SHELBY — An issue discussed by Shelby lawmakers since June 2024 is finally making its way to city voters in November.
During a special meeting in July, City Council voted 4-0 in favor of sending a proposed charter amendment to the Nov. 4 ballot. If passed by voters, the amendment would extend the filing deadline for Shelby candidates from 75 days to 90 days.
A filing deadline is the last chance a person has — ahead of a primary election — to file a declaration of candidacy and petition and pay the fees required by Ohio Revised Code.
Currently, Shelby is the only government entity in Richland County with a 75-day candidate filing deadline.
Matt Finfgeld, director of the Richland County Board of Elections, previously explained that Shelby ballot issues — things like levies and Sunday liquor sales — have a 90-day filing deadline, which is in sync with the rest of the county.
A 90-day filing deadline for city candidates would create consistency, he said in June.
Members of council have shared mixed opinions on the proposed extension since the first round of discussions began in June 2024. A previous ordinance to send this issue to voters was denied in July 2024 by City Council.
Ultimately, the decision is now up to Shelby voters.
“It should not be up to us (council) to make that decision for them,” Councilman Charlie Roub said on June 16. “I trust the voters in Shelby and I trust they’ll do what they think is right for them.”
How candidate filing deadline impacts voters’ ability to protest petitions
If passed by Shelby voters in November, an extended candidate filing deadline would also grant voters more time to protest a candidate’s petition.
ORC Section 3513.05 gives qualified electors the ability to file a protest against “the candidacy of any person filing a declaration of candidacy for party nomination or for election to an office or position.”
“Shelby voters are disenfranchised because the law reads that if you want to protest a candidate’s petition, you have to do that by the close of business of the 74th day,” Finfgeld previously told council.
“The issue comes in when your (Shelby’s) filing deadline is the 75th day and our board doesn’t meet until the following day. There is no time for Shelby residents to ever challenge a candidate’s petition.
“There’s many reasons why a petition can be challenged. It’s not a big deal until one is to be challenged and the resident doesn’t have that right to challenge that petition,” the Board of Elections president said.
For more information about the Nov. 4 election, visit the Richland County Board of Elections website.
