This story originally appeared in the Oct. 12 e-edition but is being reshared for print readers.
Besides Ohio Issue 3 – which asks whether voters want to make requiring photo ID at the polls part of the state's Constitution – there are no other statewide or countywide issues that all Franklin County voters will consider for the Nov. 3 general election.
Residents in three cities have multiple charter amendments on their ballots: Columbus (2), Worthington (4) and Gahanna (10). Grove City has one amendment on the ballot that targets data centers and Brown Township has one involving a zoning plan.
Several other municipalities or public agencies have levies on the ballot, as do four school districts and a career center.
Early in-person voting in Ohio
began Oct. 6 and ends Nov. 1 with varying hours and limited weekend times. To see the full schedule, go to the Ohio Secretary of State's voting schedule at: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voting-schedule
Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 in Ohio.
Applications for absentee ballots to vote by mail must be received by boards of elections by close of business on Oct. 27. Absentee ballots must be received by mail or returned to county boards of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Here is a round-up of the issues and referendums on the November general election ballots in Franklin County. NOTE: Local liquor options are not included in this list as those issues are decided only by voters in local precincts where the restaurants, stores and other businesses applying are located.
Municipal or other public agency
Columbus – There are two proposed city charter amendments summarized below. A full text of the proposed amendments can be found at https://columbusdistricts.com/2026-ballot/.
The language can also be accessed by clicking the link with each issue number.
● Issue 8– Proposed amendment submitted by citizen petition to limit voting for the nine district council seats to only those living in those districts instead of the current citywide vote.
●Issue 9 – Proposed city charter amendment placed on ballot by city council that would limit voting for the nine district council seats to only those living in the district AND add two at-large council members to be elected in 2027 and two additional at-large members to be elected in 2029. All at-large council members would be elected for four-year staggered terms, and would transition council from nine to 13 members.
Gahanna – Ten proposed city charter amendments are summarized here.
● Issue 18 – Shall the charter be amended to eliminate the mayoral primary election when no more than two candidates have filed for the office of Mayor?
●Issue 19 – Shall the charter be amended to establish a consistent standard regarding conflicts with other public offices and qualifications for the Mayor, Council Members and the City Attorney?
● Issue 20 – Shall the charter be amended to revise the process for adjusting ward boundaries to base it on federal decennial census population data and specified population disparity criteria?
● Issue 21 – Shall the charter be amended to require that an alleged improper voting abstention by a Council member be subject to the notice and hearing procedures for removal established in the Charter?
● Issue 22 – Shall the charter be amended to remove department listings, preserving the charter duties of the director of finance, and making related organizational changes of city departments?
● Issue 23 – Shall the charter be amended to clarify the process for filling vacancies in the office of the city attorney, update the powers and duties of the office, and make related grammatical revisions?
●Issue 24 – Shall the charter be amended to authorize the Planning Commission to establish attendance requirements for its members through its rules of operation?
●Issue 25 – Shall the charter be amended to eliminate the Board of Zoning and Building Appeals section and transferzoning, building, and landscaping appeal functions to the Planning Commission and to transfer Planning Commission appeals to Franklin County courts?
●Issue 26 – Shall the charter be amended to require that the Charter Review Commission be convened every 10 years instead of every five years?
●Issue 27 – Shall the charter be amended to update the Charter's nondiscrimination provisions to align with the City's Codified Ordinances and applicable federal, state, and local law?
Grove City (Issue 28) – A referendum initiated by citizen petition asks whether the city's charter should be changed to add a Community Consent Amendment that requires a public referendum process for voter approval of any potential large industrial developments – including potential data centers. If approved, a voter referendum would be required on any large development that meets any one of these three conditions: involves at least 50 acres, would use more than 500,000 gallons of water daily and/or at least 20 megawatts of electricity. The amendment would also require voter approval for certain expansions of existing properties that increase acreage, power demand or water use by 10%or more. In addition, changes to a property’s primary use or a transfer of ownership or operational control would also be subject to voter approval.
A full text of the amendment is available on Grove City's website at https://www.grovecityohio.gov/750/7541/Issue-28-Community-Consent-Amendment-Inf or on the Protect Grove City citizen petition group's website at https://protectgrovecity.org/cca-amendment/.
A full text of the language can also be accessed by clicking the link on the issue number.
Upper Arlington (Issue 34) – A proposed property levy renewal of 0.89-mill and an increase of 0.24-mill for a total 1.13 mills for five years to pay the city's employer share of police officer and firefighter pension contributions. If approved, property owners would pay $26 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's market value.
Worthington – There are four proposed city charter amendment referendums on the ballot, which have been recommended by the City Charter Commission and are summarized below. A full text of each issue, showing lines for removed language and red for new language, is available on the city's website at https://www.worthington.org/2469/Proposed-Charter-Amendments.
The language can also be accessed by clicking the link with each issue number below:
●Issue 35 – Should the effective date of ordinances be changed?
● Issue 36 – Should a referendum petition requiring the signatures of 10% of the number of city voters in the previous gubernatorial election be added?
●Issue 37 – Shall various amendments recommended by the commission be approved?
● Issue 38 – Should a referendum petition signature requirement proposed by citizen petition be added?
Brown Township (Issue 40) – Residents of the unincorporated areas of the township will decide whether or not to approve a proposed zoning plan for the unincorporated areas of the township. If approved, zoning authority and regulation will transfer from Franklin County directly to Brown Township, giving the community stronger local control over development. The text of the resolution and a map can be viewed on the township's official website at https://www.browntwp.org/.
Hamilton Township Road District (Issue 41) – Additional 0.8-mill levy for road maintenance for a continuing period of time for unincorporated areas of the township. If approved, property owners would pay $28 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's market value.
Madison Township – Two public safety levy issues:
● Issue 42 – Additional fire protection levy of 4.89 mills for continuing period. If approved, property owners would pay $171 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value.
● Issue 43 – Additional police levy of 1.99 mills for continuing period. If approved, property owners would pay $70 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value.
Mifflin Township Police District (Issue 45) – Additional police levy of 6.96 mills in the unincorporated area for continuing period. If approved, property owners would pay $244 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’smarket value.
Sharon Township Road District (Issue 47) – Additional road maintenance levy of 2.46 mills in the unincorporated area for a continuing period. If approved, property owners would pay $86 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value.
Truro Township (Issue 48) – Renewal and decrease from 1.5 mills to 1 mill for five years for current expenses. If approved, property owners would pay $17 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value.
Pickerington Public Library (Franklin and Fairfield counties) – Additional property tax levy of 1.5 mills for a continuing period for current expenses. If approved, property owners would pay $53 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's assessed market value.
School districts
Bexley City School District (Issue 5) – Voters are being asked to approve a 0.5% income tax for a continuing period of time to help fund operating expenses and 2.05 mills in new property taxes for 30 years to pay for a $29,250,000 bond issue for school improvements. If approved, property owners would pay $72 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's assessed market value. The district already levies a 0.75% income tax.
Delaware Area Career Center (Delaware County and part of Franklin County) – Renewal levy for 10 years with a decrease to 0.75-mill from .95-mill. If approved, property owners would pay $18 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's assessed market value.
Pickerington Local School District (includes parts of Franklin and Fairfield counties) – Proposed income tax increase of 0.75% for 10 years for current expenses. The district already levies a 1% income tax.
South-Western City School District (Issue 6) – Proposed property tax of 2.26 mills to fund a $220 million bond issue for school construction for 38 years. If approved, property owners would pay $79 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's assessed market value.
Upper Arlington City School District (Issue 7) – Proposed property tax levies of 4.9 mills for a continuing period for current operating expenses and 4.84 mills for 38 years to repay $273.5 million in bonds for school construction. If approved, property owners would pay $172 and $169, respectively, for each $100,000 of the county auditor's assessed market value.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Charter amendments and levies galore on ballots in Franklin County communities
