Opinion ID: 4562502
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The referendum process

Text: {¶ 3} Article II, Section 1f of the Ohio Constitution provides, “The initiative and referendum powers are hereby reserved to the people of each municipality on all questions which such municipalities may now or hereafter be authorized by law to control by legislative action; such powers shall be exercised in the manner now or hereafter provided by law.” Section 2 of the Newton Falls Charter preserves for its citizens the right of referendum “upon ordinances and action taken by Council as prescribed in the Constitution of the State of Ohio and as set forth in the general laws of the State of Ohio.” Under the general law of the state, “any ordinance    passed by the legislative authority of a municipal corporation shall be subject to the referendum,” R.C. 731.29, with some relevant exceptions discussed below. {¶ 4} The referendum process begins with the submission of a petition, signed by a sufficient number of electors, to the village clerk or city auditor within 30 days after the ordinance is passed. Id. The clerk must hold the petition for ten days and then transmit it to the county board of elections, along with a certified copy of the ordinance or measure in question. Id. Then, within ten days, the board of elections must examine all signatures on the petition and return the petition to the clerk with a statement attesting to the number of valid signatures on the petition. Id. Then, after the clerk certifies “the sufficiency and validity of the petition” to the board of elections, the board of elections must submit the ordinance to the voters for approval or rejection at the next general election occurring at least 90 days after the clerk’s certification. Id. 2 January Term, 2020 {¶ 5} There are two relevant exceptions to the right of referendum. First, emergency ordinances “necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety” are not subject to referendum and “shall go into immediate effect.” R.C. 731.30. And second, when a municipal legislative authority “is required to pass more than one ordinance    to make and pay for any public improvement,” only the first ordinance is subject to referendum. Id. The subsequent ordinances, which are not subject to referendum, are referred to as “administrative” measures. See State ex rel. Oberlin Citizens for Responsible Dev. v. Talarico, 106 Ohio St.3d 481, 2005-Ohio-5061, 836 N.E.2d 529, ¶ 22-23, 31.