Scroll to bottom of page for a list of petitions submitted to the Attorney General's Office.
The powers of initiative and referendum are reserved for the people of Ohio under Article 2, Section 1 of the Ohio Constitution, enabling citizens to place an issue directly before voters on a statewide ballot. Citizens who wish to put a statewide issue on the ballot have one of the following methods available to them:
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Initiated constitutional amendment - used to amend or add an article or part of an article of the constitution. One example of a constitutional amendment that has been approved by voters and subsequently added to the state's constitution is Article 15, Section 6(C), allowing casino gambling in 2010.
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Initiated statute - used to add a statute to the Ohio Revised Code. An example is the passage of R.C. Chapter 3794, the state's smoking ban, approved by voters in 2006.
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Referendum - used to repeal an existing law or section of law. A referendum effort must commence during the 90-day waiting period before a bill becomes law. An example of a referendum campaign was the 2008 effort to repeal pay day lending restrictions under House Bill 545, a measure that was ultimately not successful.
Petitioners may begin the initiative process by forming a committee, drafting their initiative and summary, and collecting at least 1,000 signatures of registered voters. (The process is outlined in greater detail in R.C. Chapter 3519, as well as the Secretary of State's website.)
Once petitioners meet the signature requirement, they must submit all materials to the Attorney General's Office, Constitutional Offices Section, at 30 E. Broad Street, 16th Floor. The office works on two tracks, simultaneously working with boards of election to get signatures verified and evaluating the submitted summary to determine whether it is a fair and truthful representation of the proposed initiative.
For a referendum, petitioners must submit all original materials directly to the Secretary of State's Office. The Attorney General's Office should receive a copy of the full text of the law subject to repeal, and a copy of the summary of that law. As with initiatives, the Attorney General's Office evaluates the submitted summary to determine whether it is a fair and truthful representation of the law subject to repeal.
If the Attorney General determines that the summary is fair and truthful, he will certify that fact to the Secretary of State. The Attorney General has ten calendar days to make this determination in the case of initiatives, and ten business days in the case of referenda. This is the first step in the process of getting an initiative on a statewide ballot. For more detailed information, consult the Secretary of State's website, the Ohio Revised Code, or the Initiative and Referendum FAQs.
| Initiative Name |
Date Submitted |
Type |
Amends/Adds |
AG Action |
Ohio Rights Group
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
5/7/2013 |
Constitutional Amendment |
Ohio Cannabis Rights Amendment |
Certified, May 17, 2013
AG Action (PDF)
|
Coalition to Return Prayer to Our Public Schools
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
4/22/2013 |
Constitutional Amendment |
To Authorize Prayer in School |
Rejected May 2, 2013
AG Action (PDF)
|
Ohioans for Ohio
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
10/30/2012 |
Constitutional Amendment |
An Ohioans for Ohio amendment |
Rejected, Nov. 7, 2012,
AG Action (PDF)
|
Freedom to Marry and Religious Freedom (Resubmission)
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
3/26/2012 |
Constitutional Amendment |
Repeal and Replace Article XV, Section 11 |
Certified April 3, 2012
AG Action (PDF)
|
Ohio Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission Amendment
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
3/19/2012 |
Constitutional Amendment |
Article XI: add & repeal parts of §§ 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, & 13; repeal §§ 8 & 14; adds §16 |
Certified March 29, 2012
AG Action (PDF)
|
Freedom to Marriage & Religious Freedom Amendment
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
3/1/2012 |
Constitutional Amendment |
Repeal & Replace Article XV, Section 11 |
Rejected, March 9, 2012
AG Action (PDF)
|
The Ohio Clean Energy Initiative
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
2/10/2012 |
Constitutional Amendment |
Article VIII, Section 2s |
Certified Feb. 21, 2012
AG Action (PDF)
|
Freedom to choose whether to participate in a labor organization
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
1/23/2012 |
Constitutional Amendment |
Adds Article I, Section 22 |
Certified Feb. 1, 2012
AG Action (PDF)
|
The Ohio Medical Cannabis Amendment
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
1/12/2012 |
Constitutional Amendment |
Article XV, Section 12 |
Certified 1/20/2012
AG Action (PDF)
|
Personhood Ohio
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
12/21/2011 |
Constitutional Amendment |
Article I, Section 16(b) |
Certified December 30, 2011
AG Action (PDF)
|
Freedom to choose whether to participate in a labor organization as a condition of employment
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
11/10/2011 |
Constitutional Amendment |
Article I, Section 22 |
Rejected November 17, 2011
AG Action (PDF)
|
Referendum on House Bill 319 Sections 1 and 2
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
10/17/2011 |
Referendum |
Referendum on Newly Drawn Congressional Districts |
Certified Oct. 21, 2011
AG Action (PDF)
|
Personhood Amendment
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
10/14/2011 |
Constitutional Amendment |
Amends Article I, Sections 1 and 16 |
Rejected, Oct. 24, 2011
AG Action (PDF)
|
Ohio Alternative Treatment Amendment
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
10/6/2011 |
Constitutional Amendment |
An alternative medical treatment amendment |
Certified 10/14/2011
AG Action (PDF)
|
Ohio Medical Cannabis Amendment
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
9/7/2011 |
Constitutional Amendment |
Article XV, Section 12 - Medical Cannabis |
Rejected, 9/16/11
AG Action (PDF)
|
Referendum on Am. Sub. H.B. 194 (Elections Reform) Re-submitted
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
8/5/2011 |
Referendum |
Repeal Am. Sub. H.B. 194 in its entirety |
Certified, August 18, 2011
AG Action (PDF)
|
Ohio Alternative Treatment Amendment
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
7/27/2011 |
Constitutional Amendment |
The Ohio Alternative Treatment Amendment (to allow medical cannabis) |
Rejected August 3, 2011
AG Action (PDF)
|
Referendum on Am. Sub. H.B. 194 (Elections Reform)
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
7/18/2011 |
Referendum |
Amends Portions of H.B. 194 |
Rejected Aug. 1, 2011
AG Action (PDF)
|
Referendum on Am. Sub. S.B. 5 - Long Version
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
4/4/2011 |
Referendum |
Am. Sub. S.B. 5 |
Rejected 4/15/11
AG Action (PDF)
|
Referendum on Am. Sub. S.B. 5 - Short Version
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
4/4/2011 |
Referendum |
Am. Sub. S.B. 5 |
Certified 4/15/11
AG Action (PDF)
|
Ohio Sovereignty Amendment 4
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
4/23/2010 |
Constitutional Amendment |
An Ohio Sovereignty Amendment |
Certified May 3, 2010
AG Action (PDF)
|
Preserve the Freedom to Choose Healthcare Coverage
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
3/22/2010 |
Constitutional Amendment |
Article I, Section 21 |
Certified, April 1, 2010
AG Action (PDF)
|
Ohio Sovereignty Amendment 3
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
3/16/2010 |
Constitutional Amendment |
An Ohio Sovereignty Amendment |
Rejected 3/26/10
AG Action (PDF)
|
Livestock Board Amendment
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
1/27/2010 |
Constitutional Amendment |
Amends Article XIV |
Certified 2/5/2010
AG Action (PDF)
|
Ohio Sovereignty Amendment 2
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
12/23/2009 |
Constitutional Amendment |
Add Article XIV |
Rejected December 30, 2009
AG Action (PDF)
|
Ohio Dog Auctions Act
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
9/23/2009 |
Statutory Amendment |
Enact ORC 955.54 |
Certified Oct. 2, 2009
AG Action (PDF)
|
Casino Amendment #2
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
3/25/2009 |
Initiated Constitutional Amendment |
Amends Art XV Sec 6 |
Approved April 3, 2009
AG Action (PDF)
|
Casino Amendment
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
3/11/2009 |
Initiated Constitutional Amendment |
Amends Art XV Sec 6 |
Rejected March 23, 2009
AG Action (PDF)
|
Payday Lending Bill #3
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
6/27/2008 |
Referendum |
Repeals Section 3 of HB 545 |
Approved July 10, 2008
AG Action (PDF)
|
Payday Lending Bill #2
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
6/25/2008 |
Referendum |
Repeals Sub. HB 545 |
Rejected July 10, 2008
AG Action (PDF)
|
Payday Lending Bill
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
6/9/2008 |
Referendum |
Repeals Sub. HB 545 |
Rejected June 19, 2008
AG Action (PDF)
|
Wage Amendment
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
6/6/2008 |
Initiatied Constitutional Amendment |
Ohio Constitution Art. II, Sec. 34a |
Rejected June 19, 2008
AG Action (PDF)
|
Casino Amendment #3
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
12/11/2007 |
Initiated Constitutional Amendment |
Adds Art. XV Sec. 6a to the Ohio Constitution |
Approved 12/20/07
AG Action (PDF)
|
Lead Paint Referendum
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
9/7/2007 |
Referendum |
Repeals amendments to R.C. 1356.09, 2307.71, 2307.73, and 2317.02 |
Certified September 11, 2007
|
Strip Club Referendum
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
6/12/2007 |
Referendum |
Repeals Amendments to RC Sec. 503.52, 715.55, and 2907.40 |
Certified June 15, 2007
|
Healthy Families Act
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
6/8/2007 |
Init. Statute |
Adds R.C. Chapter 4114 |
Certified April 16, 2007
|
Smoking Amendment
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
6/4/2007 |
Const. Amend. |
Adds Art. XV Sec. 12 |
Rejected June 11, 2007
|
Guar. High Quality Pub. Ed.
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
1/28/2007 |
Const. Amend. |
Adds Art. VI Sec. 2(A) - (K) |
Certified Feb. 7, 2007
|
Community Defense Act #3
Initiative Petition (PDF) |
8/11/2006 |
Init. Statute |
Adds RC 3567.01-03 |
Certified Aug. 21, 2006
|