COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Several transgender candidates for state office in Ohio are facing challenges and even outright disqualification for omitting their former names from petition paperwork under a little-known state elections law, confronting a unique dilemma as they vie for office in increasing numbers in the face of anti-LBGTQ+ legislation.
But state law mandates that candidates list any name changes in the last five years, though it isn't in the Secretary of State's 33-page candidate requirement guide.
Michigan has a similar elections law, which mandates candidates list any name changes in the past decade, but it's not clear which others states have one.
Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThe Ohio law has existed in some form since as early as the 1920s, and the current version has been in place since the 1990s.
It's rarely been enforced in Ohio over the decades, usually in response to candidates wishing to use a nickname on the ballot.
Persons:
—, Bobbie Arnold, Arienne, Angie King, It's, Vanessa Joy, Joy, it's, Frank LaRose, ” LaRose, Zephyr, “, Ari Faber, Arnold, Childrey, potty, ” ___ Samantha Hendrickson
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Democratic, Republican, Ohio House, Senate, Montgomery County, Associated Press, Ohio Supreme, Washington County, Ohio Democratic Party, AP, Zooey, America Statehouse News Initiative, America
Locations:
COLUMBUS , Ohio, Ohio, West Alexandria, Montgomery, Auglaize County, Michigan, Stark County, Stark, Montana, Athens , Ohio