Lawsuit challenges Ohio's ban on foreign spending on ballot issues

A new lawsuit is challenging Ohio's ban on foreign nationals and green card holders contributing to ballot campaigns , saying the recently approved law violates the First Amendment.

The new law prohibits foreign nationals and green card holders from directly or indirectly contributing to statewide issue campaigns. It's already illegal for foreign citizens to give money to candidates in Ohio, and federal law prohibits them from donating to any federal, state or local election.

The change was added to a bill to change the deadline to get President Joe Biden on the fall ballot. The new language allows Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to investigate groups for possible foreign donations − a power that concerns Democrats.

Republicans who passed the law were responding to a Swiss billionaire who donated to Ohio ballot campaigns last year. Ohio Senate Republicans spokesman John Fortney said the “progressive left” was selling out to foreign influence.

“This clearly demonstrates their effort to transform Ohio into their radical D.C. vision by using unlimited contributions from outside the United States,” he said.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court Thursday by OPAWL – Building AAPI Feminist Leadership, Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, a German citizen and her husband who live in northeast Ohio and a Canadian citizen who lives in Silver Lake by the Elias Law Group and Cooper Elliott.

Attorneys argue that Ohio's law violates these residents' First Amendment rights and threatens them with prosecution.

"Because of HB 1, all noncitizens are now threatened with investigation, criminal prosecution, and mandatory fines if they even indicate they intend to engage in any election-related spending or contributions − including to support or oppose ballot questions in virtually any capacity," attorneys wrote.

Reporter Haley BeMiller contributed to this article.

Lawsuit challenges Ohio ban on foreign donations in ballot issues by Jessie Balmert on Scribd

Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lawsuit challenges Ohio's ban on foreign spending on ballot issues