Whitehall, Ohio, will hold a recall election on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, giving voters a chance to decide whether Mayor Michael Bivens and two city councilmembers should remain in office.
Whitehall City Council approved the special election date on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, after petition efforts moved the recall process forward. The vote will include Bivens and councilmembers Lori Elmore and Amy Harcar.
Who Is Facing the Recall Vote?
The Whitehall recall election will ask voters whether the three elected officials should be removed from office before the end of their terms.
The recall effort has drawn attention across Franklin County because it involves the city’s mayor and two members of Whitehall City Council at the same time.
Why the Whitehall Recall Election Is Happening
The recall campaign followed a petition drive by residents who sought to challenge the city’s current leadership. Earlier legal questions delayed the process, but the petitions later cleared the requirements needed to move the election forward.
WOSU previously reported that Whitehall officials found the petitions sufficient to force a special election, with petitioners submitting nearly 500 signatures when 424 valid signatures were required.
Ohio Supreme Court and Petition Dispute
The recall effort had faced a legal dispute before the June election date was finalized. The issue centered on whether the petitions met the signature requirements under Whitehall’s municipal rules.
After the petition process continued, city officials restarted the scheduling process and moved toward setting a special election date.
Franklin County Election Details for Voters
The Franklin County Board of Elections recommended the Tuesday, June 23, 2026, date. Election officials said the schedule gives them enough time to prepare early voting, absentee ballots and election-day operations.
Early Voting and Absentee Ballots
Voters in Whitehall are expected to have access to early voting and absentee ballot options before the special election. Residents should check official Franklin County Board of Elections notices for registration deadlines, polling locations and ballot information.
Why the June 23 Whitehall Vote Matters
Councilmember Amy Harcar has acknowledged concerns from residents about the cost of the election and the political strain on the city. Councilmember Gerald Dixon defended the recall process as a legal form of citizen action under Whitehall’s charter.
Elmore said she plans to continue serving residents during the recall campaign.
The June 23 special election will now determine whether Whitehall voters want to keep the current leadership in place or remove three city officials through the recall process.
