Residents say Vandalia referendum petition lacked Ohio-required language; county elections office flagged paperwork

Residents and petitioners at a Vandalia City Council meeting questioned the city’s handling of a referendum petition form, saying it omitted statutory language required by the Ohio Revised Code and that a letter intended for petitioner Tamela Weatherhead was not delivered.

A resident (name not specified) said the petition form provided by the city did not include required explanatory statements and called the omission "totally irresponsible." The resident said they contacted the Montgomery County Board of Elections, which "were really appalled at what paperwork we were given," and urged the council to address the issue.

City staff responded that the form "comports with the charter, which it does, and with the chapter in the Ohio Revised Code dealing with referendums and initiatives," and noted the red warning language…