Know the petition process BEFORE you sign a petition!

Every day Ohioans are becoming more actively involved in taking new laws passed by the Republican-controlled Ohio House and Senate to the people for our voice and vote at the ballot, as we saw this with the SB5/Issue 2 Referendum that was resoundingly defeated by the people of Ohio in November 2010!

As the 2023 election cycle draws near, there may be a petition coming to your door, available at your post office or local public event for you to consider whether you would like to affix your signature to the petition.  Several petitions are ready for circulating for the November 2020 ballot — please review specific topics below for links and more information.

PETITION PROCESS

INITIAL STEP

Petitioners may begin the initiative process by forming a committee, drafting their initiative and summary, and collecting at least 1,000 signatures of registered voters. (This process is outlined in greater detail in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3519: INITIATIVE; REFERENDUM; as well as the Secretary of State’s website – Legislation & Ballot Issues.) Once petitioners meet the signature requirement, they must submit all materials to the Attorney General’s Office. The office works on two tracks, simultaneously working with boards of election to get signatures verified and evaluating the submitted summary to determine whether it is a fair and truthful representation of the proposed initiative.

PETITION GATHERING

  • Volunteers or paid petition circulators gather signatures
  • Ohio’s Secretary of State validates signatures – petitions sent to counties where signatures collected for verification
  • May continue to collect additional signatures while validation occurs (HB194 stayed this)

A SIGNATURE ON A PETITION IS CONSIDERED VALID IF

  • the signer is a registered Ohio voter – the person may register to vote or complete a name/address change form and sign a petition at the same time;
  • the signer’s name and address is same as what is on file at the Board of Elections;
  • the signer has signed his/her own name – other information required may be completed by the signature collector; family members cannot sign for other family members (i.e. wives for husbands, parents for of-age children)
  • the signer signs the petition designated for his/her county
  • the date is correct when signature was collected

Here is a brief description of the types of issues campaigns permitted under Ohio law via citizens actions:

1.  Referendum

  • A referendum is a process to stay a law recently enacted by the general assembly and signed into law by the Governor until the law itself can be submitted to the voters for approval or rejection at a general election.  Matters not subject to referendum are (1) laws providing for tax levies, (2) appropriations for the current expenses of the state government and state institutions, and (3) emergency laws necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety. Ohio Constitution Article II, Section 1d.
  • The Governor’s Percentage Chart (pdf) outlines the number of signatures needed for statewide ballot issue. These numbers are based on turnout in the most recent gubernatorial election – November 2022.
  • Required to collect the valid signatures in at least 44 out of the 88 Ohio counties (3%  of voters who cast ballots for the office of governor in that county in the last Gubernatorial election).
  • For more details:  Ohio Secretary of State’s website:  Putting an Issue on the Ballot

2.  Initiated – Constitutional Amendment

  • If a citizen feels that an issue he or she feels strongly about is not addressed properly (or at all) in the Ohio Constitution, they can follow the procedures outlined in the Ohio Constitution and Revised Code (below) to submit a proposed constitutional amendment to the people of Ohio for a statewide vote.
  • The Governor’s Percentage Chart (pdf) outlines the number of signatures needed for statewide ballot issue, has been updated and is now available online here. These numbers are based on turnout in the most recent gubernatorial election – November 2022.
  • Required to collect valid signatures in at least 44 out of the 88 Ohio counties (5% of voters who cast ballots for the office of governor in that county in the last Gubernatorial election).
  • For more details:  Ohio Secretary of State’s website:  Putting an Issue on the Ballot

3.  Initiated Statute

  • If a citizen feels that an issue s/he feels strongly about is not addressed properly (or at all) in the Ohio Revised Code, s/he can follow the procedures outlined in the Ohio Constitution and Revised Code to submit a proposed law (statute) to the people of Ohio for a statewide vote
  • Required to collect valid signatures statewide TWICE if legislature doesn’t act when initial valid signatures are submitted.  The Governor’s Percentage Chart (pdf) outlines the number of signatures needed for statewide ballot issue. These numbers are based on turnout in the most recent gubernatorial election – November 2022.
  • Required to collect the valid signatures in at least 44 out of the 88 Ohio counties (1.5% of voters who cast ballots for the office of governor in that county in the last Gubernatorial election).
  • For more details:  Ohio Secretary of State’s website:  Putting an Issue on the Ballot

Information above provided in part by ProgressOhio, Brian Rothenberg, Executive Director, and Ohio Secretary of State’s Office website –  Legislation & Ballot Issues

NOTE:

  • This information is not legal advice and should not be relied upon as a sole source of information.
  • Persons must comply with all applicable sections of the Ohio Constitution and the Ohio Revised Code.
  • Persons interested in exercising any of the above citizens options are encouraged to consult legal counsel.