H.B. 471 Summary

• Allows non-party members who are eligible to vote in a general election to protest a candidate's party primary candidacy on specific grounds related to constitutional eligibility.

• Permits protests challenging whether a candidate is a U.S. citizen, meets age requirements, complies with term or age limits, or is ineligible due to criminal conviction.

• Permits protests based on violations of sections 3513.052 or 3513.271 of the Revised Code.

• Applies to both write-in candidate declarations under section 3513.041 and declarations of candidacy for party nominations under section 3513.05.

• Restricts grounds for protests by non-party members to constitutional eligibility issues rather than allowing broader challenges to candidacies.