Circleville Referendum Petition Falls 374 Signatures Short, City Auditor Rules

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A petition to put Circleville’s Ordinance 09.53.2026 in front of the voters is over. City Auditor Mark C. Bidwell has ruled the referendum petition invalid after the Pickaway County Board of Elections found it came up 374 valid signatures short of what Ohio law requires.

The petition was filed with the auditor’s office on October 1, 2026. Under Ohio Revised Code 731.29, a referendum petition has to carry valid signatures equal to at least 35 percent of the number of electors who voted for governor in the city at the last gubernatorial election. Circleville cast 3,957 votes for governor in the November 2022 election, which set the bar at 1,385 valid signatures.

The Board of Elections examined all 1,486 signatures on the petition and validated 1,011 of them as registered voters within the City of Circleville, Director Jon J. Smith and Deputy Director Paul Hastings wrote in an October 19 letter to the auditor.

Circleville Referendum Petition Falls 374 Signatures Short, City Auditor Rules — The Board of Elections letter to City Auditor Mark Bidwell, dated October 19, 2026.

Because the count fell short of the threshold, Bidwell told the petition committee in an October 21 letter that the petition is invalid and cannot be certified for placement on the ballot. Ordinance 09.53.2026 will remain in effect.

Circleville City Auditor Mark Bidwell letter ruling the referendum petition invalid — City Auditor Mark Bidwell’s letter to the petition committee, dated October 21, 2026.

The City of Circleville posted both letters publicly on Friday morning. Bidwell’s letter says committee members who want to review the Board of Elections verification report, or get copies of his findings, can contact his office.

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