Signature requirements for ballot measures in Ohio
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:
- initiated constitutional amendment (ICA): 10 percent of the votes cast for governor
- direct initiated state statute (ISS): 6 percent of the votes cast for governor
- indirect initiated state statute (IISS): 3 percent of the votes cast for governor
- veto referendum (VR): 6 percent of the votes cast for governor
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 |
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:
- initiated constitutional amendment (ICA): 5 percent of the votes cast for governor in each of 44 counties
- direct initiated state statute (ISS): 3 percent of the votes cast for governor, in two rounds equal to 1.5 percent, in each of 44 counties
- indirect initiated state statute (IISS): 1.5 percent of the votes cast for governor in each of 44 counties
- veto referendum (VR): 3 percent of the votes cast for governor in each of 44 counties
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
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Ohio
- Laws governing the initiative process in Ohio
- States where signature requirements are based on votes cast for governor
- Ballot measure petition deadlines and requirements, 2009
- Ballot measure petition deadlines and requirements, 2010
External links
- Procedures for statewide ballot issues, from the Ohio Secretary of State
- Procedure for an initiated statute
- Procedure for an initiated amendment
- Procedure for a veto referendum
- NCSL signature chart for 2008
- Ohio signature requirements collated by the Citizens in Charge Foundation
Footnotes
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