Proposed Charter Amendment for 2026

Referendums are the process where an ordinance passed by City Council can instead be placed on the ballot for Marysville residents to vote on to determine if the ordinance is passed.  Ohioans have been reserved the right of the referendum process for over 100 years.  

In 2023, the citizens of Marysville voted on a referendum related to the proposed annexation of over 250 acres west of Marysville.  City  Council had previously approved this annexation by passing an ordinance.  Marysville voters overwhelmingly rejected this annexation ordinance at  the November 7, 2023 election.

One step in the referendum process is to circulate a petition that collects signatures. The number of signatures required is a percentage of voters who voted in the last governor election.  In 2025 the Ohio Legislature increased this percentage from 10% to 35%.  The signature amount required in the referendum process was more than tripled!

The SMART Coalition has circulated a petition that will put a Proposed Charter Amendment on the November 3, 2026 ballot that would:

• Return the required signature percentage for a referendum back to 10% for ordinances passed by Marysville City Council.
• Enable signatures to be collected prior to the City of Marysville providing a certified copy of the proposed ordinance to the Petition Filing Committee.
• Enable Marysville residents to maintain the same control they had over local issues for over 100 years.