Summit County Issue 19 — City of Barberton proposed charter amendment

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

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · Barberton voters

What it does
Shall Article 7 be amended to require non-partisan municipal elections?
A YES vote means
Barberton municipal elections would be nonpartisan.
A NO vote means
Barberton's charter would not be changed to require nonpartisan municipal elections.
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

  • Barberton's Charter (Article 7, "Elections") holds city elections in November of odd-numbered years. Candidates for all offices, except independent and write-in candidates, are nominated at a May primary election, with the method of nomination set by Ohio general law.
  • City Council's ordinances describe the current Article 7 as the Charter's "partisan nomination and election" section requiring partisan elections.

If it passes

  • Article 7 would be replaced with a new "Nominations and Elections" article stating that all city elections are non-partisan, with no party affiliation on the ballot.
  • A primary would be held only when more than twice as many qualified candidates file as there are seats plus one; for Mayor, Director of Law, Director of Finance or a ward Council seat, only when four or more file. The top vote-getters, twice the number of seats, would advance to November.
  • Candidates would file a declaration of candidacy and petition by 4 p.m. on the 90th day before the primary: at least 75 signatures, including signers from each ward, for citywide offices (Mayor, Law Director, Finance Director, Council President, at-large Council), and at least 25 from the ward for ward Council seats. Group petitions would not be allowed.
  • Regular city elections would still be held in November of odd-numbered years.

Who would notice

Barberton voters and candidates for Mayor, Law Director, Finance Director, Council President and City Council, and local political parties. It has no tax effect.

How it got here

City Council placed the amendment on the November 3, 2026 ballot through Ordinance 84-2026, which replaces Article 7. A similar ordinance had been introduced in March 2026 at the request of a Council member and referred to the Council's Charter Review committee.

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.

Background

Barberton City Council passed Ordinance 56-2026 on May 26, 2026. It replaces Charter Article 7 'Elections' with a new Article 7 'Nominations and Elections' providing for non-partisan elections.

Under the current Charter, candidates other than independents and write-ins are nominated in a May party primary. The new text says all municipal elections would be non-partisan, with no party affiliation on the ballot.

Under the new text, a primary would be held only if enough candidates file. For Mayor, Director of Law, Director of Finance and ward council seats, that means four or more candidates.

Put on the ballot by Barberton City Council, May 26, 2026 (Ordinance 56-2026).

From official source 1, official source 2.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Summit County Issue 19 mean?
Barberton municipal elections would be nonpartisan.
What does a NO vote on Summit County Issue 19 mean?
Barberton's charter would not be changed to require nonpartisan municipal elections.
Would there still be primaries?
Only if enough candidates file. For example, a Mayor or ward Council primary would happen only if four or more candidates qualify, and it would be non-partisan.
Would candidates' party appear on the ballot?
No. The new Article 7 says all elections shall be non-partisan, "without party affiliation appearing on the ballot."
How many votes does Summit 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 Summit 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 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 Summit County ballot.

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