OHIO Certified ballot has Issue 1, Nader

There is a possibility the candidate or issue could be removed from the ballot.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell has certified a Nov. 2 ballot that includes independent candidate Ralph Nader and a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
Under Ohio election law, Blackwell was required to certify the ballot's form to 88 county boards of elections Wednesday.
However, Blackwell spokesman Carlo LoParo said the certification deadline was technical and that if either the same-sex marriage amendment or Nader do not qualify, they will be removed from the ballot.
"While candidates and issues can be removed from the ballot, they cannot be placed on the ballot after Sept. 8," he said.
Gay-marriage ban
State officials have not yet determined if backers of the constitutional amendment, which would be called Issue 1, have enough signatures of registered voters to qualify for the ballot.
Cincinnati-based Ohio Campaign to Protect Marriage appeared to fall about 47,000 signatures short of the 322,899 needed. The group, under law, will have 10 extra days to gather more.
Issue 1 and Nader also are undergoing legal challenges.
The Ohio Democratic Party has launched a formal challenge of Nader's candidacy with Blackwell's office. Three Columbus lawyers filed a lawsuit last week in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, alleging fraud and misrepresentation in the campaign to get Nader on the ballot.
Nader supporters submitted 14,473 names on a petition; 5,000 are needed to place him on the ballot. The secretary of state logged 6,464 valid signatures, pending legal challenges.
Nader supporters said Democrats are challenging their petition because of fear that his candidacy would hurt Sen. John Kerry's bid to unseat President Bush.
Courts in Williams and Mercer counties heard the first of about 40 legal challenges Wednesday filed by Ohioans Protecting the Constitution, a coalition primarily of gay groups opposing the same-sex marriage ban.
Protests have also been filed in Cuyahoga, Franklin and Hamilton counties.