Laws governing local ballot measures in Ohio

Laws Governing Local Ballot Measures

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Terms

Initiative • Home rule • General law city • Charter city • Petition • Initiative petition circulation periods • Circulator • Paid circulator • Volunteer circulator • Circulator affidavit • Signer • Valid signature • Forged signature • Fraudulent signature • Invalid signature • Electronic petition signature • Legislative alteration • Registered voter

This page describes the state constitutional provisions and statutes that govern local ballot measures in Ohio. Jurisdictions often establish additional rules within the parameters of state law; those can be found in local ordinances and home-rule charters.

Explore the links below for more information:

• Laws addressing local ballot measure powers in Ohio
• General requirements for local ballot measures
• Rules for citizen-initiated local ballot measures
• Rules for referred local ballot measures

Law

The Ohio Constitution and Ohio Revised Code establish the rules that govern local ballot measures in the state.

• Constitution:
  • Article II, Ohio Constitution
  • Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution
  • Article X, Ohio Constitution
  • Article XII, Ohio Constitution
  • Article VI, Ohio Constitution
• Statute:
  • Revised Code Chapter 731
  • Revised Code Chapter 3501-3511
  • Revised Code Chapter 133
  • Revised Code Chapter 5705
  • Revised Code Chapter 3311-3313

General

The following outlines the general rules that govern local ballot measures in Ohio, including both citizen-initiated measures and referred measures from local government bodies.

• Vote requirements:
  • Most local ballot measures require a simple majority vote.

• Required ballot measures: Ohio state law requires voter approval for:
  • Municipal and charter amendments.
  • County charters.
  • Municipal or county taxes.
  • School bonds and taxes.
  • Bonds for counties, cities, villages, and districts.

Initiatives

The following outlines the general rules that govern local citizen-initiated ballot measures in Ohio.

• Authority: Article II and Article XVIII of the Ohio Constitution provides for the local initiative process. Under the constitution, voters in local jurisdictions can initiate ordinances, resolutions, or charter amendments.

• Signatures
  • The signature requirement for local initiatives and referendums is equal to 10% of voters who voted in the last municipal general election.
  • The signature requirement for local charter amendments is 10% of voters who voted in the last gubernatorial election.

• Deadlines:
  • Initiatives (resolutions, ordinances): Signatures must be filed 90 days before the election.
  • Veto referendums: Signatures must be filed within 30 days after the ordinance or resolution was passed.
  • Initiated charter amendments: Signatures must be filed 120 days before the election.

Referrals

The following outlines additional rules that govern local referred ballot measures in Ohio.

• Authority: Local governments can refer the following on the ballot:
  • Charter amendments
  • Municipal ordinances if authorized in the local charter
  • Taxes
  • Bond measures
  • School district bonds or taxes

• Deadlines:
  • Referrals must be certified to the county board of elections at least 90 days before the election.

Laws governing local ballot measures in the U.S.

Laws governing local ballot measures in the United States

As state laws govern ballot measures, the rules are different from state to state. Click on a state below to explore that state's laws on local ballot measures.

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http://ballotpedia.org/Laws_governing_local_ballot_measures_in_STATE

See also

• Laws governing local ballot measures
• Laws governing ballot measures in Ohio
• Local ballot measures, Ohio
• Counties in Ohio

Footnotes

Laws governing ballot measures in the United States

Laws governing ballot measures

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

Changes to laws governing ballot measures

Types of ballot measures

Citizen-initiated ballot measures • Legislatively referred ballot measures • Automatically referred ballot measures • Commission-referred ballot measures • Convention-referred constitutional amendments

Ballot measure policy terms

Glossary of ballot measure policy terms