The bill seeks to amend various sections of the Revised Code to require that state and school district board members be nominated through primary elections, with candidates appearing on the ballot alongside a party designation. Key amendments include the insertion of language that specifies "member of the state board of education" and "member of a board of education" on the ballot, indicating a shift towards a more partisan nomination process. Additionally, the bill repeals several sections related to the nomination process for educational service center governing boards, streamlining the election process and enhancing political accountability by aligning it with the primary election framework used for other political offices.

Further, the bill introduces new requirements for ballot formatting and candidate information, including the arrangement of names in groups and rotation across precincts to ensure fairness. It establishes guidelines for the filing and validation of candidacy declarations and petitions, mandates public inspection of petition papers, and outlines procedures for disqualifying candidates seeking multiple offices. The bill also clarifies the grounds for challenging a person's right to vote in primary elections and repeals certain existing legal language related to candidate disqualification and voting rights, with the new regulations first applying to the nomination of candidates for the State Board of Education and related elections.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3311.053, 3501.01, 3505.03, 3505.04, 3513.04, 3513.05, 3513.052, 3513.19, 3513.254, 3513.255, 3513.256, 3513.259