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Create a Citizen-led Redistricting Commission by Constitutional Amendment | ||
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The 2024 Ohio redistricting commission initiative is a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment, to be voted upon in the November 2024 election as Issue 1 on the ballot. If passed, the amendment would replace the existing politician-led Ohio Redistricting Commission with a citizen-led 15-member Ohio Citizen Redistricting Commission, appointed by retired judges, to redraw congressional and legislative districts.
According to the petition, the official title is "An amendment to replace the current politician-run redistricting process with a citizen-led commission required to create fair state legislative and congressional districts through a more open and independent system."[1][2] The certified ballot language notes that the amendment would "repeal constitutional protections against gerrymandering approved by nearly three-quarters of Ohio electors participating in the statewide elections of 2015 and 2018, and eliminate the longstanding ability of Ohio citizens to hold their representatives accountable for establishing fair state legislative and congressional districts.[3]" The proposed amendment would set up a 15-member commission, appointed by retired judges, to draw the district maps for Ohio statehouse and U.S. Congressional elections.[4] The proponents say that the new law would end gerrymandering and "ban current or former politicians, political party officials and lobbyists from sitting on the Commission."[5] Opponents argue it would create an unelected commission unaccountable to voters and is an attempt by Democrats to gain more seats in Congress and the statehouse.[6]
The proposed amendment was supported by a bipartisan coalition, Citizens Not Politicians.[4] The Ohio Ballot Board and Secretary of State Frank LaRose wrote summarizing language for the statewide ballot. However, their summary was opposed by the petitioners through a lawsuit before the Ohio Supreme Court.[4][7]
- ^ "Citizens Not Politicians: Amendment for Web" (PDF). Yes on 1: End Gerrymandering. October 2023.
- ^ "An Amendment to Replace the Current Politician-Run Redistricting Process" (PDF). Ohio Secretary of State: Legislation and Ballot Issues. November 28, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ "Certified Ballot Language" (PDF).
- ^ a b c Smyth, Julie Carr (August 20, 2024). "Ohio lawsuit seeks rewrite of redistricting ballot language dubbed 'biased, inaccurate, deceptive'". AP News. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ "The Facts on Issue 1 – Yes on Issue 1 » Citizens Not Politicians". Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Higgins, Cade (October 16, 2024). "Ohio Issue 1: What is it, who is for it, and who is against it?". LimaOhio.com. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ "Case No. 2024-1200 filed August 19, 2024". Supreme Court of Ohio, Clerk of Court. August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.