SAME-SEX UNIONS Marriage petitions face tests

An amendment, if approved, would ban same-sex marriages in Ohio.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two Columbus women are challenging the validity of signatures on petitions filed in Mahoning County to place a proposed "marriage protection" amendment on the November ballot.
Prosecutors have filed an action seeking a hearing in common pleas court to determine whether signatures on the petitions are sufficient.
No hearing had been set on the matter, but assistant county prosecutor Sharon K. Hackett said the law requires that one be scheduled "forthwith."
Amendment proposed
The proposal is to amend the state constitution to reflect that marriage must be between a man and a woman to be valid. A majority vote in favor of the amendment is required for it to take effect.
Each county in Ohio certified petitions and submitted them to the state last month. The state determined there were enough valid signatures and placed the proposed amendment on the ballot.
Columbus residents Sandra K. Essig and Melanie J. Essig filed a protest Tuesday with the Mahoning County Board of Elections challenging the validity of some of the signatures that were accepted on the petitions.
According to court documents, a total of 7,185 signatures were submitted on 391 petitions. Of those, 5,085 signatures were deemed valid by the election board.
Validity hearing
Hackett said the protest filed by the Essigs requires the county to take the matter to common pleas court, where a judge will hold a hearing to determine the validity of the signatures.
The same two women filed a similar protest last week in Trumbull County.
bjackson@vindy.com