Cuyahoga County Issue 19 — City of Berea: Proposed Charter Amendment

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · Berea voters

What it does
Shall Article IV, Item 1 of the Charter of the City of Berea be amended by expanding the terms for all members of Council and the President of Council from two (2) to four (4) year terms, starting for the regular municipal election to take place in 2027?
A YES vote means
Terms for all Berea Council members and the Council President would go from 2 to 4 years, starting with the 2027 regular municipal election.
A NO vote means
Terms for Berea Council members and the Council President would stay 2 years.
Needed to pass
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean
Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Today

  • Under Article IV, Item 1 of the Berea City Charter, all members of City Council and the President of Council serve two-year terms, so every seat is on the ballot at each regular municipal election.
  • Berea's Council includes ward and at-large members; seven members voted on the ordinance placing this question on the ballot.

If it passes

  • Terms for all Council members and the President of Council would be four years instead of two.
  • The change would start with the regular municipal election in 2027.
  • The ballot question does not change the number of Council seats or how they are elected (by ward or at large).

Who would notice

Berea voters, who would elect Council members less often, and current and future Council members and candidates. It has no tax effect.

How it got here

City Council passed Ordinance No. 5-9, submitting the Charter amendment to voters, on June 15, 2026 by a 7-0 vote after readings on May 18 and June 1, 2026. It appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot as Cuyahoga County Issue 19.

Written by SpectrumVote from 4 linked sources (1, 2, 3, 4). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Cuyahoga County Issue 19 mean?
Terms for all Berea Council members and the Council President would go from 2 to 4 years, starting with the 2027 regular municipal election.
What does a NO vote on Cuyahoga County Issue 19 mean?
Terms for Berea Council members and the Council President would stay 2 years.
When would the first four-year terms begin?
The longer terms would apply starting with the regular municipal election in 2027.
Does this include the President of Council?
Yes. The question covers all members of Council and the President of Council.
How many votes does Cuyahoga County Issue 19 need to pass?
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Cuyahoga County Issue 19?
SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?
The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting and mail-ballot deadlines vary by state; check your state or county election office.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Cuyahoga County ballot.

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