As of Monday November 20, it’s official: petitions have been approved by the Ohio ballot board, and signature gathering can begin for a constitutional amendment campaign called “Citizens Not Politicians.” Aiming for the November 2024 ballot, the campaign needs to collect more than 400,000 valid signatures by early July — a time frame much more generous than that of the reproductive rights issue with an initiative that has more cross-partisan appeal.
After submitting the language to the attorney general three times, it was finally approved and went on to the ballot board to ascertain if it addressed only a single subject. It does. That subject is fair redistricting that would give Ohio more competitive legislative and congressional districts reflecting the actual percentages of voters.
The amendment would replace the current redistricting panel — composed of seven politicians whose party breakdown is based on previous elections, a recipe for locking in outsized power — with a nonpartisan citizens redistricting commission. It would be composed of one-third Democrats, one-third Republicans and one-third members not affiliated with either major party. This more accurately represents the party breakdown of Ohio voters and would make backroom deals harder. But in addition, the members of the panel cannot be elected officials or candidates, party staff members, lobbyists or large donors. (That doesn’t mean you can’t give $100 to your favorite candidate for township trustee.)
The last time such an issue was on the ballot, more than a decade ago, it was defeated by confusing ballot language — keep an eye on secretary of state Frank “Jim Crow” LaRose, who pulled this trick with Issue 1 in November — and the argument that “unelected” people would be drawing the districts. After the commission on elected officials ran roughshod over the state constitution seven times to create the illegal districts we currently have, that will likely sound great to voters.
Go here for more information, including how you can get involved.
One Response to “Drive Begins to Replace Politicians with Citizens to Redraw Legislative& Congressional Districts”
David Koch
I support a non-partisan, statistical approach to districting.