On September 12, a bill was introduced in the Ohio legislature to move the primary in presidential election years from March to May (in non-presidential years, the Ohio primary is already in May). The bill is SB 217, and it has an urgency clause, so that it can go into effect immediately after it is signed into law.

If this bill passes, it will have no effect on petition deadlines for newly-qualifying parties, because of the court decision earlier this month that the Ohio statutory deadline for new party petitions is too early, whether the primary is in May or March. Under the statutory law, petitions for newly-qualifying parties are due 90 days before the primary.

Another Ohio bill, HB 194, already passed this year, moving the primary in presidential election years from March to May. That is the same omnibus election law bill that is the subject of a referendum petition, so it won’t go into effect in 2012 if the referendum gets enough valid signatures. Because no one can predict what will happen to HB 194, the separate bill to just move the primary was introduced. Thanks to Frontloading HQ for the news.