(D) The commission may recommend legislation and render advisory opinions concerning sections 3517.08, 3517.082, 3517.092, 3517.102, 3517.105, 3517.1014, 3517.13, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03, and 3599.031 of the Revised Code for persons over whose acts it has or may have jurisdiction. When the commission renders an advisory opinion relating to a specific set of circumstances involving any of those sections stating that there is no violation of a provision in those sections, the person to whom the opinion is directed or a person who is similarly situated may reasonably rely on the opinion and is immune from criminal prosecution and a civil action, including, without limitation, a civil action for removal from public office or employment, based on facts and circumstances covered by the opinion.
(E) The commission shall establish a web site on which it shall post, at a minimum, all decisions and advisory opinions issued by the commission and copies of each election law as it is amended by the general assembly. The commission shall update the web site regularly to reflect any changes to those decisions and advisory opinions and any new decisions and advisory opinions.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.157 | Time Limit for Complaint.

Effective:
August 24, 1995
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 9 - 121st General Assembly
(A) A complaint shall be filed with the Ohio elections commission within two years after the occurrence of the act or failure to act that is the subject of the complaint, except that if the act or failure to act involves fraud, concealment, or misrepresentation and was not discovered during that two-year period, a complaint may be filed within one year after discovery of such act or failure to act.
(B) Whoever files a complaint with the commission under section 3517.153 of the Revised Code may withdraw it at the following times:
(1) If the complaint receives an expedited hearing under section 3517.156 of the Revised Code, at any time prior to the hearing without the permission of the commission, or at any time after the hearing begins but only with the permission of the commission;
(2) If the complaint does not receive an expedited hearing, at any time.
(C) The commission may dismiss a complaint pending before it or before a panel of the commission.
(D) The commission or a panel of the commission shall conduct hearings in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and the Rules of Civil Procedure, except as they are inconsistent with rules adopted by the commission. A party adversely affected by a final determination of the commission may appeal from the determination under section 119.12 of the Revised Code.
(E) The privilege granted to an attorney under section 2317.02 of the Revised Code shall be granted to the full-time attorney employed by the commission under division (H)(2) of section 3517.152 of the Revised Code, and the commission or a panel of the commission shall be considered the client of that attorney for purposes of that privilege.
(F) The members of the commission shall not do either of the following except at a meeting of the commission subject to section 121.22 of the Revised Code:
(1) Discuss among themselves a complaint pending before the commission or a panel of the commission;
(2) Discuss a complaint pending before the commission or a panel of the commission with a party to the complaint, an attorney representing a party to the complaint, or an investigatory attorney of the commission.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.19 | Sale of Membership and Mailing Lists.

Effective:
October 30, 1989
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 6 - 118th General Assembly
(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Financial institution" means a bank, savings and loan association, or credit union with its principal office in this state.
(2) "Political party" means only a major political party.
(B) A state political party may sell or lease its contributor, membership, or mailing lists, or any other lists upon which the party and a financial institution may agree, to any financial institution for either or both of the following purposes:
(1) Allowing the financial institution to use the name or logo of the political party on credit cards that it issues to persons identified on or through the contributor, membership, mailing, or other lists;
(2) Allowing the financial institution to use the name and goodwill of the political party in marketing its credit card program to persons identified on or through the contributor, membership, mailing, or other lists.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.22 | Infiltration of Campaign - False Statements in Campaign Materials - Issues.

Effective:
August 24, 1995
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 9 - 121st General Assembly
(A) No person during the course of any campaign in advocacy of or in opposition to the adoption of any proposition or issue submitted to the voters shall knowingly and with intent to affect the outcome of such campaign do any of the following:
(1) Serve, or place another person to serve, as an agent or employee in the election campaign organization of a committee which advocates or is in opposition to the adoption of any ballot proposition or issue for the purpose of acting to impede the conduct of the campaign on the proposition or issue or of reporting information to the employee's employer or the agent's principal without the knowledge of the committee;
(2) Promise, offer, or give any valuable thing or valuable benefit to any person who is employed by or is an agent of a committee in advocacy of or in opposition to the adoption of any ballot proposition or issue, for the purpose of influencing the employee or agent with respect to the improper discharge of the employee's or agent's campaign duties or to obtain information about the committee's campaign organization.
(B) No person, during the course of any campaign in advocacy of or in opposition to the adoption of any ballot proposition or issue, by means of campaign material, including sample ballots, an advertisement on radio or television or in a newspaper or periodical, a public speech, a press release, or otherwise, shall knowingly and with intent to affect the outcome of such campaign do any of the following:
(1) Falsely identify the source of a statement, issue statements under the name of another person without authorization, or falsely state the endorsement of or opposition to a ballot proposition or issue by a person or publication;
(2) Post, publish, circulate, distribute, or otherwise disseminate, a false statement, either knowing the same to be false or acting with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not, that is designed to promote the adoption or defeat of any ballot proposition or issue.
(C) Before a prosecution may commence under this section, a complaint shall be filed with the Ohio elections commission under section 3517.153 of the Revised Code. After the complaint is filed, the commission shall proceed in accordance with sections 3517.154 to 3517.157 of the Revised Code.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.23 | Rules for Administration of Campaign Finance and Advertising.

Effective:
October 17, 2019
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly
The secretary of state shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that are necessary for the administration and enforcement of sections 3517.08 to 3517.13, 3517.18, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03, and 3599.031 of the Revised Code and shall provide each candidate, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, political party, and person making disbursements to pay the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications with written instructions and explanations in order to ensure compliance with sections 3517.08 to 3517.13, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03, and 3599.031 of the Revised Code.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.991 | Fine Schedule for Violations Before 8-24-95.

Effective:
August 24, 1995
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 9 - 121st General Assembly
This section authorizes fines to be imposed only with respect to acts or failures to act that occur before the effective date of this amendment.
The Ohio elections commission shall impose the fines established in the schedule of fines adopted by the commission created under section 3517.14 of the Revised Code that is in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this amendment. Fines imposed for violations occurring before an election shall be at least twice the amount of those for violations occurring after an election. The schedule of fines so established shall take into account the need for different levels of penalties depending on the level of office being sought and shall not exceed the fines for the same offenses specified in sections 3517.99, 3599.03, and 3599.031 of the Revised Code, or if not so specified shall not exceed one thousand dollars. Fines imposed by the commission under this section shall be paid into the general revenue fund.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3517 | Campaigns; Political Parties › Section 3517.993 | Fine Schedule for Violations After 8-24-95.

Effective:
December 22, 1999
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 119 - 123rd General Assembly
This section authorizes the establishment of fines that may be imposed only with respect to acts or failures to act that occur on and after August 24, 1995.
(A) Except as otherwise provided in division (D)(2) of section 3517.155 of the Revised Code, the Ohio elections commission may impose administrative fines under division (A)(1)(b) of section 3517.155 of the Revised Code in accordance with the amounts set forth under sections 3517.992, 3599.03, and 3599.031 of the Revised Code.
(B) The commission may suspend all or part of a fine it imposes under this section upon whatever terms and conditions the commission considers just.
(C)(1) The commission shall consider any of the following circumstances in determining whether to impose a maximum fine under this section:
(a) Whether the violator has been found guilty of any other violation of Title XXXV of the Revised Code;
(b) Whether the violation was made knowingly or purposely;
(c) Whether any relevant statements, addenda, or affidavits required to be filed have not been filed;
(d) Whether the violator has any outstanding fines imposed for a violation of Title XXXV of the Revised Code;
(e) Whether the violation occurred during the course of a campaign.
(2) The commission shall consider any of the following circumstances in determining whether to impose a minimal fine or no fine under this section:
(a) Whether the violator previously has not been found guilty of any other violation of Title XXXV of the Revised Code;
(b) Whether the violator has promptly corrected the violator's violation;
(c) Whether the nature and circumstances of the violation merit a minimum fine;
(d) Whether there are substantial grounds tending to excuse or justify the violation, although failing to establish a defense to the violation;
(e) Whether the violation was not purposely committed.
(3) The circumstances set forth in divisions (C)(1) and (2) of this section shall be considered by, but shall not control the decision of, the commission in imposing a fine.
(D) Fines imposed by the commission under this section shall be paid into the Ohio elections commission fund.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3519 | Initiative; Referendum › Section 3519.02 | Designation of Committee.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
The petitioners shall designate in any initiative, referendum, or supplementary petition and on each of the several parts of such petition a committee of not less than three nor more than five of their number who shall represent them in all matters relating to such petitions. Notice of all matters or proceedings pertaining to such petitions may be served on said 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.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3519 | Initiative; Referendum › Section 3519.03 | Argument or Explanation of Petitions.

Effective:
May 2, 2006
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly
(A) The committee named in a initiative petition may prepare the argument or explanation, or both, in favor of the measure proposed, and the committee named in a referendum petition may prepare the argument or explanation, or both, against any law or section or item of law. The persons who prepare the argument or explanation, or both, in opposition to the initiated proposal, or the argument or explanation, or both, in favor of the measure to be referred shall be named by the general assembly, if it is in session, or by the governor, if the general assembly is not in session. Such argument or explanation, or both, shall not exceed three hundred words and shall be filed with the secretary of state at least eighty days prior to the date of the election at which the measure is to be voted upon.
(B)(1) If the committee named in an initiative petition, the committee named in a referendum petition, or other persons designated under division (A) of this section fail to prepare and file their arguments or explanations by the eightieth day before the date of the election, the secretary of state shall notify the Ohio ballot board that those arguments or explanations have not been so prepared and filed. The board then shall prepare the missing arguments or explanations or designate a group of persons to prepare those arguments or explanations. All arguments or explanations prepared under this division shall be filed with the secretary of state no later than seventy-five days before the date of the election. No argument or explanation shall exceed three hundred words.
(2) If the Ohio ballot board fails to provide for the preparation of missing arguments or explanations under division (B)(1) of this section after being notified by the secretary of state that one or more arguments or explanations have not been timely prepared and filed, the positions of the four appointed members of the board shall be considered vacant, and new members shall be appointed in the manner provided for original appointments.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3519 | Initiative; Referendum › Section 3519.04 | Estimate of Annual Expenditure of Public Funds Proposed and Annual Yield of Proposed Taxes.

Effective:
May 2, 2006
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly
Within two days after receipt, under division (A) of section 3519.01 of the Revised Code, of the verified copy of a proposed state law or constitutional amendment proposing the levy of any tax or involving a matter that will necessitate the expenditure of any funds of the state or any political subdivision of the state, the secretary of state shall request of the office of budget and management an estimate of any annual expenditure of public funds proposed and of the tax commissioner the annual yield of any proposed taxes. The office of budget and management, on receipt of a request for an estimate of the annual expenditure of public funds proposed, shall prepare the estimate and file it in the office of the secretary of state. The tax commissioner, on receipt of a request for an estimate of the annual yield of any proposed taxes, shall prepare the estimate and file it in the office of the secretary of state. The office of budget and management and the tax commissioner may issue a joint estimate if the proposed state law or constitutional amendment necessitates both the expenditure of public funds and a levy of any tax.
Upon receipt of an estimate of the annual expenditure of public funds proposed from the office of budget and management, an estimate of the annual yield of any proposed taxes from the tax commissioner, or a joint estimate of the annual expenditure of public funds proposed and the annual yield of any proposed taxes from the office of budget and management and the tax commissioner, the secretary of state shall post the estimate on a web site of the office of secretary of state for thirty days before the election at which the proposed state law or constitutional amendment will be voted upon.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3519 | Initiative; Referendum › Section 3519.051 | Original Ink Signatures Required for Initiative and Referendum.

Effective:
May 2, 2006
Latest Legislation:
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.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3519 | Initiative; Referendum › Section 3519.06 | Verification of Petition.

Effective:
September 27, 1974
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 662 - 110th General Assembly
No initiative or referendum part-petition is properly verified if it appears on the face thereof, or is made to appear by a satisfactory evidence:
(A) That the statement required by section 3519.05 of the Revised Code is not properly filled out;
(B) That the statement is not properly signed;
(C) That the statement is altered by erasure, interlineation, or otherwise;
(D) That the statement is false in any respect;
(E) That any one person has affixed more than one signature thereto.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3519 | Initiative; Referendum › Section 3519.07 | Web Site Postings Required for Initiative or Referendum Proposals.

Effective:
May 2, 2006
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly
(A) The secretary of state shall post each of the following on the web site of the office of the secretary of state:
(1) The full text of each state law or constitutional amendment proposed by initiative petition that has been approved for the ballot;
(2) The certified summary of each state law or constitutional amendment proposed by initiative petition that has been approved for the ballot;
(3) The ballot language of each state law or constitutional amendment proposed by initiative petition;
(4) The arguments or explanations in favor of or against each state law or constitutional amendment proposed by initiative petition that has been approved for the ballot.
(B) When publishing or posting on the web site of the office of the secretary of state arguments or explanations in favor of or against any state law or constitutional amendment proposed by initiative petition that has been approved for the ballot, the secretary of state shall include the names of the persons who prepared the argument or explanation. The names of the persons shall not be considered part of the argument or explanation for purposes of the prohibition against arguments and explanations exceeding three hundred words under section 3519.03 of the Revised Code.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3519 | Initiative; Referendum › Section 3519.08 | Withdrawal of Petition - Ballot Procedure.

Effective:
July 2, 2010
Latest Legislation:
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.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3519 | Initiative; Referendum › Section 3519.10 | Qualifications of Signers - Format of Signing.

Effective:
March 17, 1987
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 524 - 116th General Assembly
Each signer of any initiative or referendum petition must be a qualified elector of the state. He shall place on such petition after his name the date of signing and the location of his voting residence, including the street and number in which such voting residence is located, if in a municipal corporation, and the rural route or other post-office address and township in which such voting residence is located, if outside a municipal corporation. Each signer may also print his name so as to clearly identify his signature. Each part-petition which is filed shall contain signatures of electors of only one county. Petitions containing signatures of electors of more than one county shall not thereby be declared invalid. In case petitions containing signatures of electors of more than one county are filed, the secretary of state shall determine the county from which the majority of signatures came, and only signatures from such county shall be counted. Signatures from any other county shall be invalid.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3519 | Initiative; Referendum › Section 3519.14 | Minimum Number of Signatures.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
The secretary of state shall not accept for filing any initiative or referendum petition which does not purport to contain at least the minimum number of signatures required for the submission of the amendment, proposed law, or law to be submitted under the initiative or referendum power.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3519 | Initiative; Referendum › Section 3519.15 | Part-Petitions.

Effective:
August 5, 1981
Latest Legislation:
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.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3519 | Initiative; Referendum › Section 3519.18 | Power of Board in Hearing Protests.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
In the performance of the duties required of the boards of elections, the boards may subpoena witnesses, compel the production of books, records, and other evidence, administer oaths, and take evidence.