One City, Whose Vote?

Just three years ago, Columbus updated how it elects its City Council members. Under this revised model, Council candidates must live in the district they seek to represent, but their seats are at-large, meaning City Council members don’t represent any specific area of the city.

What’s more, every voter across Columbus gets to vote for any candidate, not just ones who live in their neighborhood. In last November’s election, that meant a Council candidate won their district but lost their seat. A growing number of residents say that’s clear evidence the system still isn’t working.

Now, a growing reform effort to let voters in each district choose their own representative is underway. A grassroots measure, “Proposed Amendment No. 1,” will appear on the November 2026 ballot in Columbus. If it passes, “No. 1” will let voters in each of the City’s districts choose their own Council representative, giving Columbus a true “ward” system.

But there’s more: a second ballot initiative, developed by Columbus City Council, will also now appear on the November ballot. This initiative, “Proposed Amendment No. 2,” would install nine district-elected members but also grow City Council to 13 members by adding four at-large council seats.

With the most significant changes to city government in years headed to the ballot, can Columbus agree on what fair Council representation actually looks like? Who should get to choose the people speaking for Columbus neighborhoods at City Hall? Join us with a panel of passionate leaders as we unpack Columbus’s newest chapter in participatory democracy.

Featuring Morgan Harper, Executive Director, Columbus Stand Up with moderator Walker Evans, Co-Founder & CEO, Columbus Underground. Additional panelists to be announced.