Senate Unanimously Passes Manning Bill Allowing Former Primary Candidates to Fill Ballot Vacancy
February 11, 2022
Nathan H. Manning News
COLUMBUS—State Senator Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) this week announced the Senate's unanimous passage of Senate Bill 53, which would modify a section of existing code to permit a candidate who appeared on a primary election ballot to fill a vacancy for a local partisan office in the following general election.
Under current law, candidates who appear on the primary ballot for any position are ineligible to fill a ballot vacancy, even for a different position.
"Qualified individuals should never be precluded from consideration for arbitrary reasons," Manning said. "This section of code created unnecessary confusion and could eliminate the most experienced candidate from filling a ballot vacancy."
The need for this legislation arose when a sitting Mayor running for re-election resigned from his position and candidacy just days after winning the primary election. Under current law, five of the six replacement candidates were disqualified due to appearing on the primary ballot for other positions. This controversy caused the one remaining candidate to remove his name from consideration.
Senate Bill 53 will now be sent to the House for further consideration.
Under current law, candidates who appear on the primary ballot for any position are ineligible to fill a ballot vacancy, even for a different position.
"Qualified individuals should never be precluded from consideration for arbitrary reasons," Manning said. "This section of code created unnecessary confusion and could eliminate the most experienced candidate from filling a ballot vacancy."
The need for this legislation arose when a sitting Mayor running for re-election resigned from his position and candidacy just days after winning the primary election. Under current law, five of the six replacement candidates were disqualified due to appearing on the primary ballot for other positions. This controversy caused the one remaining candidate to remove his name from consideration.
Senate Bill 53 will now be sent to the House for further consideration.