How Cincinnati residents can directly change the charter and city law
Cincinnati residents can propose or repeal city laws and amend the charter through petitions, requiring signatures from registered voters and legal review by city officials. The process involves forming a committee, drafting proposed changes, and collecting signatures—at least 10% of votes cast in recent elections—with validation by the Hamilton County Board of Elections.
Cincinnati’s city charter allows residents to directly influence local laws and the charter itself through petitions, bypassing City Council in some cases. Registered voters can propose new ordinances, repeal existing ones, or amend the charter, with final approval decided by voters. The process begins with a committee of at least five registered voters filing a petition with the Clerk of Council. The proposed language must comply with Ohio Secretary of State requirements and cover only one subject. City attorneys review the petition for legal sufficiency, ensuring it aligns with state and federal laws but cannot reject it based on political disagreement. Signature requirements vary: ordinances and referendums need signatures from at least 10% of votes cast in the last Ohio governor election, while charter amendments require 10% of votes from the most recent municipal election. Petitioners often submit double the required signatures to account for invalidations, which occur if signatures are unverified or from non-Cincinnati registered voters. The Hamilton County Board of Elections validates the signatures. If filed at least 100 days before an election, petitioners receive a 10-day grace period to submit additional signatures if the initial filing falls short. Once validated, the proposal appears on the ballot for Cincinnati voters to decide, granting residents direct control over city laws and the charter.
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