reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3519 | Initiative; Referendum › Section 3519.21 | Ballot Title and Order.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
The order in which all propositions, issues, or questions, including proposed laws and constitutional amendments, shall appear on the ballot and the ballot title of all such propositions, issues, or questions shall be determined by the secretary of state in case of propositions to be voted upon in a district larger than a county, and by the board of elections in a county in the case of a proposition to be voted upon in a county or a political subdivision thereof. In preparing such a ballot title the secretary of state or the board shall give a true and impartial statement of the measures in such language that the ballot title shall not be likely to create prejudice for or against the measure. The person or committee promoting such measure may submit to the secretary of state or the board a suggested ballot title, which shall be given full consideration by the secretary of state or board in determining the ballot title.
Except as otherwise provided by law, all propositions, issues, or questions submitted to the electors and receiving an affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast thereon are approved.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3519 | Initiative; Referendum › Section 3519.22 | Election Not Affected by Insufficient Signatures - Number of Signatures.

Effective:
August 22, 1995
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 99 - 121st General Assembly
No measure submitted to the electors and receiving an affirmative majority of the votes cast on the measure shall be held ineffective or void on account of the insufficiency of the petitions by which such submission was procured.
The basis upon which the required number of petitioners in any case is determined shall be the total number of votes cast for the office of governor, in the case of state, county, or municipal referendum, at the most recent election therefor.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3521 | Congressional Districts › Section 3521.01 | Congressional District Apportionment.

Effective:
February 19, 2022
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 258 - 134th General Assembly
(A) As used in sections 3521.01 to 3521.0115 of the Revised Code, "census block" and "county" have the same meanings and describe the same geographical boundaries as used by the United States department of commerce, bureau of the census, in reporting the 2020 decennial census of Ohio. The official report of the 2020 decennial census of Ohio and all official documents relating to that report of that census are hereby incorporated by reference into sections 3521.01 to 3521.0115 of the Revised Code.
(B) For the purpose of election of representatives to congress, the state is divided into districts as described in sections 3521.011 to 3521.0115 of the Revised Code. Any county or part of a county of the state that has not been described as included in one of those districts is included within the district that contains the least population according to the 2020 decennial census referred to in this section and that is contiguous to that county or part of that county.
Last updated February 19, 2022 at 4:00 AM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3521 | Congressional Districts › Section 3521.02 | Filling Vacancy in United States Senate.

Effective:
August 22, 1995
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 99 - 121st General Assembly
When a vacancy occurs in the representation of this state in the senate of the United States by death, resignation, or otherwise, the vacancy shall be filled forthwith by appointment by the governor who may appoint some suitable person having the necessary qualifications for senator. The appointee shall hold office until the fifteenth day of December succeeding the next regular state election that occurs more than one hundred eighty days after the vacancy happens. At that next regular state election, a special election to fill the vacancy shall be held, provided, that when the unexpired term ends within one year immediately following the date of such regular state election, an election to fill the unexpired term shall not be held, and the appointment shall be for the unexpired term. The special election shall be governed in all respects by the laws controlling regular state elections for such office. Candidates to be voted for at the special election shall be nominated in the same manner as is provided for the nomination of candidates at regular state elections.
At least one hundred eighty days prior to the date of such regular state election, the governor shall issue a writ directing that a special election be held to fill such vacancy as provided in this section. The writ shall be directed to the secretary of state and a copy of the writ sent by mail to the board of elections of each county in the state which shall give notice of the time and place of holding such special election in the same manner and at the same time provided in section 3501.03 of the Revised Code for giving similar notice for regular elections.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3521 | Congressional Districts › Section 3521.03 | Filling Vacancy in United State House of Representatives.

Effective:
December 21, 2007
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 155 - 127th General Assembly
When a vacancy in the office of representative to congress occurs, the governor, upon satisfactory information thereof, shall issue a writ of election directing that a special election be held to fill such vacancy in the territory entitled to fill it on a day specified in the writ. Such writ shall be directed to the board of elections within such territory which shall give notice of the time and places of holding such election as provided in section 3501.03 of the Revised Code. Such election shall be held and conducted and returns thereof made as in case of a regular state election. The state shall pay all costs of any special election held under this section.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3521 | Congressional Districts › Section 3521.04 | Ohio Redistricting Commission Website.

Effective:
September 29, 2021
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 92 - 134th General Assembly
(A) As used in this section, "Ohio redistricting commission" means the body described in Ohio Constitution, Article XI, Section 1.
(B) The Ohio redistricting commission, in accordance with Ohio Constitution, Article XIX, Section 1(H), shall cause to be created a web site, at the web address www.redistricting.ohio.gov. Members of the public may use the web site to do any of the following:
(1) Submit a proposed congressional district plan;
(2) Access the federal decennial census data necessary to create a proposed congressional district plan;
(3) View proposed congressional district plans submitted by members of the public.
(C) Members of the public also may submit a proposed congressional district plan by mailing it to the Ohio redistricting commission, in the care of the clerk of the senate, Ohio statehouse, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
(D) A proposed congressional district plan submitted by a member of the public shall contain visual representations of the proposed boundaries of the congressional districts.
(E) Upon receiving a proposed congressional district plan submitted by a member of the public, the co-chairpersons of the Ohio redistricting commission promptly shall provide electronic notification to the members of the Ohio redistricting commission of the submitted plan and shall cause the submitted plan to be posted on the commission's web site for the public to view.
Last updated October 22, 2021 at 5:30 PM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3523 | Amendments to United States Constitution › Section 3523.01 | Amendment to United States Constitution.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
Whenever congress proposes an amendment to the constitution of the United States, and proposes that it be ratified by conventions in the several states, the governor shall fix, by proclamation, the date of an election for the purpose of electing the delegates to such convention. Such election may either be at a special election or may be held at the same time as a general election, but shall be held at least as soon as the next general election occurring more than three months after the amendment has been proposed by congress.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3523 | Amendments to United States Constitution › Section 3523.02 | Electing Delegates to Constitutional Convention.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
At an election held for the purpose of electing delegates to a convention to ratify an amendment to the constitution of the United States, all persons qualified to vote for members of the general assembly shall be entitled to vote.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3523 | Amendments to United States Constitution › Section 3523.03 | Election on Amendment to Unites State Constitution.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
Except as otherwise provided in sections 3523.01 to 3523.12, inclusive, of the Revised Code, the election provided for in section 3523.01 of the Revised Code shall be conducted and the results ascertained and certified in the same manner as in the case of the election of presidential electors in this state, and all provisions of Title XXXV of the Revised Code except so far as inconsistent with sections 3523.01 to 3523.12, inclusive, of the Revised Code, are applicable to such election.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3523 | Amendments to United States Constitution › Section 3523.04 | Candidates - Qualifications - Nomination.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
The number of delegates to be chosen to the convention provided for by section 3523.01 of the Revised Code shall be fifty-two, to be elected from the state at large.
Candidates for the office of delegate to the convention shall be citizens and residents of the state and of age. Nomination of candidates for the office of delegate shall be by petition and not otherwise. A single petition may nominate any number of candidates not exceeding the total number of delegates to be elected, and shall be signed by not less than five thousands voters. Nomination shall be without party or political designation, but the nominating petitions shall contain a statement as to each nominee, to the effect that he favors ratification, or that he opposes ratification, or that he will remain unpledged, and no nominating petition shall contain the name of any nominee whose position as stated therein is inconsistent with that of any other nominee as stated therein. No nomination shall be effective except those of the fifty-two nominees in favor of ratification, the fifty-two nominees against ratification, and the fifty-two nominees to remain unpledged, whose nominating petitions have respectively been signed by the largest number of voters, ties to be decided by lot drawn by the secretary of state. Within ten days after the petitions are filed, the secretary of state shall certify the candidates of each group to the appropriate local election authorities. All petitions and acceptances thereof shall be filed with the secretary of state not less than thirty days before the proclaimed date of the election.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3523 | Amendments to United States Constitution › Section 3523.05 | Form of Ballot.

Effective:
June 1, 2006
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly
The election provided for in section 3523.01 of the Revised Code shall be by ballot, which may be separate from any ballot to be used at the same election. Such ballot shall first state the substance of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States. This shall be followed by appropriate instructions to the voter. It shall then contain perpendicular columns of equal width, headed respectively in plain type, "for ratification," "against ratification," and "unpledged." In the column headed "for ratification" shall be placed the names of the nominees nominated as in favor of ratification. In the column headed "against ratification" shall be placed the names of the nominees nominated as against ratification. In the column headed "unpledged" shall be placed the names of the nominees nominated as unpledged. The voter shall indicate the voter's choice by making one or more punches or marks in the appropriate spaces provided on the ballot. No ballot shall be held void because any such punch or mark is irregular in character. The ballot shall be so arranged that the voter may, by making a single punch or mark, vote for the entire group of nominees whose names are comprised in any column. The ballot shall be in substantially the following form:
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
Delegates to the convention to ratify the proposed amendment.
The congress has proposed an amendment to the Constitution of the United States which provides (insert here the substance of the proposed amendment).
The congress has also proposed that the said amendment shall be ratified by conventions in the states.
INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS
Do not vote for more than fifty-two candidates.
To vote for all candidates in favor of ratification, or for all candidates against ratification, or for all candidates who intend to remain unpledged, make a mark in the CIRCLE. If you do this, make no other mark. To vote for an individual candidate make a mark in the SQUARE at the left of the name.
For Ratification Against Ratification Unpledged
O O O
[ ] John Doe [ ] Charles Coe [ ] Daniel De Foe
[ ] Richard Doe [ ] Michael Moe [ ] Louis St Loe
All rights on the part of lists of candidates to name observers in the polling places shall be the same as those under Title XXXV of the Revised Code.
The fifty-two nominees who receive the highest number of votes shall be delegates to the convention.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3523 | Amendments to United States Constitution › Section 3523.06 | Vacancy in Office of Delegate.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
If there is a vacancy in the convention caused by the death or disability of any delegate or any other cause, such vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the majority vote of the delegates comprising the group from which such delegate was elected. If the convention contains no other delegate of that group, such vacancy shall be filled by the governor.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3523 | Amendments to United States Constitution › Section 3523.07 | Meeting of Delegates.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
The delegates to the convention shall meet at the capitol on the twenty-eighth day after their election at one p.m., and shall thereupon constitute a convention to pass upon the question of whether or not the proposed amendment to the constitution of the United States shall be ratified.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3523 | Amendments to United States Constitution › Section 3523.08 | Convention Powers and Rules.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
The convention shall be the judge of the election and qualification of its members, and may elect its president, secretary, and other officers and adopt its own rules.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3523 | Amendments to United States Constitution › Section 3523.09 | Convention Journal.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
The convention shall keep a journal of its proceedings in which shall be recorded the vote of each delegate on the question of ratification of the proposed amendment to the constitution of the United States. Upon final adjournment, the journal shall be filed with the secretary of state.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3523 | Amendments to United States Constitution › Section 3523.10 | Certification of Ratification of Amendment.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
If the convention agrees, by vote of a majority of the total number of delegates, to the ratification of the proposed amendment to the constitution of the United States, a certificate to that effect shall be executed by the president and secretary of the convention and transmitted to the secretary of state of this state who shall transmit the certificate under the great seal of the state to the secretary of state of the United States.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3523 | Amendments to United States Constitution › Section 3523.11 | Transportation Expenses of Delegates.

Effective:
February 26, 1986
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 555 - 116th General Assembly
Each delegate to the convention shall receive the legal rate of transportation by motor vehicle each way for mileage from and to his place of residence by the most direct route of public travel to and from the city of Columbus.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3523 | Amendments to United States Constitution › Section 3523.12 | Congress to Set Manner in Which the Convention Shall Be Constituted.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
If, at or about the time of submitting any amendment to the constitution of the United States, congress either in the resolution submitting such amendment or by statute prescribes the manner in which the convention shall be constituted, and does not except from such statute or resolution such states as theretofore have provided for constituting such convention, sections 3523.01 to 3523.11, inclusive, of the Revised Code shall be inoperative. The convention shall then be constituted and shall operate as the resolution or act of congress directs, and all officers of the state who by said resolution or statute are authorized or directed to take any action to constitute such a convention for this state shall act thereunder and in obedience thereto with the same effect as if acting under a statute of this state.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.01 | Bribery.

Effective:
July 1, 1983
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 199 - 114th General Assembly
(A) No person shall before, during, or after any primary, convention, or election:
(1) Give, lend, offer, or procure or promise to give, lend, offer, or procure any money, office, position, place or employment, influence, or any other valuable consideration to or for a delegate, elector, or other person;
(2) Attempt by intimidation, coercion, or other unlawful means to induce such delegate or elector to register or refrain from registering or to vote or refrain from voting at a primary, convention, or election for a particular person, question, or issue;
(3) Advance, pay, or cause to be paid or procure or offer to procure money or other valuable thing to or for the use of another, with the intent that it or part thereof shall be used to induce such person to vote or to refrain from voting.
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of bribery, a felony of the fourth degree; and if he is a candidate he shall forfeit the nomination he received, or if elected to any office he shall forfeit the office to which he was elected at the election with reference to which such offense was committed.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.02 | Bribery - Offenses Concerning Voters or Voting.

Effective:
December 9, 1997
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 116 - 122nd General Assembly
No person shall before, during, or after any primary, general, or special election or convention solicit, request, demand, receive, or contract for any money, gift, loan, property, influence, position, employment, or other thing of value for that person or for another person for doing any of the following:
(A) Registering or refraining from registering to vote;
(B) Agreeing to register or to refrain from registering to vote;
(C) Agreeing to vote or to refrain from voting;
(D) Voting or refraining from voting at any primary, general, or special election or convention for a particular person, question, or issue;
(E) Registering or voting, or refraining from registering or voting, or voting or refraining from voting for a particular person, question, or issue.
Whoever violates this section is guilty of bribery, a felony of the fourth degree, and shall be disfranchised and excluded from holding any public office for five years immediately following such conviction.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.04 | Corrupt Practices - Contributions for Illegal Election Purposes.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
No person shall, directly or indirectly, in connection with any election, pay, lend, or contribute or offer or promise to pay, lend, or contribute any money or other valuable consideration in the election or defeat of any candidate or the adoption or defeat of any question or issue for any purposes other than those enumerated in sections 3517.08 and 3517.12 of the Revised Code.
Whoever violates this section is guilty of corrupt practices and shall be fined not less than twenty-five nor more than five hundred dollars.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.05 | Corrupt Practices - Employer Shall Not Influence Political Opinions or Votes of Employees.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
No employer or his agent or a corporation shall print or authorize to be printed upon any pay envelopes any statements intended or calculated to influence the political action of his or its employees; or post or exhibit in the establishment or anywhere in or about the establishment any posters, placards, or hand bills containing any threat, notice, or information that if any particular candidate is elected or defeated work in the establishment will cease in whole or in part, or other threats expressed or implied, intended to influence the political opinions or votes of his or its employees.
Whoever violates this section is guilty of corrupt practices, and shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.06 | Employer Shall Not Interfere With Employee on Election Day.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
No employer, his officer or agent , shall discharge or threaten to discharge an elector for taking a reasonable amount of time to vote on election day; or require or order an elector to accompany him to a voting place upon such day; or refuse to permit such elector to serve as an election official on any registration or election day; or indirectly use any force or restraint or threaten to inflict any injury, harm, or loss; or in any other manner practice intimidation in order to induce or compel such person to vote or refrain from voting for or against any person or question or issue submitted to the voters.
Whoever violates this section shall be fined not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.07 | Unlawful Possession or Distribution of Ballots.

Effective:
February 25, 2014
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly
No precinct election official, observer, or police officer admitted into the polling rooms at the election, at any time while the polls are open, shall have in the individual's possession, distribute, or give out any ballot or ticket to any person on any pretense during the receiving, counting, or certifying of the votes, or have any ballot or ticket in the individual's possession or control, except in the proper discharge of the individual's official duty in receiving, counting, or canvassing the votes. This section does not prevent the lawful exercise by a precinct election official or observer of the individual right to vote at such election.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.08 | Corrupt Practices - Influencing Candidates and Voters by Publications.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
No owner, editor, writer, or employee of any newspaper, magazine, or other publication of any description, whether published regularly or irregularly, shall use the columns of any such publication for the printing of any threats, direct or implied, in the columns of any such publication for the purpose of controlling or intimidating candidates for public office. Such person shall not directly or indirectly solicit, receive, or accept any payment, promise, or compensation for influencing or attempting to influence votes through any printing matter, except through matter inserted in such publication as "paid advertisement" and so designated.
Whoever violates this section is guilty of a corrupt practice and shall be fined not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.09 | Seeking Nomination or Election to More Than One Prohibited Office at Same Election.

Effective:
December 23, 2002
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 445 - 124th General Assembly
Whoever knowingly violates division (A) of section 3513.052 is guilty of seeking nomination or election to more than one prohibited office at the same election and shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.10 | Corrupt Practices - Candidate for General Assembly Shall Not Be Asked to Pledge Vote.

Effective:
October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
No person, firm, or corporation shall demand of any candidate for the general assembly any pledge concerning his vote on any legislation, question, or proposition that may come before the general assembly; provided that this shall not be understood to prohibit a reasonable inquiry as to such candidate's views on such question or legislation.
Whoever violates this section is guilty of a corrupt practice and shall be fined not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.111 | Per Signature or per Volume Voter Registration Compensation Prohibited - Penalty.

Effective:
May 2, 2006
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly
(A) As used in this section, "registering a voter" or "registering voters" includes any effort, for compensation, to provide voter registration forms or to assist persons in completing or returning those forms.
(B) No person shall receive compensation on a fee per signature or fee per volume basis for circulating any declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, initiative petition, referendum petition, recall petition, or any other election-related petition that is filed with or transmitted to a board of elections, the office of the secretary of state, or other appropriate public office.
(C) No person shall receive compensation on a fee per registration or fee per volume basis for registering a voter.
(D) No person shall pay any other person for collecting signatures on election-related petitions or for registering voters except on the basis of time worked.
(E)(1) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of receiving improper compensation for circulating a petition, a felony of the fifth degree.
(2) Whoever violates division (C) of this section is guilty of receiving improper compensation for registering a voter, a felony of the fifth degree.
(3) Whoever violates division (D) of this section is guilty of paying improper compensation for circulating a petition or registering a voter, a felony of the fifth degree.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.12 | Illegal Voting.

Effective:
January 27, 2006
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 234 - 126th General Assembly
(A) No person shall do any of the following:
(1) Vote or attempt to vote in any primary, special, or general election in a precinct in which that person is not a legally qualified elector;
(2) Vote or attempt to vote more than once at the same election by any means, including voting or attempting to vote both by absent voter's ballots under division (G) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code and by regular ballot at the polls at the same election, or voting or attempting to vote both by absent voter's ballots under division (G) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code and by absent voter's ballots under Chapter 3509. or armed service absent voter's ballots under Chapter 3511. of the Revised Code at the same election;
(3) Impersonate or sign the name of another person, real or fictitious, living or dead, and vote or attempt to vote as that other person in any such election;
(4) Cast a ballot at any such election after objection has been made and sustained to that person's vote;
(5) Knowingly vote or attempt to vote a ballot other than the official ballot.
(B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.13 | Signing of Petitions.

Effective:
May 2, 2006
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly
(A) No person shall do any of the following:
(1) Sign an initiative, supplementary, referendum, recall, or nominating petition knowing that the person is not at the time qualified to sign it;
(2) Knowingly sign such a petition more than once;
(3) Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, sign a name other than the person's own on such a petition;
(4) Accept anything of value for signing such a petition;
(5) Seek by intimidation or threats to influence any person to sign or refrain from signing such a petition, or from circulating or abstaining from circulating such a petition;
(6) Sign a declaration of candidacy and petition for a candidate of a party with which the person is not affiliated, as required by section 3513.05 of the Revised Code;
(7) Make a false affidavit or statement concerning the signatures on any such petition.
(B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section shall be fined not less than fifty or more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not less than three or more than six months, or both.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.14 | Prohibited Acts Concerning Declarations or Petitions.

Effective:
May 2, 2006
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly
(A) No person shall knowingly, directly or indirectly, do any of the following in connection with any declaration of candidacy and petition, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, nominating petition, or other petition presented to or filed with the secretary of state, a board of elections, or any other public office for the purpose of becoming a candidate for any elective office, including the office of a political party, for the purpose of submitting a question or issue to the electors at an election, or for the purpose of forming a political party:
(1) Misrepresent the contents, purpose, or effect of the petition or declaration for the purpose of persuading a person to sign or refrain from signing the petition or declaration;
(2) Pay or offer to pay anything of value for signing or refraining from signing the petition or declaration;
(3) Promise to assist any person to obtain appointment to an office or position as a consideration for obtaining or preventing signatures to the petition or declaration;
(4) Obtain or prevent signatures to the petition or declaration as a consideration for the assistance or promise of assistance of a person in securing appointment to an office or position;
(5) Circulate or cause to be circulated the petition or declaration knowing it to contain false, forged, or fictitious names;
(6) Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, add signatures or names except the person's own name on the petition or declaration;
(7) Make a false certification or statement concerning the petition or declaration;
(8) File with the election authorities the petition or declaration knowing it to contain false, forged, or fictitious names;
(9) Fail to fill out truthfully and file all itemized statements required by law in connection with the petition or declaration.
(B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.15 | Purchase, Theft, Sale, Destruction, or Mutilation of Petitions.

Effective:
July 1, 1996
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 2 - 121st General Assembly
No person shall purchase, steal, attempt to steal, sell, attempt to sell, or willfully destroy or mutilate any initiative, supplementary, referendum, recall, or nominating petition, or any part of a petition, that is being or has been lawfully circulated; provided that the words "purchase" and "sell" do not apply to persons paying or receiving pay for soliciting signatures to or circulating a petition or petition paper.
Whoever violates this section is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.16 | Misconduct of Member, Director, or Employee of Board of Elections - Dismissal.

Effective:
July 1, 1983
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 199 - 114th General Assembly
No member, director, or employee of a board of elections shall:
(A) Willfully or negligently violate or neglect to perform any duty imposed upon him by law, or willfully perform or neglect to perform it in such a way as to hinder the objects of the law, or willfully disobey any law incumbent upon him so to do;
(B) Willfully or knowingly report as genuine a false or fraudulent signature on a petition or registration form, or willfully or knowingly report as false or fraudulent any such genuine signature;
(C) Willfully add to or subtract from the votes actually cast at an election in any official returns, or add to or take away or attempt to add to or take away any ballot from those legally polled at such election;
(D) Carry away, destroy, or mutilate any registration cards or forms, pollbooks, or other records of any election;
(E) Act as an election official in any capacity in an election, except as specifically authorized in his official capacity;
(F) In any other way willfully and knowingly or unlawfully violate or seek to prevent the enforcement of any other provisions of the election laws.
Whoever violates this section shall be dismissed from his position as a member or employee of the board and is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.161 | Prohibiting Inspection of Election Records.

Effective:
January 1, 1995
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 300 - 120th General Assembly
(A) The director of elections, deputy director of elections, or an employee of the board of elections designated by the director or deputy director shall be available during normal office hours to provide any person with access to the public records filed in the office of the board of elections.
(B) No director of elections, deputy director of elections, or employee of the board of elections designated by the director or deputy director shall knowingly prevent or prohibit any person from inspecting, under reasonable regulations established and posted by the board of elections, the public records filed in the office of the board of elections. Records relating to the declination of a person to register to vote and to the identity of a voter registration agency through which any particular person registered to vote are not public records for purposes of this section.
(C) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of prohibiting inspection of election records, a minor misdemeanor, and shall, upon conviction, be dismissed from his position as director of elections, deputy director of elections, or employee of the board of elections.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.17 | Prohibitions Concerning Elections Officials.

Effective:
February 25, 2014
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly
(A) No elections official serving as a registrar or precinct election official shall do any of the following:
(1) Fail to appear before the board of elections, or its representative, after notice has been served personally upon the official or left at the official's usual place of residence, for examination as to the official's qualifications;
(2) Fail to appear at the polling place to which the official is assigned at the hour and during the hours set for the registration or election;
(3) Fail to take the oath prescribed by section 3501.31 of the Revised Code, unless excused by such board;
(4) Refuse or sanction the refusal of another registrar or precinct election official to administer an oath required by law;
(5) Fail to send notice to the board of the appointment of a precinct election official to fill a vacancy;
(6) Act as registrar or precinct election official without having been appointed and having received a certificate of appointment, except a precinct election official appointed to fill a vacancy caused by absence or removal;
(7) Fail in any other way to perform any duty imposed by law.
(B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.18 | Prohibitions Concerning Registration of Electors.

Effective:
December 9, 1997
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 116 - 122nd General Assembly
(A) No election official, person assisting in the registration of electors, or police officer shall knowingly do any of the following:
(1) Refuse, neglect, or unnecessarily delay, hinder, or prevent the registration of a qualified elector, who in a lawful manner applies for registration;
(2) Enter or consent to the entry of a fictitious name on a voter registration list;
(3) Alter the name on or remove or destroy the registration card or form of any qualified elector;
(4) Neglect, unlawfully execute, or fail to execute any duty enjoined upon that person as an election official, person assisting in the registration of electors, or police officer.
(B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.19 | Prohibitions Concerning Precinct Election Officials.

Effective:
February 25, 2014
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly
(A) No precinct election official shall knowingly do any of the following:
(1) Unlawfully open or permit to be opened the sealed package containing registration lists, ballots, blanks, pollbooks, and other papers and material to be used in an election;
(2) Unlawfully misplace, carry away, negligently lose or permit to be taken from the precinct election official, fail to deliver, or destroy any such packages, papers, or material;
(3) Receive or sanction the reception of a ballot from a person not a qualified elector or from a person who refused to answer a question in accordance with the election law;
(4) Refuse to receive or sanction the rejection of a ballot from a person, knowing that person to be a qualified elector;
(5) Permit a fraudulent ballot to be placed in the ballot box;
(6) Place or permit to be placed in any ballot box any ballot known by the precinct election official to be improperly or falsely marked;
(7) Count or permit to be counted any illegal or fraudulent ballot;
(8) Mislead an elector who is physically unable to prepare the elector's ballot, mark a ballot for such elector otherwise than as directed by that elector, or disclose to any person, except when legally required to do so, how such elector voted;
(9) Alter or mark or permit any alteration or marking on any ballot when counting the ballots;
(10) Unlawfully count or tally or sanction the wrongful counting or tallying of votes;
(11) After the counting of votes commences, as required by law, postpone or sanction the postponement of the counting of votes, adjourn at any time or to any place, or remove the ballot box from the place of voting, or from the custody or presence of all the precinct election officials;
(12) Permit any ballot to remain or to be in the ballot box at the opening of the polls, or to be put in the box during the counting of the ballots, or to be left in the box without being counted;
(13) Admit or sanction the admission to the polling room at an election during the receiving, counting, and certifying of votes of any person not qualified by law to be so admitted;
(14) Refuse to admit or sanction the refusal to admit any person, upon lawful request for admission, who is legally qualified to be present;
(15) Permit or sanction the counting of the ballots contrary to the manner prescribed by law;
(16) Neglect or unlawfully execute any duty enjoined upon the precinct election official by law.
(B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.20 | Prohibitions Concerning Ballots Generally.

Effective:
December 9, 1997
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 116 - 122nd General Assembly
No person shall attempt to induce an elector to show how the elector marked the elector's ballot at an election; or, being an elector, allow the elector's ballot to be seen by another, except as provided by section 3505.24 of the Revised Code, with the apparent intention of letting it be known how the elector is about to vote; or make a false statement as to the elector's ability to mark the ballot; or knowingly mark the ballot so it may be identified after it has been cast; or attempt to interfere with an elector in the voting booth when marking the elector's ballot; or knowingly destroy or mutilate a lawful ballot; or remove from the polling place or be found in unlawful possession of a lawful ballot outside the enclosure provided for voting; or knowingly hinder or delay the delivery of a lawful ballot to a person entitled to receive it; or give to an elector a ballot printed or written contrary to law; or forge or falsely make an official indorsement on a ballot.
Whoever violates this section is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.21 | Prohibitions Concerning Absent Voter's Ballot.

Effective:
April 7, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly
(A) No person shall knowingly do any of the following:
(1) Impersonate another, or make a false representation in order to obtain an absent voter's ballot;
(2) Aid or abet a person to vote an absent voter's ballot illegally;
(3) If the person is an election official, open, destroy, steal, mark, or mutilate any absent voter's ballot;
(4) Aid or abet another person to open, destroy, steal, mark, or mutilate any absent voter's ballot after the ballot has been voted;
(5) Delay the delivery of any absent voter's ballot with a view to preventing its arrival in time to be counted;
(6) Hinder or attempt to hinder the delivery or counting of such absent voter's ballot;
(7) Fail to forward to the appropriate election official an absent voter's ballot application entrusted to that person to so forward;
(8) Fail to forward to the appropriate election official an absent voter's ballot application entrusted to that person to so forward within ten days after that application is completed or within such a time period that the failure to so forward the application disenfranchises the voter with respect to a particular election, whichever is earlier;
(9) Return the absent voter's ballot of another to the office of a board of elections, unless either of the following apply:
(a) The person is a relative who is authorized to do so under division (C)(1) of section 3509.05 of the Revised Code;
(b) The person is, and is acting as, an employee or contractor of the United States postal service or a private carrier.
(10) Except as authorized under Chapters 3509. and 3511. of the Revised Code, possess the absent voter's ballot of another.
(B)(1) Subject to division (B)(2) of this section, no person who receives compensation for soliciting persons to apply to vote by absent voter's ballots shall fail to forward to the appropriate election official an absent voter's ballot application entrusted to that person to so forward within ten days after that application is completed.
(2) No person who receives compensation for soliciting persons to apply to vote by absent voter's ballots shall fail to forward to the appropriate election official an absent voter's ballot application entrusted to that person to so forward within such a time period that the failure to so forward the application disenfranchises the voter with respect to a particular election.
(C) Whoever violates division (A) or (B) of this section is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree.
(D) As used in this section, "person who receives compensation for soliciting persons to apply to vote by absent voter's ballots" includes any effort, for compensation, to provide absent voter's ballot applications or to assist persons in completing those applications or returning them to the director of the board of elections of the county in which the applicant's voting residence is located.
Last updated January 24, 2023 at 4:10 PM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 35 | Elections › Chapter 3599 | Offenses and Penalties › Section 3599.22 | Prohibitions Concerning Printing of Ballots.

Effective:
December 9, 1997
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 116 - 122nd General Assembly
(A) No person employed to print or engage in printing the official ballots shall knowingly do any of the following:
(1) Print or cause or permit to be printed an official ballot other than the official ballot furnished by the board of elections;
(2) Print or permit to be printed more ballots than are delivered to the board;
(3) Appropriate, give, deliver, or knowingly permit to be taken away any of such ballots by a person other than the person authorized by law to do so;
(4) Print such ballots on paper other than that provided in the contract with the board;
(5) Package or deliver to the board fewer ballots than the number the board directed to be printed.
(B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.