Ohio casino proponents can begin petition drive for fall ballot

COLUMBUS — Signature collectors should be out in earnest, seeking registered voters’ support of a ballot issue allowing casinos in Ohio’s four biggest cities.

The Ohio Attorney General signed off on the final petition-related documents today, allowing the group Casino-backers to launch its signature drive, said Bob Tenenbaum, group spokesman.

Petition carriers must collect upward of 400,000 signatures from registered Ohio voters, including required representation from half of the state’s 88 counties. The names have to be turned in by July 1, said Kevin Kidder, spokesman for the Secretary of State’s office.

The secretary of state’s office and county elections boards then will have about 20 days to verify the signatures. The casino group would have additional time to gather more names if the validation process yields fewer than the total required to place the issue before voters in November.

The constitutional amendment would allow one casino in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com