How Ohio’s Constitutional Ballot Initiative Process Works
Ohio’s Constitution empowers citizens of the state to place issues directly before voters on a statewide ballot. Here’s how it happens – and the roadblocks to expect.
1 DRAFT PROPOSAL & SUMMARY
Draft the proposed initiative and summary of proposal.
Get signatures from at least 1,000 registered Ohio voters.
2 CERTIFICATION
Attorney General certifies that the title and summary reflect the proposal.
The Ballot Board certifies the petition as containing one amendment.
ROADBLOCKS
Unclear standards lead to arbitrary, inconsistent decisions.
[CASE STUDY: Qualified Immunity Ballot Initiative summary, Ohio]
Legal challenges can take several months, wasting time.
Attorney General certifies that the title and summary reflect the proposal.
The Ballot Board certifies the petition as containing one amendment.
ROADBLOCKS
Unclear standards lead to arbitrary, inconsistent decisions.
[CASE STUDY: Qualified Immunity Ballot Initiative summary, Ohio]
Legal challenges can take several months, wasting time.
[CASE STUDY: Ohio Voter Bill of Rights stalled initiative]
3 GATHER SIGNATURES
Collect signatures from at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties.
Total must equal at least 10% of the last election's votes for governor.
County signatures must equal 5% of county’s governor votes last election.
Submit Form 15 for anyone paying or paid to organize efforts to obtain signatures.
ROADBLOCKS
The entire petition can be invalidated if one person’s form is filed late.
[CASE STUDY: Ohio Kidney Dialysis Initiative failed, 2018]
Process of gathering signatures is expensive and time-consuming.
4 FILING & VERIFICATION
File all petitions (physical and digital copies) with the Secretary of State at the same time, at least 125 days before the General Election.
Secretary of State reviews and certifies the signatures. May require additional signature collection.
Ohio Supreme Court oversees challenges to petitions or signatures.
ROADBLOCKS
Expensive and time-consuming to create digital copies of petitions.
5 BALLOT LANGUAGE
Ballot Board writes ballot language.
Pro/Con public comments published.
ROADBLOCKS
The Ballot Board may write an unfair and misleading description (that does not reflect what was on the signature-gathering petition.)
[CASE STUDY: How Ohio Issue 1, 2024 went down]
6 VOTE!
Ohio citizens vote.
If passed, the intiative becomes law within 30 days.
Learn more about the ballot initiative process and see how you can help restore voter confidence in Ohio’s citizen-led ballot initiatives
