The Franklin County Board of Elections confirmed the signatures submitted by a grassroots coalition are valid to possibly prompt a vote asking if Columbus residents want to change how city council members are elected.
Our City Our Say, a coalition of several community organizers and groups, gathered and submitted over 23,000 signatures in less than six months to have aon initiative appear this November.'s ballot. In total, the board of election validated 15,945 signatures, exceeding the signature requirement for a ballot initiative by more than 27%.
The proposed amendment will go to city council to determine if the petition is sufficient to place on the November’s general election ballot.
The proposed amendment would make it so all nine city council members are elected only by residents within each of the nine city council districts. It's what many call a "true ward" system seen in many large cities throughout the United States.
Columbus previously an at-large system where members were elected citywide. Then, starting in 2023, the city elected members in a new hybrid district system.
The current system requires each of the nine members to live in one of nine council districts, but all voters throughout Columbus vote for each of the council members.
The current district map would remain in place.
Sharon Kim, a lead organizer of Asian American Midwest Progressives and coalition member, said the speed of obtaining the necessary signatures is a sign Columbus residents want a change in how they vote on city council members.
“We really deserve leaders who are directly accountable to us, who really understand what our priorities are in terms of the districts, have relationships with their neighbors and residents in the district. And I think that our measure really brings us closer to a city council that's responsive to residents and not just to the folks who are large money donors,” Kim said.
The new voting process, Kim explained, would bring more power back to Columbus residents by allowing people to vote for representatives who they feel know their districts. She said it means more accessibility and accountability for representatives elected in their districts.
Signature gatherers previously said they were able to get signatures from four Columbus City Council members and U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty. The coalition said those council members include Melissa Green, Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, Christopher Wyche and Tiara Ross.
Columbus City Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment prior to publication.
The proposed amendment will go to city council to determine if the petition is sufficient to place on the November’s general election ballot.
