Here are the 4 Nashville charter changes on the ballot for the Aug. 4 election

Update: The results are in on Nashville’s four charter amendments

Nashville voters have four chances to change the city’s charter this Aug. 4 election. And early voting has already begun.

Here are the four amendments Davidson County voters will see on their ballots:

Amendment 1 – Petition requirements

One thing it does is change the standard for how many signatures are needed for a petition. Right now, to amend the charter, a petition needs 10% of the number of voters in the preceding general election.

The proposed change would make the required signatures a firmer number. The idea on the ballot is that petitions will need 10% of all registered Nashville-Davidson County voters.

The current requirement can fluctuate greatly since voters turn out in higher numbers during presidential elections. Elected officials and other opponents were concerned a conservative minority would overhaul the Metro government through a recent petition.

This amendment also seeks to increase the power of the Metro Charter Revision Commission to approve language. This is yet another example of the council trying to apply lessons from the overhaul petition. A judge ruled that the political language couldn’t go before voters.

After multiple defeats, the mostly Republican Davidson County Election Commission has supported the petitioners in court and is wanting the state Supreme Court to pick up the case.

Amendment 2 – Police officer physical qualifications

This proposal wants the civil service commission to set physical qualification requirements, instead of following the United States Army and Navy rules.

It also would update the U.S. citizenship requirement to reflect state law.

Early voting for Nashville's 8/4 election begins Friday! There is an important Charter Amendment (Amendment 2) on the ballot that will help streamline & modernize the MNPD's hiring process for new officers. Here's more from Chief Drake. Please vote YES on Amendment 2! pic.twitter.com/Nu1hlTXBxr

— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) July 12, 2022

Amendment 3 – Clarifies Board of Health and Department of Health

The Metro Board of Health should oversee administration of the Metro Public Health Department.

The board should have seven members: one doctor of medicine or osteopathy certified by the state medical examiners, one licensed mental health professional with at least five year’s experience, one registered nurse, two not in the medical field and two from specific categories within the medical field, like an attorney or community health worker.

The amendment lays out how the Director of Health and Chief Medical Officer should be appointed and what qualifications they must have.

It also cleans up language. For example, instead of saying “insane,” it would replace it with the term “mentally ill.”

Amendment 4 – Cements NDOT in the charter

A year ago, the Nashville Department of Transportation was created. Now, the proposal is to make it permanent by cementing the department in the charter.

This amendment lays out what the department is in charge of, including power and duties. NDOT would replace Public Works, and the city would continue providing all the same services.