(a) During an election and the counting of the ballots, no person shall do any of the following:
(1) Loiter, congregate, or engage in any kind of election campaigning within the area between the polling place and the small flags of the United States placed on the thoroughfares and walkways leading to the polling place, and if the line of electors waiting to vote extends beyond those small flags, within ten feet of any elector in that line;
(2) In any manner hinder or delay an elector in reaching or leaving the place fixed for casting the elector's ballot;
(3) Give, tender, or exhibit any ballot or ticket to any person other than the elector's own ballot to the precinct election officials within the area between the polling place and the small flags of the United States placed on the thoroughfares and walkways leading to the polling place, and if the line of electors waiting to vote extends beyond those small flags, within ten (10) feet of any elector in that line;
(4) Exhibit any ticket or ballot which the elector intends to cast;
(5) Solicit or in any manner attempt to influence any elector in casting the elector's vote.
(b) (1) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section, no person who is not an election official, employee, observer, or police officer shall be allowed to enter the polling place during the election, except for the purpose of voting or assisting another person to vote as provided in RC 3505.24.
(2) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a journalist shall be allowed reasonable access to a polling place during an election. As used in this division, "journalist" has the same meaning as in division (B)(2) of RC 2923.129.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, any person may enter the polling place for the sole purpose of reviewing the official registration list posted in accordance with RC 3503.23, provided that the person does not engage in conduct that would constitute harassment in violation of the election law, as defined in RC 3501.90.
(c) No more electors shall be allowed to approach the voting shelves at any time than there are voting shelves provided.
(d) The precinct election officials and the police officer shall strictly enforce the observance of this section. (RC 3501.35)
(e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of loitering or congregating near polling places, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Whoever violates division (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), or (a)(5) or division (b) of this section shall be given a mandatory term of imprisonment of at least three (3) days, which term shall not be suspended.
(Ord. No. 1192-2022. Passed 11-7-22, eff. 11-7-22)