2023 Columbus, Ohio City Council Election
The 2023 Columbus City Council election was held on November 7, 2023, to elect the nine members of the Columbus City Council. Primary elections were scheduled for May 2, 2023, but were cancelled as no more than two candidates were placed on the ballot for any ward.
Background
This was the first municipal election to held under the new hybrid at-large council structure approved by Columbus voters in a 2018 referendum. Following this election, the total number of councillors was increased from seven to nine, each representing a single ward. However, voters are able to select their preferred candidate in all nine wards, rather than only the ward in which they are registered to vote.To ensure that council terms remain staggered, councillors elected in 2023 will draw lots at the beginning of the 2024 council session, with five members serving a four-year term and four members serving a two-year term.
Notably, with the addition of two new seats, this was the first time since 2015 that non-incumbent candidates were elected.