Franklin County Issue 27 — Gahanna – Proposed Charter Amendment

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 4:07 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · Gahanna voters

What it does
Gahanna – Proposed Charter Amendment — Shall Section 23.07, Non Discrimination Clause, of Article XXIII, General Provisions, be amended to update the Charter's nondiscrimination provisions to align with the City's Codified Ordinances and applicable federal, state, and local law?
A YES vote means
Gahanna's charter nondiscrimination provisions would be updated to align with the City's Codified Ordinances and applicable federal, state and local law.
A NO vote means
Gahanna's charter nondiscrimination provisions would not be updated.
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

  • Section 23.07 of Gahanna's Charter bars City officials and employees from discriminating on the basis of age, gender, race, color, marital status, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or status as a covered veteran.
  • A second, separate sentence bars officials and employees from using those same categories to limit the use or availability of any public resource.

If it passes

  • YES would combine the two sentences into one paragraph covering both discrimination in official duties and limits on the use of public resources.
  • The listed protected statuses would become: race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, age, disability, familial status, military status, creed, national origin, or any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
  • Compared with the current list, "gender" is replaced by "sex" and "gender identity or expression"; "covered veteran" is replaced by "military status"; ancestry, familial status and creed are added; and marital status is no longer listed by name.
  • NO would keep the current wording and list.

Who would notice

Gahanna's elected and appointed officials and employees, and people who deal with the City or use City resources.

How it got here

The 2026 Gahanna Charter Review Commission recommended the change.

City Council adopted Resolution RES-0035-2026 on July 20, 2026 to put it on the ballot.

The City's stated purpose is to align the Charter's list with the City's Codified Ordinances and current federal, state and local legal standards, and to merge the two prohibitions into one paragraph.

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.

Background

According to the Franklin County Board of Elections notice, Gahanna City Council placed this amendment on the ballot by a resolution passed July 20, 2026 (Resolution 0035).

The amendment would update Section 23.07, the Charter's Non Discrimination Clause, so that it aligns with the City's Codified Ordinances and with applicable federal, state and local law.

Put on the ballot by Gahanna City Council, July 20, 2026 (Resolution 0035).

From official source.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Franklin County Issue 27 mean?
Gahanna's charter nondiscrimination provisions would be updated to align with the City's Codified Ordinances and applicable federal, state and local law.
What does a NO vote on Franklin County Issue 27 mean?
Gahanna's charter nondiscrimination provisions would not be updated.
Is marital status still protected?
It would no longer be named in the Charter list. The new text also covers "any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law."
Does this change the City's ordinances?
No. It amends the Charter section; the City says the goal is to match the list already in its Codified Ordinances.
What does it take to pass?
A majority of Gahanna voters voting on it.
How many votes does Franklin County Issue 27 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 Franklin County Issue 27?
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 was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

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

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