Ohio 2023 local ballot measures

Ohio Local Ballot Measures
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Ballotpedia covered local ballot measures in Ohio on November 7, 2023.

In 2023, Ballotpedia covered local ballot measures that appeared on the ballot for voters within the 100 largest cities in the U.S., within state capitals, and throughout California. You can review the coverage scope of the local ballot measures project here.

Ballotpedia covered a selection of election-related, such as electoral systems like ranked-choice voting, and policing-related ballot measures outside of the largest cities.

See also: Local ballot measure elections in 2023

November 7

Cuyahoga County

See also: Cuyahoga County, Ohio ballot measures

• Cleveland, Ohio, Issue 38, People's Budget Initiative (November 2023):  ✖

A "yes" vote supported creating a participatory budgeting process, called the People's Budget, in Cleveland, allowing residents to propose and vote on city-wide and neighborhood-specific projects using money allocated to the People's Budget Fund.

A "no" vote opposed estabishing the People's Budget process in Cleveland.

• Cuyahoga Community College District, Ohio, Issue 5, Property Tax Increase and Renewal Measure (November 2023):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported renewing the existing property tax of 2.1 mills and increases the rate by 0.4 mills to a total of 2.5 mills ($67 per $100,000 assessed value) for ten years to fund the Cuyahoga Community College District's operating costs.

A "no" vote opposed renewing the existing property tax of 2.1 mills and increases the rate by 0.4 mills to a total of 2.5 mills ($67 per $100,000 assessed value) for ten years to fund the Cuyahoga Community College District's operating costs.

Franklin County

See also: Franklin County, Ohio ballot measures

• Columbus City School District, Ohio, Tax Levy Measure (November 2023):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported authorizing the school district to levy a tax of $270 per $100,000 in assessed value for general improvements and operating expenses.

A "no" vote opposed authorizing the school district to levy a tax of $270 per $100,000 in assessed value for general improvements and operating expenses.

• Columbus Metropolitan Library District, Ohio, Tax Levy Measure (November 2023):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported authorizing the district to levy a tax of $53 per $100,000 in assessed value for the purpose of operating expenses.

A "no" vote opposed authorizing the district to levy a tax of $53 per $100,000 in assessed value for the purpose of operating expenses.

Hamilton County

See also: Hamilton County, Ohio ballot measures

• Cincinnati, Ohio, Issue 22, Sale of Cincinnati Southern Railway to Norfolk Southern Measure (November 2023):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported authorizing the Cincinnati Southern Railway Board of Trustees to sell the Cincinnati Southern Railway for $1.6 billion to the Norfolk Southern Corporation, and depositing the money into a trust fund operated by the Cincinnati Southern Railway Board of Trustees to be used to improve or replace existing streets, bridges, municipal buildings, parks and recreational facilities, parking improvements, and other public facilities.

A "no" vote opposed authorizing the Cincinnati Southern Railway Board of Trustees to sell the Cincinnati Southern Railway to the Norfolk Southern Corporation.

• Cincinnati, Ohio, Issue 23, Changes to Local Initiative and Elections Processes Charter Amendment (November 2023):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported amending the city charter to make changes to local initiative and election processes, including: requiring local citizen initiative petitions to be submitted to Council Secretary before signature collection; providing for a schedule for submitting initiative signatures to the Clerk of Council; limiting local initiatives to one subject; providing for a cure period for local initiative and candidate petition signatures; providing for electronic voting for city council members; making technical changes throughout the city charter to reflect that councilmembers are elected to two-year terms; and  changing the timeline for filing a nominating petition for an election to an unexpired term of office of mayor with state and federal requirements.

A "no" vote opposed amending the city charter to make changes to local initiative and election processes.

• Cincinnati, Ohio, Issue 24, City Income Tax Increase for Housing Projects and Assistance Fund Charter Amendment (November 2023):  ✖

A "yes" vote supported increasing Cincinnati city income tax rate by 0.3% (from 1.8% to 2.1%) with revenues dedicated to a fund for housing projects and assistance, including: dedicating 65% of the fund to grants, subsidies, and loans for developing and maintaining housing for families with incomes up to 30% of the area median income; dedicating 30% of the fund to support housing projects and assistance for families with incomes up to 50% of the area median income and down payment and mortgage assistance to home owners with incomes of up to 80% of the area median income level;  dedicating 5% of the fund to administrative costs associated with the fund; and administering the fund in consultation with a board of 11 city residents.

A "no" vote opposed increasing the Cincinnati city income and withholding taxes by 0.3% to fund grants, subsidies, and loans for housing projects and rent and mortgage assistance for renters and property owners with incomes between 30 and 80% of the area median income level.

• Hamilton County, Ohio, Issue 19, Property Tax Renewal for Cincinnati Zoo Funding (November 2023):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported renewing an existing property tax of 0.46 mills ($9 per $100,000 assessed value) for five years to fund the Cincinnati Zoo.

A "no" vote opposed renewing an existing property tax of 0.46 mills ($9 per $100,000 assessed value) for five years to fund the Cincinnati Zoo.

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

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.

Lucas County

See also: Lucas County, Ohio ballot measures

• Toledo, Ohio, Issue 24, City Funds for Street Improvements Charter Amendment (November 2023):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported amending the city charter to allow city funds to be spent on city street improvements regardless of whether or not the streets were previously unimproved.

A "no" vote opposed amending the city charter to allow city funds to be spent on city street improvements regardless of whether or not the streets were previously unimproved.

• Toledo, Ohio, Issue 25, Bayview Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Advisory Question (November 2023):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported advising the Toledo City Council to move forward with plans to renovate the Bayview Wastewater Treatment Plant, expected to cost $900 million over 20 years.

A "no" vote opposed advising the Toledo City Council to move forward with plans to renovate the Bayview Wastewater Treatment Plant.

• Toledo City School District, Ohio, Issue 9, 6.5 Mill Property Tax Renewal Measure (November 2023):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported renewing the existing school district property tax levy of 6.5 mills ($169 per $100,000 assessed value) for five years to fund current school district expenses.

A "no" vote opposed renewing the existing school district property tax levy of 6.5 mills ($169 per $100,000 assessed value) for five years to fund current school district expenses.

• Toledo City School District, Ohio, Issue 10, 5.8 Mill Property Tax Renewal Measure (November 2023):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported renewing the existing school district property tax levy of 5.8 mills ($167 per $100,000 assessed value) for five years to fund current school district operating expenses and general permanent improvements.

A "no" vote opposed renewing the existing school district property tax levy of 5.8 mills ($167 per $100,000 assessed value) for five years to fund current school district operating expenses and general permanent improvements.

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 does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "whoever commits election falsification is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree."

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. 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 April 2023. 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

”

Additional elections

See also: Ohio elections, 2023

Cleveland

September 12, 2023

• City elections in Cleveland, Ohio (2023)

November 7, 2023

• City elections in Cleveland, Ohio (2023)
• Berea City School District, Ohio, elections (2023)
• Euclid City School District, Ohio, elections (2023)
• Cuyahoga Community College District, Ohio, Issue 5, Property Tax Increase and Renewal Measure (November 2023)

See also

• Local ballot measure elections in 2023