Hamilton County, Ohio, Issue 20, Property Tax Renewal and Increase for Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library Funding (November 2023)

Hamilton County Issue 20
Election date November 7, 2023
Topic Local property tax
Status Approved
Type Referral

Hamilton County Issue 20 was on the ballot as a referral in Hamilton County on November 7, 2023. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported renewing an existing property tax of 1.0 mills and increasing the rate by 0.5 mills to a total of 1.5 mills ($43 per $100,000 assessed value) for ten years to fund the Cincinnati Hamilton County Public Library.

A "no" vote opposed renewing an existing property tax of 1.0 mills and increasing the rate by 0.5 mills to a total of 1.5 mills ($43 per $100,000 assessed value) for ten years to fund the Cincinnati Hamilton County Public Library.

Election results

Hamilton County Issue 20
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		159,572	56.65%
No		122,115	43.35%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Issue 20 was as follows:

“

A renewal of 1.0 mills and an increase of 0.5 mills for each $1 of taxable value to constitute a tax for the benefit of Hamilton County for the purpose of providing funds for operating expenses and capital improvements for the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library that the county auditor estimates will collect $30,878,000 annually, at a rate not exceeding 1.5 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $43 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, for 10 years, commencing in 2024, first due in calendar year 2025.

”

Background

The most recent public library funding property tax increase was on the ballot in 2018 and established an additional property tax rate of one mill per dollar of assessed value (equal to $31 per $100,000 of assessed value). Voters approved a property tax levy in 2013 at an amount equal to $25 per $100,000 of assessed value. Issue 20 was designed to renew the 2013 levy at an increased rate. Combined with the 2018 levy, Issue 20 was designed to increase the total property tax levy to fund the library to $74 per $100,000 in assessed value.

Path to the ballot

On August 7, 2023, the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners voted to place 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 2023
• Local property tax on the ballot

Ohio

• Ohio 2023 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Ohio
• Hamilton, Ohio

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas