The Ohio Supreme Court issued a ruling today saying the anti-pipeline charter amendment can remain on the ballot in Bowling Green.
The Wood County Board of Elections had already approved the issue for the ballot. But that decision was protested by a Bowling Green resident, David W. Espen, who said the petitions submitted did not have enough valid signatures, specifically noting the signatures of five BGSU students who used their residence hall addresses rather than their street addresses. Espen also questioned the constitutionality of the charter amendment, saying it required the city to give citizens authority that the city does not possess.
The Wood County Board of Elections ruled against Espen’s protests, so Espen appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Today, the state court ruled the board of elections was right to put the issue on the ballot. The court decided that the board of election is not authorized to decide legality or constitutionality of the proposed charter amendment’s substantive terms. The state court also found that the board of elections used the proper procedures to validate signatures on the petition.
