Transgender Candidate Disqualified in Ohio Over Name Change Law

Vanessa Joy's disqualification sparks debate over little-known law, as other transgender candidates are cleared to run.

Vanessa Joy, a transgender woman running for a seat in Ohio's state legislature, has been disqualified by the Stark County Board of Elections for not including her former name on her candidacy forms.
The law requiring candidates to disclose any name changes from the past five years is not widely known and is not listed in the state's candidate guide.
Despite Joy's disqualification, other transgender candidates, Arienne Childrey and Bobbie Arnold, were cleared to run by their respective county boards.
Joy is working with an attorney to change the law to be more inclusive of transgender candidates who don't want to disclose their previous names for personal safety reasons.
Republican Governor Mike DeWine has stated that the law should be amended and transgender candidates shouldn't be disqualified on these grounds.