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Ohio prohibits ranked choice voting and mandates withholding state funds from local governments that adopt it
Original title: Prohibit use of ranked choice voting; withhold funding for use
Last action · June 16, 2026: EffectiveSponsors: Theresa Gavarone and 48 others
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law
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What This Bill Does
This law prohibits any municipality, county, or primary election in Ohio from using or , unless explicitly permitted under the state constitution. If the secretary of state finds a local government has approved ranked choice voting, that municipality or county becomes ineligible for state distributions until the policy is rescinded. The legislation also modifies various election petition record requirements and signature verification rules.
Why it matters
Local governments in Ohio that implement face a complete cutoff of state disbursements, directly impacting municipal budgets and local services.
Background
- Ranked choice voting is an alternative voting system where voters rank candidates by preference, which several municipalities nationwide have adopted for local elections. context
- The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature responsible for enacting statutory laws and amending the Ohio Revised Code. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Directly affected
Municipal Corporations and Counties
Local governments face the loss of state Local Government Fund distributions if they approve or implement ranked choice voting.
Directly affected
Voters and Electors
Voters are prohibited from using ranked choice or instant runoff voting methods in local or primary elections.
Directly affected
Secretary of State
The secretary of state is responsible for determining if a local government has approved ranked choice voting and notifying the tax commissioner.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to a local government if it adopts ranked choice voting?
The municipality or chartered county becomes ineligible to receive distributions from the state for the duration that is in effect.
Are there any exceptions where ranked choice voting is allowed?
Yes, elections may use if explicitly permitted under Article X or Article XVIII of the Ohio Constitution.
What happens if a local government decides to repeal its use of ranked choice voting?
Upon notification that the local government has rescinded its approval, the secretary of state notifies the tax commissioner, and state payments are resumed.
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Coverage by outlet perspective1 article
Left 1
Blind spot - no right-leaning coverage
Bias ratings based on AllSides / Media Bias/Fact Check
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
12 actions- Jun 16, 2026EnrolledEffective
- Mar 17, 2026EnrolledSigned By The Governor
- Mar 12, 2026EnrolledSent To The Governor
- Mar 4, 2026SenateFloorConcurred in House amendments
- Feb 25, 2026HouseCommitteeReported - Substitute (General Government)
- Feb 25, 2026HouseFloorPassed
Show 6 earlier actions
- May 21, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to General Government
- May 20, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced
- May 14, 2025SenateFloorPassed
- Apr 29, 2025SenateCommitteeReported (General Government)
- Jan 29, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred to General Government
- Jan 28, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced
Version history & redline
6 versions on fileComparing As Passed by the House → As Enrolled
removed addedOfficial text
removed: sb63_04_PH
As Passed by the House
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session Sub. S. B. No. 63
2025-2026
Senators Gavarone, DeMora
Cosponsors: Senators Huffman,
Brenner, Cirino, Cutrona, Johnson, Koehler, Lang, O'Brien, Patton,
Reynolds, Timken, Wilkin
Representatives Bird, Abrams,
Barhorst, Creech, Demetriou, Dovilla, Fischer, Fowler Arthur, Gross,
Hall, T., Hiner, Holmes, Hoops, John, King, Klopfenstein, Lear,
Lorenz, Mathews, A., Mathews, T., McClain, Miller, K., Miller, M.,
Newman, Plummer, Ray, Richardson, Ritter, Robb Blasdel, Salvo,
Schmidt, Stewart, Swearingen, Thomas, D., Williams
To
amend sections 3501.01,
3513.05, 3513.262, 3513.263,
and 5747.502 and to enact sections 3505.011, 3513.141, 5747.504, and
5747.505 of the Revised Code to
generally prohibit the use of ranked choice voting, to withhold Local
Government Fund distributions from a municipality or chartered county
that uses ranked choice voting, and to make changes to election
petition records.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1. That
sections 3501.01,
3513.05, 3513.262, 3513.263,
and 5747.502 be amended and sections 3505.011, 3513.141, 5747.504,
and 5747.505 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec.
3501.01. As
used in the sections of the Revised Code relating to elections and
political communications:
(A)
"General election" means the election held on the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in each November.
(B)
"Regular municipal election" means the election held on the
first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each odd-numbered
year.
(C)
"Regular state election" means the election held on the
first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each
even-numbered year.
(D)
"Special election" means any election other than those
elections defined in other divisions of this section. A special
election may be held only on the first Tuesday after the first Monday
in May or November, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
50,496 more removed characters - read the previous versionadded: sb63_05_EN
(136th General Assembly)
(Substitute
Senate Bill Number 63)
AN
ACT
To amend sections 3501.01,
3513.05, 3513.262, 3513.263, and 5747.502 and to enact sections
3505.011, 3513.141, 5747.504, and 5747.505 of the Revised Code to
generally prohibit the use of ranked choice voting, to withhold Local
Government Fund distributions from a municipality or chartered county
that uses ranked choice voting, and to make changes to election
petition records.
Be
it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:
Section
1. That
sections 3501.01,
3513.05, 3513.262, 3513.263,
and 5747.502 be amended and sections 3505.011, 3513.141, 5747.504,
and 5747.505 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec.
3501.01. As
used in the sections of the Revised Code relating to elections and
political communications:
(A)
"General election" means the election held on the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in each November.
(B)
"Regular municipal election" means the election held on the
first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each odd-numbered
year.
(C)
"Regular state election" means the election held on the
first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each
even-numbered year.
(D)
"Special election" means any election other than those
elections defined in other divisions of this section. A special
election may be held only on the first Tuesday after the first Monday
in May or November, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
August in accordance with section 3501.022 of the Revised Code, or on
the day authorized by a particular municipal or county charter for
the holding of a primary election, except that in any year in which a
presidential primary election is held, no special election shall be
held in May, except as authorized by a municipal or county charter,
but may be held on the third Tuesday after the first Monday in March.
(E)(1)
"Primary" or "primary election" means an election
held for the purpose of nominating persons as 50,530 more added characters - read this version
Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →
Voting Record
Passed
Total
31
- Yes
- 31
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (30)
Stephen A. HuffmanParty not recordedyes
Kristina RoegnerParty not recordedyes
Catherine IngramParty not recordedyes
Tim SchafferParty not recordedyes
Paula Hicks-HudsonParty not recordedyes
Thomas PattonParty not recordedyes
Nickie AntonioParty not recordedyes
George LangParty not recordedyes
Rob McColleyParty not recordedyes
Brian ChavezParty not recordedyes
Shane WilkinParty not recordedyes
Kyle KoehlerParty not recordedyes
Andrew BrennerParty not recordedyes
Jane TimkenParty not recordedyes
Michele ReynoldsParty not recordedyes
Beth ListonParty not recordedyes
Bill ReinekeParty not recordedyes
Terry JohnsonParty not recordedyes
Willis BlackshearParty not recordedyes
Jerry CirinoParty not recordedyes
Mark RomanchukParty not recordedyes
Nathan H. ManningParty not recordedyes
Casey WeinsteinParty not recordedyes
Sandra O'BrienParty not recordedyes
Show 4 earlier roll calls
Passed
Total
91
- Yes
- 91
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (93)
Mark JohnsonParty not recordedyes
Haraz GhanbariParty not recordedyes
Brian LamptonParty not recordedyes
Ron FergusonParty not recordedyes
Anita SomaniParty not recordedno
Adam BirdParty not recordedyes
Tex FischerParty not recordedyes
Dontavius JarrellsParty not recordedyes
Bride Rose SweeneyParty not recordedyes
Mark SigristParty not recordedyes
Rodney CreechParty not recordedyes
Mark HinerParty not recordedyes
Jodi SalvoParty not recordedyes
Johnathan NewmanParty not recordedyes
Darnell BrewerParty not recordedno
Kevin RitterParty not recordedyes
Gary ClickParty not recordedyes
Mike OdiosoParty not recordedyes
Melanie MillerParty not recordedyes
Jim ThomasParty not recordedyes
Latyna HumphreyParty not recordedyes
David ThomasParty not recordedyes
Ashley Bryant BaileyParty not recordedyes
Jamie CallenderParty not recordedyes
69 more members
James M. HoopsParty not recordedyes
Diane MullinsParty not recordedyes
Kevin MillerParty not recordedyes
Sean BrennanParty not recordedyes
Andrea WhiteParty not recordedyes
Tom YoungParty not recordedyes
Jennifer GrossParty not recordedyes
Monica Robb BlasdelParty not recordedyes
Joseph A. Miller, IIIParty not recordedyes
Kellie DeeterParty not recordedyes
Levi DeanParty not recordedyes
Tracy RichardsonParty not recordedyes
Dani IsaacsohnParty not recordedyes
Ty MathewsParty not recordedyes
Ismail MohamedParty not recordedyes
Scott OelslagerParty not recordedyes
Justin PizzulliParty not recordedyes
Michelle TeskaParty not recordedyes
%20(1)_edited.jpg){kind=small}
Nick SantucciParty not recordedyes
Beryl PiccolantonioParty not recordedyes
Sharon A. RayParty not recordedyes
Gayle ManningParty not recordedyes
Ty MooreParty not recordedyes
Michele GrimParty not recordedyes
Jean SchmidtParty not recordedyes
D.J. SwearingenParty not recordedyes
Thaddeus J. ClaggettParty not recordedyes
Munira AbdullahiParty not recordedyes
Brian StewartParty not recordedyes
Adam MathewsParty not recordedyes
Terrence UpchurchParty not recordedyes
Eric SynenbergParty not recordedno
Lauren McNallyParty not recordedyes
Marilyn JohnParty not recordedyes
Jeff LaReParty not recordedyes
Meredith CraigParty not recordedyes
Bob PetersonParty not recordedyes
Derrick HallParty not recordedyes
Cindy AbramsParty not recordedyes
Brian LorenzParty not recordedyes
Angela N. KingParty not recordedyes
Rachel BakerParty not recordedyes
Beth LearParty not recordedyes
Elgin RogersParty not recordedyes
Jack DanielsParty not recordedyes
Daniel P. TroyParty not recordedyes
Roy KlopfensteinParty not recordedyes
Allison RussoParty not recordedno
Tristan RaderParty not recordedno
Meredith R. Lawson-RoweParty not recordedyes
Heidi WorkmanParty not recordedyes
Sarah Fowler ArthurParty not recordedyes
Tim BarhorstParty not recordedyes
Crystal LettParty not recordedyes
Chris GlassburnParty not recordedyes
Riordan McClainParty not recordedyes
Phil PlummerParty not recordedyes
Cecil ThomasParty not recordedyes
Karen BrownleeParty not recordedyes
Michael D. DovillaParty not recordedyes
Matthew KishmanParty not recordedyes
Adam HolmesParty not recordedyes
Christine CockleyParty not recordedno
Thomas HallParty not recordedyes
Josh WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Jason StephensParty not recordedyes
Steve DemetriouParty not recordedyes
Matt HuffmanParty not recordedyes
Bill RoemerParty not recordedyes
Favorable Passage
Total
12
- Yes
- 12
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (13)
Juanita BrentParty not recordedno
Gayle ManningParty not recordedyes
Scott OelslagerParty not recordedyes
Jeff LaReParty not recordedyes
Allison RussoParty not recordedno
Phil PlummerParty not recordedyes
Riordan McClainParty not recordedyes
Adam BirdParty not recordedyes
Marilyn JohnParty not recordedyes
Eric SynenbergParty not recordedno
Kevin MillerParty not recordedyes
Sharon A. RayParty not recordedyes
Ashley Bryant BaileyParty not recordedno
Passed
Total
32
- Yes
- 27
- No
- 5
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (31)
Jerry CirinoParty not recordedyes
Al CutronaParty not recordedyes
Thomas PattonParty not recordedyes
Susan ManchesterParty not recordedyes
Bill ReinekeParty not recordedyes
Paula Hicks-HudsonParty not recordedno
Willis BlackshearParty not recordedno
Casey WeinsteinParty not recordedno
Michele ReynoldsParty not recordedyes
Kent SmithParty not recordedno
Nickie AntonioParty not recordedyes
Brian ChavezParty not recordedyes
Theresa GavaroneParty not recordedyes
Catherine IngramParty not recordedyes
George LangParty not recordedyes
Terry JohnsonParty not recordedyes
Shane WilkinParty not recordedyes
Kyle KoehlerParty not recordedyes
Rob McColleyParty not recordedyes
Jane TimkenParty not recordedyes
Beth ListonParty not recordedno
Al LandisParty not recordedyes
Hearcel CraigParty not recordedyes
Kristina RoegnerParty not recordedyes
Favorable Passage
Total
7
- Yes
- 6
- No
- 1
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 44 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift95% confidence
Enforcement via Fiscal Penalties
The legislation uses state-administered Local Government Fund distributions as a financial lever to deter municipalities from adopting alternative voting methods.
Connected Entities
Sources
Open source document
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz60Current news / social attention level
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