Candidate & Petition Services Brent E.

Lawler, Manager

Petitions
Whose responsibility is it to file a complete and accurate petition? The Candidates! It is the candidates responsibility to file a complete and accurate petition by the applicable deadline. Petition rules are governed by the Ohio Revised Code.

Parts of a Petition
Statement of Candidacy Body of Petition Circulator Statement

Part Petition
Front

(example)

Back

Statement of Candidacy

Body of Petition

Circulator Statement

Acceptance of Nomination

Statement of Candidacy
Complete and accurate. Name and signature should match the candidates registration card. Office sought and term clearly stated. Full term nonjudicial candidates check only the full term box on the petition. Partisan candidate include Party designation. Dated by candidate prior to obtaining signatures. Signed by the candidate.
(preferably in blue ink)

Must fill in petition for Candidate/Nominating petition section.

Body of Petition
Petition circulator must witness every signature. Ensure that each elector signs only his/her own information (husband/wife cannot sign for each other). Signatures must be in ink. Partisan Petition: signer must be of the same political party as candidate or not have voted in another partys primary in the last 2 years. Ensure that the date column is filled-in and the date is valid. Date must be the same or later than the date in the statement of candidacy. A Signature must substantially match the signature on file with the BOE. New registration cards can be filled out prior to signing a part petition.

Registration Cards

All yellow highlighted areas must be fully completed for the registration card to be valid. Registration cards must be returned to the Board of Elections within 10 days of the voters signature. Utilize the orange Voter Registration Transmission Form when submitting registration cards.

Circulator Statement
Circulator is not required to be a registered voter; if a registered voter is circulating a partisan petition they must be a member of the same political party as the candidate or not have voted in another partys primary in the last 2 years. Circulators name printed on the proper line. Accurate number of signatures reported. Circulators signature verifiable. Circulators address complete and valid. Circulator must witness each signature.

Acceptance of Nomination
If required by city charter, the candidate must date, sign and complete the Acceptance of Nomination on the back of at least one part-petition. The date of signing should be after the last date a voter signed the petition. Recommend that 2 acceptance of nomination be completed.

Petition Pre-Check
The Secretary of State's office has notified the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, by directive, that we are prohibited from performing pre-checks for prospective candidates or petitioners who seek review of their petitions. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Public terminals are available on the 2nd floor to check petition signatures in our registration data base.

Avoid Petition Pitfalls!!

Are the candidate and nominating clauses completely filled out prior to circulating the petition?
Candidate name and address Office sought and term clearly stated Dated and signed by candidate prior to obtaining signatures.

Are the signatures of voters printed? Are addresses of signers complete and valid? Are they from the correct District?

Avoid Petition Pitfalls!!

Are signing dates filled in and valid? Does the petition contain the minimum required signatures? Partisan Petition: Is the petition signer of the opposite party as the candidate? Is the circulator clause completely filled out and is the number of signatures witnessed correct? If required, is the Acceptance of Nomination complete?

Voting Location & Campaigners

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Flag Placement

Flags must be posted 100 feet from the voting entrance. All campaigning must take place 100 feet from the entrance of the polling location. Campaign literature is not permitted on any vehicle within 100 feet of the flags.
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Flag Placement
Flag Placement

Large Flag positioned at main entrance

100 from entrance

100 from entrance

100 from entrance

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Helpful Hints

Stay outside the 100 foot boundaries of no campaigning. Candidates are permitted to enter the polling place at 11 AM and 4 PM during the election for the purpose of checking the electors worksheets of who voted. Dont move other candidates signs. Be courteous to voters and campaign workers. If you have a concern, notify the polling location coordinator or election response line at 216.443.3277. Follow the instructions given by a polling official.
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Observers

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Observers

Observers are individuals who are appointed to watch and inspect election proceedings. They play an important role in assuring the public that the election processes are open and transparent. Is appointed to a precinct from the time the polls open until after the ballots in that precinct have been processed.
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Observers
1 observer per precinct may be appointed by:
Executive/Central Committee of a Political party. A group of 5 or more candidates. Candidate can not be an observer, unless a member of a political party and appointed by that party

Deadline: 11 days before the election by 4 PM.

September 13th Primary Election September 2nd November 8th General Election October 28th

File with: Linda Steimle, Clerk to the Board Amendments:

Filed until 4 PM the day before the Election Only in the precincts of the original filing
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Candidate & Petition Resources

2nd Floor
Candidate petitions and filing information. Filed petitions for review and/or copying. Campaign finance forms. Filed Candidate/Political Action Committee campaign finance reports for review and/or copying. Local Option petitions to wet/dry a specific precinct or wet a specific business location. Initiative and Referendum petitions and information. Absentee Applications.

Candidate & Petition Resources

2nd Floor
Voter Registration Cards. CD-ROMs of registered voters. Labels: registered voters by household or individual. Walking list of voters in a district by last name or street. Voting Locations in a district. Street Guide (lists address and street ranges in a district). Voter registration information.

Website Resources http://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/

Election Information by Political Subdivision Candidate Lists Elected Officials List (includes Party Committees) Campaign Finance Committee Reports Absentee Voter labels Absentee Voter Returns Maps Polling Locations Sample Ballots Election Results (2000 Present)
Summary Report Canvass Report

http://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/