COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine on Friday rejected a petition for seeking a ballot measure to amend the Ohio constitution and repeal the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
DeWine said that the advocacy group Freedom to Marry Ohio had submitted the initial required 1,000 voter signatures, but had not supplied an adequate description of the measure.
The group is seeking to place a question on the ballot that would legalize same-sex marriage, while allowing churches and religious organizations the “freedom to determine who they wish to marry,” reported WFMJ-TV.
In 2004, Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman.
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In a press release, Dewine stated that the petition was rejected on logistical standpoints such as the summary language being longer than the amendment itself, and incorrect section references being made.
“After reviewing the submission, I conclude that I am unable to certify the summary as a fair and truthful statement of the proposed constitutional amendment,” Dewinde said.
Ian James of Freedom to Marry Ohio said the rejection was not surprising, citing previous rejections by Dewine in the past and said that the coalition will keep “moving forward.”
DeWine’s approval is needed before the group can start an effort to obtain the 385,000 signatures needed to put the measure before Ohio voters.
