Ohio Issue 6, Casino Approval and Tax Distribution Initiative (2008)

Ohio Issue 6
Election date November 4, 2008
Topic Gambling policy
Status Defeated
Type Initiated constitutional amendment	Origin Citizens

Ohio Issue 6 was on the ballot as an initiated constitutional amendment in Ohio on November 4, 2008. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported authorizing construction of a casino near Southwest Ohio and distributing tax revenue from the casino to all Ohio counties.

A "no" vote opposed authorizing construction of a casino near Southwest Ohio and distributing tax revenue from the casino to all Ohio counties.

Election results

Ohio Issue 6
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		2,092,074	37.64%
No		3,466,574	62.36%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Issue 6 was as follows:

“

To adopt section 6a to Article XV of the Ohio Constitution. This proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution would: Authorize one privately owned casino with a required minimum initial investment of $600 million dollars on a 94-acre site located near the northwest corner of State Route 73 and Interstate 71 in southwest Ohio in Chester Township near Wilmington, Clinton County, Ohio. Require the casino to pay a tax of up to 30% on its gross receipts for gaming less payouts. The taxes are to be used first to pay expenses of regulating and collecting taxes from the casino, then for funding of gambling prevention and treatment programs, and the remainder to be distributed in the amount of 10% to Clinton County and 90% to the remaining counties based on population and to be used at each county’s discretion. Reduce the tax paid by the casino authorized by this amendment to the lesser of the rate taxed on another casino or 25%, in the event another casino is permitted in Ohio in the future. Require that the casino be subject to all other applicable types of taxes that are currently in effect in Ohio. Authorize the casino to conduct any game permitted in the State of Nevada, or any state adjacent to Ohio, including any type of card or table games, slot machines, and electronic gaming devices, except bets on races or sporting events. Only persons age 21 and over would be permitted to place bets. Amounts of bets would not be subject to any limits now or in the future. Days and hours of operation would not be subject to limits. Set aside the application to the casino of all local and state laws and any constitutional provisions that would prohibit the operation of this privately owned casino, including any local zoning law that would prohibit or place restrictions on a casino from operating on the property in question. If approved, this proposed amendment shall take effect 30 days after the election. A “YES” vote means you approve of amending the Ohio Constitution to permit one casino near Wilmington in southwest Ohio. A “NO” vote means you disapprove of amending the Ohio Constitution to permit one casino near Wilmington in southwest Ohio. A majority YES vote is required for the amendment to be adopted. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?

”

Path to the ballot

See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures in Ohio

An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.

In Ohio, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

Ohio also requires initiative sponsors to submit 1,000 signatures with the initial petition application. Ohio has a signature distribution requirement, which requires that signatures be gathered from at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties. Petitioners must gather signatures equal to a minimum of half the total required percentage of the gubernatorial vote in each of the 44 counties. Petitions are allowed to circulate for an indefinite period of time. Signatures are due 125 days prior to the general election that proponents want the initiative on.

See also

2008 Measures

• 2008 Measures
• Gambling policy on the ballot
• 2008 legislative sessions

Ohio

• Ohio ballot measures
• Ohio ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Legislative Reference Bureau, "Proposed Constitutional Amendments, Initiated Legislation, and Laws Challenged by Referendum, Submitted to the Electors," December 7, 2018