Athens County, OH Ballot

Issue 1 To provide for earlier filing deadlines for statewide ballot issues
Pass: 3,392,085 / 68.67% Yes votes ...... 1,547,962 / 31.33% No votes: To amend Sections 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1g of Article II of the Constitution of the State of Ohio The proposed amendment would:
1. Require that a citizen-initiated statewide ballot issue be considered at the next general election if petitions are filed 125 days before the election.
2. Establish deadlines for boards of elections to determine the validity of citizen-initiated petitions.
3. Standardize the process for legal challenges to citizen-initiated petitions by giving the Ohio Supreme Court jurisdiction to consider these cases and establishing expedited deadlines for the Court to make decisions.
Issue 2 To continue the clean Ohio Program
Pass: 3,568,228 / 69.27% Yes votes ...... 1,583,305 / 30.73% No votes: to authorize the state to issue bonds to continue the clean Ohio program for environmental revitalization and conservation; to adopt section 2q of article viii of the constitution of the state OF OHIO
Issue 3 To protect private property rights & water
Pass: 3,625,811 / 71.95% Yes votes ...... 1,413,639 / 28.05% No votes: To adopt Section 19b of Article I of the Constitution of the State of Ohio This proposed Amendment would:
1. Make explicit that a private property owner has a right to make reasonable use of the ground water that lies beneath the owner's land, although this right is subordinate to the public welfare.
2. Make explicit that a private property owner who owns land on the border of a lake or other watercourse has a right to make reasonable use of the water in such lake or watercourse located on or flowing through the owner's land, although this right is subordinate to the public welfare.
3. Not affect the public's use of Lake Erie and other navigable waters of the state.
4. Prevent the rights confirmed under this proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution from being impaired or limited by the operation of other sections of the Ohio Constitution. If approved, this amendment shall take effect December 1, 2008.
Issue 4 Withdrawn By Petitioners' Committee on September 4, 2008
Issue 5 Making changes to check cashing lending
Pass: 3,391,282 / 63.60% Yes votes ...... 1,940,951 / 36.40% No votes: 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%.
Issue 6 Petition for a casino near Wilmington
Fail: 2,088,294 / 37.63% Yes votes ...... 3,461,430 / 62.37% No votes: To adopt Section 6a to Article XV of the Ohio Constitution This proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution would:
1. Authorize one privately owned casino with a required minimum initial investment of $600 million dollars on a 94-acre site located near the northwest corner of State Route 73 and Interstate 71 in southwest Ohio in Chester Township near Wilmington, Clinton County, Ohio.
2. Require the casino to pay a tax of up to 30% on its gross receipts for gaming less payouts. The taxes are to be used first to pay expenses of regulating and collecting taxes from the casino, then for funding of gambling prevention and treatment programs, and the remainder to be distributed in the amount of 10% to Clinton County and 90% to the remaining counties based on population and to be used at each county's discretion.
3. Reduce the tax paid by the casino authorized by this amendment to the lesser of the rate taxed on another casino or 25%, in the event another casino is permitted in Ohio in the future.
4. Require that the casino be subject to all other applicable types of taxes that are currently in effect in Ohio.
5. Authorize the casino to conduct any game permitted in the State of Nevada, or any state adjacent to Ohio, including any type of card or table games, slot machines, and electronic gaming devices, except bets on races or sporting events. Only persons age 21 and over would be permitted to place bets. Amounts of bets would not be subject to any limits now or in the future. Days and hours of operation would not be subject to limits.
6. Set aside the application to the casino of all local and state laws and any constitutional provisions that would prohibit the operation of this privately owned casino, including any local zoning law that would prohibit or place restrictions on a casino from operating on the property in question. If approved, this proposed amendment shall take effect 30 days after the election.

The order of the contests and candidates on this ballot representation is NOT necessarily the same as your county's official ballot.
If you print and mark your choices on this page and take it to the polls instead of an official sample ballot, be very careful.

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