Ohio AG: Proposed ballot issue on school prayer rejected

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – A ballot effort in Ohio to allow students to pray in public schools has failed to clear an initial hurdle.

The state’s attorney general said Wednesday the petition for the proposed constitutional amendment contained a “technical defect” and was rejected.

Attorney General Mike DeWine says the rejection had to do with how certain petitions were labeled.

Backers of the effort want to change the Ohio Constitution to add the so-called “Amendment to Return Prayer to Our Public Schools.”

The amendment says school children have the right to pray or acknowledge their religious beliefs voluntarily in their schools, and schools should display the Bill of Rights.

For the issue to go forward, supporters have to submit signatures from at least 1,000 registered voters, along with other documentation to DeWine.

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