MERIT DECISIONS WITHOUT OPINIONS
On Petition to Contest Elections. This cause originated in this court on the filing of an election contest petition under R.C. 3515.09. On December 14, 2004, Governor Taft, pursuant to R.C. 3515.08, made the appropriate designation to hear the election contest involving the November 2, 2004 election for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio. After reviewing the portion of the petition contesting that election, I conclude that the contest is improperly combined with another election contest in the same petition. R.C. 3515.08, et seq., requires a separate petition be filed for each contested office. Election laws are mandatory and require strict compliance. State ex rel. Steele v. Morrissey, 103 Ohio St.3d 355, 2004-Ohio-4960, 815 N.E.2d 1107, ¶ 33. Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that the portion of the petition contesting the November 2, 2004 election for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio be, and hereby is, dismissed without prejudice.
O'CONNOR, J., in Chambers.