(a) No person shall:
(1) Willfully misrepresent the contents of any initiative or referendum petition; or
(2) Pay or offer to pay any elector anything of value for signing an initiative or referendum petition; or
(3) Promise to help another to obtain appointment to any office provided for by the Constitution or laws of Ohio or by the ordinances of the City, position or employment in the services of the City, or any subdivision thereof, as a consideration for obtaining signatures to an initiative or referendum petition; or
(4) Obtain signatures to any initiative or referendum petition as a consideration for the assistance or promise of assistance of another person in securing an appointment to any office or position provided for by the Constitution or laws of Ohio or by the ordinances of the City; or employment in the service of the City or any subdivision thereof; or
(5) Alter or add to or erase any signatures or names, on the parts of a petition after such parts have been filed with the City Clerk; or
(6) Fail to file the sworn itemized statement required in Ohio R.C. 731.35; or
(7) Accept anything of value for signing an initiative or referendum petition; or
(8) Sell, purchase, steal, attempt to steal or willfully destroy or mutilate any initiative or referendum petition which is being or has been lawfully circulated; or
(9) Directly or indirectly, by intimidation or threats, influence or seek to influence any person to sign or abstain from signing, or to solicit signatures or to abstain from soliciting signatures to an initiative or referendum petition. (Ord. 1756. Passed 9-6-21.)
(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.