Fewer signatures needed to get issues on the ballot

COLUMBUS

Groups that want to legalize medical marijuana, overturn the state’s ban on gay marriage and place other issues before voters will have to collect about 80,000 fewer signatures to qualify for the ballot, thanks to lower turnout in last year’s general election.

Petition requirements for such amendments and for referendums and initiated statutes are based on ballots cast in the most recent gubernatorial election, said Matt McClellan, a spokesman for Secretary of State Jon Husted.

Turnout in November lagged 2010’s results by about 800,000 voters. That means petition circulators will need to gather about 306,000 signatures instead of the 385,000-plus previously required for proposed constitutional amendments.

Groups attempting to overturn law changes OK’d by lawmakers will need to collect about 183,000 signatures, instead of 231,148.

And those hoping to push lawmakers to act on proposed legislation will need to gather an initial 92,000, as opposed to 115,000-plus.

The updated signature requirements are in effect for new ballot issues and for a handful of existing petition efforts already under way.

The latter includes campaigns to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes, to overturn the state constitution ban on gay marriage, to require deposits on bottles and other recyclables and to solidify early voting hours and other election requirements.