Issue 9 would add four citywide-elected seats to Columbus City Council. See how it differs from the citizen-led Issue 8 before you vote.
Both would change who votes in district races. The defining difference: whether Columbus also elects four Council members citywide.
Each district chooses its own Council member. The Council stays at nine seats.
Read Issue 8's official textEach district chooses its own representative, while all city voters also choose four at-large members.
Read Issue 9's official textSeat counts show the system after Issue 9's proposed phase-in is complete. Both amendments contain additional provisions; use the official text above for the full details.
This website supports district-only representation. These are the considerations behind that position.
District-only proponents argue that electing every member within a district creates a more direct line of accountability to neighborhood voters.
A district-only election requires campaigning across one district, rather than the entire city. That can reduce the geographic scale of a campaign.
Four additional Council seats bring salaries and possible staff, benefits, security and facilities costs. WOSU reported potential annual costs above $1 million ↗.
Supporters of Issue 9 argue that at-large Council members can address citywide priorities and give voters a voice in choosing additional representatives. Read WOSU's overview ↗
Select an outcome for each issue. This shows the Council structure described in WOSU's election explainer, assuming both amendments are implemented as described.
See reporting on competing outcomes ↗Don't rely on a campaign website alone. The full proposed amendments and independent reporting are linked here.
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