Columbus, Ohio, Issue 19, Initiative Process Measure (November 2022)

Columbus Issue 19
Election date November 8, 2022
Topic Local charter amendments and Local elections and campaigns
Status Approved
Type Referral

Columbus Issue 19 was on the ballot as a referral in Columbus on November 8, 2022. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported banning initiatives that authorize the City to become a stockholder in any joint stock company or corporation; banning initiatives that would create a monopoly or confer a special privilege to an entity or individual that is not available to similarly situated persons or nonpublic entities; and would lengthen the period of time that a petition committee has to gather signatures.

A "no" vote opposed banning initiatives that authorize the City to become a stockholder in any joint stock company or corporation; banning initiatives that would create a monopoly or confer a special privilege to an entity or individual that is not available to similarly situated persons or nonpublic entities; and would lengthen the period of time that a petition committee has to gather signatures.

Election results

Columbus Issue 19
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		171,129	75.95%
No		54,197	24.05%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Issue 19 was as follows:

“

This proposed amendment updates the initiative process regarding initiated ordinances and initiated charter amendments. The central reform pertains to self-dealing through the initiative. The proposed changes implement a ban on initiatives that create a monopoly, oligopoly, or cartel; or otherwise confer a special privilege - such as a specific tax rate, commercial right, interest, or license - that is not available to similarly situated persons or nonpublic entities. The amendment also bans any initiatives that authorize the City to become a stockholder in any joint stock company, corporation, or association; or interact with such in violation of Article VIII, Sec. 6 of the Ohio Constitution. Should an initiative petition that violates either of these bans be found legally sufficient by city council, council would be required to pass ordinances to place two issues on the ballot: the first asks voters if the committee should be allowed to initiate the ordinance or charter amendment in violation of the Charter; the second would be the initiative ordinance or charter amendment itself. The amendment would also require any petition submitted in violation of either ban to include the names and addresses of all who would stand to gain commercial benefit from the initiative, and an estimate of how much public money they would likely receive in the three years following passage. The amendment would also make two additional changes to the initiative process. The first would lengthen the period of time that a petition committee has to gather signatures from one (1) year to two (2) years. The second would allow for ten additional days during which a petition committee may collect more signatures, should the board of elections’ report find that the petition lacks the necessary number of valid signatures per sections 43 to 46 of the charter. Shall the proposed Amendment to the Columbus City Charter be adopted?

”

Path to the ballot

The governing body of Columbus placed the measure on the ballot

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Ohio

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Ohio.

How to vote in Ohio

Poll times

In Ohio, all polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Voters who are in line at 7:30 p.m. are permitted to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Ohio, an applicant must be a United States citizen, a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election, and at least 18 years old by the day of the election. Individuals who are incarcerated for a felony conviction, have been declared by a court to be incompetent for voting purposes, or have been permanently disenfranchised may not register to vote.

Applicants may register to vote online, in person, or by mail. The Ohio Voter Registration and Information Update Form is available online and can be requested by mail. In-person voter registration is available at various locations including the secretary of state and board of elections offices, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices, public libraries and high schools, and other state agencies. A full list of locations is available here.

The deadline to register to vote is 30 days before the next election. An Ohio driver’s license number, state ID card number, or the last four digits of a SSN is required in order to register to vote or update a voter registration.

Automatic registration

Ohio does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Ohio has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Ohio does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Prospective voters must be residents of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Ohio requires those registering to vote or updating their voter registration information at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility to provide proof of citizenship before being allowed to do so. Individuals registering to vote in other settings do not have to provide proof of citizenship but must attest to their citizenship in a sworn statement.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Ohio Secretary of State’s Office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

Ohio requires voters to present photo identification while voting.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2025. Click here for the Ohio Secretary of State page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

“

Ohio driver's license; State of Ohio ID card; Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV; A US passport; A US passport card; US military ID card; Ohio National Guard ID card; or US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card All photo IDs must have the following: An expiration date that has not passed; A photograph of the voter; The voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Book An unexpired Ohio Driver License, State ID Card, or Interim Documentation with your former address IS an ACCEPTABLE form of ID when your current address is in the pollbook.

”

Ohio voters can obtain a free state ID card from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2022
• Local charter amendments on the ballot

Ohio

• Ohio 2022 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Ohio
• Columbus, Ohio

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas