City of Cincinnati - File #: 202301982

• File #: 202301982
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed Emergency
• File created: 9/7/2023
• In control: Cincinnati City Council
• On agenda: 9/7/2023
• Final action: 9/7/2023
• ORD/RES# date: 9/7/2023
• ORD/RES#: 0291-2023
• Title: ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) (B VERSION), submitted by Councilmember Keating, from Emily Smart Woerner, City Solicitor, TO SUBMIT to the electors of the City of Cincinnati an amendment to the Charter of the City effective as of the general election of November 2023, to address issues regarding voting and elections for both Mayoral and Council candidates and for Charter amendments, initiatives, and referenda by requiring petition circulators to submit a certified copy of any initiative, referendum, or Charter amendment petition to the Clerk of Council before collecting signatures on the petitions; permitting members of Council to cast their votes by any method that publicly announces their vote; providing a process and timeline for submitting petitions for initiatives and referenda to the Clerk of Council to allow a reasonable time for verification of signatures and drafting necessary ordinances and an opportunity to collect additional signatures on petitions; clarifying throughout the Charte...
• Sponsors: Liz Keating

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
9/7/2023	1	Cincinnati City Council	Passed Emergency	Pass
9/7/2023	1	Cincinnati City Council	Emergency clause to remain	Pass
9/7/2023	1	Cincinnati City Council	Suspension of the three readings	Pass

title

ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) (B VERSION), submitted by Councilmember Keating, from Emily Smart Woerner, City Solicitor, TO SUBMIT to the electors of the City of Cincinnati an amendment to the Charter of the City effective as of the general election of November 2023, to address issues regarding voting and elections for both Mayoral and Council candidates and for Charter amendments, initiatives, and referenda by requiring petition circulators to submit a certified copy of any initiative, referendum, or Charter amendment petition to the Clerk of Council before collecting signatures on the petitions; permitting members of Council to cast their votes by any method that publicly announces their vote; providing a process and timeline for submitting petitions  for initiatives and referenda to the Clerk of Council to allow a reasonable time for verification of signatures and drafting necessary ordinances and an opportunity to collect additional signatures on petitions; clarifying throughout the Charter that Council terms are two years; clarifying that candidate petition circulators must sign a statement rather than provide a notarized affidavit on the candidate petitions; aligning the timeline for filing a nomination petition for an election to an unexpired term of office of mayor with state and federal requirement; and providing an opportunity for candidates for Council and Mayor to collect additional signatures on their petitions, all by amending existing Sections 3 and 5 of Article II, “Legislative Power,” and Sections 1, 2, and 4 of Article IX, “Nominations and Elections,” and by enacting new Section 8 of Article II.

recommendation

PASS EMERGENCY