Ohioans will again vote on redistricting reform
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Gerrymandering reform will again be on the Ohio ballot in November following years of redistricting battles.
Driving the news: Secretary of State Frank LaRose certified 535,000 signatures last week from Citizens Not Politicians, the campaign pursuing this constitutional amendment.
Why it matters: If the amendment passes, a citizen-led commission (rather than elected officials) will draw new legislative districts going forward.
Catch up quick: State and federal legislative districts are redrawn every 10 years to reflect population shifts.
- Ohioans previously voted in 2015 and 2018 to change the redistricting processes to be more bipartisan and transparent.
Yes, but: The next redistricting cycle, held after the 2020 census, was still fraught with delays and lawsuits.
- The political maps drawn by a Republican-led commission of elected officials were repeatedly found unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court.
- Republicans now hold 70% of state legislative seats despite earning around 56% of the statewide vote in recent election cycles.
State of play: The proposed amendment would create a 15-member citizen commission. Current and former politicians and lobbyists would be banned from serving.
What they're saying: "This certification is a historic step towards restoring fairness in Ohio's electoral process," said retired Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, one of the campaign's most prominent leaders.
- "With this amendment on the ballot, Ohioans have the chance to reclaim their power from the self-serving politicians who want to stay in power long past their expiration date," she said in a statement.
The other side: Senate President Matt Huffman argued against the measure at a recent event hosted by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Capital Journal reported.
- He said the existing process worked like it was supposed to last year, and that the new process would be susceptible to legal challenges.
What's next: The measure will go before the Ohio Ballot Board, where the ballot language will be reviewed and potentially changed.
- It will be the only statewide issue on the Nov. 5 ballot.