The Ohio Redistricting Commission just proposed the state legislative maps they want to enact for the next decade – and once again, the interests of partisan politicians are prioritized above our communities.
These proposed voting districts absolutely cannot stand. It’s unacceptable: this outrageous effort to manipulate our democracy can’t be ignored.
Please join me in immediately telling our Commission that they must get to work in a bipartisan and transparent fashion to rework these maps — this time with public input — and commit to drawing fair, representative maps based on data and community testimony, not partisan interests.
TAKE ACTION
Here’s what we know so far. This morning, Republican members of the Commission released their proposed maps for the Ohio House and Senate for the next ten years. These maps were later formally accepted as the plan for consideration.
We are still working to analyze the proposed maps, but already we can tell that there is lots of room for improvement.
There will be dramatic consequences if these maps go into effect: communities all across Ohio will be locked out of political representation for a decade. The dominant political party will be able to rig the system in favor of Ohio incumbents and their political party.
The proposed voting districts do not reflect the rules that were created by Ohio voters in 2015. The mapmakers did not create districts that are “representationally fair” as required in the Ohio Constitution.
State legislative voting districts are supposed to reflect the voting patterns of Ohio voters in statewide elections over the past ten years. This means that the district lines should reflect the preferences of voters. While some districts are going to be competitive and some are going to favor Republicans and some are going to favor Democrats, as a whole they should reflect how we have voted over the past decade (56% Republican;46% Democratic).
These voting district plans will determine whom we can elect to represent us and mold public policy for the next ten years. That’s why it’s so important that these maps give ALL of us a fair say — and that we stop any attempts at partisan or racial gerrymandering.
In 2015 and 2018, Ohioans overwhelmingly passed redistricting reform to make our process more fair, transparent, and accountable. But some of our politicians are trying to turn back the clock.
While we hoped that this year would be different, our elected officials have shown yet again that they’re willing to disregard the will of the people and bend the rules just to avoid fairly and equitably drawing district lines.
Ohio mapmakers have abused this system in redistricting cycle after redistricting cycle. And these gerrymandered and unrepresentative maps are proof that they’re attempting to silence Ohioans for another ten years.
We believe that every voter deserves an equal seat at the table — no matter what they look like or where they come from. I’m grateful to Common Cause members like you who believe that fair representation is a cause worth fighting for.
Use Take Action link above or call Commission Members and tell them you demand fair maps based on requirements defined in Ohio Constitution.
- Governor DeWine: 614-644-4357, 614-466-3555, [email protected]
- Secretary of State LaRose: 614.466.2585, [email protected]
- Auditor Faber: 614-466-4514, [email protected]
- Senate President Matt Huffman: 614-466-7584, [email protected]
- Speaker Bob Cupp: 614-466-9624, [email protected]
- Senator Vernon Sykes: 614-466-7041, [email protected]
- House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes: 614-466-3100, [email protected]