Another major action taken by the legislature during Wednesday’s single August session day was the House of Representative’s unanimous passage of House Bill 4907. The bill was originally passed by the House last November, proposing to change the deadline for local, county and school district ballot questions.

The House requested the Senate return the bill to the lower chamber and proceeded to adopt amendments and a substitute offered by the legislation’s original sponsor, Representative Sharon Tyler (R-Niles).

The new measure requires incumbent office holders to file for office two weeks earlier than non-incumbent candidates where candidates don’t file via petition signatures, but rather file by affidavit. The bill also provides for a two-day extension for a non-incumbent if another candidate withdraws and the ballot is left blank. Finally, the legislation extends the time that ballots can be accepted from military personnel overseas, if the clerk is late in mailing the ballots.

The legislation failed to address the issue of paying an individual to run for office; however, State Representative Earl Poleski (R-Jackson) introduced a measure Wednesday morning to do just that – and provide for penalties of up to one year imprisonment and/or a $500 fine.