Combined ballot

See Also:   Information for the County of Cuyahoga
(Elections Office, local League of Women Voters, links to other county election sites)

President/Vice President of the United States

• Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Democratic
  2,933,388 votes 51.48%
• John McCain/Sarah Palin, Republican
  2,674,491 votes 46.94%
• Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez
  42,288 votes 0.74%
• Bob Barr/Wayne Allyn Root, Libertarian
  19,888 votes 0.35%
• Chuck Baldwin/Darrell L. Castle, Constitution
  12,550 votes 0.22%
• Cynthia McKinney/Rosa A. Clemente, Green
  8,513 votes 0.15%
• Richard Duncan/Ricky Johnson
  3,902 votes 0.07%
• Brian Moore/Stewart Alexander, Other
  2,731 votes 0.05%
• Donald K. Allen/Christopher D. Borcik (Write-in)
  212 votes 0.00%
• Alan L. Keyes/Brian Rohrbough (Write-in)
  160 votes 0.00%
• Joe Schriner/Dale Way (Write-in)
  71 votes 0.00%
• Platt Robertson/Scott Falls (Write-in)
  63 votes 0.00%
• Jonathan Allen/Jeff Stath (Write-in)
  2 votes 0.00%
• James R. Germalic/Martin Wishnatsky (Write-in)
  1 votes 0.00%

US Legislature

US Representative; District 10

• Dennis J. Kucinich, Democratic
  157,246 votes 57.02%
• Jim Trakas, Republican
  107,895 votes 39.13%
• Paul Conroy, Libertarian
  10,621 votes 3.85%

US Representative; District 11

• Thomas Pekarek, Republican
  36,705 votes 14.72%

US Representative; District 13

• Betty Sutton, Democratic
  189,542 votes 64.55%
• David S. Potter, Republican
  104,066 votes 35.44%

US Representative; District 14

• Steven C. Latourette, Republican
  187,709 votes 58.35%
• Bill O'Neill, Democratic
  124,554 votes 38.72%
• David Macko, Libertarian
  9,446 votes 2.94%

Attorney General

Attorney General

• Richard Cordray, Democratic
  2,885,354 votes 56.74%
• Mike Crites, Republican
  1,953,908 votes 38.43%
• Robert M. Owens, Constitution
  245,611 votes 4.83%

State Senate

State Senator; District 18

• Timothy J. Grendell, Republican
  125,419 votes 100.00%
• Amy Diamond, Democratic

State Senator; District 24

• Thomas F. Patton, Republican
  125,159 votes 68.39%
• Emanuel J. Cotronakis, Democratic

State Representative; District 7

• Kenny Yuko, Democratic
  37,927 votes 81.92%
• Beverly Valencic, Republican
  8,373 votes 18.08%

State Representative; District 8

• Armond Budish, Democratic
  44,704 votes 87.44%
• Jerry V. Powell, Republican
  6,424 votes 12.56%

State Representative; District 9

• Barbara Boyd, Democratic
  39,227 votes 87.54%
• Charles C. Drake, Republican
  5,585 votes 12.46%

State Representative; District 10

• Eugene R. Miller, Democratic
  23,975 votes 100.00%

State Representative; District 11

• Sandra Williams, Democratic
  37,982 votes 88.85%
• Rosalind A. McAllister, Republican
  4,765 votes 11.15%

State Representative; District 12

• Michael DeBose, Democratic
  40,764 votes 90.82%
• Bryan Glencer, Republican
  4,121 votes 9.18%

State Representative; District 13

• Michael J. Skindell, Democratic
  26,996 votes 75.30%
• Mary-Louise Kirk, Republican
  8,856 votes 24.70%

State Representative; District 14

• Mike Foley, Democratic
  29,684 votes 73.68%
• David Morris, Republican
  10,604 votes 26.32%

State Representative; District 15

• Timothy J. DeGeeter, Democratic
  32,364 votes 100.00%
• Craig A. Niederriter, Republican

State Representative; District 16

• Nan A. Baker, Republican
  30,891 votes 50.92%
• Jennifer Brady, Democratic
  29,770 votes 49.08%

State Representative; District 17

• Josh Mandel, Republican
  48,294 votes 71.64%
• Bob Belovich, Democratic
  19,119 votes 28.36%

State Representative; District 18

• Matt Patten, Democratic
  28,424 votes 50.86%
• Bob Spada, Republican

State Representative; District 98

• Matthew J. Dolan, Republican
  42,805 votes 100.00%

Judicial

Justice; Ohio State Supreme Court; 6 Year Term Starting 1/1/09

• Maureen O'Connor
  2,966,416 votes 67.16%
• Joseph D. Russo
  1,450,718 votes 32.84%

Justice; Ohio State Supreme Court; 6 Year Term Starting 1/2/09

• Evelyn L. Stratton
  2,660,072 votes 63.16%
• Peter M. Sikora
  1,551,751 votes 36.84%

Judge; Ohio State Court of Appeals; District 8; 6 Year Term Starting 2/09/09

• Sean C. Gallagher
  320,242 votes 100.00%

Judge; Ohio State Court of Appeals; District 8; 6 Year Term Starting 2/10/09

• Larry A. Jones
  243,021 votes 58.65%
• Brian Moriarty
  171,329 votes 41.35%

Judge; Ohio State Court of Appeals; District 8; 6 Year Term Starting 2/11/09

• Patricia Ann Blackmon
  324,689 votes 100.00%

Judge; Ohio State Court of Appeals; District 8; 6 Year Term Starting 2/12/09

• Kenneth A. Rocco
  309,244 votes 100.00%

Issue 1 To provide for earlier filing deadlines for statewide ballot issues
Pass: 3,392,085 / 68.67% Yes votes ...... 1,547,962 / 31.33% No votes

To amend Sections 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1g of Article II of the Constitution of the State of Ohio The proposed amendment would:
1. Require that a citizen-initiated statewide ballot issue be considered at the next general election if petitions are filed 125 days before the election.
2. Establish deadlines for boards of elections to determine the validity of citizen-initiated petitions.
3. Standardize the process for legal challenges to citizen-initiated petitions by giving the Ohio Supreme Court jurisdiction to consider these cases and establishing expedited deadlines for the Court to make decisions.

Issue 2 To continue the clean Ohio Program
Pass: 3,568,228 / 69.27% Yes votes ...... 1,583,305 / 30.73% No votes

to authorize the state to issue bonds to continue the clean Ohio program for environmental revitalization and conservation; to adopt section 2q of article viii of the constitution of the state OF OHIO

Issue 3 To protect private property rights & water
Pass: 3,625,811 / 71.95% Yes votes ...... 1,413,639 / 28.05% No votes

To adopt Section 19b of Article I of the Constitution of the State of Ohio This proposed Amendment would:
1. Make explicit that a private property owner has a right to make reasonable use of the ground water that lies beneath the owner's land, although this right is subordinate to the public welfare.
2. Make explicit that a private property owner who owns land on the border of a lake or other watercourse has a right to make reasonable use of the water in such lake or watercourse located on or flowing through the owner's land, although this right is subordinate to the public welfare.
3. Not affect the public's use of Lake Erie and other navigable waters of the state.
4. Prevent the rights confirmed under this proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution from being impaired or limited by the operation of other sections of the Ohio Constitution. If approved, this amendment shall take effect December 1, 2008.

Issue 4 Withdrawn By Petitioners' Committee on September 4, 2008

Issue 5 Making changes to check cashing lending
Pass: 3,391,282 / 63.60% Yes votes ...... 1,940,951 / 36.40% No votes

Substitute House Bill 545 (H.B. 545), which was passed by the Ohio legislature and signed into law by the Governor, substantially changed the law regulating how certain lenders in Ohio operate. Under the referendum, voters must decide whether Section 3 of H.B. 545 should go into effect. Section 3 of H.B. 545 deletes the old provisions of the law regulating check cashing lenders, sometimes known as "payday lenders," in favor of the new provisions.
1. If a majority of Ohio voters approve Section 3 of H.B. 545, all short term lenders, including check cashing lenders, would be subject to the following limitations: The maximum loan amount would be $500; Borrowers would have at least 30 days to repay the loan; and The maximum interest rate would be 28% annual percentage rate (APR) on all loans.
2. If a majority of Ohio voters reject Section 3 of H.B. 545, check cashing lenders would be allowed to continue under previous law as follows: The maximum loan amount would continue to be $800; There would continue to be no minimum repayment period; and Check cashing lenders could continue to charge rates and fees, resulting in a total charge for a loan that substantially exceeds an equivalent APR of 28%.

Issue 6 Petition for a casino near Wilmington
Fail: 2,088,294 / 37.63% Yes votes ...... 3,461,430 / 62.37% No votes

To adopt Section 6a to Article XV of the Ohio Constitution This proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution would:
1. Authorize one privately owned casino with a required minimum initial investment of $600 million dollars on a 94-acre site located near the northwest corner of State Route 73 and Interstate 71 in southwest Ohio in Chester Township near Wilmington, Clinton County, Ohio.
2. Require the casino to pay a tax of up to 30% on its gross receipts for gaming less payouts. The taxes are to be used first to pay expenses of regulating and collecting taxes from the casino, then for funding of gambling prevention and treatment programs, and the remainder to be distributed in the amount of 10% to Clinton County and 90% to the remaining counties based on population and to be used at each county's discretion.
3. Reduce the tax paid by the casino authorized by this amendment to the lesser of the rate taxed on another casino or 25%, in the event another casino is permitted in Ohio in the future.
4. Require that the casino be subject to all other applicable types of taxes that are currently in effect in Ohio.
5. Authorize the casino to conduct any game permitted in the State of Nevada, or any state adjacent to Ohio, including any type of card or table games, slot machines, and electronic gaming devices, except bets on races or sporting events. Only persons age 21 and over would be permitted to place bets. Amounts of bets would not be subject to any limits now or in the future. Days and hours of operation would not be subject to limits.
6. Set aside the application to the casino of all local and state laws and any constitutional provisions that would prohibit the operation of this privately owned casino, including any local zoning law that would prohibit or place restrictions on a casino from operating on the property in question. If approved, this proposed amendment shall take effect 30 days after the election.