Cuyahoga County Issue 95 — City of Rocky River: Proposed Charter Amendment

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · Rocky River voters

What it does
Shall Article IX of the Charter of the City of Rocky River be amended by amending Sections 1, 2, and 3, and eliminating sections 4 and 5, to provide that beginning in 2027, all municipal elections shall be non-partisan elections; that the names of two (2) persons receiving the highest number of votes in the primary election held in September for each office shall be nominated to be candidates for the offices of mayor, law director and ward councilman at the next succeeding regular municipal elections; for candidates for the offices of at-large councilmen, the names of five (5) persons receiving the highest number of votes shall be nominated at the next succeeding regular municipal elections; and to provide that a petition shall require signatures of registered electors of not less than fifty (50) for ward councilman, and one hundred fifty (150) for councilman-at-large, mayor, and law director?
A YES vote means
Starting in 2027, Rocky River elections would be nonpartisan, with the top two primary vote-getters advancing for mayor, law director and ward council and the top five for at-large council, and petitions needing 50 signatures for ward council or 150 for other offices.
A NO vote means
Rocky River's election and nomination rules 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

Rocky River's Charter Review Commission is appointed by City Council every six years and must recommend any charter changes within five months, which Council then submits to voters, according to the City. A nine-member Commission was appointed in 2026.

Under the current Charter (Article IX), candidates are nominated in party primaries held in September, and party designations are printed on the ballot. The amendment would make all municipal elections non-partisan beginning in 2027 and eliminate Sections 4 and 5 of that Article.

Put on the ballot by Rocky River City Council, on recommendation of the 2026 Charter Review Commission.

From official source 1, official source 2, official source 3.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Cuyahoga County Issue 95 mean?
Starting in 2027, Rocky River elections would be nonpartisan, with the top two primary vote-getters advancing for mayor, law director and ward council and the top five for at-large council, and petitions needing 50 signatures for ward council or 150 for other offices.
What does a NO vote on Cuyahoga County Issue 95 mean?
Rocky River's election and nomination rules would not change.
How many votes does Cuyahoga County Issue 95 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 95?
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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