COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A key organizer in the ballot effort
to overturn Ohio’s gay marriage ban says a revised proposal lacks the
required signatures to go before voters this fall.
FreedomOhio’s
executive director Ian James also said Thursday the campaign would not
have had enough money to run an effective statewide campaign this year.
The
group hinted in April when it updated the wording for its
constitutional amendment that it might hold off this November. With a
July 2 signature deadline approaching, James confirmed the issue won’t
meet the requirements to appear on 2014 ballots.
The proposal
would repeal and replace Ohio’s 2004 prohibition on same-sex marriage.
It would allow two consenting adults to marry regardless of gender, and
religious places of worship would not be required to perform or
recognize gay marriages.