Chapter 3505 | General And Special Election Ballots

Section 3505.01 | Forms of official ballots.

• Effective: July 2, 2010
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 48 - 128th General Assembly

(A)(1) Except as otherwise provided in section 3519.08 of the Revised Code, on the seventieth day before the day of the next general election, the secretary of state shall certify to the board of elections of each county the forms of the official ballots to be used at that general election, together with the names of the candidates to be printed on those ballots whose candidacy is to be submitted to the electors of the entire state. On the seventieth day before a special election to be held on the day specified by division (E) of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code for the holding of a primary election, designated by the general assembly for the purpose of submitting to the voters of the state constitutional amendments proposed by the general assembly, the secretary of state shall certify to the board of elections of each county the forms of the official ballots to be used at that election.

(2) The board of the most populous county in each district comprised of more than one county but less than all of the counties of the state, in which there are candidates whose candidacies are to be submitted to the electors of that district, shall, on the seventieth day before the day of the next general election, certify to the board of each county in the district the names of those candidates to be printed on such ballots.

(3) The board of a county in which the major portion of a subdivision, located in more than one county, is located shall, on the seventieth day before the day of the next general election, certify to the board of each county in which other portions of that subdivision are located the names of candidates whose candidacies are to be submitted to the electors of that subdivision, to be printed on such ballots.

(B) If, subsequently to the seventieth day before and prior to the tenth day before the day of a general election, a certificate is filed with the secretary of state to fill a vacancy caused by the death of a candidate, the secretary of state shall forthwith make a supplemental certification to the board of each county amending and correcting the secretary of state's original certification provided for in the first paragraph of this section. If, within that time, such a certificate is filed with the board of the most populous county in a district comprised of more than one county but less than all of the counties of the state, or with the board of a county in which the major portion of the population of a subdivision, located in more than one county, is located, the board with which the certificate is filed shall forthwith make a supplemental certification to the board of each county in the district or to the board of each county in which other portions of the subdivision are located, amending and correcting its original certification provided for in division (A)(2) or (3) of this section. If, at the time such supplemental certification is received by a board, ballots carrying the name of the deceased candidate have been printed, the board shall cause strips of paper bearing the name of the candidate certified to fill the vacancy to be printed and pasted on those ballots so as to cover the name of the deceased candidate, except that in voting places using marking devices, the board shall cause strips of paper bearing the revised list of candidates for the office, after certification of a candidate to fill the vacancy, to be printed and pasted on the ballot cards so as to cover the names of candidates shown prior to the new certification, before such ballots are delivered to electors.

Section 3505.02 | Former names printed in parentheses on ballot.

• Effective: January 1, 1958
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 501 - 102nd General Assembly

Any former names which have been declared or submitted in accordance with section 3513.06 of the Revised Code shall be printed on the ballot in parentheses directly below the present name of such person. This section applies to both primary and general election ballots.

Section 3505.021 | Candidates with identical given names and surnames.

• Effective: March 23, 1981
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1062 - 113th General Assembly

In the event two or more persons with identical given name and surnames run for the same office in a general or special election on the same ballot, the names of the candidates shall be differentiated on the ballot by varying combinations of first and middle names and initials. Immediately after it becomes known that two or more persons with the same given name and surname are to be candidates on the same ballot for the same office, the director of the board of elections for local, municipal, county, general, or special elections, or the director of the board of elections of the most populous county for district, general, or special elections, or the secretary of state for statewide general and special elections shall notify the persons with identical given name and surnames that the names of such persons will be differentiated on the ballot. If one of the candidates is an incumbent who is a candidate to succeed himself for the office he occupies, he shall have first choice of the name by which he is designated on the ballot. If an incumbent does not make a choice within two days after notification or if none of the candidates is an incumbent, the board of elections within three days after notification shall designate the names by which the candidates are identified on the ballot. In case of a district candidate the board of elections in the most populous county of the district shall make the determination. In case of statewide candidates, or in case any board of elections fails to make a designation within three days after notification, the secretary of state shall immediately make the determination.

"Notification" as required by this section shall be by the clerk of the board of elections or secretary of state by special delivery mail or telegram at the candidate's address listed in his declaration of candidacy or petition of candidacy.

Section 3505.03 | Office type ballots.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 80 - 134th General Assembly

(A) On the office type ballot shall be printed the names of all candidates for election to offices, except the office of judge of a municipal court, county court, or court of common pleas, who were nominated at the most recent primary election as candidates of a political party or who were nominated in accordance with section 3513.02 of the Revised Code, and the names of all candidates for election to offices who were nominated by nominating petitions, except candidates for the office of judge of a municipal court, county court, or court of common pleas, for member of the state board of education, for member of a board of education, for municipal offices, and for township offices.

(B) The face of the ballot below the stub shall be substantially in the following form:

"OFFICIAL OFFICE TYPE BALLOT

(1) To vote for a candidate record your vote in the manner provided next to the name of such candidate.

(2) If you tear, soil, deface, or erroneously mark this ballot, return it to the precinct election officers or, if you cannot return it, notify the precinct election officers, and obtain another ballot."

(C) The order in which the offices shall be listed on the ballot shall be prescribed by, and certified to each board of elections by, the secretary of state; provided that for state, district, and county offices the order from top to bottom shall be as follows: governor and lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor of state, secretary of state, treasurer of state, chief justice of the supreme court, justice of the supreme court, United States senator, representative to congress, state senator, state representative, judge of a court of appeals, county commissioner, county auditor, prosecuting attorney, clerk of the court of common pleas, sheriff, county recorder, county treasurer, county engineer, and coroner. The offices of governor and lieutenant governor shall be printed on the ballot in a manner that requires a voter to cast one vote jointly for the candidates who have been nominated by the same political party or petition.

(D) Within the rectangular space within which the title of each judicial office listed in division (C) of this section is printed on the ballot and immediately below the title shall be printed the date of the commencement of the term of the office, if it is a full term, as follows: "Full term commencing _______(Date)_______," or the date of the end of the term of the office, if it is an unexpired term, as follows: "Unexpired term ending _______(Date)________"

(E)(1) The names of all candidates for an office shall be arranged in a group under the title of that office, and, except for absentee ballots or when the number of candidates for a particular office is the same as the number of candidates to be elected for that office, shall be rotated from one precinct to another. On absentee ballots, the names of all candidates for an office shall be arranged in a group under the title of that office and shall be so alternated that each name shall appear, insofar as may be reasonably possible, substantially an equal number of times at the beginning, at the end, and in each intermediate place, if any, of the group in which such name belongs, unless the number of candidates for a particular office is the same as the number of candidates to be elected for that office.

(2) The method of printing the ballots to meet the rotation requirement of this section shall be as follows: the least common multiple of the number of names in each of the several groups of candidates shall be used, and the number of changes made in the printer's forms in printing the ballots shall correspond with that multiple. The board of elections shall number all precincts in regular serial sequence. In the first precinct, the names of the candidates in each group shall be listed in alphabetical order. In each succeeding precinct, the name in each group that is listed first in the preceding precinct shall be listed last, and the name of each candidate shall be moved up one place. In each precinct using paper ballots, the printed ballots shall then be assembled in tablets.

(F) Under the name of each candidate nominated at a primary election, nominated by petition under section 3517.012 of the Revised Code, or certified by a party committee to fill a vacancy under section 3513.31 of the Revised Code shall be printed, in less prominent type face than that in which the candidate's name is printed, the name of the political party by which the candidate was nominated or certified. Under the name of each candidate appearing on the ballot who filed a nominating petition and requested a ballot designation as a nonparty candidate under section 3513.257 of the Revised Code shall be printed, in less prominent type face than that in which the candidate's name is printed, the designation of "nonparty candidate." Under the name of each candidate appearing on the ballot who filed a nominating petition and requested a ballot designation as an other-party candidate under section 3513.257 of the Revised Code shall be printed, in less prominent type face than that in which the candidate's name is printed, the designation of "other-party candidate." No designation shall appear under the name of a candidate appearing on the ballot who filed a nominating petition and requested that no ballot designation appear under the candidate's name under section 3513.257 of the Revised Code, or who filed a nominating petition and failed to request a ballot designation either as a nonparty candidate or as an other-party candidate under that section.

(G) Except as provided in this section, no words, designations, or emblems descriptive of a candidate or the candidate's political affiliation, or indicative of the method by which the candidate was nominated or certified, shall be printed under or after a candidate's name that is printed on the ballot.

Last updated July 14, 2021 at 11:09 AM

Section 3505.04 | Nonpartisan ballot.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 80 - 134th General Assembly

On the nonpartisan ballot shall be printed the names of all nonpartisan candidates for election to the office of judge of a municipal court, county court, or court of common pleas, the office of member of the state board of education, the office of member of a board of education, municipal or township offices for municipal corporations and townships in which primary elections are not held for nomination of candidates by political parties, and municipal offices of municipal corporations having charters which provide for separate ballots for elections for such municipal offices.

Such ballots shall have printed across the top, and below the stubs, "Official Nonpartisan Ballot."

The order in which the offices are listed on the ballot shall be prescribed by, and certified to each board of elections by, the secretary of state; provided that the office of member of the state board of education shall be listed first on the ballot, then county judicial offices, followed by municipal and township offices, and by offices of member of a board of education, in the order stated.

Within the rectangular space within which the title of each judicial office is printed on the ballot and immediately below such title shall be printed the date of the commencement of the term of the office, if a full term, as follows: "Full term commencing _______(Date)_______," or the date of the end of the term of the office, if an unexpired term, as follows: "Unexpired term ending _______(Date)________"

The secretary of state shall prescribe the information and directions to the voter to be printed on the ballot within the rectangular space in which the title of office of member of the state board of education appears.

Within the rectangular space within which the title of each office for member of a board of education is printed on the ballot shall be printed "For Member of Board of Education," and the number to be elected, directions to the voter as to voting for one, two, or more, and, if the office to be voted for is member of a board of education of a city school district, words shall be printed in said space on the ballot to indicate whether candidates are to be elected from subdistricts or at large.

The names of all nonpartisan candidates for an office shall be arranged in a group under the title of that office, and shall be rotated and printed on the ballot as provided in section 3505.03 of the Revised Code.

No name or designation of any political party nor any words, designations, or emblems descriptive of a candidate or the candidate's political affiliation, or indicative of the method by which such candidate was nominated or certified, shall be printed under or after any nonpartisan candidate's name which is printed on the ballot.

Last updated July 14, 2021 at 11:09 AM

Section 3505.06 | Questions and issues ballot.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 98 - 135th General Assembly

(A) On the questions and issues ballot shall be printed all questions and issues to be submitted at any one election together with the percentage of affirmative votes necessary for passage as required by law. Such ballot shall have printed across the top thereof, and below the stubs, "Official Questions and Issues Ballot."

(B)(1) Questions and issues shall be grouped together on the ballot from top to bottom as provided in division (B)(1) of this section, except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of this section. State questions and issues shall always appear as the top group of questions and issues. In calendar year 1997, the following questions and issues shall be grouped together on the ballot, in the following order from top to bottom, after the state questions and issues:

(a) County questions and issues;

(b) Municipal questions and issues;

(c) Township questions and issues;

(d) School or other district questions and issues.

In each succeeding calendar year after 1997, each group of questions and issues described in division (B)(1)(a) to (d) of this section shall be moved down one place on the ballot except that the group that was last on the ballot during the immediately preceding calendar year shall appear at the top of the ballot after the state questions and issues. The rotation shall be performed only once each calendar year, beginning with the first election held during the calendar year. The rotation of groups of questions and issues shall be performed during each calendar year as required by division (B)(1) of this section, even if no questions and issues from any one or more such groups appear on the ballot at any particular election held during that calendar year.

(2) Questions and issues shall be grouped together on the ballot, from top to bottom, in the following order when it is not practicable to group them together as required by division (B)(1) of this section because of the type of voting machines used by the board of elections: state questions and issues, county questions and issues, municipal questions and issues, township questions and issues, and school or other district questions and issues. The particular order in which each of a group of state questions or issues is placed on the ballot shall be determined by, and certified to each board of elections by, the secretary of state.

(3) Failure of the board of elections to rotate questions and issues as required by division (B)(1) of this section does not affect the validity of the election at which the failure occurred, and is not grounds for contesting an election under section 3515.08 of the Revised Code.

(C) The particular order in which each of a group of county, municipal, township, or school district questions or issues is placed on the ballot shall be determined by the board providing the ballots.

(D) The printed matter pertaining to each question or issue on the ballot shall be enclosed at the top and bottom thereof by a heavy horizontal line across the width of the ballot. Immediately below such top line shall be printed a brief title descriptive of the question or issue below it, such as "Proposed Constitutional Amendment," "Proposed Bond Issue," "Proposed Annexation of Territory," "Proposed Increase in Tax Rate," or such other brief title as will be descriptive of the question or issue to which it pertains, together with a brief statement of the percentage of affirmative votes necessary for passage, such as "A sixty-five per cent affirmative vote is necessary for passage," "A majority vote is necessary for passage," or such other brief statement as will be descriptive of the percentage of affirmative votes required.

(E) The questions and issues ballot need not contain the full text of the proposal to be voted upon. A condensed text that will properly describe the question, issue, or an amendment proposed by other than the general assembly shall be used as prepared and certified by the secretary of state for state-wide questions or issues or by the board for local questions or issues. If other than a full text is used, the full text of the proposed question, issue, or amendment together with the percentage of affirmative votes necessary for passage as required by law shall be posted in each polling place in some spot that is easily accessible to the voters.

(F)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (F)(2) of this section, each question and issue appearing on the questions and issues ballot may be consecutively numbered. The question or issue determined to appear at the top of the ballot may be designated on the face thereof by the Arabic numeral "1" and all questions and issues placed below on the ballot shall be consecutively numbered. Such numeral shall be placed below the heavy top horizontal line enclosing such question or issue and to the left of the brief title thereof.

(2) Beginning with the general election to be held on November 5, 2024, a state question or issue determined to appear at the top of the ballot shall be designated on the face thereof by the Arabic numeral "1" and all state questions and issues placed below on the ballot shall be consecutively numbered. For elections occurring after the general election held on November 5, 2024, a state question or issue determined to appear at the top of the ballot shall be designated on the face thereof by the Arabic numeral that is consecutive to the Arabic numeral of the last state question or issue that appeared on the ballot at the immediately preceding election at which a state question or issue appeared on the ballot and all state questions or issues placed below on the ballot shall be consecutively numbered. Such numeral shall be placed below the heavy top horizontal line enclosing such question or issue and to the left of the brief title thereof. Once a state question or issue appears on the ballot designated by the Arabic numeral "500," the state question or issue appearing at the top of the ballot at the immediately following election at which a state question or issue appears on the ballot shall be designated by the Arabic numeral "1."

(G) No portion of a ballot question proposing to levy a property tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation under any section of the Revised Code, including the renewal or replacement of such a levy, may be printed in boldface type or in a font size that is different from the font size of other text in the ballot question. The prohibitions in division (G) of this section do not apply to printed matter either described in division (D) of this section related to such a ballot question or located in the area of the ballot in which votes are indicated for or against that question.

Last updated August 28, 2024 at 4:40 PM

Section 3505.061 | Ohio ballot board.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The Ohio ballot board, as authorized by Section 1 of Article XVI, Ohio Constitution, shall consist of the secretary of state and four appointed members. No more than two of the appointed members shall be of the same political party. One of the members shall be appointed by the president of the senate, one shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate, one shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives. The appointments shall be made within forty-five days after the commencement of the first regular session of the general assembly in the year in which the appointments are to be made. If any appointment is not so made, the secretary of state, acting in place of the person otherwise required to make the appointment, shall appoint as many qualified members affiliated with the appropriate political party as are necessary.

(B)(1) The initial appointees to the board shall serve until the first Monday in February, 1977. Thereafter, terms of office shall be for four years, each term ending on the first Monday in February. The term of the secretary of state on the board shall coincide with the secretary of state's term of office. Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of this section, division (B)(2) of section 3505.063, and division (B)(2) of section 3519.03 of the Revised Code, each appointed member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Except as otherwise provided in those divisions, any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. Except as otherwise provided in those divisions, any member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office or a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. Any vacancy occurring on the board shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. A member appointed to fill a vacancy shall be of the same political party as that required of the member whom the member replaces.

(2) The term of office of a member of the board who also is a member of the general assembly and who was appointed to the board by the president of the senate, the minority leader of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, or the minority leader of the house of representatives shall end on the earlier of the following dates:

(a) The ending date of the ballot board term for which the member was appointed;

(b) The ending date of the member's term as a member of the general assembly.

(C) Members of the board shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses actually and necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.

(D) The secretary of state shall be the chairperson of the board, and the secretary of state or the secretary of state's representative shall have a vote equal to that of any other member. The vice-chairperson shall act as chairperson in the absence or disability of the chairperson, or during a vacancy in that office. The board shall meet after notice of at least seven days at a time and place determined by the chairperson. At its first meeting, the board shall elect a vice-chairperson from among its members for a term of two years, and it shall adopt rules for its procedures. After the first meeting, the board shall meet at the call of the chairperson or upon the written request of three other members. Three members constitute a quorum. No action shall be taken without the concurrence of three members.

(E) The secretary of state shall provide technical, professional, and clerical employees as necessary for the board to carry out its duties.

Last updated September 6, 2023 at 11:15 AM

Section 3505.062 | Ohio ballot board duties.

• Effective: September 29, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 119 - 127th General Assembly

The Ohio ballot board shall do all of the following:

(A) Examine, within ten days after its receipt, each written initiative petition received from the attorney general under section 3519.01 of the Revised Code to determine whether it contains only one proposed law or constitutional amendment so as to enable the voters to vote on a proposal separately. If the board so determines, it shall certify its approval to the attorney general, who then shall file with the secretary of state in accordance with division (A) of section 3519.01 of the Revised Code a verified copy of the proposed law or constitutional amendment together with its summary and the attorney general's certification of it.

If the board determines that the initiative petition contains more than one proposed law or constitutional amendment, the board shall divide the initiative petition into individual petitions containing only one proposed law or constitutional amendment so as to enable the voters to vote on each proposal separately and certify its approval to the attorney general. If the board so divides an initiative petition and so certifies its approval to the attorney general, the petitioners shall resubmit to the attorney general appropriate summaries for each of the individual petitions arising from the board's division of the initiative petition, and the attorney general then shall review the resubmissions as provided in division (A) of section 3519.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) Prescribe the ballot language for constitutional amendments proposed by the general assembly to be printed on the questions and issues ballot, which language shall properly identify the substance of the proposal to be voted upon;

(C) Prepare an explanation of each constitutional amendment proposed by the general assembly, which explanation may include the purpose and effects of the proposed amendment;

(D) Certify the ballot language and explanation, if any, to the secretary of state no later than seventy-five days before the election at which the proposed question or issue is to be submitted to the voters;

(E) Prepare, or designate a group of persons to prepare, arguments in support of or in opposition to a constitutional amendment proposed by a resolution of the general assembly, a constitutional amendment or state law proposed by initiative petition, or a state law, or section or item of state law, subject to a referendum petition, if the persons otherwise responsible for the preparation of those arguments fail to timely prepare and file them;

(F) Direct the means by which the secretary of state shall disseminate information concerning proposed constitutional amendments, proposed laws, and referenda to the voters;

(G) Direct the secretary of state to contract for the publication in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in the state of the ballot language, explanations, and arguments regarding each of the following:

(1) A constitutional amendment or law proposed by initiative petition under Section 1g of Article II of the Ohio Constitution;

(2) A law, section, or item of law submitted to the electors by referendum petition under Section 1g of Article II of the Ohio Constitution;

(3) A constitutional amendment submitted to the electors by the general assembly under Section 1 of Article XVI of the Ohio Constitution.

Section 3505.063 | Proposed constitutional amendments - official explanation and arguments.

• Effective: September 29, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 119 - 127th General Assembly

(A) When the general assembly adopts a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment, it may, by resolution, designate a group of members who voted in support of the resolution to prepare arguments for the proposed amendment, and a group of members who voted in opposition to the resolution to prepare arguments against the proposed amendment. If no members voted in opposition to the resolution, or if the general assembly chooses not to designate a group of members to prepare arguments for the proposed amendment or chooses not to designate a group of members to prepare arguments against the proposed amendment, the Ohio ballot board shall prepare or designate a group of persons to prepare the relevant arguments. All arguments prepared under this division shall be filed with the secretary of state not later than eighty days before the date of the election. No argument shall exceed three hundred words.

(B)(1) If the group of members of the general assembly or other group of persons designated under division (A) of this section fail to prepare and file their arguments in support of or in opposition to the proposed amendment by the eightieth day before the date of the election, the secretary of state shall notify the Ohio ballot board that those arguments have not been so prepared and filed. The board then shall prepare the missing arguments or designate a group of persons to prepare those arguments. All arguments prepared under this division shall be filed with the secretary of state not later than seventy-five days before the date of the election. No argument shall exceed three hundred words.

(2) If the Ohio ballot board fails to provide for the preparation of missing arguments under division (B)(1) of this section after being notified by the secretary of state that one or more arguments have not been timely prepared and filed, the positions of the four appointed members of the board shall be considered vacant, and new members shall be appointed in the manner provided for original appointments.

Section 3505.07 | Separate ballots for candidates, question, or issue.

• Effective: February 25, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly

(A) If the board of elections, by a unanimous vote of its members, or if the secretary of state, in the secretary of state's sole discretion, finds it impracticable to place the names of candidates for any office of a minor political subdivision in the county or the wording of any question or issue to be voted upon in such minor political subdivision on the ballots under sections 3505.01 to 3505.09 of the Revised Code, then such board may, or at the direction of the secretary of state shall, provide separate ballots for the candidates, question, or issue.

(B) If the secretary of state, in the secretary of state's sole discretion, determines that it is impracticable to place the names of candidates for any office or the wording for any question or issue to be voted upon on the ballot when the candidates, question, issue, or wording for the question or issue was ordered onto the ballot by a court of competent jurisdiction and the ballots have been printed prior to the court order, the board of elections, at the direction of the secretary of state, shall provide separate ballots for the candidates, question, or issue.

(C) All separate ballots provided for in this section shall conform in quality of paper, style of printing, form of ballot, arrangement of names, and in all other ways, in so far as practicable, with the provisions relating to the printing of the general official ballot.

Section 3505.071 | Ballots in joint county school districts.

• Effective: June 29, 1974
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 544 - 110th General Assembly

In the event that a school district extends into one or more counties, upon the filing of any resolution or candidate's petitions in the county containing the most populous portion of the school district, such county board of elections shall, within ten days after such filing, send to all other boards of elections of counties having territory within the school district, notice of such filing. The county containing the most populous portion of the school district shall furnish all ballots for school questions and issues for the school district.

In the event that a regional transit authority includes territory in more than one county, any resolution, petition, or other action providing for a referendum or other election concerning the transit authority shall be filed with the board of elections of the county containing the most populous portion of the regional transit authority, and such board of elections shall, within ten days after such filing, send to the boards of elections of all other counties having territory within the regional transit authority notice of such filing and shall furnish all ballots for such election.

Section 3505.08 | Ballot material - stubs.

• Effective: February 25, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 193, Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly

(A) Ballots shall be provided by the board of elections for all general and special elections. The ballots shall be printed with black ink on No. 2 white book paper fifty pounds in weight per ream assuming such ream to consist of five hundred sheets of such paper twenty-five by thirty-eight inches in size. Each ballot shall have attached at the top two stubs, each of the width of the ballot and not less than one-half inch in length, except that, if the board of elections has an alternate method to account for the ballots that the secretary of state has authorized, each ballot may have only one stub that shall be the width of the ballot and not less than one-half inch in length. In the case of ballots with two stubs, the stubs shall be separated from the ballot and from each other by perforated lines. The top stub shall be known as Stub B and shall have printed on its face "Stub B." The other stub shall be known as Stub A and shall have printed on its face "Stub A." Each stub shall also have printed on its face "Consecutive Number __________"

Each ballot of each kind of ballot provided for use in each precinct shall be numbered consecutively beginning with number 1 by printing such number upon both of the stubs attached to the ballot. On ballots bearing the names of candidates, each candidate's name shall be printed in twelve point boldface upper case type in an enclosed rectangular space, and an enclosed blank rectangular space shall be provided at the left of the candidate's name. The name of the political party of a candidate nominated at a primary election, nominated by petition under section 3517.012 of the Revised Code, or certified by a party committee shall be printed in ten point lightface upper and lower case type and shall be separated by a two point blank space. The name of each candidate shall be indented one space within the enclosed rectangular space, and the name of the political party shall be indented two spaces within the enclosed rectangular space.

The title of each office on the ballots shall be printed in twelve point boldface upper and lower case type in a separate enclosed rectangular space. A four point rule shall separate the name of a candidate or a group of candidates for the same office from the title of the office next appearing below on the ballot; a two point rule shall separate the title of the office from the names of candidates; and a one point rule shall separate names of candidates. Headings shall be printed in display Roman type. When the names of several candidates are grouped together as candidates for the same office, there shall be printed on the ballots immediately below the title of the office and within the separate rectangular space in which the title is printed "Vote for not more than ________," in six point boldface upper and lower case filling the blank space with that number which will indicate the number of persons who may be lawfully elected to the office.

Columns on ballots shall be separated from each other by a heavy vertical border or solid line at least one-eighth of an inch wide, and a similar vertical border or line shall enclose the left and right side of ballots. Ballots shall be trimmed along the sides close to such lines.

The ballots provided for by this section shall be comprised of four kinds of ballots designated as follows: office type ballot; nonpartisan ballot; questions and issues ballot; and presidential ballot.

On the back of each office type ballot shall be printed "Official Office Type Ballot;" on the back of each nonpartisan ballot shall be printed "Official Nonpartisan Ballot;" on the back of each questions and issues ballot shall be printed "Official Questions and Issues Ballot;" and on the back of each presidential ballot shall be printed "Official Presidential Ballot." At the end of every ballot also shall be printed the date of the election at which the ballot is used and the facsimile signatures of the members of the board of the county in which the ballot is used. For the purpose of identifying the kind of ballot, the back of every ballot may be numbered in the order the board shall determine. The numbers shall be printed in not less than thirty-six point type above the words "Official Office Type Ballot," "Official Nonpartisan Ballot," "Official Questions and Issues Ballot," or "Official Presidential Ballot," as the case may be. A ballot box bearing corresponding numbers shall be furnished for each precinct in which the above-described numbered ballots are used.

On the back of every ballot used, there shall be a solid black line printed opposite the blank rectangular space that is used to mark the choice of the voter. This line shall be printed wide enough so that the mark in the blank rectangular space will not be visible from the back side of the ballot.

Sample ballots may be printed by the board of elections for all general elections. The ballots shall be printed on colored paper, and "Sample Ballot" shall be plainly printed in boldface type on the face of each ballot. In counties of less than one hundred thousand population, the board may print not more than five hundred sample ballots; in all other counties, it may print not more than one thousand sample ballots. The sample ballots shall not be distributed by a political party or a candidate, nor shall a political party or candidate cause their title or name to be imprinted on sample ballots.

(B) Notwithstanding division (A) of this section, in approving the form of an official ballot, the secretary of state may authorize the use of fonts, type face settings, and ballot formats other than those prescribed in that division.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Section 3505.09 | Separate ballots for each precinct and district.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In election precincts composed of a township or a part thereof, and a municipal corporation or a part thereof, separate ballots for each precinct shall be provided for all elections, so as to enable electors residing in such precincts to cast their votes for the proper candidates in such precincts. Separate ballots shall be provided for each district portion of each precinct which shall contain the names of the candidates for members of the board of education for whom the electors residing in such district are entitled to vote. In the case of overlapping school districts, the ballots shall be so printed as to plainly identify each district for which candidates are to be chosen.

Section 3505.10 | Presidential ballot.

• Effective: February 5, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 193 - 130th General Assembly

(A) On the presidential ballot below the stubs at the top of the face of the ballot shall be printed "Official Presidential Ballot" centered between the side edges of the ballot. Below "Official Presidential Ballot" shall be printed a heavy line centered between the side edges of the ballot. Below the line shall be printed "Instruction to Voters" centered between the side edges of the ballot, and below those words shall be printed the following instructions:

"(1) To vote for the candidates for president and vice-president whose names are printed below, record your vote in the manner provided next to the names of such candidates. That recording of the vote will be counted as a vote for each of the candidates for presidential elector whose names have been certified to the secretary of state and who are members of the same political party as the nominees for president and vice-president. A recording of the vote for independent candidates for president and vice-president shall be counted as a vote for the presidential electors filed by such candidates with the secretary of state.

(2) To vote for candidates for president and vice-president in the blank space below, record your vote in the manner provided and write the names of your choice for president and vice-president under the respective headings provided for those offices. Such write-in will be counted as a vote for the candidates' presidential electors whose names have been properly certified to the secretary of state.

(3) If you tear, soil, deface, or erroneously mark this ballot, return it to the precinct election officers or, if you cannot return it, notify the precinct election officers, and obtain another ballot."

(B) Below those instructions to the voter shall be printed a single vertical column of enclosed rectangular spaces equal in number to the number of presidential candidates plus one additional space for write-in candidates. Each of those rectangular spaces shall be enclosed by a heavy line along each of its four sides, and such spaces shall be separated from each other by one-half inch of open space.

In each of those enclosed rectangular spaces, except the space provided for write-in candidates, shall be printed the names of the candidates for president and vice-president certified to the secretary of state or nominated in one of the following manners:

(1) Nominated by the national convention of a political party to which delegates and alternates were elected in this state at the next preceding primary election. A political party certifying candidates so nominated shall certify the names of those candidates to the secretary of state on or before the ninetieth day before the day of the general election.

(2) Nominated by nominating petition in accordance with section 3513.257 of the Revised Code. Such a petition shall be filed on or before the ninetieth day before the day of the general election to provide sufficient time to verify the sufficiency and accuracy of signatures on it.

(3) Certified to the secretary of state for placement on the presidential ballot by authorized officials of a minor political party that has held a state or national convention for the purpose of choosing those candidates or that may, without a convention, certify those candidates in accordance with the procedure authorized by its party rules. The officials shall certify the names of those candidates to the secretary of state on or before the ninetieth day before the day of the general election. The certification shall be accompanied by a designation of a sufficient number of presidential electors to satisfy the requirements of law.

The names of candidates for electors of president and vice-president shall not be placed on the ballot, but shall be certified to the secretary of state as required by sections 3513.11 and 3513.257 of the Revised Code. A vote for any candidates for president and vice-president shall be a vote for the electors of those candidates whose names have been certified to the secretary of state.

(C) The arrangement of the printing in each of the enclosed rectangular spaces shall be substantially as follows: Near the top and centered within the rectangular space shall be printed "For President" in ten-point boldface upper and lower case type. Below "For President" shall be printed the name of the candidate for president in twelve-point boldface upper case type. Below the name of the candidate for president shall be printed the name of the political party by which that candidate for president was nominated in eight-point lightface upper and lower case type. Below the name of such political party shall be printed "For Vice-President" in ten-point boldface upper and lower case type. Below "For Vice-President" shall be printed the name of the candidate for vice-president in twelve-point boldface upper case type. Below the name of the candidate for vice-president shall be printed the name of the political party by which that candidate for vice-president was nominated in eight-point lightface upper and lower case type. Except for candidates nominated by petition under section 3517.012 of the Revised Code, no political identification or name of any political party shall be printed below the names of presidential and vice-presidential candidates nominated by petition.

The rectangular spaces on the ballot described in this section shall be rotated and printed as provided in section 3505.03 of the Revised Code.

Section 3505.11 | Quantity of ballots to be provided.

• Effective: August 15, 2012
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 295 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The ballots, with the stubs attached, shall be bound into tablets for each precinct, which tablets shall contain at least one per cent more ballots than the total registration in the precinct, except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section. Upon the covers of the tablets shall be written, printed, or stamped the designation of the precinct for which the ballots have been prepared. All official ballots shall be printed uniformly upon the same kind and quality of paper and shall be of the same shape, size, and type.

Electors who have failed to respond within thirty days to any confirmation notice shall not be counted in determining the number of ballots to be printed under this section.

(B)(1) A board of elections may choose to provide ballots on demand. If a board so chooses, the board shall have prepared for each precinct at least five per cent more ballots for an election than the number specified below for that kind of election:

(a) For a primary election or a special election held on the day of a primary election, the total number of electors in that precinct who voted in the primary election held four years previously;

(b) For a general election or a special election held on the day of a general election, the total number of electors in that precinct who voted in the general election held four years previously;

(c) For a special election held at any time other than on the day of a primary or general election, the total number of electors in that precinct who voted in the most recent primary or general election, whichever of those elections occurred in the precinct most recently.

(2) If, after the board complies with the requirements of division (B)(1) of this section, the election officials of a precinct determine that the precinct will not have enough ballots to enable all the qualified electors in the precinct who wish to vote at a particular election to do so, the officials shall request that the board provide additional ballots, and the board shall provide enough additional ballots, to that precinct in a timely manner so that all qualified electors in that precinct who wish to vote at that election may do so.

Section 3505.12 | Type size and voting instructions.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The board of elections shall cause to be printed in English in twelvepoint type on paper or cardboard instructions as issued by the secretary of state for the guidance of electors in marking their ballots. Such instructions shall inform the voters as to how to prepare the ballots for voting, how to obtain a new ballot in case of accidentally spoiling one, and, in a smaller type, a summary of the important sections of the penal law relating to crimes against the elective franchise. The precinct election officials shall cause to be posted immediately in front of or on the polling place and in each voting shelf one or more of such cards of instructions.

Section 3505.13 | Contract for printing ballots.

• Effective: April 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 134th General Assembly

(A) A contract for the printing of ballots involving a cost in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars shall not be awarded until after a proposal period of fifteen days. During the proposal period, a notice shall be published once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county, may be posted electronically by email or other electronic means by the board of elections, and may be given by mail by the board of elections, addressed to the responsible printing offices.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in this section, each proposal for a contract described in division (A) of this section must be accompanied by a bid bond in a sum of ten per cent of the amount of the proposal. No proposal unaccompanied by such bid bond shall be considered by the board.

(C) The contract shall be awarded to the most qualified responsible proposer that meets the minimum standards established by the secretary of state under division (D) of this section. The proposer shall post a performance bond equal to one hundred per cent of a single election's contract amount. If the contract is for multiple elections, then the board instead may require the proposer to post a performance bond of a sum equal to one hundred per cent of the board's estimated ballot printing costs for the largest election to be conducted during the contract period.

(D) The secretary of state shall adopt rules establishing printing, mailing, and security standards for vendors that print ballots under contracts entered into under this section, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Last updated January 24, 2023 at 12:16 PM

Section 3505.14 | Printed proofs of ballot.

• Effective: April 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 134th General Assembly

After the awarding of the contract for the printing of the ballots as provided in section 3505.13 of the Revised Code, the board of elections shall secure from the printer printed proofs of the ballot, and shall notify the chairperson of the local executive committee of each party or group represented on the ballot by candidates or issues, and post such proofs in a public place in the office of the board for a period of at least twenty-four hours for inspection and correction of any errors appearing thereon. The board shall cause such proofs to be read with care and after correcting any errors shall return the corrected copy to the printer.

Last updated January 24, 2023 at 12:17 PM

Section 3505.15 | Ballot packaging.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The board of elections shall make adequate provision for the inspection of the printing of the ballots. The person to whom the contract for printing the ballots is let shall seal them securely in packages, one package for each precinct in the county or civil division in which the election is to be held, place a paper cover over them, and indicate on such cover the number of ballots contained therein with a space to indicate the precinct, and deliver them to the board at such time and place as the board directs. The board, upon receiving such package, shall give a receipt for the ballots indicating the number of ballots in each package and the number of the precinct in each case.

Section 3505.16 | Ballot boxes and supplies placement at polling place.

• Effective: February 25, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly

Before the opening of the polls, the package of supplies and the ballot box shall be opened in the presence of the precinct officials. The ballot box, the package of ballots, registration forms, and other supplies shall at all times be in full sight of the observers, and no ballot box or unused ballots during the balloting or counting shall be removed or screened from their full sight until the counting has been closed and the final returns completed and the certificate signed by the judges.

Section 3505.17 | Lost or destroyed ballots or supplies.

• Effective: February 25, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly

If by accident or casualty the ballots or other required papers, lists, or supplies are lost or destroyed, or in case none are delivered at the polling place, or if during the time the polls are open additional ballots or supplies are required, the board of elections, upon requisition by telephone or in writing and signed by a majority of the precinct election officials of the precinct stating why such additional supplies are needed, shall supply them as speedily as possible.

Section 3505.18 | Procedure when elector entered polling place.

• Effective: April 7, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly

(A)(1) When an elector appears in a polling place to vote, the elector shall announce to the precinct election officials the elector's full name and current address and provide photo identification.

(2) If an elector does not have or is unable to provide photo identification to the precinct election officials, the elector may cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.

(B) After the elector has announced the elector's full name and current address and provided photo identification, the elector shall confirm the elector's name and address by signing the elector's name at the proper place in the poll list or signature pollbook provided for the purpose, except that if, for any reason, an elector is unable to sign the elector's name in the poll list or signature pollbook, the elector may make the elector's mark at the place intended for the elector's name, and a precinct election official shall write the name of the elector at the proper place on the poll list or signature pollbook following the elector's mark. The making of such a mark shall be attested by the precinct election official, who shall evidence the same by signing the precinct election official's name on the poll list or signature pollbook as a witness to the mark. Alternatively, if applicable, an attorney in fact acting pursuant to section 3501.382 of the Revised Code may sign the elector's signature in the poll list or signature pollbook in accordance with that section.

The elector's signature in the poll list or signature pollbook then shall be compared with the elector's signature on the elector's registration form or a digitized signature list as provided for in section 3503.13 of the Revised Code, and if, in the opinion of a majority of the precinct election officials, the signatures are the signatures of the same person, the election officials shall enter the date of the election on the registration form or shall record the date by other means prescribed by the secretary of state. The validity of an attorney in fact's signature on behalf of an elector shall be determined in accordance with section 3501.382 of the Revised Code.

If the right of the elector to vote is not then challenged, or, if being challenged, the elector establishes the elector's right to vote, the elector shall be allowed to proceed to use the voting machine. If voting machines are not being used in that precinct, the precinct election official in charge of ballots shall then detach the next ballots to be issued to the elector from Stub B attached to each ballot, leaving Stub A attached to each ballot, hand the ballots to the elector, and call the elector's name and the stub number on each of the ballots. The precinct election official shall enter the stub numbers opposite the signature of the elector in the pollbook. The elector shall then retire to one of the voting compartments to mark the elector's ballots. No mark shall be made on any ballot which would in any way enable any person to identify the person who voted the ballot.

Last updated January 24, 2023 at 3:57 PM

Section 3505.181 | Eligibility to cast provisional ballot - procedure.

• Effective: April 7, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly

(A) All of the following individuals shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot at an election:

(1) An individual who declares that the individual is a registered voter in the precinct in which the individual desires to vote and that the individual is eligible to vote in an election, but the name of the individual does not appear on the official list of eligible voters for the precinct or an election official asserts that the individual is not eligible to vote;

(2) An individual who does not have or is unable to provide photo identification to the election officials;

(3) An individual whose name in the poll list or signature pollbook has been marked under section 3509.09 or 3511.13 of the Revised Code as having requested an absent voter's ballot or a uniformed services or overseas absent voter's ballot for that election and who appears to vote at the polling place;

(4) An individual whose notification of registration has been returned undelivered to the board of elections and whose name in the official registration list and in the poll list or signature pollbook has been marked under division (C)(2) of section 3503.19 of the Revised Code;

(5) An individual who has been successfully challenged under section 3505.20 or 3513.20 of the Revised Code;

(6) An individual who changes the individual's name and remains within the precinct without providing proof of that name change under division (B)(1)(b) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code, moves from one precinct to another within a county, moves from one precinct to another and changes the individual's name, or moves from one county to another within the state, and completes and signs the required forms and statements under division (B) or (C) of section 3503.16 of the Revised Code;

(7) An individual whose signature, in the opinion of the precinct officers under section 3505.22 of the Revised Code, is not that of the person who signed that name in the registration forms.

(B) An individual who is eligible to cast a provisional ballot under division (A) of this section shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot as follows:

(1) An election official at the polling place shall notify the individual that the individual may cast a provisional ballot in that election.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (F) of this section, the individual shall complete and execute a written affirmation before an election official at the polling place stating that the individual is both of the following:

(a) A registered voter in the precinct in which the individual desires to vote;

(b) Eligible to vote in that election.

(3) An election official at the polling place shall transmit the ballot cast by the individual and the voter information contained in the written affirmation executed by the individual under division (B)(2) of this section to an appropriate local election official for verification under division (B)(4) of this section.

(4) If the appropriate local election official to whom the ballot or voter or address information is transmitted under division (B)(3) of this section determines that the individual is eligible to vote, the individual's provisional ballot shall be counted as a vote in that election.

(5)(a) At the time that an individual casts a provisional ballot, the appropriate local election official shall give the individual written information that states that any individual who casts a provisional ballot will be able to ascertain under the system established under division (B)(5)(b) of this section whether the vote was counted, and, if the vote was not counted, the reason that the vote was not counted.

(b) The appropriate state or local election official shall establish a free access system, in the form of a toll-free telephone number, that any individual who casts a provisional ballot may access to discover whether the vote of that individual was counted, and, if the vote was not counted, the reason that the vote was not counted. The free access system established under this division also shall provide to an individual whose provisional ballot was not counted information explaining how that individual may contact the board of elections to register to vote or to resolve problems with the individual's voter registration.

The appropriate state or local election official shall establish and maintain reasonable procedures necessary to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of personal information collected, stored, or otherwise used by the free access system established under this division. The system shall permit an individual only to gain access to information about the individual's own provisional ballot.

(6) If, at the time that an individual casts a provisional ballot, the individual provides photo identification, the individual shall record the type of identification provided on the provisional ballot affirmation and, if the individual provides an Ohio driver's license, state identification card, or interim identification document, the individual also shall write the individual's driver's license or state identification card number on the provisional ballot affirmation.

(7)(a) For a provisional ballot to be eligible to be counted when it is cast by an individual who does not have photo identification because the individual has a religious objection to being photographed, the individual shall complete an affidavit of religious objection under section 3505.19 of the Revised Code. The election officials shall attach the affidavit to the individual's provisional ballot envelope. If the individual does not complete the affidavit at the time of casting the provisional ballot, the individual may appear at the office of the board of elections within four days after the day of the election and complete the affidavit.

(b) For a provisional ballot to be eligible to be counted when it is cast by any other individual who does not have or is unable to provide photo identification to the election officials, the individual who cast that ballot, within four days after the day of the election, shall appear at the office of the board of elections and provide photo identification.

(8) For a provisional ballot cast by an individual who has been successfully challenged under section 3505.20 of the Revised Code to be eligible to be counted, the individual who cast that ballot, within four days after the day of that election, shall provide to the board of elections any identification or other documentation required to be provided by the applicable challenge questions asked of that individual under section 3505.20 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) If an individual declares that the individual is eligible to vote in a precinct other than the precinct in which the individual desires to vote, or if, upon review of the precinct voting location guide using the residential street address provided by the individual, an election official at the precinct at which the individual desires to vote determines that the individual is not eligible to vote in that precinct, the election official shall direct the individual to the precinct and polling place in which the individual appears to be eligible to vote, explain that the individual may cast a provisional ballot at the current location but the ballot or a portion of the ballot will not be counted if it is cast in the wrong precinct, and provide the telephone number of the board of elections in case the individual has additional questions.

(2) If the individual refuses to travel to the correct precinct or to the office of the board of elections to cast a ballot, the individual shall be permitted to vote a provisional ballot at that precinct in accordance with division (B) of this section. If the individual is in the correct polling location for the precinct in which the individual is registered and eligible to vote, the election official shall complete and sign, under penalty of election falsification, a form that includes all of the following, and attach the form to the individual's provisional ballot affirmation:

(a) The name or number of the individual's correct precinct;

(b) A statement that the election official instructed the individual to travel to the correct precinct to vote;

(c) A statement that the election official informed the individual that casting a provisional ballot in the wrong precinct would result in all or a portion of the votes on the ballot being rejected;

(d) The name or number of the precinct in which the individual is casting a provisional ballot; and

(e) The name of the polling location in which the individual is casting a provisional ballot.

(D) The appropriate local election official shall cause voting information to be publicly posted at each polling place on the day of each election.

(E) As used in this section and sections 3505.182 and 3505.183 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Precinct voting location guide" means either of the following:

(a) An electronic or paper record that lists the correct precinct and polling place for either each specific residential street address in the county or the range of residential street addresses located in each neighborhood block in the county;

(b) Any other method that a board of elections creates that allows a precinct election official or any elector who is at a polling place in that county to determine the correct precinct and polling place of any qualified elector who resides in the county.

(2) "Voting information" means all of the following:

(a) A sample version of the ballot that will be used for that election;

(b) Information regarding the date of the election and the hours during which polling places will be open;

(c) Instructions on how to vote, including how to cast a vote and how to cast a provisional ballot;

(d) Instructions for mail-in registrants and first-time voters under applicable federal and state laws;

(e) General information on voting rights under applicable federal and state laws, including information on the right of an individual to cast a provisional ballot and instructions on how to contact the appropriate officials if these rights are alleged to have been violated;

(f) General information on federal and state laws regarding prohibitions against acts of fraud and misrepresentation.

(F) Nothing in this section or section 3505.183 of the Revised Code is in derogation of section 3505.24 of the Revised Code, which permits a blind, disabled, or illiterate elector to receive assistance in the marking of the elector's ballot by two precinct election officials of different political parties. A blind, disabled, or illiterate elector may receive assistance in marking that elector's provisional ballot and in completing the required affirmation in the same manner as an elector may receive assistance on the day of an election under that section.

Last updated January 24, 2023 at 3:58 PM

Section 3505.182 | Provisional ballot affirmation - verification.

• Effective: April 7, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly

Each individual who casts a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code shall execute a written affirmation. The form of the written affirmation shall be printed upon the face of the provisional ballot envelope and shall be as follows:

"Provisional Ballot Affirmation

(A) Clearly print your full name: ___________________

(B) Write your date of birth: _______________________

(C)(1) Write your current address: __________________

_____________________________________________________

(2) Have you moved without updating your voter registration?:

Yes ______ No ______

If yes, write your former address: __________________

_____________________________________________________

Failure to provide your former address will not cause your provisional ballot to be rejected.

(D)(1) You must show photo identification to the election official that includes your name and photograph and is not expired. Check the type of photo identification you provided:

______ An Ohio driver's license or state identification card or an interim identification form issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. If you showed your Ohio driver's license or state identification card or an interim identification form, write your full driver's license or state identification card number: ________________________

______ A United States passport or passport card;

______ A United States military identification card, Ohio national guard identification card, or United States department of veterans affairs identification card.

(2) If you do not have photo identification because you have a religious objection to being photographed, complete an affidavit of religious objection. The precinct election official will attach it to the provisional ballot envelope.

(3) If you did not show photo identification to the election official or complete an affidavit of religious objection, you must appear at the office of the board of elections during the four days after the election and provide photo identification or complete an affidavit of religious objection for your vote to be eligible to be counted.

(4) If you need to update your voter registration, you may provide additional information below. This information will not be used for ballot counting purposes.

Write your full Ohio driver's license or state identification card number: ________________________

Write the last four digits of your Social Security number: _______________

(E) If your right to vote has been challenged, you must provide any required additional information to the board of elections on or before the seventh day following this election.

(F) Sign and date the following statement:

I solemnly swear or affirm that I am a citizen of the United States; that I will be at least 18 years of age at the time of the general election; that I have lived in this state for 30 days immediately preceding this election in which I am voting this ballot; that I am a registered voter in the precinct in which I am voting this provisional ballot; and that I am eligible to vote in the election in which I am voting this provisional ballot.

I understand that, if the information I provide on this provisional ballot affirmation is not fully completed and correct, if the board of elections determines that I am not registered to vote, a resident of this precinct, or eligible to vote in this election, or if the board of elections determines that I have already voted in this election, my provisional ballot will not be counted. I understand that, if I am not currently registered to vote or if I am not registered at my current address or under my current name, this form will serve as an application to register to vote or update my registration for future elections, as long as I provide all of the information required to register to vote or update my registration. I further understand that knowingly providing false information is a violation of law and subjects me to possible criminal prosecution.

I hereby declare, under penalty of election falsification, that the above statements are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

________________________

Signature of Voter

________________________

Date

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE."

In addition to any information required to be included on the written affirmation, an individual casting a provisional ballot may provide additional information to the election official to assist the board of elections in determining the individual's eligibility to vote in that election, including the date and location at which the individual registered to vote, if known.

If the individual provided all of the information required under section 3503.14 of the Revised Code to register to vote or to update the individual's registration on the provisional ballot affirmation, the board of elections shall consider the individual's provisional ballot affirmation to also serve as a notice of change of name, change of residence, or both, or as a voter registration form, as applicable, for that individual only for the purposes of future elections.

Last updated February 1, 2023 at 1:37 PM

Section 3505.183 | Testing and counting of provisional ballots - rejection.

• Effective: April 7, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 458 (GA 134), House Bill 45 (GA 134)

(A) When the ballot boxes are delivered to the board of elections from the precincts, the board shall separate the provisional ballot envelopes from the rest of the ballots. Teams of employees of the board consisting of one member of each major political party shall place the sealed provisional ballot envelopes in a secure location within the office of the board. The sealed provisional ballot envelopes shall remain in that secure location until the validity of those ballots is determined under division (B) of this section. While the provisional ballot is stored in that secure location, and prior to the counting of the provisional ballots, if the board receives information regarding the validity of a specific provisional ballot under division (B) of this section, the board may note, on the sealed provisional ballot envelope for that ballot, whether the ballot is valid and entitled to be counted.

(B)(1) To determine whether a provisional ballot is valid and entitled to be counted, the board shall examine its records and determine whether the individual who cast the provisional ballot is registered and eligible to vote in the applicable election. The board shall examine the information contained in the written affirmation executed by the individual who cast the provisional ballot under division (B)(2) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The following information shall be included in the written affirmation in order for the provisional ballot to be eligible to be counted:

(a) The individual's printed name, signature, date of birth, and current address;

(b) A statement that the individual is a registered voter in the precinct in which the provisional ballot is being voted;

(c) A statement that the individual is eligible to vote in the election in which the provisional ballot is being voted.

(2) In addition to the information required to be included in an affirmation under division (B)(1) of this section, in determining whether a provisional ballot is valid and entitled to be counted, the board also shall examine any additional information for determining ballot validity provided by the provisional voter on the affirmation, provided by the provisional voter to an election official under section 3505.182 of the Revised Code, or provided to the board of elections during the four days after the day of the election under division (B)(7) or (8) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code, to assist the board in determining the individual's eligibility to vote.

(3) If, in examining a provisional ballot affirmation and additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section and comparing the information required under division (B)(1) of this section with the individual's information in the statewide voter registration database, the board determines that all of the following apply, the provisional ballot envelope shall be opened, and the ballot shall be placed in a ballot box to be counted:

(a) The individual named on the affirmation is properly registered to vote.

(b) The individual named on the affirmation is eligible to cast a ballot in the precinct and for the election in which the individual cast the provisional ballot.

(c) The individual provided all of the information required under division (B)(1) of this section in the affirmation that the individual executed at the time the individual cast the provisional ballot.

(d) One of the following applies:

(i) The individual provided photo identification at the time of casting the provisional ballot or appeared at the office of the board within four days after the day of the election and provided photo identification. If the individual provided the individual's Ohio driver's license or state identification card or an interim identification form, the individual provided the individual's driver's license number or state identification card number and the number is not different from the individual's driver's license number or state identification card number contained in the statewide voter registration database.

(ii) The individual completed an affidavit of religious objection under section 3505.19 of the Revised Code at the time of casting the provisional ballot or at the office of the board within four days after the day of the election and the affidavit is valid under that section.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this division, the month and day of the individual's date of birth are not different from the day and month of the individual's date of birth contained in the statewide voter registration database.

This division does not apply to an individual's provisional ballot if either of the following is true:

(i) The individual's date of birth contained in the statewide voter registration database is January 1, 1800.

(ii) The board of elections has found, by a vote of at least three of its members, that the individual has met all other requirements of division (B)(3) of this section.

(f) The individual's current address is not different from the individual's address contained in the statewide voter registration database, unless the individual indicated that the individual is casting a provisional ballot because the individual has moved and has not submitted a notice of change of address, as described in division (A)(6) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.

(g) If applicable, the individual provided any additional information required under division (B)(8) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code within four days after the day of the election.

(4)(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, if, in examining a provisional ballot affirmation and additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section and comparing the information required under division (B)(1) of this section with the individual's information in the statewide voter registration database, the board determines that any of the following applies, the provisional ballot envelope shall not be opened, and the ballot shall not be counted:

(i) The individual named on the affirmation is not qualified or is not properly registered to vote.

(ii) The individual named on the affirmation is not eligible to cast a ballot in the precinct or for the election in which the individual cast the provisional ballot.

(iii) The individual did not provide all of the information required under division (B)(1) of this section in the affirmation that the individual executed at the time the individual cast the provisional ballot.

(iv) The individual has already cast a ballot for the election in which the individual cast the provisional ballot.

(v) If applicable, the individual did not provide any additional information required under division (B)(8) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code within four days after the day of the election.

(vi) The individual failed to provide photo identification, to provide the individual's driver's license or state identification card number if the individual provided photo identification in the form of an Ohio driver's license or state identification card or an interim identification form, or to complete an affidavit of religious objection.

(vii) The individual failed to execute an affirmation under division (B) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.

(viii) The individual provided photo identification in the form of an Ohio driver's license or state identification card or an interim identification form and the driver's license number or state identification card number the individual provided is different from the individual's driver's license number or state identification card number contained in the statewide voter registration database.

(ix) The individual completed an affidavit of religious objection under section 3505.19 of the Revised Code, but the affidavit is not valid under that section.

(x) Except as otherwise provided in this division, the month and day of the individual's date of birth are different from the day and month of the individual's date of birth contained in the statewide voter registration database.

This division does not apply to an individual's provisional ballot if either of the following is true:

(I) The individual's date of birth contained in the statewide voter registration database is January 1, 1800.

(II) The board of elections has found, by a vote of at least three of its members, that the individual has met all of the requirements of division (B)(3) of this section, other than the requirements of division (B)(3)(e) of this section.

(xi) The individual's current address is different from the individual's address contained in the statewide voter registration database, unless the individual indicated that the individual is casting a provisional ballot because the individual has moved and has not submitted a notice of change of address, as described in division (A)(6) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.

(b) If, in examining a provisional ballot affirmation and additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section and comparing the information required under division (B)(1) of this section with the individual's information in the statewide voter registration database, the board is unable to determine either of the following, the provisional ballot envelope shall not be opened, and the ballot shall not be counted:

(i) Whether the individual named on the affirmation is qualified or properly registered to vote;

(ii) Whether the individual named on the affirmation is eligible to cast a ballot in the precinct or for the election in which the individual cast the provisional ballot.

(C) For each provisional ballot rejected under division (B)(4) of this section, the board shall record the name of the provisional voter who cast the ballot, the identification number of the provisional ballot envelope, the names of the election officials who determined the validity of that ballot, the date and time that the determination was made, and the reason that the ballot was not counted, unless the board has already recorded that information in another database.

(D)(1) If an individual cast a provisional ballot in a precinct in which the individual is not registered and eligible to vote, but in the correct polling location for the precinct in which the individual is registered and eligible to vote, and the election official failed to direct the individual to the correct precinct, the individual's ballot shall be remade under division (D)(2) of this section. The election official shall be deemed to have directed the individual to the correct precinct if the election official correctly completed the form described in division (C)(2) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.

(2) A board of elections that remakes a provisional ballot under division (D)(1) of this section shall remake the provisional ballot on a ballot for the appropriate precinct to reflect the offices, questions, and issues for which the individual was eligible to cast a ballot and for which the individual attempted to cast a provisional ballot. The remade ballot shall be counted for each office, question, and issue for which the individual was eligible to vote.

(3) If an individual cast a provisional ballot in a precinct in which the individual is not registered and eligible to vote and in the incorrect polling location for the precinct in which the individual is registered and eligible to vote, the provisional ballot envelope shall not be opened, and the ballot shall not be counted.

(E) Provisional ballots that are rejected under division (B)(4) of this section shall not be counted but shall be preserved in their provisional ballot envelopes unopened until the time provided by section 3505.31 of the Revised Code for the destruction of all other ballots used at the election for which ballots were provided, at which time they shall be destroyed.

(F) Provisional ballots that the board determines are eligible to be counted under division (B)(3) or (D) of this section shall be counted in the same manner as provided for other ballots under section 3505.27 of the Revised Code. No provisional ballots shall be counted in a particular county until the board determines the eligibility to be counted of all provisional ballots cast in that county under division (B) of this section for that election. Observers, as provided in section 3505.21 of the Revised Code, may be present at all times that the board is determining the eligibility of provisional ballots to be counted and counting those provisional ballots determined to be eligible. No person shall recklessly disclose the count or any portion of the count of provisional ballots in such a manner as to jeopardize the secrecy of any individual ballot.

(G)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (G)(2) of this section, nothing in this section shall prevent a board of elections from examining provisional ballot affirmations and additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section to determine the eligibility of provisional ballots to be counted during the seven days after the day of an election.

(2) A board of elections shall not examine the provisional ballot affirmation and additional information under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section of any provisional ballot cast by an individual who must provide photo identification, complete an affidavit of religious objection, or provide additional information to the board of elections under division (B)(7) or (8) of section 3505.181 of the Revised Code for the board to determine the individual's eligibility until the individual does so or until the eighth day after the day of the election, whichever is earlier.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Last updated January 25, 2023 at 10:55 AM

Section 3505.19 | Affidavit of religious objection to being photographed.

• Effective: April 7, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly

(A) An elector who does not have photo identification because the elector has a religious objection to being photographed may complete an affidavit of religious objection in lieu of providing photo identification for the purpose of casting a provisional ballot.

(B) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form of the affidavit of religious objection, which shall be substantially as follows:

"Affidavit of Religious Objection

I, _______________________ (first and last name of elector), declare under penalty of election falsification that I do not have photo identification because I have a sincere religious objection to being photographed.

The last four digits of my Social Security number are: ______

________________________

(Signature of individual)

WHOEVER COMMITS ELECTION FALSIFICATION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE."

(C) Upon receiving a completed affidavit of religious objection, the board of elections shall transmit the information in the affidavit to the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall consult the database of the bureau of motor vehicles to determine whether the registrar of motor vehicles or a deputy registrar has issued a currently unexpired photo identification to the elector and shall notify the board of the result.

(D) An affidavit of religious objection is not valid if either of the following apply:

(1) The last four digits of the elector's social security number, as provided on the affidavit, are different from the last four digits of the elector's social security number in the statewide voter registration database.

(2) The registrar of motor vehicles or a deputy registrar has issued a currently unexpired photo identification to the elector.

Last updated January 31, 2023 at 4:45 PM

Section 3505.20 | Challenge of elector at polling place.

• Effective: March 20, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 41 - 132nd General Assembly

Any person offering to vote may be challenged at the polling place by any precinct election official. If the board of elections has ruled on the question presented by a challenge prior to election day, its finding and decision shall be final, and the voting location manager shall be notified in writing. If the board has not ruled, the question shall be determined as set forth in this section. If any person is so challenged as unqualified to vote, the voting location manager shall tender the person the following oath: "You do swear or affirm under penalty of election falsification that you will fully and truly answer all of the following questions put to you concerning your qualifications as an elector at this election."

(A) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground that the person is not a citizen, the precinct election officials shall put the following questions:

(1) Are you a citizen of the United States?

(2) Are you a native or naturalized citizen?

(3) Where were you born?

(4) What official documentation do you possess to prove your citizenship? Please provide that documentation.

If the person offering to vote claims to be a naturalized citizen of the United States, the person shall, before the vote is received, produce for inspection of the precinct election officials a certificate of naturalization and declare under oath that the person is the identical person named in the certificate. If the person states under oath that, by reason of the naturalization of the person's parents or one of them, the person has become a citizen of the United States, and when or where the person's parents were naturalized, the certificate of naturalization need not be produced. If the person is unable to provide a certificate of naturalization on the day of the election, the precinct election officials shall provide to the person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The provisional ballot shall not be counted unless it is properly completed and the board of elections determines that the voter is properly registered and eligible to vote in the election.

(B) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground that the person has not resided in this state for thirty days immediately preceding the election, the precinct election officials shall put the following questions:

(1) Have you resided in this state for thirty days immediately preceding this election? If so, where have you resided?

(2) Did you properly register to vote?

(3) Can you provide some form of identification containing your current mailing address in this precinct? Please provide that identification.

(4) Have you voted or attempted to vote at any other location in this or in any other state at this election?

(5) Have you applied for an absent voter's ballot in any state for this election?

If the precinct election officials are unable to verify the person's eligibility to cast a ballot in the election, the precinct election officials shall provide to the person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The provisional ballot shall not be counted unless it is properly completed and the board of elections determines that the voter is properly registered and eligible to vote in the election.

(C) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground that the person is not a resident of the precinct where the person offers to vote, the precinct election officials shall put the following questions:

(1) Do you reside in this precinct?

(2) When did you move into this precinct?

(3) When you came into this precinct, did you come for a temporary purpose merely or for the purpose of making it your home?

(4) What is your current mailing address?

(5) Do you have some official identification containing your current address in this precinct? Please provide that identification.

(6) Have you voted or attempted to vote at any other location in this or in any other state at this election?

(7) Have you applied for any absent voter's ballot in any state for this election?

The precinct election officials shall direct an individual who is not in the appropriate polling place to the appropriate polling place. If the individual refuses to go to the appropriate polling place, or if the precinct election officials are unable to verify the person's eligibility to cast a ballot in the election, the precinct election officials shall provide to the person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The provisional ballot shall not be counted unless it is properly completed and the board of elections determines that the voter is properly registered and eligible to vote in the election.

(D) If the person is challenged as unqualified on the ground that the person is not of legal voting age, the precinct election officials shall put the following questions:

(1) Are you eighteen years of age or more?

(2) What is your date of birth?

(3) Do you have some official identification verifying your age? Please provide that identification.

If the precinct election officials are unable to verify the person's age and eligibility to cast a ballot in the election, the precinct election officials shall provide to the person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The provisional ballot shall not be counted unless it is properly completed and the board of elections determines that the voter is properly registered and eligible to vote in the election.

The voting location manager shall put such other questions to the person challenged as are necessary to determine the person's qualifications as an elector at the election. If a person challenged refuses to answer fully any question put to the person, is unable to answer the questions as they were answered on the registration form by the person under whose name the person offers to vote, or refuses to sign the person's name or make the person's mark, or if for any other reason a majority of the precinct election officials believes the person is not entitled to vote, the precinct election officials shall provide to the person, and the person may vote, a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code. The provisional ballot shall not be counted unless it is properly completed and the board of elections determines that the voter is properly registered and eligible to vote in the election.

A qualified citizen who has certified the citizen's intention to vote for president and vice-president as provided by Chapter 3504. of the Revised Code shall be eligible to receive only the ballot containing presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

However, not later than the thirtieth day before the day of an election and in accordance with section 3503.24 of the Revised Code, any person qualified to vote may challenge the right of any other person to be registered as a voter, or the right to cast an absent voter's ballot, or to make application for such ballot. Such challenge shall be made in accordance with section 3503.24 of the Revised Code, and the board of elections of the county in which the voting residence of the challenged voter is situated shall make a final determination relative to the legality of such registration or application.

Section 3505.21 | Appointment of challengers and witnesses.

• Effective: January 24, 2020
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 52 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section :

(1) " During the casting of the ballots" includes any of the following:

(a) Any time during which a board of elections permits an elector to vote an absent voter's ballot in person at the office of the board;

(b) Any time ballots may be cast in a precinct polling place on the day of an election;

(c) Any time during which a board of elections processes absent voter's ballots before the time for counting those ballots.

(2) "During the counting of the ballots" includes any time during which the election officials count and tally ballots, make the official canvass of election returns, or conduct an audit of the official results of an election.

(B) At any primary, special, or general election, any political party supporting candidates to be voted upon at such election and any group of five or more candidates may appoint to the board of elections or to any of the precincts in the county or city one person, a qualified elector, who shall serve as observer for such party or such candidates during the casting of the ballots and during the counting of the ballots; provided that separate observers may be appointed to serve during the casting and during the counting of the ballots. No candidate, no uniformed peace officer as defined by section 2935.01 of the Revised Code, no uniformed state highway patrol trooper, no uniformed member of any fire department, no uniformed member of the armed services, no uniformed member of the organized militia, no person wearing any other uniform, and no person carrying a firearm or other deadly weapon shall serve as an observer, nor shall any candidate be represented by more than one observer at any one precinct or at the board of elections except that a candidate who is a member of a party controlling committee, as defined in section 3517.03 of the Revised Code, may serve as an observer.

(C) Any political party or group of candidates appointing observers shall notify the board of elections of the names and addresses of its appointees and the precincts at which they shall serve or that they will serve at the board of elections. Notification of observers appointed to serve on the day of an election shall take place not less than eleven days before the day of the election on forms prescribed by the secretary of state and may be amended by filing an amendment with the board of elections at any time until four p.m. of the day before the election. Notification of observers appointed to serve at the office of the board during the time absent voter's ballots may be cast in person or during the time in which the board processes absent voter's ballots before the time for counting those ballots shall take place not less than eleven days before absent voter's ballots are required to be ready for use pursuant to section 3509.01 of the Revised Code on forms prescribed by the secretary of state and may be amended by filing an amendment with the board of elections at any time until four p.m. of the day before the observer is appointed to serve. The observer serving on behalf of a political party shall be appointed in writing by the chairperson and secretary of the respective controlling party committee. Observers serving for any five or more candidates shall have their certificates signed by those candidates. Observers appointed to a precinct may file their certificates of appointment with the voting location manager of the precinct at the meeting on the evening prior to the election, or with the voting location manager of the precinct on the day of the election. Observers appointed to the office of the board to observe the casting of absent voter's ballots in person prior to the day of the election or the processing of absent voter's ballots before the time for counting those ballots may file their certificates with the director of the board of elections the day before or on the day that the observers are scheduled to serve at the office of the board.

Upon the filing of a certificate, the person named as observer in the certificate shall be permitted to be in and about the applicable polling place during the casting of the ballots and shall be permitted to watch every proceeding of the precinct election officials from the time of the opening until the closing of the polls. The observer also may inspect the counting of all ballots in the polling place or board of elections from the time of the closing of the polls until the counting is completed and the final returns are certified and signed. Observers appointed to serve at the board of elections on the day of an election under this section may observe at the board of elections and may observe at any precinct in the county. The precinct election officials shall protect such observers in all of the rights and privileges granted to them by Title XXXV of the Revised Code.

(D) No persons other than the precinct election officials, the observers, a police officer, other persons who are detailed to any precinct on request of the board of elections, or the secretary of state or the secretary of state's legal representative shall be admitted to the polling place, or any room in which a board of elections is counting ballots, after the closing of the polls until the counting, certifying, and signing of the final returns of each election have been completed.

(E) Not later than four p.m. of the twentieth day prior to an election at which questions are to be submitted to a vote of the people, any committee that in good faith advocates or opposes a measure may file a petition with the board of any county asking that the petitioners be recognized as the committee entitled to appoint observers to the count at the election. If more than one committee alleging themselves to advocate or oppose the same measure file such a petition, the board shall decide and announce by registered mail to each committee not less than twelve days immediately preceding the election which committee is recognized as being entitled to appoint observers. The decision shall not be final, but any aggrieved party may institute mandamus proceedings in the court of common pleas of the county in which the board has jurisdiction to compel the precinct election officials to accept the appointees of such aggrieved party. Any such recognized committee may appoint an observer to the count in each precinct. Committees appointing observers shall notify the board of elections of the names and addresses of its appointees and the precincts at which they shall serve. Notification shall take place not less than eleven days before the election on forms prescribed by the secretary of state and may be amended by filing an amendment with the board of elections at any time until four p.m. on the day before the election. A person so appointed shall file the person's certificate of appointment with the voting location manager in the precinct in which the person has been appointed to serve. Observers shall file their certificates before the polls are closed. In no case shall more than six observers be appointed for any one election in any one precinct. If more than three questions are to be voted on, the committees which have appointed observers may agree upon not to exceed six observers, and the precinct election officials shall appoint such observers. If such committees fail to agree, the precinct election officials shall appoint six observers from the appointees so certified, in such manner that each side of the several questions shall be represented.

(F) No person shall serve as an observer at any precinct or at the board of elections unless the board of elections of the county in which such observer is to serve has first been notified of the name, address, and location at which such observer is to serve. Notification to the board of elections shall be given by the political party, group of candidates, or committee appointing such observer as prescribed in this section. No such observers shall receive any compensation from the county, municipal corporation, or township, and they shall take the following oath, to be administered by one of the precinct election officials:

"You do solemnly swear that you will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties as an official observer, assigned by law; that you will not cause any delay to persons offering to vote; and that you will not disclose or communicate to any person how any elector has voted at such election."

Section 3505.22 | Impersonating an elector.

• Effective: June 1, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly

If any precinct officer has reason to believe that a person is impersonating an elector, that person, before being given a ballot, shall be questioned as to the person's right to vote, and shall be required to sign the person's name or make the person's mark in ink on a card to be provided. If, in the opinion of a majority of the precinct officers, the signature is not that of the person who signed the name in the registration forms, that person shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code.

Section 3505.23 | Time limit for occupying voting compartment - errors in voting - marking ballot.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 281 - 134th General Assembly

Except as otherwise provided in this section, no voter shall be allowed to occupy a voting compartment or use a voting machine more than ten minutes when all the voting compartments or machines are in use and voters are waiting to occupy them. The ten-minute time limit shall not apply to any person who requires the use of an accessible voting machine as required under the "Help America Vote Act of 2002," 116 Stat. 1704, 42 U.S.C. 15481.

Except as otherwise provided by section 3505.24 of the Revised Code, no voter shall occupy a voting compartment or machine with another person or speak to anyone, nor shall anyone speak to the voter, while the voter is in a voting compartment or machine.

In precincts that do not use voting machines the following procedure shall be followed:

If a voter tears, soils, defaces, or erroneously marks a ballot the voter may return it to the precinct election officials and a second ballot shall be issued to the voter. Before returning a torn, soiled, defaced, or erroneously marked ballot, the voter shall fold it so as to conceal any marks the voter made upon it, but the voter shall not remove Stub A therefrom. If the voter tears, soils, defaces, or erroneously marks such second ballot, the voter may return it to the precinct election officials, and a third ballot shall be issued to the voter. In no case shall more than three ballots be issued to a voter. Upon receiving a returned torn, soiled, defaced, or erroneously marked ballot the precinct election officials shall detach Stub A therefrom, write "Defaced" on the back of such ballot, and place the stub and the ballot in the separate containers provided therefor.

No elector shall leave the polling place until the elector returns to the precinct election officials every ballot issued to the elector with Stub A on each ballot attached thereto, regardless of whether the elector has or has not placed any marks upon the ballot.

Before leaving the voting compartment, the voter shall fold each ballot marked by the voter so that no part of the face of the ballot is visible, and so that the printing thereon indicating the kind of ballot it is and the facsimile signatures of the members of the board of elections are visible. The voter shall then leave the voting compartment, deliver the voter's ballots, and state the voter's name to the precinct election official having charge of the ballot box, who shall announce the name, detach Stub A from each ballot, and announce the number on the stubs. The precinct election officials in charge of the poll lists or poll books shall check to ascertain whether the number so announced is the number on Stub B of the ballots issued to such voter, and if no discrepancy appears to exist, the precinct election official in charge of the ballot box shall, in the presence of the voter, deposit each such ballot in the ballot box and shall place Stub A from each ballot in the container provided therefor. The voter shall then immediately leave the polling place.

No ballot delivered by a voter to the precinct election official in charge of the ballot box with Stub A detached therefrom, and only ballots provided in accordance with Title XXXV of the Revised Code, shall be voted or deposited in the ballot box.

In marking a presidential ballot, the voter shall record the vote in the manner provided on the ballot next to the names of the candidates for the offices of president and vice-president. Such ballot shall be considered and counted as a vote for each of the candidates for election as presidential elector whose names were certified to the secretary of state by the political party of such nominees for president and vice-president.

In marking an office type ballot or nonpartisan ballot, the voter shall record the vote in the manner provided on the ballot next to the name of each candidate for whom the voter desires to vote.

In marking a primary election ballot, the voter shall record the vote in the manner provided on the ballot next to the name of each candidate for whom the voter desires to vote. If the voter desires to vote for the nomination of a person whose name is not printed on the primary election ballot, the voter may do so by writing such person's name on the ballot in the proper place provided for such purpose.

In marking a questions and issues ballot, the voter shall record the vote in the manner provided on the ballot at the left or at the right of "YES" or "NO" or other words of similar import which are printed on the ballot to enable the voter to indicate how the voter votes in connection with each question or issue upon which the voter desires to vote.

In marking any ballot on which a blank space has been provided wherein an elector may write in the name of a person for whom the elector desires to vote, the elector shall write such person's name in such blank space and on no other place on the ballot. Unless specific provision is made by statute, no blank space shall be provided on a ballot for write-in votes, and any names written on a ballot other than in a blank space provided therefor shall not be counted or recorded.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 12:12 PM

Section 3505.24 | Providing assistance to blind, disabled or illiterate electors.

• Effective: June 26, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 109 (GA 130), Senate Bill 10 (GA 130), Senate Bill 205 (GA 130)

Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, any elector who does both of the following may be accompanied in the voting booth and aided by any person of the elector's choice, other than the elector's employer, an agent of the elector's employer, or an officer or agent of the elector's union, if any:

(A) Appears to vote on the day of an election or appears at the office of the board of elections to cast absent voter's ballots in person; and

(B) Declares to the presiding judge of elections or to the election official who is accepting applications to cast absent voter's ballots in person that the elector is unable to mark the elector's ballot by reason of blindness, disability, or illiteracy.

The elector also may request and receive assistance in the marking of the elector's ballot from two election officials of different political parties. Any person providing assistance in the marking of an elector's ballot under this section shall thereafter provide no information in regard to the marking of that ballot.

Any election official may require a declaration of inability to be made by the elector under oath before the election official. Assistance shall not be rendered for causes other than those specified in this section, and no candidate whose name appears on the ballot shall assist any person in marking that person's ballot.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Last updated December 18, 2024 at 1:26 PM

Section 3505.26 | Closing polls procedures.

• Effective: February 25, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly

At the time for closing the polls, the voting location manager shall by proclamation announce that the polls are closed.

The precinct election officials shall then in the presence of observers proceed as follows:

(A) Count the number of electors who voted, as shown on the pollbooks;

(B) Count the unused ballots without removing stubs;

(C) Count the soiled and defaced ballots;

(D) Insert the totals of (A), (B), and (C) on the report forms provided therefor in the pollbook;

(E) Count the voted ballots. If the number of voted ballots exceeds the number of voters whose names appear upon the pollbooks, the voting location manager shall enter on the pollbooks an explanation of that discrepancy, and that explanation, if agreed to, shall be subscribed to by all of the precinct election officials. Any precinct official having a different explanation shall enter it in the pollbooks and subscribe to it.

(F) Put the unused ballots with stubs attached, and soiled and defaced ballots with stubs attached, in the envelopes or containers provided therefor, certify the number, and then proceed to count and tally the votes in the manner prescribed by section 3505.27 of the Revised Code and certify the result of the election to the board of elections.

Section 3505.27 | Counting and tallying of ballots.

• Effective: June 1, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 3 - 126th General Assembly

Unless otherwise ordered by the secretary of state or the board of elections, the counting and tallying of ballots shall be conducted according to procedures prescribed by the board of elections that assure an accurate count of all votes cast and that include all of the following:

(A) The counting and tallying of ballots at the appropriate office, as designated by the board, in the full view of members of the board and observers;

(B) The recording on a worksheet or other appropriate document of the number of votes cast for each candidate and the number of votes cast for and against each question or issue;

(C) The periodic reporting to the public and the office of the secretary of state of the number of votes cast for each candidate and the number of votes cast for and against each question or issue as tallied at the time of the report;

(D) An examination and verification by the appropriate authority, as designated by the board, of the votes so tallied and recorded in the pollbook under section 3505.26 of the Revised Code.

The board shall prescribe additional procedures as necessary to assure an accurate count of all votes cast. These procedures shall be followed until all of the ballots that are required to be counted on the day of the election after the close of the polls have been counted.

All work sheets that are prepared at the polling locations shall be preserved and placed inside the pollbook and returned to the board.

If there is any disagreement as to how a ballot should be counted, it shall be submitted to the members of the board for a decision on whether or to what extent the ballot should be counted. If three of the members do not agree as to how any part of the ballot shall be counted, only that part of the ballot on which three of the members do agree shall be counted. A notation shall be made upon the ballot indicating what part has not been counted, and the ballot shall be placed in an envelope marked "Disputed Ballots."

Section 3505.28 | Rejection of ballots.

• Effective: August 15, 2012
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 295 - 129th General Assembly

No ballot shall be counted which is marked contrary to law, except that no ballot shall be rejected for any technical error unless it is impossible to determine the voter's choice. If two or more ballots are found folded together among the ballots removed from a ballot box, they shall be deemed to be fraudulent. Such ballots shall not be counted. They shall be marked "Fraudulent" and shall be placed in an envelope indorsed "Not Counted" with the reasons therefor, and such envelope shall be delivered to the board of elections together with other uncounted ballots.

No ballot shall be rejected because of being marked with ink or by any writing instrument other than one of the pencils provided by the board of elections.

Section 3505.29 | Precinct election officials not to separate or leave until counting completed.

• Effective: February 25, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 109 - 130th General Assembly

From the time the ballot box is opened and the count of ballots begun until the ballots are counted and certificates of votes cast are made out, signed, certified and given to the voting location manager for delivery to the headquarters of the board of elections, the precinct election officials in each precinct shall not separate, nor shall a precinct election official leave the polling place except from unavoidable necessity. In cases of illness or unavoidable necessity, the board may substitute another qualified person for any precinct official so incapacitated.

Section 3505.30 | Summary statement of results.

• Effective: April 30, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 101 - 135th General Assembly

When the results of the ballots have been ascertained, such results shall be embodied in a summary statement to be prepared by the precinct election officials in duplicate, on forms provided by the board of elections. One copy shall be certified by the precinct election officials and posted on the front of the polling place, and one copy, similarly certified, shall be transmitted without delay to the board in a sealed envelope along with the other returns of the election. The board shall, immediately upon receipt of such summary statements, compile and prepare an unofficial count and upon its completion shall transmit prepaid, immediately by telephone, facsimile machine, or other telecommunications device, the results of such unofficial count to the secretary of state, or to the board of the most populous county of the district which is authorized to canvass the returns. Such count, in no event, shall be made later than twelve noon on the day following the election. The board shall also transmit the same results to the administrative director of the supreme court by electronic mail or other telecommunication device as determined by the supreme court. The board shall also, at the same time, certify the results thereof to the secretary of state by certified mail. The board shall remain in session from the time of the opening of the polls, continuously, until the results of the election are received from every precinct in the county and such results are communicated to the secretary of state.

Last updated February 7, 2024 at 9:58 AM

Section 3505.31 | Sealing ballots, pollbooks, poll lists or signature pollbooks, tally sheets.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

When the results of the voting in a polling place on the day of an election have been determined and entered upon the proper forms and the certifications of those results have been signed by the precinct officials, those officials, before leaving the polling place, shall place all ballots that they have counted in containers provided for that purpose by the board of elections, and shall seal each container in a manner that it cannot be opened without breaking the seal or the material of which the container is made. They shall also seal the pollbook, poll list or signature pollbook, and tally sheet in a manner that the data contained in these items cannot be seen without breaking the seals. On the outside of these items shall be a plain indication that they are to be filed with the board. The voting location manager and an employee or appointee of the board of elections who has taken an oath to uphold the laws and constitution of this state, including an oath that the person will promptly and securely perform the duties required under this section and who is a member of a different political party than the voting location manager, shall then deliver to the board the containers of ballots and the sealed pollbook, poll list, and tally sheet, together with all other election reports, materials, and supplies required to be delivered to the board.

The board shall carefully preserve all ballots prepared and provided by it for use in an election, whether used or unused, including any electronic images of ballots, for at least eighty-one days after the day of the election, except that, if an election includes the nomination or election of candidates for any of the offices of president, vice-president, presidential elector, member of the senate of the congress of the United States, or member of the house of representatives of the congress of the United States, the board shall carefully preserve all ballots prepared and provided by it for use in that election, whether used or unused, for twenty-two months after the day of the election. If an election is held within that eighty-one-day period, the board shall have authority to transfer those ballots to other containers to preserve them until the eighty-one-day period has expired. After that eighty-one-day period, the ballots shall be disposed of by the board in a manner that the board orders, or where voting machines have been used the counters may be turned back to zero; provided that the secretary of state, within that eighty-one-day period, may order the board to preserve the ballots or any part of the ballots for a longer period of time, in which event the board shall preserve those ballots for that longer period of time.

In counties where voting machines are used, if an election is to be held within the eighty-one days immediately following a primary, general, or special election or within any period of time within which the ballots have been ordered preserved by the secretary of state or a court of competent jurisdiction, the board, after giving notice to all interested parties and affording them an opportunity to have a representative present, shall open the compartments of the machines and, without unlocking the machines, shall recanvass the vote cast in them as if a recount were being held. The results shall be certified by the board, and this certification shall be filed in the board's office and retained for the remainder of the period for which ballots must be kept. After preparation of the certificate, the counters may be turned back to zero, and the machines may be used for the election.

The board shall carefully preserve the pollbook, poll list or signature pollbook, and tally sheet delivered to it from each polling place until it has completed the official canvass of the election returns from all precincts in which electors were entitled to vote at an election, and has prepared and certified the abstracts of election returns, as required by law. The board shall not break, or permit anyone to break, the seals upon the pollbook, poll list or signature pollbook, and tally sheet, or make, or permit any one to make, any changes or notations in these items, while they are in its custody, except as provided by section 3505.32 of the Revised Code.

Pollbooks and poll lists or signature pollbooks of a party primary election delivered to the board from polling places shall be carefully preserved by it for two years after the day of election in which they were used, and shall then be disposed of by the board in a manner that the board orders.

Pollbooks, poll lists or signature pollbooks, tally sheets, summary statements, and other records and returns of an election delivered to it from polling places shall be carefully preserved by the board for two years after the day of the election in which they were used, and shall then be disposed of by the board in a manner that the board orders.

Last updated September 6, 2023 at 11:16 AM

Section 3505.32 | Canvass of election returns.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, not earlier than the fifth day or later than the fifteenth day after a general or special election, the board of elections shall begin to canvass the election returns from the precincts in which electors were entitled to vote at that election. It shall continue the canvass daily until it is completed and the results of the voting in that election in each of the precincts are determined.

The board shall complete the canvass not later than the twenty-first day after the day of the election. Eighty-one days after the day of the election, the canvass of election returns shall be deemed final, and no amendments to the canvass may be made after that date. The secretary of state may specify an earlier date upon which the canvass of election returns shall be deemed final, and after which amendments to the final canvass may not be made, if so required by federal law.

(B) The county executive committee of each political party, each committee designated in a petition nominating an independent or nonpartisan candidate for election at an election, each committee designated in a petition to represent the petitioners pursuant to which a question or issue was submitted at an election, and any committee opposing a question or issue submitted at an election that was permitted by section 3505.21 of the Revised Code to have a qualified elector serve as an observer during the counting of the ballots at each polling place at an election may designate a qualified elector who may be present and may observe the making of the official canvass.

(C) The board shall first open all envelopes containing uncounted ballots and shall count and tally them.

In connection with its investigation of any apparent or suspected error or defect in the election returns from a polling place, the board may cause subpoenas to be issued and served requiring the attendance before it of the election officials of that polling place, and it may examine them under oath regarding the manner in which the votes were cast and counted in that polling place, or the manner in which the returns were prepared and certified, or as to any other matters bearing upon the voting and the counting of the votes in that polling place at that election.

Finally, the board shall open the sealed container containing the ballots that were counted in the polling place at the election and count those ballots, during the official canvass, in the presence of all of the members of the board and any other persons who are entitled to witness the official canvass.

(D) Prior to the tenth day after a primary, general, or special election, the board may examine the pollbooks, poll lists, and tally sheets received from each polling place for its files and may compare the results of the voting in any polling place with the summary statement received from the polling place. If the board finds that any of these records or any portion of them is missing, or that they are incomplete, not properly certified, or ambiguous, or that the results of the voting in the polling place as shown on the summary statement from the polling place are different from the results of the voting in the polling place as shown by the pollbook, poll list, or tally sheet from the polling place, or that there is any other defect in the records, the board may make whatever changes to the pollbook, poll list, or tally sheet it determines to be proper in order to correct the errors or defects.

Last updated September 6, 2023 at 11:18 AM

Section 3505.33 | Declaration of election results - tie votes - abstracts and report of votes.

• Effective: April 30, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 101 - 135th General Assembly

When the board of elections has completed the canvass of the election returns from the precincts in its county, in which electors were entitled to vote at any general or special election, it shall determine and declare the results of the elections determined by the electors of such county or of a district or subdivision within such county. If more than the number of candidates to be elected to an office received the largest and an equal number of votes, such tie shall be resolved by lot by the chairperson of the board in the presence of a majority of the members of the board. Such declaration shall be in writing and shall be signed by at least a majority of the members of the board. It shall bear the date of the day upon which it is made, and a copy thereof shall be posted by the board in a conspicuous place in its office. The board shall keep such copy posted for a period of at least five days.

Thereupon the board shall promptly certify abstracts of the results of such elections within its county, in such forms as the secretary of state prescribes. Such forms shall be designated and shall contain abstracts as follows:

Form No. 1. An abstract of the votes cast for the office of president and vice-president of the United States.

Form No. 2. An abstract of the votes cast for the office of governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, attorney general, chief justice of the supreme court of Ohio, judge of the supreme court of Ohio, member of the senate of the congress of the United States, member at large of the house of representatives of the congress of the United States, district member of the house of representatives of the congress of the United States, and an abstract of the votes cast upon each question or issue submitted at such election to electors throughout the entire state.

Form No. 3. An abstract of the votes cast for the office of member of the senate of the general assembly, and member of the house of representatives of the general assembly.

Form No. 4. A report of the votes cast for the office of member of the state board of education, judge of the court of appeals, judge of the court of common pleas, judge of the probate court, judge of the county court, county commissioner, county auditor, prosecuting attorney, clerk of the court of common pleas, sheriff, county recorder, county treasurer, county engineer, and coroner.

Form No. 5. A report of the votes cast upon all questions and issues other than such questions and issues which were submitted to electors throughout the entire state.

Form No. 6. A report of the votes cast for municipal offices, judge of the municipal court, township offices, and the office of member of a board of education.

One copy of each of these forms shall be kept in the office of the board. One copy of each of these forms shall promptly be sent to the secretary of state, who shall place the records contained in forms No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 6 in electronic format. One copy of Form No. 2 shall promptly be sent by electronic mail to the president of the senate of the general assembly. The board shall also at once upon completion of the official count send a certified copy of that part of each of the forms which pertains to an election in which only electors of a district comprised of more than one county but less than all of the counties of the state voted to the board of the most populous county in such district. It shall also at once upon completion of the official count send a certified copy of that part of each of the forms which pertains to an election in which only electors of a subdivision located partly within the county voted to the board of the county in which the major portion of the population of such subdivision is located.

If, after certifying and sending abstracts and parts thereof, a board finds that any such abstract or part thereof is incorrect, it shall promptly prepare, certify, and send a corrected abstract or part thereof to take the place of each incorrect abstract or part thereof theretofore certified and sent.

Last updated February 7, 2024 at 10:00 AM

Section 3505.331 | Audit of election results.

• Effective: January 24, 2020
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 52 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) After declaring the official results of a general election or of a primary election held in an even-numbered year, as described in section 3505.33 of the Revised Code, the board of elections shall audit those results in accordance with this section. Except as otherwise provided in this division, the board shall begin the audit not earlier than six days after it declares the official results and shall complete the audit not later than the twenty-first day after it declares the official results. If the board conducts a recount, the board shall begin the audit immediately after the board certifies the results of the recount and shall complete the audit not later than the fourteenth day after it certifies the results of the recount.

(B) The board shall conduct the audit in accordance with procedures prescribed by the secretary of state, which shall include all of the following:

(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(1)(b) of this section, a requirement that the board audit not less than three contested races, questions, or issues, as directed by the secretary of state. If fewer than three contested races, questions, or issues appear on the ballot at the election, then the board shall audit every contested race, question, and issue. In any election, every contested race, question, or issue shall be eligible to be audited.

(b) If the board ordered a countywide recount of the results of a race, question, or issue under section 3515.011 of the Revised Code, the recount shall be considered an audit for purposes of meeting the requirement that the board audit not less than three contested races, questions, or issues.

(2) A requirement that every ballot that was included in the canvass of the election returns be eligible to be audited, including regular ballots cast on the day of the election, absent voter's ballots, and provisional ballots.

(3) Either a provision allowing the board to choose one of the following protocols to use in conducting the audit or a provision requiring the board to use a protocol selected by the secretary of state from the following protocols in conducting the audit:

(a) A risk-limiting audit protocol, which shall use statistical methods to limit to acceptable levels the risk of certifying an incorrect outcome for a particular race, question, or issue. The protocol shall require bipartisan teams of election officials to physically examine and hand count randomly sampled ballots and to continue the hand counting until the results of the hand count provide sufficiently strong evidence that a hand count of all of the ballots would confirm the election result declared under section 3505.33 of the Revised Code or until all of the ballots have been hand counted, whichever occurs first.

(b)(i) A percentage-based audit protocol, which shall require bipartisan teams of election officials to physically examine and hand count a number of randomly sampled ballots equal to a given percentage of the total number of ballots cast in the county at that election, as prescribed by the secretary of state. After the election officials complete the initial audit, the board shall calculate, as a percentage, the accuracy rate of each audited race, question, or issue by dividing the sum of any discrepancies for the race, question, or issue discovered during the audit by the total number of ballots audited for the race, question, or issue and subtracting the resulting number from one.

(ii) If the accuracy rate for an audited race, question, or issue is less than the acceptable accuracy rate prescribed by the secretary of state, the board shall escalate the audit of that race, question, or issue by requiring bipartisan teams of election officials to physically examine and hand count a second set of randomly sampled ballots equal to a given percentage of the total number of ballots cast in the county at that election, as prescribed by the secretary of state. The second set of ballots shall not include any ballots that were included in the first set of audited ballots. After the election officials have counted the second set of ballots, the board shall calculate the combined accuracy rate for both audited sets of ballots for that race, question, or issue.

(c) Another audit protocol approved by the secretary of state.

(C) The board shall give public notice of the times and places for preparing for and conducting the audit in accordance with section 121.22 of the Revised Code. At all times while the board prepares for and conducts the audit, the board shall permit observers appointed under section 3505.21 of the Revised Code.

No person other than a member of the board or a designated employee of the board shall be permitted to handle a ballot.

(D)(1) Not later than five days after completing the audit, the board shall certify the results of the audit to the secretary of state in the form and by the method prescribed by the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall make the results of the audit available to the public on the secretary of state's official web site.

(2) If the board conducted a percentage-based audit and was required to escalate the audit of a race, question, or issue under division (B)(3)(b)(ii) of this section, and the combined accuracy rate for that race, question, or issue is less than the acceptable combined accuracy rate prescribed by the secretary of state, the secretary of state may require the board to order bipartisan teams of election officials to physically examine and hand count all ballots cast for that race, question, or issue. The requirements of division (C) of this section apply to any full hand count conducted under this division.

(3) If the results of the completed audit or the results of any full hand count ordered under division (D)(2) of this section indicate that the canvass or the previously declared official election results must be amended, the board promptly shall amend the canvass or issue an amended declaration of the official results, as applicable.

(E) The secretary of state shall, in accordance with directives issued by the secretary of state, reimburse boards of elections for costs incurred to conduct an audit under this section.

(F) As used in this section:

(1) "Ballot" means either a paper ballot or the relevant entry on a voter verified paper audit trail.

(2) "Voter verified paper audit trail" has the same meaning as in section 3506.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 3505.34 | Canvass of abstracts of votes for state executive offices by general assembly.

• Effective: April 7, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly

During the first week of the regular session of the general assembly following a regular state election, the president of the senate, in the presence of a majority of the members of each house of the general assembly, shall open, announce, and canvass the abstracts of the votes cast for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, and attorney general, as contained in the Form No. 2 sent to the president of the senate as required by section 3505.33 of the Revised Code, and shall determine and declare the results of such election for such offices. The joint candidates for governor and lieutenant governor and the candidate for each other office who received the largest number of votes shall be declared elected to such office. If two or more candidates for election to the same office, or two or more sets of joint candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, receive the largest and an equal number of votes, one of them, or one set of joint candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, shall be declared elected to such office by a majority of the votes of all of the members of the senate and the house of representatives of the general assembly. If said Form No. 2 has not at such time been received by the president of the senate from the board of elections of any county, the secretary of state, upon request of the president of the senate, shall furnish to the president of the senate such copies of said Form No. 2 as have not been received by the president of the senate. When said canvass has been completed and the results of the election declared, the president of the senate shall certify to the secretary of state the names of the persons declared elected together with the title of the office to which each has been elected, and from such certification the secretary of state shall issue a certificate of election to the officials declared elected and so certified to the secretary of state. Thereupon the governor shall forthwith issue a commission to each of the persons elected to such offices.

Last updated January 24, 2023 at 3:59 PM

Section 3505.35 | Canvass of abstracts by secretary of state.

• Effective: April 30, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 101 - 135th General Assembly

(A) When the secretary of state has received from the board of elections of every county in the state Form No. 2, as provided for in section 3505.33 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall promptly fix the time and place for the canvass of such abstracts, and the time fixed shall not be later than ten days after such abstracts have been received by the secretary of state from all counties. The secretary of state shall notify the governor, auditor of state, attorney general, and the chairperson of the state central committee of each political party of the time and place fixed. At such time and in the presence of such of the persons so notified who attend, the secretary of state shall canvass the abstracts contained in said Form No. 2 and shall determine and declare the results of all elections in which electors throughout the entire state voted. If two or more candidates for election to the same office, or two or more sets of joint candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, receive the largest and an equal number of votes, such tie shall be resolved by lot by the secretary of state. Such declaration of results by the secretary of state shall be in writing and shall be signed by the secretary of state. It shall bear the date of the day upon which it is made, and a copy thereof shall be posted by the secretary of state in a conspicuous place in the secretary of state's office. The secretary of state shall keep such copy posted for a period of at least five days.

Such declaration of results made by the secretary of state, insofar as it pertains to the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, and attorney general, is only for the purpose of fixing the time of the commencement of the period of time within which applications for recounts of votes may be filed as provided by section 3515.02 of the Revised Code.

(B) When the secretary of state has received from the board of elections of every county in the state Form No. 4 and Form No. 6, as provided in section 3505.33 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state shall promptly transmit by electronic mail or other telecommunication device a copy of each form to the administrative director of the supreme court.

Last updated February 12, 2024 at 9:04 AM

Section 3505.36 | Canvass of abstracts of multi county candidates and issues.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When the board of elections of the most populous county of a district comprised of more than one county but less than all of the counties of the state has received from the board of every county in such district certified copies of parts of abstracts pertaining to an election in which only the electors of such district voted, such board shall canvass such parts of abstracts and determine and declare the results of the elections determined by the electors of such district. If more than the number of candidates to be elected to an office receive the largest number and an equal number of votes, such tie shall be resolved by lot by the chairman of such board in the presence of all of the members of such board. Such declaration of results by such board shall be in writing and shall be signed by at least a majority of the members of such board. It shall bear the date of the day upon which it was made, and a copy thereof shall be posted by the board in a conspicuous place in its office. The board shall keep such copy posted for a period of at least five days.

Section 3505.37 | Canvass of abstracts by county where major portion of a subdivision involved is located.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When the board of elections of a county in which the major portion of the population of a subdivision located in more than one county is located receives from the boards of each county in which other portions of such subdivision are located parts of abstracts pertaining to an election in which only the electors of such subdivision voted, such board shall canvass such parts of abstracts and determine and declare the results of the elections determined by the electors of such subdivision. If more than the number of candidates to be elected to an office receive the largest number and an equal number of votes, such tie shall be resolved by lot by the chairman of such board in the presence of a majority of the members of such board. Such declaration of results by such board shall be in writing and shall be signed by at least a majority of the members of such board. It shall bear the date of the day upon which it is made, and a copy thereof shall be posted by such board in a conspicuous place in its office. The board shall keep such copy posted for a period of at least five days.

Section 3505.38 | Certificates of election.

• Effective: April 7, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly

Election officials who are required to declare the results of a special or general election in which persons were elected to offices shall, unless otherwise provided by law, issue to the persons declared elected by them appropriate certificates of election in such form as is prescribed by the secretary of state. Such certificates of election shall be issued by such election officials after the time within which applications may be made for recounts of votes has expired, and after recounts of votes which have been applied for are completed.

All persons declared to be elected by the president of the senate as provided for in section 3505.34 of the Revised Code shall be issued certificates of election by the secretary of state as provided for in such section and shall be issued commissions for such offices by the governor, provided that the board of elections required to determine and declare the results of the election for candidates for election to the office of member of the house of representatives of the congress of the United States or member of the state board of education shall, in lieu of issuing a certificate of election, certify to the secretary of state the names of such candidates declared elected, and the secretary of state, from such certification, shall issue to the persons certified to the secretary of state as elected as a member of the house of representatives of the congress of the United States or member of the state board of education a certificate of the person's election, signed by the governor, sealed with the great seal of the state, and countersigned by the secretary of state. Certificates of election of members of the house of representatives of the congress of the United States shall be forwarded by registered mail to the clerk of the house of representatives of the congress of the United States, Washington, D.C., and the person elected to such office shall be advised by letter from the secretary of state that the person's certificate of election has been forwarded to said clerk.

Last updated January 24, 2023 at 4:00 PM

Section 3505.39 | Meeting of state's presidential electors.

• Effective: September 16, 1957
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 708 - 102nd General Assembly

The secretary of state shall immediately upon the completion of the canvass of election returns mail to each presidential elector so elected a certificate of his election and shall notify him to attend, at a place in the state capitol which the secretary of state shall select, at twelve noon on the day designated by the congress of the United States, a meeting of the state's presidential electors for the purpose of discharging the duties enjoined on them by the constitution of the United States. The secretary of state, ten days prior to such meeting, shall by letter remind each such elector of the meeting to be held for casting the vote of the state for president and vice-president of the United States. Each such elector shall give notice to the secretary of state before nine a.m. of that day whether or not he will be present at the appointed hour ready to perform his duties as a presidential elector. If at twelve noon at the place selected by the secretary of state presidential electors equal in number to the whole number of senators and representatives to which the state may at the time be entitled in the congress of the United States, are not present, the presidential electors present shall immediately proceed, in the presence of the governor and secretary of state, to appoint by ballot such number of persons to serve as presidential electors so that the number of duly elected presidential electors present at such time and place plus the presidential electors so appointed shall be equal in number to the whole number of senators and representatives to which the state is at that time entitled in the congress of the United States; provided, that each such appointment shall be made by a separate ballot, and that all appointments to fill vacancies existing because duly elected presidential electors are not present shall be made before other appointments are made, and that in making each such appointment the person appointed shall be of the same political party as the duly elected presidential elector whose absence requires such appointment to be made. In case of a tie vote the governor shall determine the results by lot. The electors making such appointments shall certify forthwith to the secretary of state the names of the persons so appointed and the secretary of state shall immediately issue to such appointees certificates of their appointment and notify them thereof. All of the state's presidential electors, both those duly elected who are then present and those appointed as herein provided, shall then meet and organize by electing one of their number as chairman and by designating the secretary of state as ex officio secretary and shall then and there discharge all of the duties enjoined upon presidential electors by the constitution and laws of the United States. Each presidential elector shall receive ten dollars for each day's attendance in Columbus as such and mileage at the rate of ten cents per mile for the estimated distance by the usual route from his place of residence to Columbus. Such compensation and mileage shall be upon vouchers issued by the secretary of state, and shall be paid by the treasurer of state out of the general fund.

Section 3505.40 | Electoral vote to be cast for party nominees.

• Effective: November 14, 1969
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 500 - 108th General Assembly

A presidential elector elected at a general election or appointed pursuant to section 3505.39 of the Revised Code shall, when discharging the duties enjoined upon him by the constitution or laws of the United States, cast his electoral vote for the nominees for president and vice-president of the political party which certified him to the secretary of state as a presidential elector pursuant to law.