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Council approves advisory ballot question on golf carts after narrowing wording
Summary
After debate about ambiguity, the Washington City Council amended an advisory ballot question from asking about golf carts in 'any' capacity to 'some capacity' and approved placing the nonbinding question on the March 17, 2026 primary ballot by a 7–1 vote; the city attorney noted advisory questions are nonbinding.
The Washington City Council voted 7–1 on Dec. 15 to put an advisory question on the March 17, 2026 primary ballot asking whether the city should permit golf carts on city streets "in some capacity," after councilors amended the original wording to reduce ambiguity.
The proposal began as a nonbinding question to gauge public opinion. The city attorney told the council that municipalities are authorized under the Illinois Election Code to pose nonbinding policy questions on the ballot, calling the measure a way to "gauge ... public opinion" rather than an enforceable ordinance.
Several council members urged clearer wording. Alderson Martin proposed changing the phrase "any" to "some capacity," arguing the narrower wording would avoid an interpretation that golf carts could be driven everywhere in the city. Alderson Preston Blendy suggested an alternate phrasing — "limited and regulated operation on certain city streets" — to ensure the question implies guardrails. Council debated that the ballot question should be short and not overburdened with detail so voters can give a clear yes/no response.
The council approved Martin’s amendment (seconded by Smith) and then passed the amended advisory question 7–1. Alderson Moss voiced safety and scope concerns during the debate and was recorded as the lone no vote. The city attorney also reminded the council that using a ballot question is only one method of gauging public sentiment and does not preclude additional outreach.
The advisory question will appear on the March 17, 2026 primary ballot (Saint Patrick’s Day). Because the question is nonbinding, any subsequent policy or ordinance changes would require separate council action.
