COLUMBUS, Ohio – A petition attempt to fight an anti-adult law from going into effect has fallen short. Vote No on Issue 1 Committee, the group fighting the strip-club law, failed to gather the required number of signatures from at least 44 of the 88 Ohio counties.
The group had to collect just over 241,000 signatures of people who voted in the last gubernatorial election, and at least 3% of those signatures had to be from voters in each of 44 of Ohio's 88 counties. All of the votes have not yet been tallied, but so far the group has submitted sufficient names in just 15 counties.
“With just 16 counties’ reviews outstanding, it will be impossible for the petitioners to reach the required threshold in 44 counties, leaving the petition insufficient for the issue to qualify for the Nov. 6 ballot,” Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner told the Ohio Dispatch.
When the final numbers are in, the anti-adult law will take immediate effect, if a court challenge does not delay the measure.
The Vote No on Issue 1 Committee was given an additional ten days after the group initially fell short 116,000 signatures on Sept. 3.
Sandy Theis, spokeswoman for the committee, told the Dispatch that a lawsuit contesting the constitutionality of the new law was being prepared on Monday. She said it is “very likely” a suit will seek an injunction to block the strip-club law from taking effect.
The new bill would prohibit nude or semi-nude performing between midnight and 6 a.m. and require that a distance of six feet be maintained between dancers and customers at all times – even when the dancers are fully dressed.
