Two Northeast Ohio lawmakers are sponsoring a bipartisan proposal to allow judges to publicize a party affiliation in the general election.
Ohio law currently prohibits judges from identifying their party on the ballot. However, candidates are allowed to affiliate with a political party in campaign literature and advertisements.
The bill from state Reps. Stephen Hambley (R-Brunswick) and Michael Skindell (D-Lakewood) would allow judges to note party affiliations on the November ballot.
Hambley says it will give voters what they need to make an informed decision.
A 2014 study by the University of Akron’s Bliss Institute of Applied Politics found that about 60% of registered voters don’t even choose judicial candidates, since there’s no party listed.
