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Statehouse News Bureau

The Statehouse News Bureau provides educational, comprehensive coverage of legislation, elections, issues and other activities surrounding the Statehouse to Ohio's public radio and television stations.

Petition for an Ohio ballot issue on vaccine mandates hits a snag

By Jo Ingles

Published December 10, 2021 at 3:23 PM EST

Supporters of controversial vaccine bill protest at the Ohio Statehouse [Jo Ingles / Statehouse News Bureau] — Supporters of controversial vaccine bill protest at the Ohio Statehouse

Ohio’s Attorney General has rejected the petition summary to require state lawmakers, or possibly voters, to end vaccine mandates.

Republican Attorney General Dave Yost says the problem is the summary for the petition to get signatures. Yost says it isn’t a fair and truthful representation because it fails to identify some terms, lacks some information, and doesn’t fully explain exceptions. The AG says the summy does not provide signers with adequate information about the statute’s character and limitations.

Backers of the petition say they aren’t taking no for an answer. Stephanie Stock with the group Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom, says the petition will be amended and resubmitted for approval. She says Ohioans deserve medical freedom and her group will take it to the ballot if the legislature won’t pass the initiated statute.

Ohio lawmakers have four months to pass the bill. If they don't, backers can collect more signatures to put the issue on the November 2022 statewide ballot.