Cuyahoga County Issue 72 — City of Olmsted Falls: Proposed Charter Amendment

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · Olmsted Falls voters

What it does
Shall Article III, Section 3.01 of the Charter of the City of Olmsted Falls be amended to provide that the Municipality shall have all powers, without limitation, of local self-government and municipal home rule; that no law of the State of Ohio or of the United States shall be imposed upon the city except where mandated by law, unless the city adopts or approves such state or federal law by this Charter or legislative act; that this Charter and city ordinances, rules and regulations shall be construed broadly in favor of the home rule power of the city where possible; and that none of the powers herein shall be withdrawn from the exclusive control of the city, nor shall the corporate existence of the city terminate or merge, nor shall any territory be detached from or annexed to the city without approval of the council and as specified in this Charter?
A YES vote means
Olmsted Falls' charter would claim all home-rule powers, say state or federal law applies only where mandated unless the city adopts it, be read broadly in favor of home rule, and bar merger, detachment or annexation of territory without Council approval.
A NO vote means
This charter section on the city's home-rule powers would not change.
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

Background

Olmsted Falls City Council voted 6–0 on June 23, 2026 to submit this Charter Review Commission recommendation to voters. Council members noted that Council can approve or reject the Commission's proposals for the ballot but cannot change them. (Ordinance 39-2026)

A Commission member said the Law Director recommended the language to strengthen the city's home-rule authority, so that matters not covered by the charter or ordinances would not default to state law.

The new text would state that no state or federal law is imposed on the city except where mandated by law, unless the city adopts it. It would also bar any annexation, detachment or merger without Council approval.

Put on the ballot by Olmsted Falls City Council, 6–0, June 23, 2026 (Ordinance 39-2026).

From official source 1, official source 2.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Cuyahoga County Issue 72 mean?
Olmsted Falls' charter would claim all home-rule powers, say state or federal law applies only where mandated unless the city adopts it, be read broadly in favor of home rule, and bar merger, detachment or annexation of territory without Council approval.
What does a NO vote on Cuyahoga County Issue 72 mean?
This charter section on the city's home-rule powers would not change.
How many votes does Cuyahoga County Issue 72 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 72?
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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