Effective: October 29, 2018
Latest Legislation: House Bill 18 - 132nd General Assembly
(A) Notwithstanding section 3513.31 of the Revised Code, if a person nominated in a primary election or nominated by petition under section 3517.012 of the Revised Code as a party candidate for the office of representative to congress for election at the next general election withdraws as such candidate prior to the ninetieth day before the day of such general election, or dies prior to the ninetieth day before the day of such general election, the vacancy in the party nomination so created shall be filled in accordance with division (B) of this section as soon as reasonably practicable.
(B) (1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) (2) of this section, the boards of elections of all the counties contained in whole or in part within the congressional district in which a vacancy occurs as described in division (A) of this section shall conduct the special election on a date designated by the secretary of state and give notice of the time and places of holding such election as provided in section 3501.03 of the Revised Code. Such election shall be held and conducted and returns thereof made as in the case of a primary election, except that the secretary of state shall designate the deadline to file a declaration of candidacy or a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for the election.
(2) If only one person has filed a valid declaration of candidacy for the special election to be held under division (B) (1) of this section, or if no person has filed a valid declaration of candidacy, then no special election shall be held. If one person has filed a valid declaration of candidacy, the secretary of state, upon receiving certification of that fact from the board of elections of the most populous county of the congressional district, shall issue a certificate of nomination to the person and the person's name shall appear on the ballot as that party's candidate at the general election.
(C) The state shall pay all costs of any special election held pursuant to this section.