The commission voted 4-0 to certify the signatures, with one abstention. The decision moves the proposal toward the 2027 ballot but does not itself enact the amendment or settle accusations raised by opponents.

The proposed charter amendment would remove auto racing from the Fairgrounds’ required activities, add affordable or workforce housing as a permitted use and direct the Fair Board to discontinue racing. Supporters say voters should decide how the publicly significant property is used, including whether it can provide more housing, green space and improvements to Browns Creek.

“We want a Nashville for all Nashvillians,” said Mike Kopp, a co-founder of the Restore Our Fairgrounds coalition, arguing that the property’s future should not be shaped primarily by tourists, out-of-state racing fans or racetrack owners. Councilmember Terry Vo, whose district includes the Fairgrounds, also backed certification, citing the city’s need for parks and affordable housing.

Opponents with the Decline to Sign group urged commissioners to delay action until a court challenge could be heard. Their attorney said affidavits raised concerns about forged signatures and requests to withdraw names that were not honored.

Resident Christine Hall told commissioners that neither she nor her son had signed, but that his name appeared on the petition. Councilmembers Olivia Hill, Sherry Wiener and Jordan Huffman also questioned whether some canvassers adequately explained the proposal’s effect on racing. Hill said she had heard affordable housing discussed without mention of the racetrack or Fairgrounds.

Coalition representatives disputed claims of widespread fraud. Stephen Lofton, who helped manage the petition drive, said canvassers were trained to let people read the petition and received additional instruction after reports of inaccurate descriptions. John Spragens, another coalition representative, said the group reviewed about 2,000 emails seeking signature withdrawals and removed names when people responded by the Wednesday before the petition was submitted.

Election Administrator John Richardson said staff and poll workers reviewed 75,246 signatures, accepting 47,679 and rejecting 27,567. Officials set the qualification threshold at 10% of the county’s active registered voters. Decline to Sign disputed the calculation, while the commission’s legal counsel said commissioners had to meet Friday’s certification deadline and had no court order preventing them from acting.

The signature certification does not resolve the pending legal dispute over withdrawal requests or determine whether any signatures were improperly collected. Legal counsel said challenges to the commission’s decision can be brought in Davidson County Chancery Court.

Nashville voters approved a 2011 referendum protecting auto racing at the Fairgrounds. The speedway still hosts local and regional races, but has not held a NASCAR Cup Series race since 1984. Past efforts to bring the series back have helped fuel a broader dispute over the property’s future.