The 901 Report · November 3, 2026
Memphis ballot guide
Three charter questions. Two different civil-service proposals. Here is what each referendum would change, what the ballot leaves open, and where to read the record.
Memphis city charter referendums only, not every contest on the Shelby County ballot. Reviewed October 21, 2026. No voting endorsements.
REFERENDUM ORDINANCE 5966
Library employees & civil service
Removes library employees from the charter's blanket library civil-service exemption while keeping the exemption for library officers.
- For the Amendment
- Approves a revised exemption list that no longer exempts library employees as a group.
- Against the Amendment
- Keeps the existing charter exemption for library officers and employees.
Key facts
- Amends Article 34, Section 250 of the Memphis charter.
- The proposed library exemption says 'All officers,' not 'All officers and employees.'
- The ballot does not specify individual covered positions or implementation timing. It does not itself establish a union.
Context on the library question within our August 4 reporting on Ordinance 5978.
REFERENDUM ORDINANCE 5977
Lobbyist registration & disclosure
Requires the City Council to create a lobbyist-registration and disclosure process by ordinance.
- For the Amendment
- Adds a charter requirement for the Council to establish the registration and disclosure process.
- Against the Amendment
- Does not add this charter requirement. It does not prohibit the Council from adopting lobbying rules.
Key facts
- The charter question is a requirement to create a process, not a complete registry rulebook.
- The ballot question does not define 'lobbyist,' specify disclosures or set penalties.
- Implementation details would be established through a City Council ordinance.
July 21 proposal coverage, before the referendum reached the ballot.
REFERENDUM ORDINANCE 5978
Civil-service employment appeals
Authorizes the City Council, in consultation with the mayor, to establish uniform administrative procedures for civil-service employment appeals.
- For the Amendment
- Approves charter authority to establish appeal procedures and the composition of appeal bodies by ordinance.
- Against the Amendment
- Rejects this proposed charter authorization. The existing charter is not amended by this measure.
Key facts
- Covers appeals that may affect a civil-service employee's employment status.
- Includes boards, commissions and hearing panels with people trained or experienced in labor and benefits matters.
- Does not itself provide a complete appeals code. This is separate from the library exemption question, Ordinance 5966.
August 4 third-reading coverage.
July 21 coverage; its pending status predates the final vote.
The source record
Summaries and voting effects are based on the Shelby County Election Commission's official November 3, 2026 sample ballot, Version 2. These are plain-language summaries, not the full legal text.
For each amendment, City Finance Director Walter Person certified no impact on annual city revenues and expenditures. That is the director's certification, not an independent guarantee of zero implementation costs.
