Buc-ee’s annexation petition rejected; Mansfield issue stays off November ballot

A referendum petition seeking to put Mansfield’s annexation of land associated with a proposed Buc-ee’s Travel Center before voters will not advance to the November 3, 2026, ballot.

The Richland County Board of Elections notified Mansfield Finance Director Kelly Converse of its determination on July 8. Richland Source reported the decision on July 14.

Why the petition was rejected

Board of Elections Director Matt Finfgeld and Deputy Director Jane Zimmermann said the petition failed to comply with several mandatory requirements of Ohio law governing municipal referendum petitions. Because those requirements were not met, officials said there were no valid part-petitions and no signatures that could be certified.

The cited deficiencies included electronically collected signatures, missing circulator statements, a missing statutory notice and questions about whether signers were eligible to petition a Mansfield ordinance.

Richland County officials said the submitted materials included about 1,800 electronic signatures and roughly 200 signatures in ink. Ohio law requires referendum signatures to be personally affixed in ink by qualified electors. Petition papers also must include a circulator’s statement confirming that the circulator witnessed the signatures and believed the signers were qualified.

Officials said the petition also lacked the required circulator statements and statutory notice. Because of those defects, the board did not certify the petition for the ballot.

What the November result means

This petition effort will not give Mansfield voters an opportunity to approve or reject the annexation on November 3. The Richland County Board of Elections’ questions-and-issues database, last updated July 30, does not show the annexation referendum as an issue for that election.

The determination was a procedural decision about the petition, not a public vote on the merits of the Buc-ee’s proposal. Mansfield voters did not reject the project at the ballot box, and the annexation was not overturned by the Board of Elections.

What remains separate

Mansfield City Council approved the annexation on May 19, bringing 112.5 acres from Madison and Mifflin townships into the city near the I-71 and Ohio 39 interchange, according to the local report.

City records separately document an ordinance authorizing Mansfield to enter into a development agreement with Buc-ee’s Mansfield LLC for a proposed travel center on approximately 37.5 acres inside the city. That record concerns a development arrangement; it is not, by itself, proof that construction has begun or that every final construction approval has been issued.

The election-board decision also does not establish that construction or infrastructure work has begun, or that every remaining permit, review or development step has been completed. Future activity will depend on separate city, county, state and project approvals. For residents, the immediate change is narrower: this referendum petition will not place the annexation question before Mansfield voters in November.

Sources

• Richland Source: Referendum petition effort fails to put Buc-ee’s annexation decision on November ballot
• Richland County Board of Elections Questions and Issues Information
• City of Mansfield June 2, 2026 pending legislation packet