Issue 15 on the November ballot presents voters with a set of revisions to the Harrison City Charter. The city’s charter is seldom talked about and not terribly well understood. This series is my attempt to shed some light on the charter, the review process, and the proposed revisions to help voters make an informed decision. In the interest of full disclosure, I chaired the 2026 charter review after having served as secretary for the 2021 review. That said, these are my words and my thoughts alone. I’d like to think the other members of the 2026 charter review commission share my opinion since we voted unanimously on the recommendation presented to city council in July but it would be inconceivably arrogant for me to try to speak for them.

Second in a series: The Charter Review Process

The charter itself lays out a mechanism for periodic review on a 5 year schedule. The charter review consists of 9 voting members:

• The Mayor
• Council selects one of their own to represent them
• Three electors (registered voters) selected by the mayor
• Four electors (registered voters) selected by council

The law director participates as a non-voting member of the commission. The charter review commission begins its work by selecting a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary from among its members. The commission settles on a meeting cadence that will allow them to complete a thorough review. The commission must wrap it’s work within 6 months and provide a recommendation to council. All charter review commission meetings are open to the public.

At the conclusion of the charter review a recommended set of changes is presented to council. This recommendation is non-binding. Council is free to move forward with all, some, or none of the recommended changes as well as consider changes of their own that outside of the commission’s recommendation. If they feel it necessary council can split this up as multiple amendments each will be voted on separately to limit any poison pill effect from a controversial change derailing an important but less controversial change.

Ultimately, charter revisions must be approved by the registered voters of the city in the next election. If council chooses to put anything before the voters they must pass a resolution clearly specifying which revision(s) are to be voted on. That resolution requires a 2/3 majority for passage. Once passed the resolution is submitted to the board of elections. After a quick review from the Ohio Secretary of State to ensure the changes adhere to Ohio’s home-rule provisions it is placed on the ballot.

A simple majority is needed for passage of the amendment(s). Charter amendments take effect immediately upon passage but the city must certify an updated copy of the charter to the secretary of state within 30 days of passage.

There is an alternate mechanism for amending the charter outside of the charter review process via citizen-led petition. The petition must contain the full text of the proposed change and must be signed by 10% of the electors (registered voters) in the city. Once the board elections validates the sufficiency of signatures council is required to pass a resolution putting the amendment on the ballot.

As a reference, you’ll find the secretary of state’s guidance to boards of election in Chapter 10 of the Questions and Issues Handbook, part of the bible of running elections in Ohio.

next: The Proposed Amendment