There is a choice before Columbus voters on the November ballot that aims to reform Columbus City Council in very different ways.
The current city council system that was put in place by voters in 2018, has been criticized as "stupid," "wacky" and "confusing" by opponents and even some city council members. Issues 8 and 9 seek to make changes that limit who can vote for each council member and may even add new council members to the dais.
Issue 8 — the product of a citizen-led grassroots movement — is a one-page amendment that would make it so only voters within each of the nine city council districts votes for their respective council member.
You can read the text of Issue 8 here.
Issue 9 — which was added to the ballot by city council — is a six-page amendment that would do the same, but also expand council by four members who will be elected at-large, by every Columbus voter. This ballot issue would also trigger a redrawing of the current district map in 2028 and change signature requirements for candidates.
You can read the text of Issue 9 here.
Voters will get to vote "yes" or "no" on both amendments. That choice could result in several different scenarios, consequential to the city's halls of power.
Voters begin making that choice on Oct. 6 when early voting begins. Election Day is Nov. 3. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 5.
What happens if you vote "yes" on both Issues 8 and 9?
Voting "yes" on both charter amendments means that the provisions of both Issues 8 and 9 are implemented. Essentially, it would be the same as only voting "yes" on Issue 9.
Voting this way would make it so the nine district council members are elected only by the voters within the geographic boundaries of one of the nine districts. Residents living elsewhere in the city wouldn't get to vote for the other eight council members.
The amendment would also phase in four new city council members, expanding city council to 13 members. All four would be elected at-large, meaning all voters in the city of Columbus get to vote for these four seats.
Two at-large members would be added to council in 2028. Two more at-large members would be phased in in 2030.
The nine district council members would still be required to live within the boundaries of the district while the four at-large candidates could live anywhere in the city.
Any of the 13 council members could be elected city council president by their peers.
Issue 9 would also trigger an early redistricting process in 2028. That map would be in place until a new redistricting process is triggered after the 2030 U.S. Census.
The current district map would remain in place for the 2027 election, when several seats are on the ballot.
Issue 9 would also change how much the populations of the districts can deviate from each other. Right now, the districts can only differ in population by no more than 1%. This amendment gives more flexibility, allowing each district's population to be different by 7.5%.
Issue 9 also changes the amount of signatures required to appear on the ballot for candidates. Currently, all nine council members need to gather 250 signatures.
If passed, Issue 9 would require the nine district council members to get 150 signatures. The four at-large members would still be required to gather 250 signatures.
What happens if you vote "yes" on Issue 8 and "no" on Issue 9?
Voting in favor of Issue 8 and voting against Issue 9 would mean the only major change to city council would be changing who gets to vote for each council member.
The Our City Our Say amendment makes it so only voters within the geographic boundaries of the existing city council districts get to vote for each council member.
Every voter gets one council member and doesn't get to vote on the other eight. There would no longer be any at-large council members.
The nine district council members would still be required to live within the boundaries of the district.
Any of the nine council members could be elected city council president by their peers.
The district map wouldn't be redrawn until after the 2030 U.S. Census.
Unlike Issue 9, Issue 8 will not change how much the populations of the districts can deviate from each other. Right now, the districts can only differ in population by no more than 1%.
The number of signatures required for a candidate to get on the ballot would remain at 250.
What happens if you vote "no" on Issue 8 and "yes" on Issue 9?
Only voting in favor of Issue 9, while voting against Issue 8 means essentially the same thing as voting "yes" on both charter amendments.
The only change proposed in Issue 8 would still go into effect alongside all of the other changes proposed in Issue 9. There would be 13 council members split between district members and at-large members.
What happens if you vote "no" on both Issues 8 and 9?
Voting "no" on both charter amendments basically means nothing changes about the current city council district system.
The current system, referred to as a "hybrid" district system, has nine city council members. Each represents one district and has to live within the boundaries of the district.
Every voter gets to vote for all nine council members, regardless of where you live within the city.
The map of the districts wouldn't be redrawn until after the 2030 U.S. Census. The population difference between each district would remain at no more than 1%.
Signature requirements would also remain the same.
Candidates have to get 250 signatures for all nine seats.
