reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.07 | Filling Vacancies on County Boards of Elections.

Effective:
February 5, 2014
Latest Legislation:
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.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.08 | Oath of Members.

Effective:
January 1, 1954
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 242 - 100th General Assembly
Before entering upon the duties of his office, each member of the board of elections shall appear before a person authorized to administer oaths and take and subscribe to an oath that he will support the constitutions of the United States and of the state, will perform the duties of the office to the best of his ability, will enforce the election laws, and will protect and preserve the records and property pertaining to elections. Such oath shall be filed with the clerk of the court of common pleas of the county wherein the officer resides within fifteen days from the date of appointment.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.09 | Organization of County Board.

Effective:
August 22, 1995
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 99 - 121st General Assembly
Biennially, within five days after the appointments to the board of elections are made by the secretary of state, the members of the board shall meet and organize by selecting one of their number as chairperson, who shall preside at all meetings. They shall, upon careful consideration of each such person's qualifications, select a resident elector of the county, other than a member of the board, as director, and a resident elector of the county as deputy director. All such officers shall continue in office, at the pleasure of the board, for two years. The balloting for such officers shall commence on the day of the convening and be taken until such organization is effected or five ballots have been cast. The director shall first be selected by the votes of at least three members. If, after five ballots, no person is agreed upon as director, the names of all persons voted for on the fifth ballot, together with the names of the board members who nominated them, shall be certified to the secretary of state, who shall designate therefrom one of such persons to serve as director, unless the secretary of state has reason to believe that no person nominated is qualified. In this case the secretary of state shall so state in writing to the board, and the board shall nominate other persons, in the manner in which the original persons were nominated, and select from those nominated another person as director. If, after five ballots, no person is agreed upon as director, the names of all persons voted for on the fifth ballot, together with the names of the board members who nominated them, shall be certified to the secretary of state, who shall designate therefrom one of such nominees to serve as director and another such nominee to serve as deputy director. If the board fails to nominate another person as director, the office shall be filled in accordance with the procedures of section 3501.16 of the Revised Code.
The director and deputy director shall be of opposite political parties, and each such officer shall have been nominated by a board member of the political party to which he belongs, but the board may decide by the affirmative vote of at least three members that the services of a deputy director are unnecessary and such deputy director then shall not be employed. After the selection of the director and deputy director, the chairman shall be selected from the members of the board of opposite politics to that of the director. If, upon the first ballot, no person is agreed upon as chairman, the member of opposite politics to the director having the shortest term to serve shall be chairman, and shall preside at all meetings. When such organization is perfected, the director shall forthwith report it to the secretary of state.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.091 | Chairman or Director Replaced With Member of Opposite Party.

Effective:
May 21, 1991
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 8 - 119th General Assembly
At any time after the organization of the board of elections is perfected and reported to the secretary of state under section 3501.09 of the Revised Code, the board may decide by the affirmative vote of at least three members to replace the board's present chairman or director with a person belonging to the opposite political party from the one to which the present officer belongs. After such a vote, the members of the board shall reselect all officers of the board in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 3501.09 of the Revised Code. An officer selected through this process shall serve as an officer for the remainder of the term for which the outgoing officer was selected to serve as an officer. A reselection of officers under this section does not increase or decrease the length of any person's term as a member of the board. The director and deputy director shall be of opposite political parties, and the chairman shall be selected from the members of the board of opposite politics from those of the director.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.10 | Offices and Records of Board.

Effective:
August 15, 2012
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 295 - 129th General Assembly
(A) The board of elections shall, as an expense of the board, provide suitable rooms for its offices and records and the necessary and proper furniture and supplies for those rooms. The board may lease such offices and rooms, necessary to its operation, for the length of time and upon the terms the board deems in the best interests of the public, provided that the term of any such lease shall not exceed fifteen years.
Thirty days prior to entering into such a lease, the board shall notify the board of county commissioners in writing of its intent to enter into the lease. The notice shall specify the terms and conditions of the lease. Prior to the thirtieth day after receiving that notice and before any lease is entered into, the board of county commissioners may reject the proposed lease by a majority vote. After receiving written notification of the rejection by the board of county commissioners, the board of elections shall not enter into the lease that was rejected, but may immediately enter into additional lease negotiations, subject to the requirements of this section.
The board of elections in any county may, by resolution, request that the board of county commissioners submit to the electors of the county, in accordance with section 133.18 of the Revised Code, the question of issuing bonds for the acquisition of real estate and the construction on it of a suitable building with necessary furniture and equipment for the proper administration of the duties of the board of elections. The resolution declaring the necessity for issuing such bonds shall relate only to the acquisition of real estate and to the construction, furnishing, and equipping of a building as provided in this division.
(B) The board of elections in each county shall keep its offices, or one or more of its branch registration offices, open for the performance of its duties until nine p.m. on the last day of registration before a general or primary election. At all other times during each week, the board shall keep its offices and rooms open for a period of time that the board considers necessary for the performance of its duties.
(C) The board of elections may maintain permanent or temporary branch offices at any place within the county, provided that, if the board of elections permits electors to vote at a branch office, electors shall not be permitted to vote at any other branch office or any other office of the board of elections.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.12 | Compensation of Board Members.

Effective:
October 17, 2019
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly
(A) The annual compensation of members of the board of elections shall be determined on the basis of the population of the county according to the next preceding federal census, and shall be paid monthly out of the appropriations made to the board and upon vouchers or payrolls certified by the chairperson, or a member of the board designated by it, and countersigned by the director or in the director's absence by the deputy director. Upon presentation of any such voucher or payroll, the county auditor shall issue a warrant upon the county treasurer for the amount thereof as in the case of vouchers or payrolls for county offices and the treasurer shall pay such warrant.
(B) In calendar year 2018, the amount of annual compensation of each member of the board of elections shall be the greater of the following:
(1) The sum of the following:
(a) One hundred two dollars and forty-one cents for each full one thousand of the first one hundred thousand population;
(b) Forty-eight dollars and seventy-nine cents for each full one thousand of the second one hundred thousand population;
(c) Twenty-six dollars and fifty cents for each full one thousand of the third one hundred thousand population;
(d) Eight dollars and thirteen cents for each full one thousand above three hundred thousand population.
(2) Six thousand dollars.
(C) In calendar year 2019 and in each calendar year thereafter through calendar year 2028, the annual compensation of each member of the board shall be computed after increasing the dollar amounts specified in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section by one and three-quarters per cent.
(D) For the purposes of this section, members of boards of elections shall be deemed to be appointed and not elected, and therefore not subject to Section 20 of Article II of the Ohio Constitution.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.13 | Duties of Director.

Effective:
February 25, 2014
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly
(A) The director of the board of elections shall keep a full and true record of the proceedings of the board and of all moneys received and expended; file and preserve in the board's office all orders and records pertaining to the administration of registrations, primaries, and elections; receive and have the custody of all books, papers, and property belonging to the board; and perform other duties in connection with the office of director and the proper conduct of elections as the board determines.
(B) Before entering upon the duties of the office, the director shall subscribe to an oath that the director will support the Constitution of the United States and the Ohio Constitution, perform all the duties of the office to the best of the director's ability, enforce the election laws, and preserve all records, documents, and other property pertaining to the conduct of elections placed in the director's custody.
(C) The director may administer oaths to persons required by law to file certificates or other papers with the board, to precinct election officials, to witnesses who are called to testify before the board, and to voters filling out blanks at the board's offices. Except as otherwise provided by state or federal law, the records of the board and papers and books filed in its office are public records and open to inspection under such reasonable regulations as shall be established by the board. The following notice shall be posted in a prominent place at each board office:
"Except as otherwise provided by state or federal law, records filed in this office of the board of elections are open to public inspection during normal office hours, pursuant to the following reasonable regulations: (the board shall here list its regulations). Whoever prohibits any person from inspecting the public records of this board is subject to the penalties of section 3599.161 of the Revised Code."
(D) Upon receipt of a written declaration of intent to retire as provided for in section 145.38 of the Revised Code, the director shall provide a copy to each member of the board of elections.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.14 | Compensation of Director, Deputy Director, and Employees of Board.

Effective:
August 15, 2012
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 295 - 129th General Assembly
The board of elections shall, by a vote of not less than three of its members, fix the annual compensation of its director and deputy director who are selected in accordance with section 3501.09 of the Revised Code.
The board may, when necessary, appoint a deputy director, who shall not be a member of the same political party of which the director is a member, and other employees, prescribe their duties, and, by a vote of not less than three of its members, fix their compensation.
The director, deputy director, and other employees of the board are not public officers and shall serve, during their term of office, at the discretion of the board. The board may summarily remove the director or the deputy director by a vote of not less than three of its members and may remove any other employee by a majority vote of its membership.
The deputy director and all other election officials shall take and subscribe to the same oath for the faithful performance of their duties as is required of the director of the board. The deputy director shall have the same power as the director to administer oaths. The board may also employ additional employees, when necessary, for part time only at the prevailing rate of pay for such services.
A tie vote or disagreement in the board on the amount of compensation to be paid to a director, deputy director, or any employee shall not be submitted to the secretary of state.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.141 | Insurance Coverage of Board Members and Employees.

Effective:
September 29, 2005
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 66 - 126th General Assembly
(A) The board of elections of any county may contract, purchase, or otherwise procure and pay all or any part of the cost of group insurance policies that may provide benefits for hospitalization, surgical care, major medical care, disability, dental care, eye care, medical care, hearing aids, or prescription drugs, and that may provide sickness and accident insurance, or group life insurance, or a combination of any of the foregoing types of insurance or coverage for the full-time employees of such board and their immediate dependents, whether issued by an insurance company or a health insuring corporation, duly authorized to do business in this state. The authority granted under this division applies only when the board of county commissioners, by resolution, denies coverage described in this division to full-time employees of the board of elections.
(B) The board of elections of any county, with the approval of the board of county commissioners, may procure and pay all or any part of the cost of group hospitalization, surgical, major medical, or sickness and accident insurance or a combination of any of the foregoing types of insurance or coverage for the members appointed to the board of elections under section 3501.06 of the Revised Code and their immediate dependents when each member's term begins, whether issued by an insurance company or a health insuring corporation, duly authorized to do business in this state.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.15 | Election Officials Not to Be Candidates - Exceptions.

Effective:
February 26, 1986
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 555 - 116th General Assembly
No person shall serve as a member, director, deputy director, or employee of the board of elections who is a candidate for any office to be filled at an election, except the office of delegate or alternate to a convention, member of the board of directors of a county agricultural society, presidential elector, or a member of a party committee. No person who is a candidate for an office or position to be voted for by the electors of a precinct, except for a candidate for county central committee who is not opposed by any other candidate in that election and precinct, shall serve as a precinct election officer in said precinct.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.16 | Secretary of State May Remove or Suspend From Office.

Effective:
August 22, 1995
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 99 - 121st General Assembly
The secretary of state may summarily remove or suspend any member of a board of elections, or the director, deputy director, or any other employee of the board, for neglect of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, for any willful violation of Title XXXV of the Revised Code, or for any other good and sufficient cause. Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.161 of the Revised Code, vacancies in the office of chairperson, director, or deputy director shall be filled in the same manner as original selections are made, from persons belonging to the same political party as that to which the outgoing officer belonged. If those vacancies cannot be filled in that manner, they shall be filled by the secretary of state.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.161 | Filling Vacancy in Office of Chairman or Director With Member of Opposite Party.

Effective:
May 21, 1991
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 8 - 119th General Assembly
The board may decide by the affirmative vote of at least three members to fill a vacancy in the office of chairman or director with a person belonging to the opposite political party from that to which the outgoing officer belonged. After such a vote, the vacancy shall be filled and all other officers shall be reselected in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 3501.09 of the Revised Code. An officer filling a vacancy and an officer who becomes or remains an officer after the reselection shall serve as an officer for the remainder of the term for which the outgoing officer was selected to serve as an officer. A reselection of officers under this section does not increase or decrease the length of any person's term as member of the board. The director and deputy director shall be of opposite political parties, and the chairman shall be selected from the members of the board of opposite politics from those of the director.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.20 | State or National Home for Disabled Soldiers May Be a Precinct.

Effective:
August 15, 2012
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 295 - 129th General Assembly
The lands used for a state or national home for disabled soldiers shall constitute a separate election precinct, and, if necessary, may be divided and rearranged within such limits as other precincts are arranged and divided.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.21 | Change of Precinct or Polling Place Notice.

Effective:
September 29, 1999
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 283 - 123rd General Assembly
When the board of elections considers it necessary to change, divide, or combine any precinct or to relocate a polling place, it shall notify, prior to the next election, each of the registrants in the precinct of the change by mail. On and after August 1, 2000, when the board changes the boundaries of any precinct, it shall notify the secretary of state of the change not later than forty-five days after making the change.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.221 | Appointment of Interpreters.

Effective:
July 25, 1975
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 5 - 111th General Assembly
(A) To encourage voting, a board of elections may appoint persons who are fluent in a non-English language to serve as interpreters to assist voters in certain election precincts. If the board determines that the number of non-English-speaking electors in a precinct indicates a need for an interpreter and provision of an interpreter is feasible and practical in terms of the number of such electors, the board may appoint an interpreter for such precinct in the same manner as other precinct election officials are appointed. A person appointed pursuant to this section may only provide to voters such assistance in the non-English language as may be provided by election officials to English speaking voters. All requirements relating to the qualifications of election officials apply to persons appointed under this section. Interpreters shall complete a program of instruction as provided in section 3501.27 of the Revised Code and shall be compensated in the manner and amount as provided by section 3501.28 of the Revised Code for other election officials. A person appointed pursuant to this section may also serve as a precinct election officer; such person shall be compensated as though he served only in the capacity of an election official, and he need not undergo a program of instruction a second time for the same election unless required by the board.
(B) No person appointed under division (A) of this section, while performing the duties of such office, shall:
(1) Wear any badge, sign, or other insignia or thing indicating a preference for any candidate or for any question submitted;
(2) Influence or attempt to influence any voter to vote for or against any candidate or issue submitted at such election.
(C) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.23 | Special Elections Precinct Officials.

Effective:
February 26, 1986
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 555 - 116th General Assembly
A board of elections shall, by the adoption of a resolution, provide that, at any special election at which no candidates are to be elected, or at any primary election when only one party primary is to be held for the nomination of candidates for municipal office which is to be held in its county, the precinct officials at any such election shall consist of not more than four judges who shall perform all the duties prescribed for the proper conduct of an election by precinct officials. Such precinct officials shall be well qualified for the performance of their duties and said precinct officials for any special election shall be selected from among those regularly appointed under section 3501.22 of the Revised Code, but the precinct officials for any party primary election shall be selected from among those regularly appointed under such section, provided that such officials shall be equally divided between the two major political parties.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.26 | Procedure Upon Closing of Polls.

Effective:
February 25, 2014
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly
When the polls are closed after a primary, general, or special election, the receiving officials shall, in the presence of the counting officials and attending observers, proceed as follows:
(A) Count the number of electors who voted, as shown on the poll books;
(B) Count the unused ballots without removing stubs;
(C) Count the soiled and defaced ballots;
(D) Insert the totals of divisions (A), (B), and (C) of this section on the report forms provided therefor in the poll books;
(E) Count the voted ballots. If the number of voted ballots exceeds the number of voters whose names appear upon the poll books, the voting location manager shall enter on the poll books an explanation of that discrepancy, and that explanation, if agreed to, shall be subscribed to by all of the precinct election officials. Any precinct official having a different explanation shall enter it in the poll books and subscribe to it.
(F) Put the unused ballots with stubs attached, and soiled and defaced ballots with stubs attached, in the envelopes or containers provided therefor, and certify the number.
The receiving officials shall deliver to and place in the custody of the counting officials all the supplies provided for the conduct of that election and the ballots that are to be counted and tallied, and take a receipt for the same, which receipt shall appear in and be a part of the poll books of such precinct. Having performed their duties, the receiving officials shall immediately depart.
Having receipted for the ballots, the counting officials shall proceed to count and tally the vote as cast in the manner prescribed by section 3505.27 of the Revised Code and certify the result of the election to the board of elections.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.30 | Polling Place Supplies.

Effective:
February 25, 2014
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly
(A) The board of elections shall provide for each polling place the necessary ballot box, official ballots, cards of instructions, registration forms, pollbooks or poll lists, tally sheets, forms on which to make summary statements, writing implements, paper, and all other supplies necessary for casting and counting the ballots and recording the results of the voting at the polling place. The pollbooks or poll lists shall have certificates appropriately printed on them for the signatures of all the precinct officials, by which they shall certify that, to the best of their knowledge and belief, the pollbooks or poll lists correctly show the names of all electors who voted in the polling place at the election indicated in the pollbooks or poll lists.
All of the following shall be included among the supplies provided to each polling place:
(1) A large map of each appropriate precinct, which shall be displayed prominently to assist persons who desire to register or vote on election day. Each map shall show all streets within the precinct and contain identifying symbols of the precinct in bold print.
(2) Any materials, postings, or instructions required to comply with state or federal laws;
(3) A flag of the United States approximately two and one-half feet in length along the top, which shall be displayed outside the entrance to the polling place during the time it is open for voting;
(4) Two or more small flags of the United States approximately fifteen inches in length along the top, which shall be placed at a distance of one hundred feet from the polling place on the thoroughfares or walkways leading to the polling place, to mark the distance within which persons other than election officials, observers, police officers, and electors waiting to mark, marking, or casting their ballots shall not loiter, congregate, or engage in any kind of election campaigning. Where small flags cannot reasonably be placed one hundred feet from the polling place, the voting location manager shall place the flags as near to one hundred feet from the entrance to the polling place as is physically possible. Police officers and all election officials shall see that this prohibition against loitering and congregating is enforced.
When the period of time during which the polling place is open for voting expires, all of the flags described in this division shall be taken into the polling place and shall be returned to the board together with all other election supplies required to be delivered to the board.
(B) The board of elections shall follow the instructions and advisories of the secretary of state in the production and use of polling place supplies.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.301 | Supplies Other Than Ballots.

Effective:
June 21, 2013
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 47 - 130th General Assembly
A contract involving a cost in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars for printing and furnishing the supplies, other than the official ballots, required in section 3501.30 of the Revised Code, shall not be let until the board of elections has caused notice to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation within the county or upon notice given by mail, addressed to the responsible suppliers within the state. The board of elections may require that each bid be accompanied by a bond, with at least two individual sureties, or a surety company, satisfactory to the board, in a sum double the amount of the bid, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the contract awarded and for the payment as damages by such bidder to the board of any excess of cost over the bid which it may be required to pay for such work by reason of the failure of the bidder to complete the contract. The contract shall be let to the lowest and best bidder.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.302 | Agreements for the Bulk Purchase of Election Supplies.

Effective:
September 30, 2021
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly
The secretary of state may enter into agreements for the bulk purchase of election supplies in order to reduce the costs for such purchases by individual boards of elections. A board of elections desiring to participate in such purchase agreements shall file with the secretary of state a written request for inclusion. A request for inclusion shall include an agreement to be bound by such terms and conditions as the secretary of state prescribes and to make direct payments to the vendor under each purchase agreement.
Nothing in this section prohibits a board of elections from purchasing election supplies through the department of administrative services under section 125.04 of the Revised Code.
Last updated July 26, 2021 at 8:44 AM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.32 | Hours for Polling Places.

Effective:
February 25, 2014
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly
(A) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, on the day of the election the polls shall be opened by proclamation by the voting location manager, or in the manager's absence by a voting location manager chosen by the precinct election officials, at six-thirty a.m. and shall be closed by proclamation at seven-thirty p.m. unless there are voters waiting in line to cast their ballots, in which case the polls shall be kept open until such waiting voters have voted.
(B) On the day of the election, any polling place located on an island not connected to the mainland by a highway or a bridge may close earlier than seven-thirty p.m. if all registered voters in the precinct have voted. When a polling place closes under division (B) of this section the voting location manager shall immediately notify the board of elections of the closing.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.33 | Authority of Precinct Officials.

Effective:
February 25, 2014
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly
All precinct election officials shall enforce peace and good order in and about the place of registration or election. They shall especially keep the place of access of the electors to the polling place open and unobstructed and prevent and stop any improper practices or attempts tending to obstruct, intimidate, or interfere with any elector in registering or voting. They shall protect observers against molestation and violence in the performance of their duties, and may eject from the polling place any observer for violation of any provision of Title XXXV of the Revised Code. They shall prevent riots, violence, tumult, or disorder. In the discharge of these duties, they may call upon the sheriff, police, or other peace officers to aid them in enforcing the law. They may order the arrest of any person violating Title XXXV of the Revised Code, but such an arrest shall not prevent the person from registering or voting if the person is entitled to do so. The sheriff, all constables, police officers, and other officers of the peace shall immediately obey and aid in the enforcement of any lawful order made by the precinct election officials in the enforcement of Title XXXV of the Revised Code.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.34 | Duties of Police as to Elections.

Effective:
May 31, 1977
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 125 - 112th General Assembly
The officer or authority having command of the police force of any municipal corporation or the sheriff of any county, on requisition of the board of elections or the secretary of state, shall promptly detail for service at the polling place in any precinct of such municipal corporation or county such force as the board or secretary of state considers necessary. On every day of election such officer or authority shall have a special force in readiness for any emergency and for assignment to duty in the precinct polling places. At least one policeman shall be assigned to duty in each precinct on each day of an election, when requested by the board or the secretary of state. Such police officer shall have access at all times to the polling place, and he shall promptly place under arrest any person found violating any provisions of Title XXXV of the Revised Code.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.35 | No Loitering or Congregating Near Polling Places.

Effective:
June 26, 2013
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 109, Senate Bill 10 - 130th General Assembly
(A) During an election and the counting of the ballots, no person shall do any of the following:
(1) Loiter, congregate, or engage in any kind of election campaigning within the area between the polling place and the small flags of the United States placed on the thoroughfares and walkways leading to the polling place, and if the line of electors waiting to vote extends beyond those small flags, within ten feet of any elector in that line;
(2) In any manner hinder or delay an elector in reaching or leaving the place fixed for casting the elector's ballot;
(3) Give, tender, or exhibit any ballot or ticket to any person other than the elector's own ballot to the precinct election officials within the area between the polling place and the small flags of the United States placed on the thoroughfares and walkways leading to the polling place, and if the line of electors waiting to vote extends beyond those small flags, within ten feet of any elector in that line;
(4) Exhibit any ticket or ballot which the elector intends to cast;
(5) Solicit or in any manner attempt to influence any elector in casting the elector's vote.
(B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of this section and division (C) of section 3503.23 of the Revised Code, no person who is not an election official, employee, observer, or police officer shall be allowed to enter the polling place during the election, except for the purpose of voting or assisting another person to vote as provided in section 3505.24 of the Revised Code.
(2) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a journalist shall be allowed reasonable access to a polling place during an election. As used in this division, "journalist" has the same meaning as in division (B)(2) of section 2923.129 of the Revised Code.
(C) No more electors shall be allowed to approach the voting shelves at any time than there are voting shelves provided.
(D) The precinct election officials and the police officer shall strictly enforce the observance of this section.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.36 | Fees and Mileage for Officials Delivering or Returning Election Supplies.

Effective:
October 26, 1989
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 245 - 118th General Assembly
Each precinct election official who before the day of an election in his precinct obtains ballots, pollbooks, or other materials to be used in his polling place on the day of such election and delivers such materials to his polling place on the day of such election as required by section 3501.31 of the Revised Code and the orders of the board of elections, and each precinct election official who delivers such materials and the returns and records of an election from the polling place to the office of the board after an election, as required by section 3505.31 of the Revised Code and the orders of the board, may receive, in addition to the compensation provided under section 3501.28 of the Revised Code, a sum not to exceed five dollars for each trip to the polling place and five dollars for each trip from the polling place to the office of the board, plus mileage for each trip at the rate provided by rules governing travel adopted by the office of budget and management in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.37 | Safekeeping of Election Booths and Equipment.

Effective:
February 25, 2014
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly
After each election, the precinct election officials of each precinct, except when the board of elections assumes the duty, shall see that the movable booths and other equipment are returned for safekeeping to the fiscal officer of the township or to the clerk or auditor of the municipal corporation in which the precinct is situated. The fiscal officer, clerk, or auditor shall have booths and equipment on hand and in place at the polling places in each precinct before the time for opening the polls on election days, and for this service the board may allow the necessary expenses incurred. In cities, this duty shall devolve on the board.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.381 | Compensation Regarding Signature Gathering Activities - Forms to Be Filed With Secretary of State.

Effective:
March 31, 2005
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1SPECIALSESSION - 125th General Assembly
(A)(1) Any person who will receive compensation for supervising, managing, or otherwise organizing any effort to obtain signatures for a declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, or declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for a person seeking to become a statewide candidate or for a statewide initiative petition or a statewide referendum petition shall file a statement to that effect with the office of the secretary of state before any signatures are obtained for the petition or before the person is engaged to supervise, manage, or otherwise organize the effort to obtain signatures for the petition, whichever is later.
(2) Any person who will compensate a person for supervising, managing, or otherwise organizing any effort to obtain signatures for a declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, or declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for a person seeking to become a statewide candidate or for a statewide initiative or a statewide referendum petition shall file a statement to that effect with the office of the secretary of state before any signatures are obtained for the petition or before the person engages a person to supervise, manage, or otherwise organize the effort to obtain signatures for the petition, whichever is later.
(B) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form and content of the statements required under division (A) of this section.
(C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, and the petition for which a person was compensated for supervising, managing, or otherwise organizing the effort to obtain signatures shall be deemed invalid.
(D) As used in this section, "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, or attorney general.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.39 | Grounds for Rejection of Petition or Declaration of Candidacy.

Effective:
April 6, 2017
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 463 - 131st General Assembly
(A) The secretary of state or a board of elections shall accept any petition described in section 3501.38 of the Revised Code unless one of the following occurs:
(1) A written protest against the petition or candidacy, naming specific objections, is filed, a hearing is held, and a determination is made by the election officials with whom the protest is filed that the petition is invalid, in accordance with any section of the Revised Code providing a protest procedure.
(2) A written protest against the petition or candidacy, naming specific objections, is filed, a hearing is held, and a determination is made by the election officials with whom the protest is filed that the petition violates any requirement established by law.
(3) In the case of an initiative petition received by the board of elections, the petition falls outside the scope of authority to enact via initiative or does not satisfy the statutory prerequisites to place the issue on the ballot, as described in division (M) of section 3501.38 of the Revised Code. The petition shall be invalid if any portion of the petition is not within the initiative power.
(4) The candidate's candidacy or the petition violates the requirements of this chapter, Chapter 3513. of the Revised Code, or any other requirements established by law.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this section or section 3513.052 of the Revised Code, a board of elections shall not invalidate any declaration of candidacy or nominating petition under division (A) (4) of this section after the sixtieth day prior to the election at which the candidate seeks nomination to office, if the candidate filed a declaration of candidacy, or election to office, if the candidate filed a nominating petition.
(C)(1) If a petition is filed for the nomination or election of a candidate in a charter municipal corporation with a filing deadline that occurs after the ninetieth day before the day of the election, a board of elections may invalidate the petition within fifteen days after the date of that filing deadline.
(2) If a petition for the nomination or election of a candidate is invalidated under division (C)(1) of this section, that person's name shall not appear on the ballots for any office for which the person's petition has been invalidated. If the ballots have already been prepared, the board of elections shall remove the name of that person from the ballots to the extent practicable in the time remaining before the election. If the name is not removed from the ballots before the day of the election, the votes for that person are void and shall not be counted.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials › Section 3501.40 | Public Officials' Orders Concerning Elections.

Effective:
December 16, 2020
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 272 - 133rd General Assembly
Except as permitted under section 161.09 of the Revised Code, and notwithstanding any other contrary provision of the Revised Code, no public official shall cause an election to be conducted other than in the time, place, and manner prescribed by the Revised Code.
As used in this section, "public official" means any elected or appointed officer, employee, or agent of the state or any political subdivision, board, commission, bureau, or other public body established by law.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3503 | Voters - Qualifications; Registration › Section 3503.01 | Qualifications of Electors - Precinct Assignment for School Elections.

Effective:
September 12, 2008
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 350 - 127th General Assembly
(A) Every citizen of the United States who is of the age of eighteen years or over and who has been a resident of the state thirty days immediately preceding the election at which the citizen offers to vote, is a resident of the county and precinct in which the citizen offers to vote, and has been registered to vote for thirty days, has the qualifications of an elector and may vote at all elections in the precinct in which the citizen resides.
(B) When only a portion of a precinct is included within the boundaries of an election district, the board of elections may assign the electors residing in such portion of a precinct to the nearest precinct or portion of a precinct within the boundaries of such election district for the purpose of voting at any special election held in such district. In any election in which only a part of the electors in a precinct is qualified to vote, the board may assign voters in such part to an adjoining precinct. Such assignment may be made to an adjoining precinct in another county with the consent and approval of the board of elections of such other county if the number of voters assigned to vote in a precinct in another county is two hundred or less.
The board shall notify all such electors so assigned, at least ten days prior to the holding of any such election, of the location of the polling place where they are entitled to vote at such election.
As used in division (B) of this section, "election district" means a school district, municipal corporation, township, or other political subdivision that includes territory in more than one precinct or any other district or authority that includes territory in more than one precinct and that is authorized by law to place an issue on the ballot at a special election.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3503 | Voters - Qualifications; Registration › Section 3503.011 | Qualifications of Electors for Primary Elections.

Effective:
March 23, 1981
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1062 - 113th General Assembly
At a primary election every qualified elector who is or will be on the day of the next general election eighteen or more years of age, and who is a member of or is affiliated with the political party whose primary election ballot he desires to vote, shall be entitled to vote such ballot at the primary election.