No measures slated for November ballot in Ohio

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July 3, 2014

By Brittany Clingen

Ohio

For the first time since 2010, Ohioans will have no ballot measures to vote on come the general election in November. Thirteen measures were proposed at various points in time, with only five of these still in the running as of July 2, 2014, the state's filing deadline for initiative signatures. The secretary of state's office confirmed that no ballot measure campaigns submitted signatures by the prescribed due date.

Since signatures have an exceptionally long shelf life in Ohio, 2014 marks, in several cases, initiatives' third and fourth attempts at the ballot. Proponents of both the Ohio Personhood Initiative and the Ohio Same-Sex Marriage Amendment have been attempting to land their measures on statewide ballots since 2012, and they will likely continue their efforts in the future. Supporters of a measure seeking to nullify the 2012 Ohio Cannabis Prohibition Act and engender the legalization and regulation of cannabis in the state, having failed to achieve ballot access in 2014, have said they are trying for the ballot yet again in 2016.[1]

Supporters would have needed to submit at least 385,207 valid signatures for amendments and two separate batches of 115,574 each for statutes in order to place their initiatives on the 2014 ballot. Signature requirements are apt to change come 2015 and 2016, as the required number of valid signatures is tied to the most recent gubernatorial election.

Ohio's statewide ballots were not completely devoid of ballot measures in 2014, as voters handily approved Issue 1 during the May 6 primary election. The measure, which immediately took effect upon its approval, provided funding for public infrastructure projects, including improvements to roads and bridges, by allowing the issuance of $1.875 billion in general obligation bonds over the course of 10 years.[2][3]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Responsible Ohioans for Cannabis, "April ’14 Update," April 13, 2014
  2. ↑ Ballot Board, "Certified Ballot Issues for May 2014 Primary Election," accessed March 23, 2014
  3. ↑ Cleveland.com, "Ohio Ballot Board OKs language for state Issue 1, which will ask voters in May to reauthorize capital improvements bond program," February 20, 2014
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