State Issue 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the Ohio General Assembly.  If passed, it will change the deadlines by which petitions must be filed in order for citizen-initiated constitutional amendments, statutes and referendums to appear on the ballot at the next election.

The amendment specifies that petitions must be filed not fewer than 125 days prior to the next regular election. Presently, the deadlines are ninety days prior for proposed constitutional amendments and sixty days prior for referendums.

The legislative sponsors of this proposal believe that, by providing boards of elections with more time to verify petitions, this change would eliminate instances where the ballot eligibility of issues would still be undecided when ballots must printed or voting machines programmed and, thus, also eliminate occasions when issues appear on the ballot but are ultimately ruled invalid.

Official Arguments
By law, the five-member Ohio Ballot Board designates a group of individuals to prepare and file arguments in support of or in opposition to each proposed constitutional amendment.  Click below to read the official arguments regarding State Issue 1.

Ballot Language
Read exactly what’s printed on the ballot regarding Issue 1:

Full Text of Proposed Amendment

Groups urging a “YES” vote on State Issue 1 include: County Commissioners’ Association of Ohio Ohio Association of Elections Officials Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Groups urging a “NO” vote on State Issue 1 include: