Ohio Governor Urged to Veto Ranked Choice Voting Ban

Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann argues the ban would undermine local control and innovation.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann, who chaired the Lakewood Charter Review Commission that recommended the city adopt ranked choice voting, is urging Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to veto Senate Bill 63, which would prohibit cities from implementing ranked choice voting. Dann argues the bill represents a troubling departure from Ohio's tradition of local self-governance and would deny voters the opportunity to improve the democratic process through innovative voting methods.

Why it matters

This legislation is seen as an assault on municipal home rule in Ohio, which gives cities the authority to manage their internal affairs, including how they conduct elections. Proponents of ranked choice voting argue it can reduce negative campaigning, save municipal resources, and increase voter turnout, but opponents in the state legislature want to ban the practice statewide.

The details

Senate Bill 63 would prohibit cities in Ohio from adopting ranked choice voting, a system where voters rank candidates in order of preference. Lakewood's Charter Review Commission, chaired by former Attorney General Marc Dann, spent hundreds of hours examining voting methods before recommending ranked choice voting by an 8-1 vote. The bill would deny Lakewood and other Ohio cities the ability to implement this system, which has been adopted by over 50 jurisdictions nationwide.

  • The Lakewood Charter Review Commission made its recommendation to adopt ranked choice voting in 2025.
  • Senate Bill 63 was introduced in the Ohio legislature in early 2026.

The players

Marc Dann

A former Ohio Attorney General and the founding partner of a consumer protection law firm in Lakewood, Ohio. He chaired the Lakewood Charter Review Commission that recommended the city adopt ranked choice voting.

Mike DeWine

The current Governor of Ohio, who has the opportunity to veto Senate Bill 63 and allow Ohio cities to continue experimenting with alternative voting methods.

Lakewood Charter Review Commission

A commission in the city of Lakewood, Ohio that spent hundreds of hours examining voting methods and recommended the city adopt ranked choice voting.

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What they’re saying

“Ohio has long prided itself on its tradition of local self-governance. Our municipalities, through the constitutional guarantee of home rule, have the authority to manage their internal affairs—including how they conduct their own elections. Senate Bill 63, which would prohibit cities from adopting ranked choice voting, represents a troubling departure from that tradition.”

— Marc Dann, Former Ohio Attorney General (cleveland.com)

“The benefits of ranked choice voting are well-documented. Under RCV, candidates must secure a majority rather than a mere plurality of votes. The system eliminates vote splitting, allowing voters to support their preferred candidate without fear of inadvertently helping their least-preferred candidate win.”

— Marc Dann, Former Ohio Attorney General (cleveland.com)

What’s next

Governor DeWine is expected to decide whether to sign or veto Senate Bill 63 in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This debate over ranked choice voting in Ohio highlights the ongoing tension between state control and local autonomy. The outcome could have significant implications for how elections are conducted in Ohio's cities, with proponents arguing it can improve the democratic process and opponents viewing it as an overreach of municipal authority.