YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A piece of legislation that would ban fracking in Youngstown has been rejected by voters six times since 2013. 

And now the Mahoning County Board of Elections has determined the ballot language won't go before voters a 7th time. 

Before the Board of Elections even cast their vote Wednesday evening, a group of local activists was gathered outside the meeting preparing documents to file a lawsuit should the board vote to not certify two proposed charter amendments on the November ballot.

Once inside the meeting, several from the group made an attempt to convince the board that it's their duty to allow the issues to go before the voters.

"This is how we change our laws when something very dangerous comes down the pike and threatens our community," said one of the activists.

One of the proposed amendments would ban new fracking wells within city limits. The proposal would also prevent water sewer funds from being used towards private economic development projects. Instead, the funds could only be used towards the improvement of water and sewer infrastructure.

The second amendment aims to keep corporate influence out of the electoral process by banning corporations, labor unions, and political parties from donating to a local candidate or issue. The proposed amendment would only allow registered voters to make contributions that would be capped at $100 per issue and candidate.

The board voted unanimously against putting either issue before voters.

"Upon our review, it certainly appeared that both the anti-fracking issue and the so-called 'fair elections issue"' both contained provisions that were outside the authority of the city of Youngstown. So under the provisions of House Bill 463, we really had no choice but to not certify those issues to the ballot," said BOE Chairman Mark Munroe.

Despite how the board voted, those who wanted to see the initiatives on the ballot say their fight isn't over.

"The fact that they did not certify these petitions to the ballot is an assault on the peoples right to petition their government when the government is not protecting them," said Community Bill of Rights Committee Member Susie Beiersdorfer.

The group says they plan to take a lawsuit to the Supreme Court.