Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Finance and Management Director to enter into a contract with Strategic Public Partners LLC for consulting services related to early voting education, information, and associated public service announcements.
Since 2006, the Franklin County Board of Elections has voted, in a bipartisan manner, to provide information about early voting opportunities via public service announcements. This information has assisted new residents and new voters as they learn about our voting system, including opportunities to vote early in person or by mail. This nonpartisan information was provided without regard for the partisan information broadcasted regarding the candidates or issues on a given ballot.
The Franklin County Board of Elections planned to expend $280,000 for public service announcements for the general election. As in previous years, the Board’s proposal would use bipartisan media consultants to implement this plan. However, for the first time in over a decade, the Franklin County Board of Elections has failed to provide this information because of a party-line tie vote.
In response to this partisan tie vote, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners sought to directly expend these funds. However, they have been advised that, as a statutory political subdivision, they lack the express authority to make this expenditure directly.
Columbus is a home rule municipality which has previously enacted city code that foresees the need to use public funds to “…promote, enforce and protect the fundamental right to vote…” (CCC 2321.55(C)(2)). In addition, the Columbus City Attorney has advised that the use of city funds is legally permissible for this purpose.
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther has proposed the use of city funds to implement the same voter information announcement the Franklin County Board of Elections originally planned for 2018. This will ensure Columbus voters, as well as voters in other areas of Franklin Coun...
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