COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When Miami Valley voters go to the polls Tuesday they will see a proposed challenge to Ohio’s “Stripper Law” on the ballot, even though votes for it will not be counted.

Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner sent a directive to all 88 county boards of election Thursday, telling them that State Issue No. 1 has been ruled ineligible for the ballot by the Ohio Supreme Court.

The court ruled that supporters of the referendum did not have enough petition signatures to place the issue on the ballot.

The court ruling came too late for boards to remove the issue from the electronic ballots or printed materials at polling places.

In response, Brunner has directed county boards of election to post signs in each polling place that read:

"Special Notice To Voters: Votes cast for State Issue 1 will not be counted. The petition proposing the referendum on Am. Sub. 16 did not contain a sufficient number of valid signatures in order to have votes counted for this issue."

Issue No. 1 was proposed by opponents of the new state law regulating strip clubs.

The law prohibits strip club employees from touching customers and outlaws nude dancing after midnight.

Club owners vowed to continue fighting the new law. A hearing on a constitutional challenge is pending in federal court.

The appearance of an issue on the statewide ballot after it is ruled ineligible is rare, although not unprecedented. The last time it happened was in November 2006.

Jim.otte@whiotv.com