The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has certified the petition title and summary for a proposed constitutional amendment called the “Ohio Right to Marry Amendment.” This measure aims to repeal Article XV, Section 11 of the Ohio Constitution.
The petition was initially submitted on June 24 and resubmitted on August 1 after being separated by the Ohio Ballot Board. In a response letter to petitioners, the office stated, “The submitted title and summary comply with Section 3519.01(A) as interpreted by the federal courts. This certification should not be construed as an affirmation of the enforceability, constitutionality, or wisdom of the proposed amendment.”
Following this certification, a verified copy of both the constitutional amendment and its certification will be filed with the Secretary of State. Petitioners are now required to collect signatures from registered voters equal to at least 10% of those who voted in the most recent gubernatorial election. These signatures must come from at least 44 out of Ohio’s 88 counties, with each county contributing signatures totaling at least 5% of its votes cast in that election.
If enough valid signatures are confirmed by the Secretary of State’s Office at least 65 days before an election, then the full text of this proposed amendment will appear on the ballot during either a regular or general election occurring more than 125 days after filing.
The full text of both the certification letter and petition is available online.
