Data Request for Local Ballot Initiatives/Referenda
| Submitted | March 5, 2024 |
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Communications
From: Jimin Han
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Ohio Open Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
I am requesting data on local ballot initiatives/referenda that took place in the state since 1972. Specifically, I need the following information to be included in the data.
1. Text of the ballot initiative/referendum
2. Local government where the election took place.
3. County where the local government is located
4. Election date
5. Result of election (votes for, votes against, pass/fail)
6. Threshold to pass (50%, two-thirds, etc)
I have located a potential data source from your state at the following link: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/election-results-and-data/.
However, the data at this link does not contain information on the text of the ballot or threshold. In addition, it contains only information on elections after 2003, while I request data for elections since 1972.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days.
Sincerely,
Jimin Han
From: Secretary of State
Good afternoon,
This email is to acknowledge receipt of your below request for public records, which was received by this office on March 14, 2024. Specifically, you have asked for:
"data on local ballot initiatives/referenda that took place in the state since 1972. Specifically, I need the following information to be included in the data.
1. Text of the ballot initiative/referendum
2. Local government where the election took place.
3. County where the local government is located
4. Election date
5. Result of election (votes for, votes against, pass/fail)
6. Threshold to pass (50%, two-thirds, etc.)"
We are reviewing your request and will respond to you within a reasonable time as required by the Ohio Public Records Act.
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Sally Warren | Records Coordinator
Office of the Ohio Secretary of State
O: 614.466.9510
OhioSoS.gov<https://ohiosos.gov/>
This message and any response to it may constitute a public record and thus may be publicly available to anyone who requests it.
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From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Ohio Open Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 5, 2024. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Secretary of State
Mr. Han,
This email responds to your attached public records request, received by our Office on 3/14/24, requesting: "data on local ballot initiatives/referenda that took place in the state since 1972.
Specifically, I need the following information to be included in the data.
1. Text of the ballot initiative/referendum
2. Local government where the election took place.
3. County where the local government is located
4. Election date
5. Result of election (votes for, votes against, pass/fail)
6. Threshold to pass (50%, two-thirds, etc.)".
Your request is denied as it is a request for information, not a request for specific records. A public office need not conduct a search for and retrieve records that contain described information that is of interest to the requester. See State ex rel. Kesterson v. Kent State Univ., 2018-Ohio-5110, ¶¶ 28-30; State ex rel. O'Shea & Assocs. Co., L.P.A. v. Cuyahoga Metro. Hous. Auth., 131 Ohio St.3d 149, 2012-Ohio-115, 962 N.E.2d 297, ¶ 19-20.
This email concludes our Office's response to the referenced request. Our Office's file on your request will now be closed.
[logo for the Office of Frank LaRose Ohio Secretary of State]
Zach Holscher | Assistant Chief Legal Counsel
Office of the Ohio Secretary of State
Phone: 614.696.6442
Email: zholscher@OhioSOS.gov<mailto:zholscher@OhioSOS.gov>
OhioSoS.gov<https://ohiosos.gov/>
This message and any response to it may constitute a public record and thus may be publicly available to anyone who requests it.
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