CLEVELAND — Lawmakers in charge of drawing Ohio legislative boundaries are back at the drawing board Monday for the fourth time.
The latest round of map making follows the Ohio Supreme Court rejection of the Republican-led Ohio Redistricting Commission’s third map. The court’s majority – three Democrats and Republican Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor – ruled the maps unconstitutional because they too heavily favored the Republican Party.
Yet, the May 3 primary is primary is still on. Election officials and advocates worry that printing ballots in time for early voting is not possible.
“I think voters have the right to feel confused and frustrated right now,” said Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio.
Voters passed an amendment to the Ohio Constitution in 2015 that is supposed to take politics out of the map-making process. But partisanship continues to dominate Columbus.
“It gets much harder when you have politicians really struggling to put their parties’ identities and personal interests aside,” Miller said.
Miller campaigned for the changing how maps are redrawn after each major U.S. Census. The changes backed by voters opened the door for the Ohio Supreme Court’s involvement.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican and member of the mapmaking commission, said he disagrees with the court’s ruling but will follow its orders
“The four-member majority on the Ohio Supreme Court delve too deep into politics,” he said. “We are trying to find a middle ground solution if it is possible. That takes pragmatism on both sides. Embolden by successive Ohio Supreme Court wins, I don’t get a sense my Democratic colleagues are all that willing to give.”
The two Democrats on the commission -- House Minority Leader Allison Russo and Akron State Sen. Vernon -- asked the Ohio Supreme Court to move the primary to allow more time for legislative districts to be finalized.
Previous Reporting:
- Ohio redistricting panel charts course to 4th map proposal
- House GOP leader on Ohio Supreme Court impeachment: ‘All options are on the table’
- Ohio Supreme Court again strikes down state's General Assembly district maps, putting full May primary in doubt
- Secretary of State Frank LaRose: Ohio May 3 primary not slated to include state House and Senate races