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The 2024 Ohio redistricting commission initiative was a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment, Issue 1 on the ballot, that was defeated 53.8% to 46.2% in the November 2024 election.[1] If passed, the amendment would have replaced 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 was "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."[2][3] The proposed amendment would have 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 proposed amendment was supported by a bipartisan coalition, Citizens Not Politicians.[4] The proponents said that the law would end gerrymandering and "ban current or former politicians, political party officials and lobbyists from sitting on the Commission."[5] Opponents argued it would create an unelected commission unaccountable to voters and was an attempt by Democrats to gain more seats in Congress and the statehouse.[6] The certified ballot language noted 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.[7]" The ballot summary was written by the Ohio Ballot Board and Secretary of State Frank LaRose, opposed by the petitioners through a lawsuit, and adjusted by the Ohio Supreme Court.[4][8]
- ^ "Ohio Issue 1 fails, AP projects: county by county breakdown". WLWT. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Certified Ballot Language" (PDF).
- ^ "Case No. 2024-1200 filed August 19, 2024". Supreme Court of Ohio, Clerk of Court. August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.