Does this change what any city official can do?

No. According to the ballot language, the amendment only changes gender-specific pronouns to the corresponding nouns in the listed sections.

Why aren't all the pronouns in the Charter changed?

The Charter Review Committee says Council may not propose amendments to Section 3-10 (term limits), Section 3-5 (compensation) or Article IX (initiative, referendum and recall), so pronouns in those sections cannot be changed through this process.

How many votes does Montgomery County Issue 16 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 Montgomery County Issue 16?

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.

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.

Montgomery County Issue 16 — City of Kettering: Charter Amendment

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 4:33 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · Kettering voters

What it does: The City of Kettering proposes amending the following Kettering City Charter Sections: 3-2, 3-3, 3-6, 3-8, 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 5-7, 8-3, and 8-4 to change the use of gender-specific pronouns to the corresponding nouns. Shall the proposed charter amendments, as reported by the charter commission of the City of Kettering be adopted?
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).

Official text: source

Explained

Today

Kettering's City Charter uses gender-specific pronouns to refer to the Mayor, City Council members, the City Manager and other officials. Sometimes it says "he" or "his," and other times "his or her."
The pronouns appear in 13 sections: 3-2, 3-3, 3-6, 3-8, 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 5-7, 8-3 and 8-4.

If it passes

In those 13 sections, each gender-specific pronoun would be replaced with the corresponding noun or job title. For example, "he" referring to the mayor would become "mayor."
The wording change does not alter any official's powers, duties, terms or pay.
Pronouns in Section 3-5 (compensation), Section 3-10 (term limits) and Article IX (initiative, referendum and recall) would stay as they are, because the Charter Review process cannot propose amendments to those sections.

Who would notice

Anyone reading or applying the Kettering City Charter. It has no tax or budget effect.

How it got here

The Charter requires the Mayor to appoint a Charter Review Committee at least every 10 years. The 2026 committee of 11 residents met five times between March 26 and May 15, 2026, and recommended this change on May 26. City Council passed Ordinance 4455-26 on June 23, 2026, placing it and the committee's other recommendations on the November 3 ballot as Issues 15 through 19.

What each side says

Supporters

Clarity is a core goal of legal writing. Using nouns instead of pronouns increases clarity, eliminates the need to determine which person a pronoun refers to, and ensures nobody is misrepresented. · Kettering 2026 Charter Review Committee

Opponents

No organized opposition or published argument against Issue 16 was found. The city's charter review page and official notice list the ballot questions without arguments against. · SpectrumVote review of city documents

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

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Quick answers

Does this change what any city official can do?: No. According to the ballot language, the amendment only changes gender-specific pronouns to the corresponding nouns in the listed sections.
Why aren't all the pronouns in the Charter changed?: The Charter Review Committee says Council may not propose amendments to Section 3-10 (term limits), Section 3-5 (compensation) or Article IX (initiative, referendum and recall), so pronouns in those sections cannot be changed through this process.
How many votes does Montgomery County Issue 16 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 Montgomery County Issue 16?: 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 Montgomery County ballot.

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