Columbus Voters Decide Issues 8 and 9 on City Council Structure
Voters in Columbus are deciding whether to adopt district-only council elections under Issue 8 or expand City Council to 13 members under Issue 9.
Voters enter the Franklin County Early Vote Center below the entrance banner.
Credit: John Minchillo / Associated Press Image source
Columbus voters casting ballots in the Nov. 3 general election are weighing two separate charter amendments that propose substantial changes to how representatives are chosen for Columbus City Council.
Currently, every Columbus voter can vote in elections for all nine council seats, even though candidates must live in their respective districts.
The two measures on Tuesday's ballot, Issue 8 and Issue 9, both seek to end citywide voting for district representatives, but they differ significantly in council size, regional governance and timing.
The Proposals: Issue 8 vs. Issue 9
Issue 8 is a citizen-initiated amendment placed on the ballot by the community coalition Our City Our Say. Issue 8 would change the nine seats to district-only elections. The proposal would let voters in each of Columbus's nine council districts elect their own district representative while keeping City Council at nine members.
Issue 9 would also move to district-only elections for those nine seats, but would add four citywide, at-large members in phases. The proposal would also trigger a redrawing of the district map in 2028.
How the Four Ballot Combinations Work
Because Issue 8 and Issue 9 are separate questions, voters can vote yes or no on each measure independently. Certified nonpartisan election summaries outline the specific result of each of the four possible ballot combinations:
- No on Issue 8, No on Issue 9: The city charter remains unchanged. Columbus City Council stays at nine members, and all registered voters continue electing all nine members across the city.
- Yes on Issue 8, No on Issue 9: Columbus moves to pure district representation. Council remains capped at nine members, and voters cast ballots exclusively for the representative living in their home district.
- No on Issue 8, Yes on Issue 9: Voting No on Issue 8 and Yes on Issue 9 creates nine district seats and four citywide seats, with 11 members beginning in 2028 and 13 beginning in 2030.
- Yes on Issue 8, Yes on Issue 9: If both measures pass, both amendments would take effect, creating a 13-member council by 2030 with the same council structure that would result if Issue 9 passed alone.
Campaign Finance and Perspectives
The debate over the two ballot measures has drawn significant campaign spending and opposing visions for municipal accountability.
In an interview with ABC6 Investigates, Columbus City Council President Pro Tem Rob Dorans described the current system as “stupid” and “confusing.” Dorans argued that the city should provide investments in the neighborhoods that need them most and not just those with the loudest voices.
Opponents of council expansion have raised questions about added staff and operational costs. An inquiry by ABC6 Investigates found each new council member would be assigned an aide and a legislative analyst, adding eight staff positions.
On the financial front, campaign filings revealed substantial independent expenditures. The political action committee Voters Have Choices is run by Darryl Tanner, who has funneled more than $300,000 into it.
Meanwhile, the Our City Our Say PAC reported raising more than $38,000, with almost 300 contributions from supporters. The political action committee supporting Issue 9, Future Columbus, reported $0 raised, spent and cash-on-hand. Will Petrik, an organizer with Our City Our Say, told WOSU he is against this ad campaign by Voters Have Choices.
Election Night Results and Next Steps
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, polls across Franklin County opened at 6:30 a.m. and will be open until 7:30 p.m. Any registered voter standing in line by 7:30 p.m. is permitted to vote.
Once voting concludes Tuesday evening, precinct ballots will be delivered to the Franklin County Board of Elections. The election board will tabulate and post official unofficial election night results as ballots are scanned, with official certification to follow once all valid absentee and provisional ballots are verified.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Supporting evidence (5)
Currently, every Columbus voter can vote in elections for all nine council seats, even though candidates must live in their respective districts.
Issue 8 would change the nine seats to district-only elections.
Read supporting passage
Issue 8 changes the nine seats to district-only elections. Issue 9 creates nine district seats and four citywide seats, phased in across staggered elections.
The proposal would let voters in each of Columbus's nine council districts elect their own district representative while keeping City Council at nine members.
Read supporting passage
Both proposals would let voters in each of Columbus's nine council districts elect their own district representative. Issue 8 would keep City Council at nine members, while Issue 9 would add four members elected citywide, expanding Council to 13 members by 2030.
No on Issue 8, Yes on Issue 9: Voting No on Issue 8 and Yes on Issue 9 creates nine district seats and four citywide seats, with 11 members beginning in 2028 and 13 beginning in 2030.
Read supporting passage
NOYES9 district + 4 citywide. 11 members beginning in 2028; 13 beginning in 2030.
Yes on Issue 8, Yes on Issue 9: If both measures pass, both amendments would take effect, creating a 13-member council by 2030 with the same council structure that would result if Issue 9 passed alone.
Read supporting passage
Both amendments would take effect. Columbus would elect nine district representatives exclusively through district voters and add four citywide representatives, creating a 13-member council by 2030. The same council structure would result if Issue 9 passed alone.
Supporting evidence (5)
Issue 9 would also move to district-only elections for those nine seats, but would add four citywide, at-large members in phases.
The proposal would also trigger a redrawing of the district map in 2028.
Read supporting passage
It would also trigger a redrawing of the district map in 2028.
In an interview with ABC6 Investigates, Columbus City Council President Pro Tem Rob Dorans described the current system as “stupid” and “confusing.”
Read supporting passage
In an interview with ABC6 Investigates, Council President Pro Tem Rob Dorans described the current system as “stupid” and “confusing.”
Dorans argued that the city should provide investments in the neighborhoods that need them most and not just those with the loudest voices.
Read supporting passage
“In a growing city like Columbus, we should be providing, whether or not we’re talking about infrastructure spending or other types of investments, in the neighborhoods that need them most and not just in the neighborhoods that have the loudest voices,” Dorans said.
An inquiry by ABC6 Investigates found each new council member would be assigned an aide and a legislative analyst, adding eight staff positions.
Read supporting passage
ABC6 Investigates found each new council member would be assigned an aide and a legislative analyst, adding eight staff positions.
Supporting evidence (5)
The political action committee Voters Have Choices is run by Darryl Tanner, who has funneled more than $300,000 into it.
Read supporting passage
Voters Have Choices, which is run by Tanner, still has more than $100,000 in cash-on-hand.
The political action committee Voters Have Choices is run by Darryl Tanner, who has funneled more than $300,000 into it.
Read supporting passage
This political action committee is run by a man named Darryl Tanner, who has funneled more than $300,000 into it.
Meanwhile, the Our City Our Say PAC reported raising more than $38,000, with almost 300 contributions from supporters.
Read supporting passage
The Our City Our Say PAC reported raising more than $38,000, with almost 300 contributions from supporters — many of which donated multiple times.
The political action committee supporting Issue 9, Future Columbus, reported $0 raised, spent and cash-on-hand.
Read supporting passage
Future Columbus reported $0 raised, spent and cash-on-hand.
Will Petrik, an organizer with Our City Our Say, told WOSU he is against this ad campaign by Voters Have Choices.
https://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/home
Supporting evidence (1)
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, polls across Franklin County opened at 6:30 a.m. and will be open until 7:30 p.m.
Read supporting passage
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026 is General Election Day, polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.