Signature requirements for ballot measures in Ohio

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This page provides an overview of signature requirements for statewide citizen-initiated measures in Ohio. In Ohio, citizens can initiate constitutional amendments, state statutes, and veto referendums.

Signature requirements

In Ohio, the number of signatures needed to place a measure on the ballot is based on the total number of votes cast for the governor in the preceding general election.

The following are the requirements for the types of citizen-initiated measures in Ohio:

In Ohio, initiated state statutes begin as indirect initiatives, with campaigns needing to collect signatures equal to 3 percent of the votes cast for governor to place their proposal before the Ohio State Legislature. If the legislature fails to enact the proposed legislation, additional signatures equaling another 3 percent of the gubernatorial vote must be collected in order to place the measure the ballot as a direct initiative.

Prior to being approved for circulation, an initiative's proponents must file 1,000 signatures.

The chart below shows election years and the signature requirement for initiatives designed to appear on the ballot in that year, with gubernatorial election years bolded. Due to the timeframe for submitting signatures, initiated state statute lag one year behind the other types of citizen-initiated measures in terms of signature requirements.

Year Initial signatures Initiated amendment Initiated statute Round 1 Initiated statute Round 2 Veto referendum
2026 1,000 413,487 124,046 124,046 248,092
2025 1,000 413,487 124,046 124,046 248,092
2024 1,000 413,487 124,046 124,046 248,092
2023 1,000 413,487 124,046 124,046 248,092
2022 1,000 442,958 132,887 132,887 265,774
2021 1,000 442,958 132,887 132,887 265,774
2020 1,000 442,958 132,887 132,887 265,774
2019 1,000 442,958 91,677 91,677 265,774
2018 1,000 305,591 91,677 91,677 183,355
2017 1,000 305,591 91,677 91,677 183,355
2016 1,000 305,591 91,677 91,677 183,355
2015 1,000 305,591 115,574 115,574 183,355
2014 1,000 385,247 115,574 115,574 231,149
2013 1,000 385,247 115,574 115,574 231,149
2012 1,000 385,247 115,574 115,574 231,149
2011 1,000 385,247 120,683 120,683 231,149
2010 1,000 402,275 120,683 120,683 241,365
2009 1,000 402,275 120,683 120,683 241,365
2008 1,000 402,275 120,683 120,683 241,365
2007 1,000 402,275 96,870 96,870 241,365
2006 1,000 322,899 96,870 96,870 193,740
2005 1,000 322,899 96,870 96,870 193,740
2004 1,000 322,899 96,870 96,870 193,740

DocumentIcon.jpg See law: Ohio Constitution, Article 2, Sections 1a -1c

Changes in number of signatures

The following graph illustrates the number of signatures required for initiated constitutional amendments (10 percent of the gubernatorial vote), direct initiated state statutes (6 percent of the gubernatorial vote), indirect initiated state statutes (3 percent of the gubernatorial vote), and veto referendums (6 percent of the gubernatorial vote) from 2004 through 2026.

Basis for calculation

In Ohio, the number of signatures needed to place a measure on the ballot is based on the total number of votes cast for the governor in the preceding election. The following numbers of votes were cast for the office of governor in each year listed:

Year Votes cast for governor
2022 4,134,877
2018 4,429,582
2014 3,055,913
2010 3,852,469
2006 4,022,754

Distribution requirement

See also: Distribution requirement

In Ohio, signatures for citizen-initiated measures must come from 44 of Ohio's 88 counties. The specific number of signatures from the counties varies based on the type of measure:

Signature deadlines

In Ohio, state law does not limit how long a specific signature petition can be circulated.

Signatures for initiated constitutional amendments are due at least 125 days prior to the general election. Signatures for initiated state statutes are collected and submitted in two rounds. The first round is due 10 days before the annual legislative session begins on the first Monday in January. The second round is due within 90 days following the passage of the legislature's four-month deadline to address the initiative. Signatures for veto referendums are due within 90 days after the targeted law was signed.

Year Statutes, Rd. 1 Amendments
2025 December 27, 2024 July 2, 2025
2024 December 23, 2023 July 3, 2024
2023 December 23, 2022 July 6, 2023
2022 December 24, 2021 July 6, 2022
2021 December 25, 2020 June 30, 2021
2020 December 27, 2019 July 1, 2020
2019 December 28, 2018 July 3, 2019
2018 December 29, 2017 July 4, 2018
2017 December 30, 2016 July 5, 2017
2016 December 26, 2015 July 6, 2016
2015 December 26, 2014 July 1, 2015
2014 December 28, 2013 July 2, 2014
2013 December 28, 2012 July 3, 2013
2012 December 23, 2011 July 4, 2012
2011 December 24, 2010 July 6, 2011
2010 December 23, 2009 June 30, 2010

Recall

See also: Laws governing recall in Ohio

ORC §705.92, which allows the recall of elected officials of cities, counties, townships, villages, and other municipal corporations in the state, calls for signatures equaling "15% of the total votes cast at the most recent regular municipal election" to force a recall election.[1]

See also

External links

Footnotes