ABSTRACT
In McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission, 514 US 334, the US Supreme Court ruled that an Ohio law banning the distribution of anonymous political campaign literature violated the right of free speech protected under the First Amendment to the US Constitution and applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. Margaret McIntyre opposed her local school district's request for a tax levy. She expressed her opposition by preparing and distributing flyers to persons attending a public meeting concerning the levy. Some of the flyers identified her as the author, but others were signed "Concerned Parents and Tax Payers." McIntyre handed out more flyers at a second public meeting. The tax levy was defeated in two public votes before being approved in a third election. In a seven-two decision, the US Supreme Court reversed, holding that McIntyre's right to distribute anonymous campaign literature was protected by the constitutional guarantee of free speech.
