COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio voters will decide whether or not to approve a constitutional amendment proposed by Citizens Not Politicians that would change who is in charge of the political mapmaking process.
If approved, all existing district maps would be void and the current redistricting commission, made up of seven elected lawmakers, would be replaced by a 15-member citizens commission. Five of the current Ohio Redistricting Commission members are Republican and two are Democrat.
The effort follows the existing structure’s repeated failure to produce constitutional maps.
After the 2020 U.S. Census, the Ohio Supreme Court shot down seven legislative and congressional redistricting maps as unconstitutionally gerrymandered to favor Republicans. However, the last statehouse map was approved unanimously by the current redistricting commission.
Those opposing Issue 1 raise questions about accountability and say the process should stay in the hands of elected officials because the 15 members won't be picked by voters.
The ballot language can be read here.
If approved, what would the new commission look like?
First, no politicians, lobbyists or political party members would be allowed on the commission. The commission instead would consist of five Republicans, five Democrats and five Independents.
The proposed amendment says the members would be chosen from a demographic and geographic cross-section of the state.
How will they be selected?
The four lawmakers on the state ballot board would choose four retired Ohio judges, two from each major party, who would narrow down the applicants to the 15 sitting members.
The judges would first create a pool of 90 people (30 from the first major political party, 30 from the second major political party and 30 from neither party).
The panel of judges would then create a portal for public comment on the applicants and conduct and interview each applicant in the pool. The pool will then be narrowed down to 45 people (15 from the first major political party, 15 from the second major political party and 15 from neither party).
Then, randomly, by drawing, the judges will blindly select six names out of the pool to be members of the commission (two from the first major political party, two from the second major political party and two from neither party).
Those six members will then review the applications of the remaining 39 individuals and select the final nine people to serve with them on the commission.
How would maps be approved?
The new commission would need nine of the 15 members to approve the redistricting maps. Once they have a draft plan, it would have to hold at least five public meetings across the state, then two more on the final plan. This would allow other citizens to weigh in on any new maps before they go into effect.
If someone is not doing their job or pulling their weight, retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor said they would be kicked off the commission.
When would work begin on the map?
If Issue 1 passes, the new commission will begin work on the mapmaking process by May 16, 2025. It will then make maps again every 10 years afterward.