Chapter 3501 | Election Procedure; Election Officials

Section 3501.01 | Election procedure - election officials definitions.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

As used in the sections of the Revised Code relating to elections and political communications:

(A) "General election" means the election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in each November.

(B) "Regular municipal election" means the election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each odd-numbered year.

(C) "Regular state election" means the election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year.

(D) "Special election" means any election other than those elections defined in other divisions of this section. A special election may be held only on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May or November, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in August in accordance with section 3501.022 of the Revised Code, or on the day authorized by a particular municipal or county charter for the holding of a primary election, except that in any year in which a presidential primary election is held, no special election shall be held in May, except as authorized by a municipal or county charter, but may be held on the third Tuesday after the first Monday in March.

(E)(1) "Primary" or "primary election" means an election held for the purpose of nominating persons as candidates of political parties for election to offices, and for the purpose of electing persons as members of the controlling committees of political parties and as delegates and alternates to the conventions of political parties. Primary elections shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May of each year except in years in which a presidential primary election is held.

(2) "Presidential primary election" means a primary election as defined by division (E)(1) of this section at which an election is held for the purpose of choosing delegates and alternates to the national conventions of the major political parties pursuant to section 3513.12 of the Revised Code. Unless otherwise specified, presidential primary elections are included in references to primary elections. In years in which a presidential primary election is held, all primary elections shall be held on the third Tuesday after the first Monday in March except as otherwise authorized by a municipal or county charter.

(F) "Political party" means any group of voters meeting the requirements set forth in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code for the formation and existence of a political party.

(1) "Major political party" means any political party organized under the laws of this state whose candidate for governor or nominees for presidential electors received not less than twenty per cent of the total vote cast for such office at the most recent regular state election.

(2) "Minor political party" means any political party organized under the laws of this state that meets either of the following requirements:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this division, the political party's candidate for governor or nominees for presidential electors received less than twenty per cent but not less than three per cent of the total vote cast for such office at the most recent regular state election. A political party that meets the requirements of this division remains a political party for a period of four years after meeting those requirements.

(b) The political party has filed with the secretary of state, subsequent to its failure to meet the requirements of division (F)(2)(a) of this section, a petition that meets the requirements of section 3517.01 of the Revised Code.

A newly formed political party shall be known as a minor political party until the time of the first election for governor or president which occurs not less than twelve months subsequent to the formation of such party, after which election the status of such party shall be determined by the vote for the office of governor or president.

(G) "Dominant party in a precinct" or "dominant political party in a precinct" means that political party whose candidate for election to the office of governor at the most recent regular state election at which a governor was elected received more votes than any other person received for election to that office in such precinct at such election.

(H) "Candidate" means any qualified person certified in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Code for placement on the official ballot of a primary, general, or special election to be held in this state, or any qualified person who claims to be a write-in candidate, or who knowingly assents to being represented as a write-in candidate by another at either a primary, general, or special election to be held in this state.

(I) "Independent candidate" means any candidate who claims not to be affiliated with a political party, and whose name has been certified on the office-type ballot at a general or special election through the filing of a statement of candidacy and nominating petition, as prescribed in section 3513.257 of the Revised Code.

(J) "Nonpartisan candidate" means any candidate whose name is required, pursuant to section 3505.04 of the Revised Code, to be listed on the nonpartisan ballot, including all candidates for judge of a municipal court, county court, or court of common pleas, for member of any board of education, for municipal or township offices in which primary elections are not held for nominating candidates by political parties, and for offices of municipal corporations having charters that provide for separate ballots for elections for these offices.

(K) "Party candidate" means any candidate who claims to be a member of a political party and who has been certified to appear on the office-type ballot at a general or special election as the nominee of a political party because the candidate has won the primary election of the candidate's party for the public office the candidate seeks, has been nominated under section 3517.012, or is selected by party committee in accordance with section 3513.31 of the Revised Code.

(L) "Officer of a political party" includes, but is not limited to, any member, elected or appointed, of a controlling committee, whether representing the territory of the state, a district therein, a county, township, a city, a ward, a precinct, or other territory, of a major or minor political party.

(M) "Question or issue" means any question or issue certified in accordance with the Revised Code for placement on an official ballot at a general or special election to be held in this state.

(N) "Elector" or "qualified elector" means a person having the qualifications provided by law to be entitled to vote.

(O) "Voter" means an elector who votes at an election.

(P) "Voting residence" means that place of residence of an elector which shall determine the precinct in which the elector may vote.

(Q) "Precinct" means a district within a county established by the board of elections of such county within which all qualified electors having a voting residence therein may vote at the same polling place.

(R) "Polling place" means that place provided for each precinct at which the electors having a voting residence in such precinct may vote.

(S) "Board" or "board of elections" means the board of elections appointed in a county pursuant to section 3501.06 of the Revised Code.

(T) "Political subdivision" means a county, township, city, village, or school district.

(U) "Election officer" or "election official" means any of the following:

(1) Secretary of state;

(2) Employees of the secretary of state serving the division of elections in the capacity of attorney, administrative officer, administrative assistant, elections administrator, office manager, or clerical supervisor;

(3) Director of a board of elections;

(4) Deputy director of a board of elections;

(5) Member of a board of elections;

(6) Employees of a board of elections;

(7) Precinct election officials;

(8) Employees appointed by the boards of elections on a temporary or part-time basis.

(V) "Acknowledgment notice" means a notice sent by a board of elections, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, informing a voter registration applicant or an applicant who wishes to change the applicant's residence or name of the status of the application; the information necessary to complete or update the application, if any; and if the application is complete, the precinct in which the applicant is to vote.

(W) "Confirmation notice" means a notice sent by a board of elections, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, to a registered elector to confirm the registered elector's current address.

(X) "Designated agency" means an office or agency in the state that provides public assistance or that provides state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities and that is required by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to implement a program designed and administered by the secretary of state for registering voters, or any other public or government office or agency that implements a program designed and administered by the secretary of state for registering voters, including the department of job and family services, the program administered under section 3701.132 of the Revised Code by the department of health, the department of mental health and addiction services, the department of developmental disabilities, the opportunities for Ohioans with disabilities agency, and any other agency the secretary of state designates. "Designated agency" does not include public high schools and vocational schools, public libraries, or the office of a county treasurer.

(Y) "National Voter Registration Act of 1993" means the "National Voter Registration Act of 1993," 107 Stat. 77, 42 U.S.C.A. 1973gg.

(Z) "Voting Rights Act of 1965" means the "Voting Rights Act of 1965," 79 Stat. 437, 42 U.S.C.A. 1973, as amended.

(AA)(1) "Photo identification" means one of the following documents that includes the individual's name and photograph and is not expired:

(a) An Ohio driver's license, state identification card, or interim identification form issued by the registrar of motor vehicles or a deputy registrar under Chapter 4506. or 4507. of the Revised Code;

(b) A United States passport or passport card;

(c) A United States military identification card, Ohio national guard identification card, or United States department of veterans affairs identification card.

(2) A "copy" of an individual's photo identification means images of both the front and back of a document described in division (AA)(1) of this section, except that if the document is a United States passport, a copy of the photo identification means an image of the passport's identification page that includes the individual's name, photograph, and other identifying information and the passport's expiration date.

(BB) "Driver's license" means a license or permit issued by the registrar or a deputy registrar under Chapter 4506. or 4507. of the Revised Code that authorizes an individual to drive. "Driver's license" includes a driver's license, commercial driver's license, probationary license, restricted license, motorcycle operator's license, or temporary instruction permit identification card. "Driver's license" does not include a limited term license issued under section 4507.09 of the Revised Code.

(CC) "State identification card" means a card issued by the registrar or a deputy registrar under sections 4507.50 to 4507.52 of the Revised Code.

(DD) "Interim identification form" means the document issued by the registrar or a deputy registrar to an applicant for a driver's license or state identification card that contains all of the information otherwise found on the license or card and that an applicant may use as a form of identification until the physical license or card arrives in the mail.

Last updated July 18, 2023 at 4:16 PM

Section 3501.011 | Legal mark of registered elector.

• Effective: September 26, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 95 - 125th General Assembly

(A) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B) and (C) of this section, and except as otherwise provided in any section of Title XXXV of the Revised Code to the contrary, as used in the sections of the Revised Code relating to elections and political communications, whenever a person is required to sign or affix a signature to a declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, initiative petition, referendum petition, recall petition, or any other kind of petition, or to sign or affix a signature on any other document that is filed with or transmitted to a board of elections or the office of the secretary of state, "sign" or "signature" means that person's written, cursive-style legal mark written in that person's own hand.

(B) For persons who do not use a cursive-style legal mark during the course of their regular business and legal affairs, "sign" or "signature" means that person's other legal mark that the person uses during the course of that person's regular business and legal affairs that is written in the person's own hand.

(C) Any voter registration record requiring a person's signature shall be signed using the person's legal mark used in the person's regular business and legal affairs. For any purpose described in division (A) of this section, the legal mark of a registered elector shall be considered to be the mark of that elector as it appears on the elector's voter registration record.

Section 3501.012 | Voter application not to be refused due to specified requirements.

• Effective: July 2, 2010
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 48 - 128th General Assembly

Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, the secretary of state or a board of elections shall not refuse to accept and process an otherwise valid voter registration application, absent voter's ballot application, uniformed services and overseas absent voter's ballot application, returned absent voter's ballot, returned uniformed services and overseas absent voter's ballot, or federal write-in absentee ballot from an individual who is eligible to vote as a uniformed services voter or an overseas voter in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 1973ff-6 due to any requirements regarding notarization, paper type, paper weight and size, envelope type, or envelope weight and size.

Section 3501.02 | General election - time for holding.

• Effective: August 15, 2012
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 295 - 129th General Assembly

General elections in the state and its political subdivisions shall be held as follows:

(A) For the election of electors of president and vice-president of the United States, in the year of 1932 and every four years thereafter;

(B) For the election of a member of the senate of the United States, in the years 1932 and 1934, and every six years after each of such years; except as otherwise provided for filling vacancies;

(C) For the election of representatives in the congress of the United States and of elective state and county officers including elected members of the state board of education, in the even-numbered years; except as otherwise provided for filling vacancies;

(D) For municipal and township officers, members of boards of education, judges and clerks of municipal courts, in the odd-numbered years;

(E) Proposed constitutional amendments or proposed measures submitted by the general assembly or by initiative or referendum petitions to the voters of the state at large may be submitted to the general election in any year occurring at least sixty days, in case of a referendum, and ninety days, in the case of an initiated measure, subsequent to the filing of the petitions therefor. Proposed constitutional amendments submitted by the general assembly to the voters of the state at large may be submitted at a special election occurring on the day in any year specified by division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code for the holding of a primary election, when a special election on that date is designated by the general assembly in the resolution adopting the proposed constitutional amendment.

No special election shall be held on a day other than the day of a general election, unless a law or charter provides otherwise, regarding the submission of a question or issue to the voters of a county, township, city, village, or school district.

(F)(1) Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, any question or issue, except a candidacy, to be voted upon at an election shall be certified, for placement upon the ballot, to the board of elections not later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the election.

(2) Any question or issue that is certified for placement on a ballot on or after the effective date of this amendment shall be certified not later than the ninetieth day before the day of the applicable election, notwithstanding any deadlines appearing in any section of the Revised Code governing the placement of that question or issue on the ballot.

Last updated November 3, 2021 at 3:41 PM

Section 3501.021 | Certification in electronic or paper form.

• Effective: January 1, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 500 - 132nd General Assembly

Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, a political subdivision or other entity that certifies a question or issue to a board of elections for placement on the ballot may make that certification in electronic or paper form.

Section 3501.022 | When August special election may be held.

• Effective: April 7, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly

(A) A political subdivision or taxing authority may hold a special election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in August for an office, question, or issue if the political subdivision is under a fiscal emergency under section 118.03 of the Revised Code, or the taxing authority that is a school district is under a fiscal emergency under division (B) of section 3316.03 of the Revised Code, at the time the board of elections certifies the office, question, or issue for placement on the ballot for that special election.

(B) The deadlines applicable to a special election held by a political subdivision or taxing authority under division (A) of this section shall be the same as the deadlines specified to place the office, question, or issue on the ballot on the day of a primary or general election.

(C) The entire cost of a special election held under division (A) of this section shall be charged to the political subdivision or taxing authority in accordance with division (D) of section 3501.17 of the Revised Code.

Last updated January 31, 2023 at 4:19 PM

Section 3501.03 | Notice of election.

• Effective: September 29, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

At least ten days before the time for holding an election the board of elections shall give public notice by a proclamation, posted in a conspicuous place in the courthouse and city hall, or by one insertion in a newspaper of general circulation in the county.

The board shall have authority to publicize information relative to registration or elections.

Section 3501.04 | Secretary of state is chief election officer.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The secretary of state is the chief election officer of the state, with such powers and duties relating to the registration of voters and the conduct of elections as are prescribed in Title XXXV of the Revised Code. He shall perform these duties, in addition to other duties imposed upon him by law, without additional compensation.

Section 3501.05 | Election duties of secretary of state.

• Effective: April 7, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly

The secretary of state shall do all of the following:

(A) Appoint all members of boards of elections;

(B) Issue instructions by directives and advisories in accordance with section 3501.053 of the Revised Code to members of the boards as to the proper methods of conducting elections.

(C) Prepare rules and instructions for the conduct of elections;

(D) Publish and furnish to the boards from time to time a sufficient number of indexed copies of all election laws then in force;

(E) Edit and issue all pamphlets concerning proposed laws or amendments required by law to be submitted to the voters;

(F) Prescribe the form of registration cards, blanks, and records;

(G) Determine and prescribe the forms of ballots and the forms of all blanks, cards of instructions, pollbooks, tally sheets, certificates of election, and forms and blanks required by law for use by candidates, committees, and boards;

(H) Prepare the ballot title or statement to be placed on the ballot for any proposed law or amendment to the constitution to be submitted to the voters of the state;

(I) Except as otherwise provided in section 3519.08 of the Revised Code, certify to the several boards the forms of ballots and names of candidates for state offices, and the form and wording of state referendum questions and issues, as they shall appear on the ballot;

(J) Except as otherwise provided in division (I)(2)(b) of section 3501.38 of the Revised Code, give final approval to ballot language for any local question or issue approved and transmitted by boards of elections under section 3501.11 of the Revised Code;

(K) Receive all initiative and referendum petitions on state questions and issues and determine and certify to the sufficiency of those petitions;

(L) Require such reports from the several boards as are provided by law, or as the secretary of state considers necessary;

(M) Compel the observance by election officers in the several counties of the requirements of the election laws;

(N)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (N)(2) of this section, investigate the administration of election laws, frauds, and irregularities in elections in any county, and report violations of election laws to the attorney general or prosecuting attorney, or both, for prosecution;

(2) On and after August 24, 1995, report a failure to comply with or a violation of a provision in sections 3517.08 to 3517.13, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03, or 3599.031 of the Revised Code, whenever the secretary of state has or should have knowledge of a failure to comply with or a violation of a provision in one of those sections, by filing a complaint with the Ohio elections commission under section 3517.153 of the Revised Code.

(O) Make an annual report to the governor containing the results of elections, the cost of elections in the various counties, a tabulation of the votes in the several political subdivisions, and other information and recommendations relative to elections the secretary of state considers desirable;

(P) Prescribe and distribute to boards of elections a list of instructions indicating all legal steps necessary to petition successfully for local option elections under sections 4301.32 to 4301.41, 4303.29, 4305.14, and 4305.15 of the Revised Code;

(Q) Adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the removal by boards of elections of ineligible voters from the statewide voter registration database and, if applicable, from the poll list or signature pollbook used in each precinct, which rules shall provide for all of the following:

(1) A process for the removal of voters who have changed residence, which shall be uniform, nondiscriminatory, and in compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, including a program that uses the national change of address service provided by the United States postal system through its licensees;

(2) A process for the removal of ineligible voters under section 3503.21 of the Revised Code;

(3) A uniform system for marking or removing the name of a voter who is ineligible to vote from the statewide voter registration database and, if applicable, from the poll list or signature pollbook used in each precinct and noting the reason for that mark or removal.

(R) Prescribe a general program for registering voters or updating voter registration information, such as name and residence changes, by boards of elections, designated agencies, offices of deputy registrars of motor vehicles, public high schools and vocational schools, public libraries, and offices of county treasurers consistent with the requirements of section 3503.09 of the Revised Code;

(S) Prescribe a program of distribution of voter registration forms through boards of elections, designated agencies, offices of the registrar and deputy registrars of motor vehicles, public high schools and vocational schools, public libraries, and offices of county treasurers;

(T) To the extent feasible, provide copies, at no cost and upon request, of the voter registration form in post offices in this state;

(U) Adopt rules pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code for the purpose of implementing the program for registering voters through boards of elections, designated agencies, and the offices of the registrar and deputy registrars of motor vehicles consistent with this chapter;

(V) Establish the full-time position of Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator within the office of the secretary of state to do all of the following:

(1) Assist the secretary of state with ensuring that there is equal access to polling places for persons with disabilities;

(2) Assist the secretary of state with ensuring that each voter may cast the voter's ballot in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participation, including privacy and independence, as for other voters;

(3) Advise the secretary of state in the development of standards for the certification of voting machines, marking devices, and automatic tabulating equipment.

(W) Establish and maintain a computerized statewide database of all legally registered voters under section 3503.15 of the Revised Code that complies with the requirements of the "Help America Vote Act of 2002," Pub. L. No. 107-252, 116 Stat. 1666, and provide training in the operation of that system;

(X) Ensure that all directives, advisories, other instructions, or decisions issued or made during or as a result of any conference or teleconference call with a board of elections to discuss the proper methods and procedures for conducting elections, to answer questions regarding elections, or to discuss the interpretation of directives, advisories, or other instructions issued by the secretary of state are posted on a web site of the office of the secretary of state as soon as is practicable after the completion of the conference or teleconference call, but not later than the close of business on the same day as the conference or teleconference call takes place.

(Y) Publish a report on a web site of the office of the secretary of state not later than one month after the completion of the canvass of the election returns for each primary and general election, identifying, by county, the number of absent voter's ballots cast and the number of those ballots that were counted, and the number of provisional ballots cast and the number of those ballots that were counted, for that election. The secretary of state shall maintain the information on the web site in an archive format for each subsequent election.

(Z) Conduct voter education outlining voter identification, absent voters ballot, provisional ballot, and other voting requirements;

(AA) Establish a procedure by which a registered elector may make available to a board of elections a more recent signature to be used in the poll list or signature pollbook produced by the board of elections of the county in which the elector resides;

(BB) Disseminate information, which may include all or part of the official explanations and arguments, by means of direct mail or other written publication, broadcast, or other means or combination of means, as directed by the Ohio ballot board under division (F) of section 3505.062 of the Revised Code, in order to inform the voters as fully as possible concerning each proposed constitutional amendment, proposed law, or referendum;

(CC) Be the single state office responsible for the implementation of the "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act," Pub. L. No. 99-410, 100 Stat. 924, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff, et seq., as amended, in this state. The secretary of state may delegate to the boards of elections responsibilities for the implementation of that act, including responsibilities arising from amendments to that act made by the "Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act," Subtitle H of the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010," Pub. L. No. 111-84, 123 Stat. 3190.

(DD) Adopt rules, under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, to establish procedures and standards for determining when a board of elections shall be placed under the official oversight of the secretary of state, placing a board of elections under the official oversight of the secretary of state, a board that is under official oversight to transition out of official oversight, and the secretary of state to supervise a board of elections that is under official oversight of the secretary of state.

(EE) Perform other duties required by law.

Whenever a primary election is held under section 3513.32 of the Revised Code or a special election is held under section 3521.03 of the Revised Code to fill a vacancy in the office of representative to congress, the secretary of state shall establish a deadline, notwithstanding any other deadline required under the Revised Code, by which any or all of the following shall occur: the filing of a declaration of candidacy and petitions or a statement of candidacy and nominating petition together with the applicable filing fee; the filing of protests against the candidacy of any person filing a declaration of candidacy or nominating petition; the filing of a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate; the filing of campaign finance reports; the preparation of, and the making of corrections or challenges to, precinct voter registration lists; the receipt of applications for absent voter's ballots or uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballots; the supplying of election materials to precincts by boards of elections; the holding of hearings by boards of elections to consider challenges to the right of a person to appear on a voter registration list; and the scheduling of programs to instruct or reinstruct election officers.

In the performance of the secretary of state's duties as the chief election officer, the secretary of state may administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summon witnesses, compel the production of books, papers, records, and other evidence, and fix the time and place for hearing any matters relating to the administration and enforcement of the election laws.

In any controversy involving or arising out of the adoption of registration or the appropriation of funds for registration, the secretary of state may, through the attorney general, bring an action in the name of the state in the court of common pleas of the county where the cause of action arose or in an adjoining county, to adjudicate the question.

In any action involving the laws in Title XXXV of the Revised Code wherein the interpretation of those laws is in issue in such a manner that the result of the action will affect the lawful duties of the secretary of state or of any board of elections, the secretary of state may, on the secretary of state's motion, be made a party.

The secretary of state may apply to any court that is hearing a case in which the secretary of state is a party, for a change of venue as a substantive right, and the change of venue shall be allowed, and the case removed to the court of common pleas of an adjoining county named in the application or, if there are cases pending in more than one jurisdiction that involve the same or similar issues, the court of common pleas of Franklin county.

Public high schools and vocational schools, public libraries, and the office of a county treasurer shall implement voter registration programs as directed by the secretary of state pursuant to this section.

Last updated January 19, 2023 at 10:30 AM

Section 3501.051 | Simulated election programs for minors.

• Effective: February 25, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly

(A) Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code, the secretary of state may authorize, in one or more precincts in one or more counties, a program allowing individuals under the age of eighteen to enter the polling place and vote in a simulated election held at the same time as a general election. Any individual working in or supervising at a simulated election may enter the polling place and remain within it during the entire period the polls are open.

(B) A program established under division (A) of this section shall require all of the following:

(1) That the duties imposed on precinct election officials and peace officers under section 3501.33 of the Revised Code be performed by those officials and officers in regard to simulated elections and all activities related to simulated elections;

(2) That volunteers provide the personnel necessary to conduct the simulated election, except that employees of the secretary of state, employees or members of boards of elections, and precinct election officials may aid in operating the program to the extent permitted by the secretary of state;

(3) That individuals under the age of fourteen be accompanied to the simulated election by an individual eighteen years of age or over;

(4) Any other requirements the secretary of state considers necessary for the orderly administration of the election process.

Section 3501.052 | State officials not to serve as campaign officials.

• Effective: May 2, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly

(A) The secretary of state shall not serve as campaign treasurer or in any other official capacity for any campaign committee for any state or local office other than an office to which the secretary of state is seeking election.

(B) The secretary of state shall not serve as campaign treasurer or in any other official capacity for any principal campaign committee or other authorized committee for any federal office other than an office to which the secretary of state is seeking election.

(C) The secretary of state shall not serve as a treasurer or in any other official capacity for any committee named in an initiative petition, any committee named in a referendum petition, any person making disbursements for the direct costs of producing or airing electioneering communications, or any other committee regulated under Chapter 3517. of the Revised Code.

(D) The attorney general shall not serve as a treasurer or in any other official capacity for any committee named in an initiative petition or any committee named in a referendum petition.

(E) As used in this section:

(1) "Authorized committee" and "principal campaign committee" have the same meanings as in the Federal Election Campaign Act.

(2) "Campaign committee," "campaign treasurer," and "Federal Election Campaign Act" have the same meanings as in section 3517.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Electioneering communication" has the same meaning as in section 3517.1011 of the Revised Code.

Section 3501.053 | Instructions regarding conduct of elections - web publication.

• Effective: August 15, 2012
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 295 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The secretary of state may issue instructions as to the proper method of conducting elections to members of the boards of elections by permanent or temporary directives.

(1) The secretary of state shall establish a process to allow public review and public comment of proposed directives. Prior to issuing any permanent directive, the secretary of state shall provide reasonable notice of the issuance of the directive and allow a reasonable amount of time for public review and public comment of the proposed directive under this division.

No permanent directive shall be issued during the period beginning ninety days prior to the day of an election and ending on the fortieth day following the day of that election.

(2) Temporary directives shall only be issued, and shall only have effect, during the period beginning ninety days prior to the day of an election and ending on the fortieth day following the day of that election. Temporary directives shall not be subject to public review and public comment under division (A)(1) of this section.

A temporary directive shall not become a permanent directive unless the temporary directive is proposed as a permanent directive and subject to public review and public comment under division (A)(1) of this section.

If the situation prompting the establishment of a temporary directive appears likely to recur, the secretary of state shall establish a permanent directive addressing the situation.

(B) In addition to any other publication of directives and advisories issued by the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall publish those directives and advisories on a web site of the office of the secretary of state as soon as is practicable after they are issued, but not later than the close of business on the same day as a directive or advisory is issued. The secretary of state shall not remove from the web site any directives and advisories so posted. The secretary of state shall provide on that web site access to all directives and advisories currently in effect and maintain an archive of all directives and advisories previously published on that web site.

Section 3501.054 | Public officials and election-related activities.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

(A) 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.

(B) No public official that is responsible for administering or conducting an election in this state shall collaborate with, or accept or expend any money from, a nongovernmental person or entity for any costs or activities related to voter registration, voter education, voter identification, get-out-the-vote, absent voting, election official recruitment or training, or any other election-related purpose, other than the following:

(1) The collection of any fee that is authorized by law;

(2) The use of any building to conduct an election, including as a polling place;

(3) The donation of food for precinct election officials at a polling place on election day.

(C) This section does not apply to any money to be deposited in the address confidentiality program fund established under section 111.48 of the Revised Code or the women's suffrage centennial commission fund established under Section 1 of S.B. 30 of the 132nd general assembly, as amended.

Last updated July 14, 2021 at 1:15 PM

Section 3501.06 | County board of elections.

• Effective: February 25, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly

(A) There shall be in each county of the state a board of elections consisting of four qualified electors of the county, who shall be appointed by the secretary of state, as the secretary's representatives.

(B)(1) On the first day of March in the years 2014 and 2016, the secretary of state shall appoint two of such board members for a term of three years. One of those board members shall be from the political party which cast the highest number of votes for the office of governor at the most recent regular state election, and the other shall be from the political party which cast the next highest number of votes for the office of governor at such election.

(2) Beginning in 2017, on the first day of March in odd-numbered years, the secretary of state shall appoint two of such board members for a term of four years. One of those board members shall be from the political party which cast the highest number of votes for the office of governor at the most recent regular state election, and the other shall be from the political party which cast the next highest number of votes for the office of governor at such election. Thereafter, all appointments shall be made on the first day of March in odd-numbered years for a term of four years.

(C) All vacancies filled for unexpired terms and all appointments to new terms shall be made from the political party to which the vacating or outgoing member belonged, unless there is a third political party which cast a greater number of votes in the state at the most recent regular state election for the office of governor than did the party to which the retiring member belonged, in which event the vacancy shall be filled from such third party.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Section 3501.11 | Board duties.

• Effective: April 7, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly

Each board of elections shall exercise by a majority vote all powers granted to the board by Title XXXV of the Revised Code, shall perform all the duties imposed by law, and shall do all of the following:

(A) Establish, define, provide, rearrange, and combine election precincts;

(B) Fix and provide the places for registration and for holding primaries and elections;

(C) Provide for the purchase, preservation, and maintenance of booths, ballot boxes, books, maps, flags, blanks, cards of instructions, and other forms, papers, and equipment used in registration, nominations, and elections;

(D) Appoint and remove its director, deputy director, and employees and all registrars, precinct election officials, and other officers of elections, fill vacancies, and designate the ward or district and precinct in which each shall serve;

(E) Make and issue rules and instructions, not inconsistent with law or the rules, directives, or advisories issued by the secretary of state, as it considers necessary for the guidance of election officers and voters;

(F) Advertise and contract for the printing of all ballots and other supplies used in registrations and elections;

(G) Provide for the issuance of all notices, advertisements, and publications concerning elections, except as otherwise provided in division (G) of section 3501.17 and divisions (F) and (G) of section 3505.062 of the Revised Code;

(H) Provide for the delivery of ballots, pollbooks, and other required papers and material to the polling places;

(I) Cause the polling places to be suitably provided with voting machines, marking devices, automatic tabulating equipment, stalls, and other required supplies. In fulfilling this duty, each board of a county that uses voting machines, marking devices, or automatic tabulating equipment shall conduct a full vote of the board during a public session of the board on the allocation and distribution of voting machines, marking devices, and automatic tabulating equipment for each precinct in the county.

(J) Investigate irregularities, nonperformance of duties, or violations of Title XXXV of the Revised Code by election officers and other persons; administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summon witnesses, and compel the production of books, papers, records, and other evidence in connection with any such investigation; and report the facts to the prosecuting attorney or the secretary of state;

(K)(1) Review, examine, and certify the sufficiency and validity of petitions and nomination papers, and, after certification, return to the secretary of state all petitions and nomination papers that the secretary of state forwarded to the board;

(2) Examine each initiative petition, or a petition filed under section 307.94 or 307.95 of the Revised Code, received by the board to determine whether the petition falls within the scope of authority to enact via initiative and whether the petition satisfies 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.

(L) Receive the returns of elections, canvass the returns, make abstracts of them, and transmit those abstracts to the proper authorities;

(M) Issue certificates of election on forms to be prescribed by the secretary of state;

(N) Make an annual report to the secretary of state, on the form prescribed by the secretary of state, containing a statement of the number of voters registered, elections held, votes cast, appropriations received, expenditures made, and other data required by the secretary of state;

(O) Prepare and submit to the proper appropriating officer a budget estimating the cost of elections for the ensuing fiscal year;

(P) Perform other duties as prescribed by law or the rules, directives, or advisories of the secretary of state;

(Q) Investigate and determine the residence qualifications of electors;

(R) Administer oaths in matters pertaining to the administration of the election laws;

(S) Prepare and submit to the secretary of state, whenever the secretary of state requires, a report containing the names and residence addresses of all incumbent county, municipal, township, and board of education officials serving in their respective counties;

(T) Establish and maintain a voter registration database of all qualified electors in the county who offer to register;

(U) Maintain voter registration records, make reports concerning voter registration as required by the secretary of state, and remove ineligible electors from voter registration lists in accordance with law and directives of the secretary of state;

(V) Give approval to ballot language for any local question or issue and transmit the language to the secretary of state for the secretary of state's final approval;

(W) Prepare and cause the following notice to be displayed in a prominent location in every polling place:

"NOTICE

Ohio law prohibits any person from voting or attempting to vote more than once at the same election.

Violators are guilty of a felony of the fourth degree and shall be imprisoned and additionally may be fined in accordance with law."

(X) In all cases of a tie vote or a disagreement in the board, if no decision can be arrived at, the director or chairperson shall submit the matter in controversy, not later than fourteen days after the tie vote or the disagreement, to the secretary of state, who shall summarily decide the question, and the secretary of state's decision shall be final.

(Y) Assist each designated agency, deputy registrar of motor vehicles, public high school and vocational school, public library, and office of a county treasurer in the implementation of a program for registering voters at all voter registration locations as prescribed by the secretary of state. Under this program, each board of elections shall direct to the appropriate board of elections any voter registration applications for persons residing outside the county where the board is located within five days after receiving the applications.

(Z) On any day on which an elector may vote in person at the office of the board or at another site designated by the board, consider the board or other designated site a polling place for that day. All requirements or prohibitions of law that apply to a polling place shall apply to the office of the board or other designated site on that day.

(AA) Perform any duties with respect to voter registration and voting by uniformed services and overseas voters that are delegated to the board by law or by the rules, directives, or advisories of the secretary of state.

(BB) Prepare an election administration plan and submit it to the secretary of state not later than seventy-five days before each presidential primary election and not later than one hundred twenty days before each general election held in an even-numbered year. The election administration plan shall be on a template prescribed by the secretary of state and shall include all of the following:

(1) Precinct election official recruitment, training, and accountability;

(2) Resource allocation;

(3) Communication before and on the day of the election;

(4) Materials;

(5) Contingencies and continuity planning;

(6) Security;

(7) Voter registration;

(8) Absent voting;

(9) Polling places and accessibility;

(10) Ballot preparation;

(11) Pre-election testing;

(12) Reconciliation and audits;

(13) A master calendar;

(14) Any other topic prescribed by the secretary of state.

Last updated January 19, 2023 at 10:30 AM

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Section 3501.17 | Expenditures and costs.

• Effective: September 8, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 166 - 131st General Assembly

(A) The expenses of the board of elections shall be paid from the county treasury, in pursuance of appropriations by the board of county commissioners, in the same manner as other county expenses are paid. If the board of county commissioners fails to appropriate an amount sufficient to provide for the necessary and proper expenses of the board of elections pertaining to the conduct of elections, the board of elections may apply to the court of common pleas within the county, which shall fix the amount necessary to be appropriated and the amount shall be appropriated. Payments shall be made upon vouchers of the board of elections certified to by its chairperson or acting chairperson and the director or deputy director, upon warrants of the county auditor.

The board of elections shall not incur any obligation involving the expenditure of money unless there are moneys sufficient in the funds appropriated therefor to meet the obligation. If the board of elections requests a transfer of funds from one of its appropriation items to another, the board of county commissioners shall adopt a resolution providing for the transfer except as otherwise provided in section 5705.40 of the Revised Code. The expenses of the board of elections shall be apportioned among the county and the various subdivisions as provided in this section, and the amount chargeable to each subdivision shall be paid as provided in division (J) of this section or withheld by the county auditor from the moneys payable thereto at the time of the next tax settlement. At the time of submitting budget estimates in each year, the board of elections shall submit to the taxing authority of each subdivision, upon the request of the subdivision, an estimate of the amount to be paid or withheld from the subdivision during the current or next fiscal year.

A board of township trustees may, by resolution, request that the county auditor withhold expenses charged to the township from a specified township fund that is to be credited with revenue at a tax settlement. The resolution shall specify the tax levy ballot issue, the date of the election on the levy issue, and the township fund from which the expenses the board of elections incurs related to that ballot issue shall be withheld.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (F) of this section, the compensation of the members of the board of elections and of the director, deputy director, and regular employees in the board's offices, other than compensation for overtime worked; the expenditures for the rental, furnishing, and equipping of the office of the board and for the necessary office supplies for the use of the board; the expenditures for the acquisition, repair, care, and custody of the polling places, booths, guardrails, and other equipment for polling places; the cost of tally sheets, maps, flags, ballot boxes, and all other permanent records and equipment; the cost of all elections held in and for the state and county; and all other expenses of the board which are not chargeable to a political subdivision in accordance with this section shall be paid in the same manner as other county expenses are paid.

(C) The compensation of precinct election officials and intermittent employees in the board's offices; the cost of renting, moving, heating, and lighting polling places and of placing and removing ballot boxes and other fixtures and equipment thereof, including voting machines, marking devices, and automatic tabulating equipment; the cost of printing and delivering ballots, cards of instructions, registration lists required under section 3503.23 of the Revised Code, and other election supplies, including the supplies required to comply with division (H) of section 3506.01 of the Revised Code; the cost of contractors engaged by the board to prepare, program, test, and operate voting machines, marking devices, and automatic tabulating equipment; and all other expenses of conducting primaries and elections in the odd-numbered years shall be charged to the subdivisions in and for which such primaries or elections are held. The charge for each primary or general election in odd-numbered years for each subdivision shall be determined in the following manner: first, the total cost of all chargeable items used in conducting such elections shall be ascertained; second, the total charge shall be divided by the number of precincts participating in such election, in order to fix the cost per precinct; third, the cost per precinct shall be prorated by the board of elections to the subdivisions conducting elections for the nomination or election of offices in such precinct; fourth, the total cost for each subdivision shall be determined by adding the charges prorated to it in each precinct within the subdivision.

(D) The entire cost of special elections held on a day other than the day of a primary or general election, both in odd-numbered or in even-numbered years, shall be charged to the subdivision. Where a special election is held on the same day as a primary or general election in an even-numbered year, the subdivision submitting the special election shall be charged only for the cost of ballots and advertising. Where a special election is held on the same day as a primary or general election in an odd-numbered year, the subdivision submitting the special election shall be charged for the cost of ballots and advertising for such special election, in addition to the charges prorated to such subdivision for the election or nomination of candidates in each precinct within the subdivision, as set forth in the preceding paragraph.

(E) Where a special election is held on the day specified by division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code for the holding of a primary election, for the purpose of submitting to the voters of the state constitutional amendments proposed by the general assembly, and a subdivision conducts a special election on the same day, the entire cost of the special election shall be divided proportionally between the state and the subdivision based upon a ratio determined by the number of issues placed on the ballot by each, except as otherwise provided in division (G) of this section. Such proportional division of cost shall be made only to the extent funds are available for such purpose from amounts appropriated by the general assembly to the secretary of state. If a primary election is also being conducted in the subdivision, the costs shall be apportioned as otherwise provided in this section.

(F) When a precinct is open during a general, primary, or special election solely for the purpose of submitting to the voters a statewide ballot issue, the state shall bear the entire cost of the election in that precinct and shall reimburse the county for all expenses incurred in opening the precinct.

(G)(1) The state shall bear the entire cost of advertising in newspapers statewide ballot issues, explanations of those issues, and arguments for or against those issues, as required by Section 1g of Article II and Section 1 of Article XVI, Ohio Constitution, and any other section of law. Appropriations made to the controlling board shall be used to reimburse the secretary of state for all expenses the secretary of state incurs for such advertising under division (G) of section 3505.062 of the Revised Code.

(2) There is hereby created in the state treasury the statewide ballot advertising fund. The fund shall receive transfers approved by the controlling board, and shall be used by the secretary of state to pay the costs of advertising state ballot issues as required under division (G)(1) of this section. Any such transfers may be requested from and approved by the controlling board prior to placing the advertising, in order to facilitate timely provision of the required advertising.

(H) The cost of renting, heating, and lighting registration places; the cost of the necessary books, forms, and supplies for the conduct of registration; and the cost of printing and posting precinct registration lists shall be charged to the subdivision in which such registration is held.

(I)(1)(a) At the request of a majority of the members of the board of elections, the board of county commissioners may, by resolution, establish an elections revenue fund. Except as otherwise provided in this division and in division (I)(2) of this section, the purpose of the fund shall be to accumulate revenue withheld by or paid to the county under this section for the payment of any expense related to the duties of the board of elections specified in section 3501.11 of the Revised Code, upon approval of a majority of the members of the board of elections. The fund shall not accumulate any revenue withheld by or paid to the county under this section for the compensation of the members of the board of elections or of the director, deputy director, or other regular employees in the board's offices, other than compensation for overtime worked.

(b) Notwithstanding sections 5705.14, 5705.15, and 5705.16 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners may, by resolution, transfer money to the elections revenue fund from any other fund of the political subdivision from which such payments lawfully may be made. Following an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board of elections, the board of county commissioners may, by resolution, rescind an elections revenue fund established under this division. If an elections revenue fund is rescinded, money that has accumulated in the fund shall be transferred to the county general fund.

(2)(a) The board of county commissioners of a county that receives a payment from a political subdivision under division (J) of this section shall, by resolution, establish a special elections fund. The purpose of the fund shall be to accumulate revenue paid to the county by political subdivisions under division (J) of this section for the cost of preparing for and conducting special elections.

(b) If both of the following apply, the board of county commissioners may, by resolution, rescind the special elections fund and transfer any remaining money in the fund to the county general fund or to the elections revenue fund:

(i) All notifications and payments required under division (J)(3) of this section have been made.

(ii) The county has not received any payments from political subdivisions under division (J)(2) of this section for a future special election.

(J)(1) Not less than fifteen business days before the deadline for submitting a question or issue for placement on the ballot at a special election, the board of elections shall prepare and file with the board of county commissioners and the office of the secretary of state the estimated cost, based on the factors enumerated in this section, for preparing for and conducting an election on one question or issue, one nomination for office, or one election to office in each precinct in the county at that special election and shall divide that cost by the number of registered voters in the county.

(2) The board of elections shall provide to a political subdivision seeking to submit a question or issue, a nomination for office, or an election to office for placement on the ballot at a special election with the estimated cost for preparing for and conducting that election, which shall be calculated either by multiplying the number of registered voters in the political subdivision with the cost calculated under division (J)(1) of this section or by multiplying the cost per precinct with the number or precincts in the political subdivision. A political subdivision submitting a question or issue, a nomination for office, or an election to office for placement on the ballot at that special election shall pay to the county special elections fund sixty-five per cent of the estimated cost of the election not less than ten business days after the deadline for submitting a question or issue for placement on the ballot for that special election.

(3) Not later than sixty days after the date of a special election, the board of elections shall provide to each political subdivision the true and accurate cost for the question or issue, nomination for office, or election to office that the subdivision submitted to the voters on the special election ballots. If the board of elections determines that a subdivision paid less for the cost of preparing and conducting a special election under division (J)(2) of this section than the actual cost calculated under this division, the subdivision shall remit to the county special elections fund the difference between the payment made under division (J)(2) of this section and the final cost calculated under this division within thirty days after being notified of the final cost. If the board of elections determines that a subdivision paid more for the cost of preparing and conducting a special election under division (J)(2) of this section than the actual cost calculated under this division, the board of elections promptly shall notify the board of county commissioners of that difference. The board of county commissioners shall remit from the county special elections fund to the political subdivision the difference between the payment made under division (J)(2) of this section and the final cost calculated under this division within thirty days after receiving that notification.

(K) As used in this section:

(1) "Political subdivision" and "subdivision" mean any board of county commissioners, board of township trustees, legislative authority of a municipal corporation, board of education, or any other board, commission, district, or authority that is empowered to levy taxes or permitted to receive the proceeds of a tax levy, regardless of whether the entity receives tax settlement moneys as described in division (A) of this section;

(2) "Statewide ballot issue" means any ballot issue, whether proposed by the general assembly or by initiative or referendum, that is submitted to the voters throughout the state.

Section 3501.18 | Division of political subdivision into precincts.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 281 - 134th General Assembly

(A) The board of elections may divide a political subdivision within its jurisdiction into precincts, establish, define, divide, rearrange, and combine the several election precincts within its jurisdiction, and change the location of the polling place for each precinct when it is necessary to maintain the requirements as to the number of voters in a precinct and to provide for the convenience of the voters and the proper conduct of elections. No change in the number of precincts or in precinct boundaries shall be made during the twenty-five days immediately preceding a primary or general election or between the first day of January and the day on which the members of county central committees are elected in the years in which those committees are elected. Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this section, each precinct shall contain a number of electors, not to exceed one thousand four hundred, that the board of elections determines to be a reasonable number after taking into consideration the type and amount of available equipment, prior voter turnout, the size and location of each selected polling place, available parking, availability of an adequate number of poll workers, and accessibility for persons with disabilities and other accessibility to the polling place.

If the board changes the boundaries of a precinct after the filing of a local option election petition pursuant to sections 4301.32 to 4301.41, 4303.29, or 4305.14 of the Revised Code that calls for a local option election to be held in that precinct, the local option election shall be held in the area that constituted the precinct at the time the local option petition was filed, regardless of the change in the boundaries.

If the board changes the boundaries of a precinct in order to meet the requirements of division (B)(1) of this section in a manner that causes a member of a county central committee to no longer qualify as a representative of an election precinct in the county, of a ward of a city in the county, or of a township in the county, the member shall continue to represent the precinct, ward, or township for the remainder of the member's term, regardless of the change in boundaries.

In an emergency, the board may provide more than one polling place in a precinct. In order to provide for the convenience of the voters, the board may locate polling places for voting or registration outside the boundaries of precincts, provided that the nearest public school or public building shall be used if the board determines it to be available and suitable for use as a polling place. Except in an emergency, no change in the number or location of the polling places in a precinct shall be made during the twenty-five days immediately preceding a primary or general election.

Electors who have failed to respond within thirty days to any confirmation notice shall not be counted in determining the size of any precinct under this section.

(B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of this section, a board of elections shall determine all precinct boundaries using geographical units used by the United States department of commerce, bureau of the census, in reporting the decennial census of Ohio.

(2) The board of elections may apply to the secretary of state for a waiver from the requirement of division (B)(1) of this section when it is not feasible to comply with that requirement because of unusual physical boundaries or residential development practices that would cause unusual hardship for voters. The board shall identify the affected precincts and census units, explain the reason for the waiver request, and include a map illustrating where the census units will be split because of the requested waiver. If the secretary of state approves the waiver and so notifies the board of elections in writing, the board may change a precinct boundary as necessary under this section, notwithstanding the requirement in division (B)(1) of this section.

(C) The board of elections may apply to the secretary of state for a waiver from the requirement of division (A) of this section regarding the number of electors in a precinct when the use of geographical units used by the United States department of commerce, bureau of the census, will cause a precinct to contain more than one thousand four hundred electors. The board shall identify the affected precincts and census units, explain the reason for the waiver request, and include a map illustrating where census units will be split because of the requested waiver. If the secretary of state approves the waiver and so notifies the board of elections in writing, the board may change a precinct boundary as necessary to meet the requirements of division (B)(1) of this section.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 12:11 PM

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.

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.

Section 3501.22 | Precinct officials.

• Effective: April 7, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly

(A)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(2) of this section, on or before the fifteenth day of September in each year, the board of elections by a majority vote shall, after careful examination and investigation as to their qualifications, appoint for each election precinct four residents of the county in which the precinct is located, as precinct election officials. Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this section, all precinct election officials shall be qualified electors. The precinct election officials shall constitute the election officers of the precinct. Not more than one-half of the total number of precinct election officials shall be members of the same political party. The term of such precinct officers shall be for one year. The board may, at any time, designate any number of election officers, not more than one-half of whom shall be members of the same political party, to perform their duties at any precinct in any election. The board may appoint additional officials, equally divided between the two major political parties, when necessary to expedite voting. If the board of elections determines that four precinct election officials are not required in a precinct for a special election, the board of elections may select two of the precinct's election officers, who are not members of the same political party, to serve as the precinct election officials for that precinct in that special election.

Vacancies for unexpired terms shall be filled by the board. When new precincts have been created, the board shall appoint precinct election officials for those precincts for the unexpired term. Any precinct election official may be summarily removed from office at any time by the board for neglect of duty, malfeasance, or misconduct in office or for any other good and sufficient reason.

Precinct election officials shall perform all of the duties provided by law for receiving the ballots and supplies, opening and closing the polls, and overseeing the casting of ballots during the time the polls are open, and any other duties required by section 3501.26 of the Revised Code.

A board of elections may designate two precinct election officials as counting officials to count and tally the votes cast and certify the results of the election at each precinct, and perform other duties as provided by law. To expedite the counting of votes at each precinct, the board may appoint additional officials, not more than one-half of whom shall be members of the same political party.

Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(2) of this section, the board shall designate one of the precinct election officials who is a member of the dominant political party to serve as a voting location manager, whose duty it is to deliver the returns of the election and all supplies to the office of the board. For these services, the voting location manager shall receive additional compensation in an amount, consistent with section 3501.28 of the Revised Code, determined by the board of elections.

The board shall issue to each precinct election official a certificate of appointment, which the official shall present to the voting location manager at the time the polls are opened.

(2) If the board of elections, by a vote of at least three members of the board, opts to have a single voting location serve more than one precinct, the board may do any of the following:

(a) Designate a single voting location manager for the voting location. The voting location manager shall be a member of the political party whose candidate received the highest number of votes for governor at the most recent general election for that office in the precincts whose polling places are located at the applicable voting location, when tallying the combined vote for governor in all such precincts.

(b) Combine the pollbooks for those precincts to create a single pollbook for the voting location;

(c) If electronic pollbooks are being used in the voting location, as described in section 3506.021 of the Revised Code, appoint not less than two precinct election officials for each precinct, so long as the board approves the decision to reduce the number of precinct election officials by the affirmative vote of at least three of its members.

(B) If the board of elections determines that not enough qualified electors in a precinct are available to serve as precinct officers, it may appoint persons to serve as precinct officers at a primary, special, or general election who are at least seventeen years of age and are registered to vote in accordance with section 3503.07 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) A board of elections, in conjunction with the board of education of a city, local, or exempted village school district, the governing authority of a community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, or the chief administrator of a nonpublic school may establish a program permitting certain high school students to apply and, if appointed by the board of elections, to serve as precinct officers at a primary, special, or general election.

In addition to the requirements established by division (C)(2) of this section, a board of education, governing authority, or chief administrator that establishes a program under this division in conjunction with a board of elections may establish additional criteria that students shall meet to be eligible to participate in that program.

(2)(a) To be eligible to participate in a program established under division (C)(1) of this section, a student shall be a United States citizen, a resident of the county, and at least seventeen years of age.

(b) Any student applying to participate in a program established under division (C)(1) of this section, as part of the student's application process, shall declare the student's political party affiliation with the board of elections.

(3) No student appointed as a precinct officer pursuant to a program established under division (C)(1) of this section shall be designated as a voting location manager.

(4) Any student participating in a program established under division (C)(1) of this section shall be excused for that student's absence from school on the day of an election at which the student is serving as a precinct officer.

(D) In any precinct with six or more precinct officers, up to two students participating in a program established under division (C)(1) of this section who are under eighteen years of age may serve as precinct officers. Not more than one precinct officer in any given precinct with fewer than six precinct officers shall be under eighteen years of age.

Last updated January 24, 2023 at 3:54 PM

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.

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.

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.

Section 3501.27 | Qualifications of precinct officials.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) All precinct election officials shall complete a program of instruction pursuant to division (B) of this section. No person who has been convicted of a felony or any violation of the election laws, who is unable to read and write the English language readily, or who is a candidate for an office to be voted for by the voters of the precinct in which the person is to serve shall serve as an election officer. A person when appointed as an election officer shall receive from the board of elections a certificate of appointment that may be revoked at any time by the board for good and sufficient reasons. The certificate shall be in the form the board prescribes and shall specify the precinct, ward, or district in and for which the person to whom it is issued is appointed to serve, the date of appointment, and the expiration of the person's term of service.

(B) Each board shall establish a program as prescribed by the secretary of state for the instruction of election officers in the rules, procedures, and law relating to elections. In each program, the board shall use training materials prepared by the secretary of state and may use additional materials prepared by or on behalf of the board. The board may use the services of unpaid volunteers in conducting its program and may reimburse those volunteers for necessary and actual expenses incurred in participating in the program.

The board shall train each new election officer before the new officer participates in the first election in that capacity. The board shall instruct election officials who have been trained previously only when the board or secretary of state considers that instruction necessary, but the board shall reinstruct such persons, other than voting location managers, at least once in every three years and shall reinstruct voting location managers before the primary election in even-numbered years. The board shall schedule any program of instruction within sixty days prior to the election in which the officials to be trained will participate.

(C) The duties of a precinct election official in each polling place shall be performed only by an individual who has successfully completed the requirements of the program, unless such an individual is unavailable after reasonable efforts to obtain such services.

(D) The secretary of state shall establish a program for the instruction of members of boards of elections and employees of boards in the rules, procedures, and law relating to elections. Each member and employee shall complete the training program within six months after the member's or employee's original appointment or employment, and thereafter each member and employee shall complete a training program to update their knowledge once every four years or more often as determined by the secretary of state.

(E) The secretary of state shall make grants to the boards of elections to pay the cost of programs established pursuant to division (B) of this section.

Last updated September 22, 2023 at 2:12 PM

Section 3501.28 | Compensation of precinct officials.

• Effective: February 25, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Fair Labor Standards Act" or "Act" means the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938," 52 Stat. 1062, 29 U.S.C.A. 201, as amended.

(2) "Full election day" means the period of time between the opening of the polls and the completion of the procedures contained in section 3501.26 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Services" means services at each general, primary, or special election.

(B) Beginning with calendar year 2004, each precinct election official in a county shall be paid for the official's services at the same hourly rate, which shall be not less than the minimum hourly rate established by the Fair Labor Standards Act and not more than ninety-five dollars per diem.

(C) The secretary of state shall establish, by rule adopted under section 111.15 of the Revised Code, the maximum amount of per diem compensation that may be paid to precinct election officials under this section each time the Fair Labor Standards Act is amended to increase the minimum hourly rate established by the act. Upon learning of such an increase, the secretary of state shall determine by what percentage the minimum hourly rate has been increased under the act and establish a new maximum amount of per diem compensation that precinct election officials may be paid under this section that is increased by the same percentage that the minimum hourly rate has been increased under the act.

(D)(1)(a) No board of elections shall increase the pay of a precinct election official under this section during a calendar year unless the board has given written notice of the proposed increase to the board of county commissioners not later than the first day of October of the preceding calendar year.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in division (D)(2) of this section, a board of elections may increase the pay of a precinct election official during a calendar year by up to, but not exceeding, nine per cent over the compensation paid to a precinct election official in the county where the board is located during the previous calendar year, if the compensation so paid during the previous calendar year was eighty-five dollars or less per diem.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in division (D)(2) of this section, a board of elections may increase the pay of a precinct election official during a calendar year by up to, but not exceeding, four and one-half per cent over the compensation paid to a precinct election official in the county where the board is located during the previous calendar year, if the compensation so paid during the previous calendar year was more than eighty-five but less than ninety-five dollars per diem.

(2) The board of county commissioners may review and comment upon a proposed increase and may enter into a written agreement with a board of elections to permit an increase in the compensation paid to precinct election officials for their services during a calendar year that is greater than the applicable percentage limitation described in division (E)(1)(b) or (c) of this section.

(E) No precinct election official who works less than the full election day shall be paid the maximum amount allowed under this section or the maximum amount as set by the board of elections, whichever is less.

(F)(1) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (F)(4) to (6) of this section, any employee of the state or of any political subdivision of the state may serve as a precinct election official on the day of an election without loss of the employee's regular compensation for that day as follows:

(a) For employees of a county office, department, commission, board, or other entity, or of a court of common pleas, county court, or county-operated municipal court, as defined in section 1901.03 of the Revised Code, the employee's appointing authority may permit leave with pay for this service in accordance with a resolution setting forth the terms and conditions for that leave passed by the board of county commissioners.

(b) For all other employees of a political subdivision of the state, leave with pay for this service shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an ordinance or a resolution passed by the legislative authority of the applicable political subdivision.

(c) For state employees, leave with pay for this service shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth by the head of the state agency, as defined in section 1.60 of the Revised Code, by which the person is employed.

(2) Any terms and conditions set forth by a board of county commissioners, legislative authority of a political subdivision, or head of a state agency under division (G)(1) of this section shall include a standard procedure for deciding which employees are permitted to receive leave with pay if multiple employees of an entity or court described in division (G)(1)(a) of this section, of an entity of a political subdivision described in division (G)(1)(b) of this section, or of a state agency as defined in section 1.60 of the Revised Code apply to serve as a precinct election official on the day of an election. This procedure shall be applied uniformly to all similarly situated employees.

(3) Any employee who is eligible for leave with pay under division (G)(1) of this section shall receive, in addition to the employee's regular compensation, the compensation paid to the precinct election official under division (B) or (C) of this section.

(4) Division (F)(1) of this section does not apply to either of the following:

(a) Election officials;

(b) Public school teachers.

(5) Nothing in division (F)(1) of this section supersedes or negates any provision of a collective bargaining agreement in effect under Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code.

(6) If a board of county commissioners, legislative authority of a political subdivision, or head of a state agency fails to set forth any terms and conditions under division (F)(1) of this section, an employee of an entity or court described in division (F)(1)(a) of this section, of an entity of a political subdivision described in division (F)(1)(b) of this section, or of a state agency as defined in section 1.60 of the Revised Code may use personal leave, vacation leave, or compensatory time, or take unpaid leave, to serve as a precinct election official on the day of an election.

(G) The board of elections may withhold the compensation of any precinct election official for failure to obey the instructions of the board or to comply with the law relating to the duties of a precinct election official. Any payment a precinct election official is entitled to receive under section 3501.36 of the Revised Code is in addition to the compensation the official is entitled to receive under this section.

Section 3501.29 | Polling places.

• Effective: April 7, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 281 (GA 134), House Bill 458 (GA 134)

(A) The board of elections shall provide for each precinct a polling place and provide adequate facilities at each polling place for conducting the election. The board shall provide a sufficient number of screened or curtained voting compartments to which electors may retire and conveniently mark their ballots, protected from the observation of others. Each voting compartment shall be provided at all times with writing implements, instructions how to vote, and other necessary conveniences for marking the ballot. The voting location manager shall ensure that the voting compartments at all times are adequately lighted and contain the necessary supplies. The board shall utilize, in so far as practicable, rooms in public schools and other public buildings for polling places. Upon application of the board of elections, the authority which has the control of any building or grounds supported by taxation under the laws of this state, shall make available the necessary space therein for the purpose of holding elections and adequate space for the storage of voting machines, without charge for the use thereof. A reasonable sum may be paid for necessary janitorial service. When polling places are established in private buildings, the board may pay a reasonable rental therefor, and also the cost of liability insurance covering the premises when used for election purposes, or the board may purchase a single liability policy covering the board and the owners of the premises when used for election purposes. When removable buildings are supplied by the board, they shall be constructed under the contract let to the lowest and best bidder, and the board shall observe all ordinances and regulations then in force as to safety. The board shall remove all such buildings from streets and other public places within thirty days after an election, unless another election is to be held within ninety days.

(B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the board shall ensure all of the following:

(a) That polling places are free of barriers that would impede ingress and egress of persons with disabilities;

(b) That the minimum number of accessible parking locations for persons with mobility disabilities are designated at each polling place in accordance with 28 C.F.R. Part 36, Appendix A, and in compliance with division (E) of section 4511.69 of the Revised Code;

(c) That the entrances of polling places are level or are provided with a nonskid ramp that meets the requirements of the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990," 104 Stat. 327, 42 U.S.C. 12101;

(d) That doors are a minimum of thirty-two inches wide.

(2) Notwithstanding division (B)(1)(a), (c), or (d) of this section, certain polling places may be specifically exempted by the secretary of state upon certification by a board of elections that a good faith, but unsuccessful, effort has been made to modify, or change the location of, such polling places.

(C) The board of elections shall permit any elector with a disability who travels to that elector's polling place, but who is physically unable to enter the polling place, to vote, with the assistance of two polling place officials of major political parties, in the vehicle that conveyed that elector to the polling place, or to receive and cast that elector's ballot at the door of the polling place. Under no other circumstance may an elector vote in a vehicle or at the door of a polling place.

(D) The secretary of state shall:

(1) Work with other state agencies to facilitate the distribution of information and technical assistance to boards of elections to meet the requirements of division (B) of this section;

(2) Work with organizations that represent or provide services to citizens who are elderly or who have disabilities to effect a wide dissemination of information about the availability of absentee voting, voting in the voter's vehicle or at the door of the polling place, or other election services to citizens who are elderly or who have disabilities.

(E) Before the day of an election, the director of the board of elections of each county shall sign a statement verifying that each polling place that will be used in that county at that election meets the requirements of division (B)(1)(b) of this section. The signed statement shall be sent to the secretary of state by certified mail or electronically.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Last updated January 25, 2023 at 10:55 AM

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.

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.

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

Section 3501.31 | Notice of election mailed to precinct officials.

• Effective: February 25, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly

The board of elections shall mail to each precinct election official notice of the date, hours, and place of holding each election in the official's respective precinct at which it desires the official to serve. Each of such officials shall notify the board immediately upon receipt of such notice of any inability to serve.

The election official designated as voting location manager under section 3501.22 of the Revised Code shall call at the office of the board at such time before the day of the election, not earlier than the tenth day before the day of the election, as the board designates to obtain the ballots, pollbooks, registration forms and lists, and other material to be used in the official's polling place on election day.

The board may also provide for the delivery of such materials to polling places in a municipal corporation by members of the police department of such municipal corporation; or the board may provide for the delivery of such materials to the voting location manager not earlier than the tenth day before the election, in any manner it finds to be advisable.

On election day the precinct election officials shall punctually attend the polling place one-half hour before the time fixed for opening the polls. Each of the precinct election officials shall thereupon make and subscribe to a statement which shall be as follows:

"State of Ohio

County of _______________

I do solemnly swear under the penalty of perjury that I will support the constitution of the United States of America and the constitution of the state of Ohio and its laws; that I have not been convicted of a felony or any violation of the election laws; that I will discharge to the best of my ability the duties of precinct election official in and for precinct ____________________ in the ____________________ (township) or (ward and city or village) ____________________ in the county of ____________________, in the election to be held on the __________ day of _______________, _____, as required by law and the rules and instructions of the board of elections of said county; and that I will endeavor to prevent fraud in such election, and will report immediately to said board any violations of the election laws which come to my attention, and will not disclose any information as to how any elector voted which is gained by me in the discharge of my official duties.

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

(Signatures of precinct election officials)"

If any of the other precinct election officials is absent at that time, the voting location manager, with the concurrence of a majority of the precinct election officials present, shall appoint a qualified elector who is a member of the same political party as the political party of which such absent precinct election official is a member to fill the vacancy until the board appoints a person to fill such vacancy and the person so appointed reports for duty at the polling place. The voting location manager shall promptly notify the board of such vacancy by telephone or otherwise. The voting location manager also shall assign the precinct election officials to their respective duties and shall have general charge of the polling place.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Section 3501.38 | General rules for petitions and declarations of candidacy.

• Effective: April 6, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 463 - 131st General Assembly

All declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, or other petitions presented to or filed with the secretary of state or a board of elections or with any other public office for the purpose of becoming a candidate for any nomination or office or for the holding of an election on any issue shall, in addition to meeting the other specific requirements prescribed in the sections of the Revised Code relating to them, be governed by the following rules:

(A) Only electors qualified to vote on the candidacy or issue which is the subject of the petition shall sign a petition. Each signer shall be a registered elector pursuant to section 3503.01 of the Revised Code. The facts of qualification shall be determined as of the date when the petition is filed.

(B) Signatures shall be affixed in ink. Each signer may also print the signer's name, so as to clearly identify the signer's signature.

(C) Each signer shall place on the petition after the signer's name the date of signing and the location of the signer's voting residence, including the street and number if in a municipal corporation or the rural route number, post office address, or township if outside a municipal corporation. The voting address given on the petition shall be the address appearing in the registration records at the board of elections.

(D) Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, no person shall write any name other than the person's own on any petition. Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, no person may authorize another to sign for the person. If a petition contains the signature of an elector two or more times, only the first signature shall be counted.

(E)(1) On each petition paper, the circulator shall indicate the number of signatures contained on it, and shall sign a statement made under penalty of election falsification that the circulator witnessed the affixing of every signature, that all signers were to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief qualified to sign, and that every signature is to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief the signature of the person whose signature it purports to be or of an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code. On the circulator's statement for a declaration of candidacy or nominating petition for a person seeking to become a statewide candidate or for a statewide initiative or a statewide referendum petition, the circulator shall identify the circulator's name, the address of the circulator's permanent residence, and the name and address of the person employing the circulator to circulate the petition, if any.

(2) As used in division (E) of 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.

(F) Except as otherwise provided in section 3501.382 of the Revised Code, if a circulator knowingly permits an unqualified person to sign a petition paper or permits a person to write a name other than the person's own on a petition paper, that petition paper is invalid; otherwise, the signature of a person not qualified to sign shall be rejected but shall not invalidate the other valid signatures on the paper.

(G) The circulator of a petition may, before filing it in a public office, strike from it any signature the circulator does not wish to present as a part of the petition.

(H) Any signer of a petition or an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code on behalf of a signer may remove the signer's signature from that petition at any time before the petition is filed in a public office by striking the signer's name from the petition; no signature may be removed after the petition is filed in any public office.

(I)(1) No alterations, corrections, or additions may be made to a petition after it is filed in a public office.

(2)(a) No declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, or other petition for the purpose of becoming a candidate may be withdrawn after it is filed in a public office. Nothing in this division prohibits a person from withdrawing as a candidate as otherwise provided by law.

(b) No petition presented to or filed with the secretary of state, a board of elections, or any other public office for the purpose of the holding of an election on any question or issue may be resubmitted after it is withdrawn from a public office or rejected as containing insufficient signatures. Nothing in this division prevents a question or issue petition from being withdrawn by the filing of a written notice of the withdrawal by a majority of the members of the petitioning committee with the same public office with which the petition was filed prior to the sixtieth day before the election at which the question or issue is scheduled to appear on the ballot.

(J) All declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, or other petitions under this section shall be accompanied by the following statement in boldface capital letters: WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE.

(K) All separate petition papers shall be filed at the same time, as one instrument.

(L) If a board of elections distributes for use a petition form for a declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, or any type of question or issue petition that does not satisfy the requirements of law as of the date of that distribution, the board shall not invalidate the petition on the basis that the petition form does not satisfy the requirements of law, if the petition otherwise is valid. Division (L) of this section applies only if the candidate received the petition from the board within ninety days of when the petition is required to be filed.

(M)(1) Upon receiving an initiative petition, or a petition filed under section 307.94 or 307.95 of the Revised Code, concerning a ballot issue that is to be submitted to the electors of a county or municipal political subdivision, the board of elections shall examine the petition to determine:

(a) Whether the petition falls within the scope of a municipal political subdivision's authority to enact via initiative, including, if applicable, the limitations placed by Sections 3 and 7 of Article XVIII of the Ohio Constitution on the authority of municipal corporations to adopt local police, sanitary, and other similar regulations as are not in conflict with general laws, and whether the petition satisfies the statutory prerequisites to place the issue on the ballot. The petition shall be invalid if any portion of the petition is not within the initiative power; or

(b) Whether the petition falls within the scope of a county's authority to enact via initiative, including whether the petition conforms to the requirements set forth in Section 3 of Article X of the Ohio Constitution, including the exercise of only those powers that have vested in, and the performance of all duties imposed upon counties and county officers by law, and whether the petition satisfies the statutory prerequisites to place the issue on the ballot. The finding of the board shall be subject to challenge by a protest filed pursuant to division (B) of section 307.95 of the Revised Code.

(2) After making a determination under division (M)(1)(a) or (b) of this section, the board of elections shall promptly transmit a copy of the petition and a notice of the board's determination to the office of the secretary of state. Notice of the board's determination shall be given to the petitioners and the political subdivision.

(3) If multiple substantially similar initiative petitions are submitted to multiple boards of elections and the determinations of the boards under division (M)(1)(a) or (b) of this section concerning those petitions differ, the secretary of state shall make a single determination under division (M)(1)(a) or (b) of this section that shall apply to each such initiative petition.

Last updated October 25, 2023 at 3:55 PM

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.

Section 3501.382 | Attorney in fact may sign for disabled voter.

• Effective: June 1, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly

(A)(1) A registered voter who, by reason of disability, is unable to physically sign the voter's name as a candidate, signer, or circulator on a declaration of candidacy and petition, nominating petition, other petition, or other document under Title XXXV of the Revised Code may authorize a legally competent resident of this state who is eighteen years of age or older as an attorney in fact to sign that voter's name to the petition or other election document, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence, in accordance with either of the following procedures:

(a) The voter may file with the board of elections of the voter's county of residence a notarized form that includes or has attached all of the following:

(i) The name of the voter who is authorizing an attorney in fact to sign petitions or other election documents on that voter's behalf, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence;

(ii) An attestation of the voter that the voter, by reason of disability, is unable to sign physically petitions or other election documents and that the voter desires the attorney in fact to sign them on the voter's behalf, at the direction of the voter and in the voter's presence;

(iii) The name, residence address, date of birth, and, if applicable, Ohio supreme court registration number of the attorney in fact authorized to sign on the voter's behalf, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence. A photocopy of the attorney in fact's driver's license or state identification card issued under section 4507.50 of the Revised Code shall be attached to the notarized form.

(iv) The form of the signature that the attorney in fact will use in signing petitions or other election documents on the voter's behalf, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence.

(b) The voter may acknowledge, before an election official, and file with the board of elections of the voter's county of residence a form that includes or has attached all of the following:

(i) The name of the voter who is authorizing an attorney in fact to sign petitions or other election documents on that voter's behalf, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence;

(ii) An attestation of the voter that the voter, by reason of disability, is physically unable to sign petitions or other election documents and that the voter desires the attorney in fact to sign them on the voter's behalf, at the direction of the voter and in the voter's presence;

(iii) An attestation from a licensed physician that the voter is disabled and, by reason of that disability, is physically unable to sign petitions or other election documents;

(iv) The name, residence address, date of birth, and, if applicable, Ohio supreme court registration number of the attorney in fact authorized to sign on the voter's behalf, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence. A photocopy of the attorney in fact's driver's license or state identification card issued under section 4507.50 of the Revised Code shall be attached to the notarized form.

(v) The form of the signature that the attorney in fact will use in signing petitions or other election documents on the voter's behalf, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence.

(2) In addition to performing customary notarial acts with respect to the power of attorney form described in division (A)(1)(a) of this section, the notary public shall acknowledge that the voter in question affirmed in the presence of the notary public the information listed in divisions (A)(1)(a)(i), (ii), and (iii) of this section. A notary public shall not perform any notarial acts with respect to such a power of attorney form unless the voter first gives such an affirmation. Only a notary public satisfying the requirements of section 147.01 of the Revised Code may perform notarial acts with respect to such a power of attorney form.

(B) A board of elections that receives a form under division (A)(1) of this section from a voter shall do both of the following:

(1) Use the signature provided in accordance with division (A)(1)(a)(iv) or (A)(1)(b)(v) of this section for the purpose of verifying the voter's signature on all declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, other petitions, or other documents signed by that voter under Title XXXV of the Revised Code;

(2) Cause the poll list or signature pollbook for the relevant precinct to identify the voter in question as having authorized an attorney in fact to sign petitions or other election documents on the voter's behalf, at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence.

(C) Notwithstanding division (D) of section 3501.38 or any other provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, an attorney in fact authorized to sign petitions or other election documents on a disabled voter's behalf, at the direction of and in the presence of that voter, in accordance with division (A) of this section may sign that voter's name to any petition or other election document under Title XXXV of the Revised Code after the power of attorney has been filed with the board of elections in accordance with division (A)(1) of this section. The signature shall be deemed to be that of the disabled voter, and the voter shall be deemed to be the signer.

(D)(1) Notwithstanding division (F) of section 3501.38 or any other provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, the circulator of a petition may knowingly permit an attorney in fact to sign the petition on a disabled voter's behalf, at the direction of and in the presence of that voter, in accordance with division (A)(1) of this section.

(2) Notwithstanding division (F) of section 3501.38 or any other provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, no petition paper shall be invalidated on the ground that the circulator knowingly permitted an attorney in fact to write a name other than the attorney in fact's own name on a petition paper, if that attorney in fact signed the petition on a disabled voter's behalf, at the direction of and in the presence of that voter, in accordance with division (C) of this section.

(E) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form and content of the form for the power of attorney prescribed under division (A)(1) of this section and also shall prescribe the form and content of a distinct form to revoke such a power of attorney.

(F) As used in this section, "unable to physically sign" means that the person with a disability cannot comply with the provisions of section 3501.011 of the Revised Code. A person is not "unable to physically sign" if the person is able to comply with section 3501.011 through reasonable accommodation, including the use of assistive technology or augmentative devices.

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.

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.

Section 3501.90 | Civil action by elector for harassment.

• Effective: June 1, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Harassment in violation of the election law" means either of the following:

(a) Any of the following types of conduct in or about a polling place or a place of registration or election: obstructing access of an elector to a polling place; another improper practice or attempt tending to obstruct, intimidate, or interfere with an elector in registering or voting at a place of registration or election; molesting or otherwise engaging in violence against observers in the performance of their duties at a place of registration or election; or participating in a riot, violence, tumult, or disorder in and about a place of registration or election;

(b) A violation of division (A)(1), (2), (3), or (5) or division (B) of section 3501.35 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Person" has the same meaning as in division (C) of section 1.59 of the Revised Code and also includes any organization that is not otherwise covered by that division.

(3) "Trier of fact" means the jury or, in a nonjury action, the court.

(B) An elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law has a cause of action against each person that committed the harassment in violation of the election law. In any civil action based on this cause of action, the elector may seek a declaratory judgment, an injunction, or other appropriate equitable relief. The civil action may be commenced by an elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law either alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23.

(C)(1) In addition to the equitable relief authorized by division (B) of this section, an elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law may be entitled to relief under division (C)(2) or (3) of this section.

(2) If the harassment in violation of the election law involved intentional or reckless threatening or causing of bodily harm to the elector while the elector was attempting to register to vote, to obtain an absent voter's ballot, or to vote, the elector may seek, in a civil action based on the cause of action created by division (B) of this section, monetary damages as prescribed in this division. The civil action may be commenced by the elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law either alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23. Upon proof by a preponderance of the evidence in the civil action that the harassment in violation of the election law involved intentional or reckless threatening or causing of bodily harm to the elector, the trier of fact shall award the elector the greater of three times of the amount of the elector's actual damages or one thousand dollars. The court also shall award a prevailing elector reasonable attorney's fees and court costs.

(3) Whether a civil action on the cause of action created by division (B) of this section is commenced by an elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23, if the defendant in the action is an organization that has previously been determined in a court of this state to have engaged in harassment in violation of the election law, the elector may seek an order of the court granting any of the following forms of relief upon proof by a preponderance of the evidence:

(a) Divestiture of the organization's interest in any enterprise or in any real property;

(b) Reasonable restrictions upon the future activities or investments of the organization, including, but not limited to, prohibiting the organization from engaging in any harassment in violation of the election law;

(c) The dissolution or reorganization of the organization;

(d) The suspension or revocation of any license, permit, or prior approval granted to the organization by any state agency;

(e) The revocation of the organization's authorization to do business in this state if the organization is a foreign corporation or other form of foreign entity.

(D) It shall not be a defense in a civil action based on the cause of action created by division (B) of this section, whether commenced by an elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23, that no criminal prosecution was commenced or conviction obtained in connection with the conduct alleged to be the basis of the civil action.

(E) In a civil action based on the cause of action created by division (B) of this section, whether commenced by an elector who has experienced harassment in violation of the election law alone or as a party to a class action under Civil Rule 23, the elector may name as defendants each individual who engaged in conduct constituting harassment in violation of the election law as well as any person that employs, sponsors, or uses as an agent any such individual or that has organized a common scheme to cause harassment in violation of the election law.