Ohio state representative Jim Trakas has promised to introduce a bill in the next 10 days to let petitioning candidates choose a partisan label, to be placed on the November ballot next to the name of that candidate. A slight majority of other states already have such a law. These laws typically require that the label be no longer than 3 words, and not mimic the name of a fully-qualified party.

Since virtually all minor parties in Ohio place their nominees on the November ballot by petition, this bill, if passed, would make a huge improvement in Ohio ballot access laws for minor parties. Ohio law permitted such labels between 1891 and 1947. The label was repealed at the same time that the Ohio legislature made other hostile changes, such as eliminating write-ins, eliminating procedures for independent presidential candidates, and sharply increasing the number of signatures needed for independent candidates.

Representative Trakas is a Republican from Cuyahoga County.