PIC-M SAMPLE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT - FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO - NOVEMBER 4, 2008 Instructions to Voter TO VOTE: Completely darken only the oval ( ) at the left of the candidate or answer of your choice. Use ONLY a #2 pencil or a black or blue ink pen. DO NOT USE RED INK! Do not attempt to erase or cross out any marks made in error. NOTE: If you make an error, return ballot to election official and obtain another one. SAMPLE OFFICE TYPE BALLOT For Attorney General For Sheriff For President and (Unexpired Term Ending January 9, 2011) Vote For One (1) Vote For One (1) Vice-President Dave Phalen Vote For One (1) To vote for President and Vice-President, Robert M. Owens Republican select the joint candidates of your choice. Your vote will be counted for each of the For County Recorder candidates for presidential electors whose names have been certified to the Secretary of Richard Cordray Vote For One (1) State. Democratic Gene Wood For President: Mike Crites Republican Ralph Nader Republican For County Treasurer For Vice-President Vote For One (1) Matt Gonzalez For Representative to Congress (7th District) Jon A. Slater, Jr. Vote For One (1) For President: Republican Barack Obama Steve Austria For County Engineer For Vice-President Republican Vote For One (1) Joe Biden Democratic Party Sharen Swartz Neuhardt Frank W. Anderson For President: Democratic Republican Chuck Baldwin For State Representative For Coroner For Vice-President (5th District) Vote For One (1) Darrell L. Castle Vote For One (1) Constitution Party Thomas R. Vajen For President: Gerald L. Stebelton Republican Bob Barr Republican SAMPLE NON-PARTISAN For Vice-President BALLOT Wayne Allyn Root For County Commissioner Libertarian Party of Ohio (Full Term Commencing 1-2-09) Vote For One (1) For Member of For President: State Board of Education Richard Duncan (9th District) Judith K. Shupe Vote For One (1) For Vice-President Republican Ricky Johnson William E. Moore Karl K. Stalter Michael L. Collins For President: Democratic Larry A. Good John McCain For County Commissioner For Justice of the Supreme For Vice-President (Full Term Commencing 1-3-09) Court Sarah Palin Vote For One (1) (Full Term Commencing 1-1-09) Republican Vote For One (1) For President: George C. Hallarn Maureen O'Connor Cynthia McKinney Democratic Joseph D. Russo For Vice-President Rosa A. Clemente Jon D. Myers For Justice of the Supreme Republican Green Party of the United States Court (Full Term Commencing 1-2-09) For President: For Prosecuting Attorney Vote For One (1) Brian Moore Vote For One (1) Peter M. Sikora For Vice-President Stewart Alexander David L. Landefeld Evelyn L. Stratton Republican Socialist Party USA For President: For Clerk of Court of Common ______________ Write-In Pleas For Vice President Vote For One (1) ______________ Write-In Deborah Smalley Republican VOTE BOTH SIDES FRONT Card 74 RptPct 870 "PIC-M" For Judge of the Court of Appeals (5th District) 2 PROPOSED 3 PROPOSED (Full Term Commencing 2-9-09) CONSTITUTIONAL Vote For One (1) CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AMENDMENT William B. Hoffman TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE TO TO AMEND THE Lianne L. Sefcovic ISSUE BONDS TO CONTINUE CONSTITUTION TO THE CLEAN OHIO PROGRAM PROTECT PRIVATE For Judge of the Court of Common PROPERTY RIGHTS IN Pleas FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GROUND WATER, LAKES (Full Term Commencing 2-9-09) REVITALIZATION AND Vote For One (1) CONSERVATION AND OTHER WATERCOURSES Chris Allan Martin (Proposed by Joint Resolution of the For Judge of the Court of Common General Assembly of Ohio) (Proposed by Joint Resolution of Pleas, Juvenile / Probate To adopt Section 2q of Article VIII the General Assembly of Ohio) (Full Term Commencing 2-9-09) Vote For One (1) of the Constitution of the State of Ohio. To adopt Section 19b of Article I Steven O. Williams of the Constitution of the State of This proposed amendment would: Ohio. SAMPLE QUESTIONS AND ISSUES BALLOT 1. Authorize the state to issue up to two hundred million dollars This proposed Amendment would: ($200,000,000) of bonds for conservation and preservation of 1. Make explicit that a private PROPOSED 1 natural areas, open spaces and property owner has a right to CONSTITUTIONAL farmlands and other lands devoted to make reasonable use of the AMENDMENT agriculture, including by acquiring ground water that lies beneath the owner’s land, although this land or interests in land; provision of TO PROVIDE FOR EARLIER right is subordinate to the public state and local park and recreation FILING DEADLINES FOR welfare. facilities, and other actions that STATEWIDE BALLOT ISSUES 2. Make explicit that a private permit and enhance the availability, property owner who owns land public use and enjoyment of natural on the border of a lake or other (Proposed by Joint Resolution of the areas in the state; and land, forest, watercourse has a right to make General Assembly of Ohio) water and other natural resource reasonable use of the water in management projects. To amend Sections 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1g such lake or watercourse located 2. Authorize the state to issue bonds up on or flowing through the of Article II of the Constitution of to two hundred million dollars owner’s land, although this right the State of Ohio ($200,000,000) for environmental is subordinate to the public revitalization and re-development of welfare. The proposed amendment would: publicly and privately owned lands, 3. Not affect the public’s use of including environmental remediation, Lake Erie and other navigable 1. Require that a citizen-initiated assessment or clean up of waters of the state. statewide ballot issue be considered at contamination or pollution. 4. Prevent the rights confirmed the next general election if petitions 3. Limit the amount that could be under this proposed amendment are filed 125 days before the election. borrowed in any one fiscal year for to the Ohio Constitution from 2. Establish deadlines for boards of either conservation or revitalization being impaired or limited by the elections to determine the validity of purposes to no more than fifty million operation of other sections of citizen-initiated petitions. dollars ($50,000,000) plus the the Ohio Constitution. 3. Standardize the process for legal principal amount of those obligations challenges to citizen-initiated that in any prior fiscal year could If approved, this amendment shall take petitions by giving the Ohio Supreme have been but were not issued. Court jurisdiction to consider these effect December 1, 2008. cases and establishing expedited If adopted, this amendment shall take effect A “YES” vote means approval of the deadlines for the Court to make immediately. decisions. amendment. A “YES” vote means approval of the A “NO” vote means disapproval of the A “YES” vote means approval of the amendment. amendment. amendment. A “NO” vote means disapproval of the A majority YES vote is required for the A “NO” vote means disapproval of the amendment. amendment. amendment to be adopted. A majority YES vote is required for the A majority YES vote is required for the amendment to be adopted. SHALL THE PROPOSED amendment to be adopted. AMENDMENT BE APPROVED? SHALL THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BE APPROVED? YES SHALL THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BE APPROVED? YES YES NO NO NO 4 WITHDRAWN BY PETITIONERS' COMMITTEE ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2008 (SIGNATURES OMITTED FROM SAMPLE BALLOTS) BACK Card 74 RptPct 870 "PIC-M" 5 REFERENDUM REFERENDUM ON LEGISLATION MAKING CHANGES TO CHECK CASHING LENDING, SOMETIMES KNOWN AS "PAYDAY LENDING," FEES, INTEREST RATES AND PRACTICES Substitute House Bill 545 (H.B. 545), which was passed by the Ohio legislature and signed into law by the Governor, substantially changed the law regulating how certain lenders in Ohio operate. Under the referendum, voters must decide whether Section 3 of H.B. 545 should go into effect. Section 3 of H.B. 545 deletes the old provisions of the law regulating check cashing lenders, sometimes known as "payday lenders," in favor of the new provisions. 1. If a majority of Ohio voters approve Section 3 of H.B. 545, all short term lenders, including check cashing lenders, would be subject to the following limitations: • The maximum loan amount would be $500; • Borrowers would have at least 30 days to repay the loan; and • The maximum interest rate would be 28% annual percentage rate (APR) on all loans. 2. If a majority of Ohio voters reject Section 3 of H.B. 545, check cashing lenders would be allowed to continue under previous law as follows; • The maximum loan amount would continue to be $800; • There would continue to be no minimum repayment period; and • Check cashing lenders could continue to charge rates and fees, resulting in a total charge for a loan that substantially exceeds an equivalent APR of 28%. A "YES" vote means you approve of Section 3 of H.B. 545, and want to limit the interest rate for short term loans to 28% APR and change short term lending laws. A "NO" vote means you disapprove of Section 3 of H.B. 545 and want to permit check cashing lenders to continue to be able to offer short term loans as currently permitted. A majority "YES" vote is required for Section 3 of H.B. 545 to be approved. SHALL SECTION 3 OF H.B. 545 BE APPROVED? YES NO 6 PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION BY INITIATIVE PETITION FOR A CASINO NEAR WILMINGTON IN SOUTHWEST OHIO AND DISTRIBUTE TO ALL OHIO COUNTIES A TAX ON THE CASINO (Proposed by Initiative Petition) To adopt Section 6a to Article XV of the Ohio Constitution This proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution would: 1.