Ohio
State law defines a political party as a group whose candidate(s) for governor or presidential electors at the most recent regular state election polled at least 3 percent of the total votes cast for those offices. A group that meets this requirement remains a political party for a period of four years.
Alternatively, a group can file with the secretary of state, subsequent to its failure to meet the above requirements, a party formation petition that meets all of the following requirements:
When a party formation petition pursuant to the aforementioned requirements is filed with the secretary of state, the party comes into legal existence on the date of filing and is eligible to nominate candidates to appear on the ballot in the general election that occurs more than 125 days after the date of filing. The newly formed party must submit to the secretary of state no later than 75 days before the general election a slate of candidates to appear on the ballot.
A new political party cannot assume a name similar to that of an existing party.
Any party that receives between 3 and 20 percent of the total votes cast for governor or presidential electors is considered a minor political party. A party that exceeds this threshold is considered a major party.
A newly formed political party is considered a minor political party until it first participates in an election for governor or president, after which point such status is determined by the party's performance in the election.
Alternatively, a group can file with the secretary of state, subsequent to its failure to meet the above requirements, a party formation petition that meets all of the following requirements:
- "The petition is signed by qualified electors equal in number to at least 1 percent of the total vote for governor or nominees for presidential electors at the most recent election for such office."
- "The petition is signed by not fewer than 500 qualified electors from each of at least a minimum of one-half of the congressional districts in the state. If an odd number of congressional districts exists in this state, the number of districts that results from dividing the number of congressional districts by two shall be rounded up to the next whole number."
- "The petition declares the petitioners' intention of organizing a political party, the name of which shall be stated in the declaration and of participating in the succeeding general election, held in even-numbered years, that occurs more than 125 days after the date of filing."
- "The petition designates a committee of not less than three nor more than five individuals of the petitioners, who shall represent the petitioners in all matters relating to the petition. Notice of all matters or proceedings pertaining to the petition may be served on the committee, or any of them, either personally or by registered mail, or by leaving such notice at the usual place of residence of each of them."
When a party formation petition pursuant to the aforementioned requirements is filed with the secretary of state, the party comes into legal existence on the date of filing and is eligible to nominate candidates to appear on the ballot in the general election that occurs more than 125 days after the date of filing. The newly formed party must submit to the secretary of state no later than 75 days before the general election a slate of candidates to appear on the ballot.
A new political party cannot assume a name similar to that of an existing party.
Any party that receives between 3 and 20 percent of the total votes cast for governor or presidential electors is considered a minor political party. A party that exceeds this threshold is considered a major party.
A newly formed political party is considered a minor political party until it first participates in an election for governor or president, after which point such status is determined by the party's performance in the election.
As of May 2017, there were three officially recognized political parties in Ohio: the Democratic, Green, and Republican parties.
