Ohio Prohibit Taxes on Soft Drinks Initiative (1994)

Ohio Prohibit Taxes on Soft Drinks Initiative
Election date November 8, 1994
Topic Food and beverage taxes and Food policy
Status Approved
Type Initiated constitutional amendment	Origin Citizens

Ohio Prohibit Taxes on Soft Drinks Initiative was on the ballot as an initiated constitutional amendment in Ohio on November 8, 1994. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported prohibiting wholesale and retail taxes on soft drinks and carbonated nonalcoholic beverages.

A "no" vote opposed prohibiting wholesale and retail taxes on soft drinks and carbonated nonalcoholic beverages.

Election results

Ohio Prohibit Taxes on Soft Drinks Initiative
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		2,228,874	66.42%
No		1,126,728	33.58%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Prohibit Taxes on Soft Drinks Initiative was as follows:

“

To amend Article XII of the Ohio Constitution by the addition of Section 13. Current Section 3(C) of Article XII prohibits taxes on the sale or purchase of food for human consumption off the premises where sold, the amendment would expand the current restrictions by: Prohibiting the current wholesale tax on soft drinks and other carbonated, nonalcoholic beverages. Prohibiting enactment of a wholesale tax on the sale or purchase of soft drinks, carbonated, nonalcoholic beverages, or food for human consumption, or their ingredients or packaging. Prohibiting enactment of a tax on the sale to or purchase by a manufacturer, processor, packager, or reseller of soft drinks, carbonated, nonalcoholic beverages, or food for human consumption, or their ingredients or packaging. Prohibiting enactment of retail taxes on packaging that contains soft drinks, other carbonated, nonalcoholic beverages, or food for human consumption. If adopted, this amendment will be effective 30 days after adoption. Shall the proposed amendment be adopted?

”

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

1994 Measures

• 1994 Measures
• Food policy on the ballot
• Food and beverage taxes on the ballot
• 1994 legislative sessions

Ohio

• Ohio ballot measures
• Ohio ballot measure laws

News and analysis

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

External links

• Cleveland State University Law Library, "Ohio Constitution - Law and History: Table of Proposed Amendments," June 2, 2023