Any person can file a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission.
All complaints submitted to the Commission must be in the form of an
affidavit based on personal knowledge. If a
complaint is not sufficient, it will be rejected and
returned. In order to
file a proper complaint you must include all of the following elements
within your complaint:
1. Name(s) of the person or party filing the complaint;
2. Name(s) of the person or party against whom the allegations are being made;
3. Address or addresses for all of the parties. This includes the person filing
the complaint as well as the parties against whom the complaint is filed. Also,
please include phone numbers, if they are available;
4. A written narrative or statement of the alleged violation or violations,
specifically identifying the type of violation.
A false statement complaint should
include the statement or statements
which you allege to be false and an explanation of the personal
knowledge of the complainant;
5. A reference to the section or sections of the
Ohio Revised Code alleged to
have been violated;
6. The complaint must be based on personal knowledge
and originally signed and properly notarized. A proper notarization includes the
phrase "signed and sworn before a Notary Public";
7. Any additional materials or exhibits may be included to support the
allegations contained in the complaint.
Once all of these elements are included in the complaint, the complaint should
be sent to the following address:
Ohio Elections Commission
21 West Broad St., Suite 600
Columbus, Ohio 43215
****Also, please be aware of the following***
1. The burden of proof for any complaint rests with the party bringing
the complaint. The complainant must be prepared to present sufficient evidence
to the Commission that a violation has occurred.
2. Complaints alleging that false statements have been made, those brought
under Ohio Revised Code sections 3517.21 and 3517.22, will have an expedited
review before a Probable Cause Panel of the Commission. Parties will be
notified of the date and time of this review.
