gerrymandering
Only one appeal filed in federal redistricting case
A single appeal was filed in the federal redistricting case that deemed an unconstitutional map as the official map for the general election in November. But that appeal is to an issue that was folded into the original lawsuit, accusing the Ohio Redistricting Commission of discriminating against voters of color when they decided not to […]
Ohio Redistricting Commission co-chair declines to adopt legislative maps
The Republican co-chair of the Ohio Redistricting Commission declined his fellow co-chairs invitation to adopt a new legislative redistricting plan, as was ordered by the Ohio Supreme Court. The letter from state Rep. Jeff LaRe, R-Violet Twp., to state Sen. Vernon Sykes, D-Akron, went on to declare the the Ohio Constitution dictates “when and how […]
Deadline for new redistricting plan comes without action
The Ohio Supreme Court gave the Ohio Redistricting Commission until Friday to adopt a new legislative plan for the sixth time. No meetings were scheduled, and no maps have been seen or publicly announced. As of Thursday afternoon, a spokesperson for the House Republicans said “nothing has been decided.” Commission rules state that 24-hours notice […]
U.S. Supreme Court allows states to use unlawfully gerrymandered congressional maps in 2022 midterms
In the upcoming midterm elections, states may use maps that a federal court has found unlawful. You read that right: The U.S. Supreme Court recently barred federal courts from requiring states to fix their newly adopted, but unlawful, congressional maps before the 2022 midterm congressional elections. In Merrill v. Milligan, the Supreme Court in February […]
Ohio’s most powerful elected politicians are morally and ethically bankrupt
We aren’t living in the Ohio that most Ohioans want. We are living in the Ohio that corrupt politicians obsessed only with maintaining and maximizing their power, and enriching themselves and their donor friends, want us to live in. This week, the gerrymander-rigged Ohio General Assembly fast-tracked legislation to put more guns in Ohio public […]
Federal court implements Statehouse maps twice declared unconstitutional by Ohio Supreme Court
A federal district court, in a 2-1 decision Friday, implemented Ohio state Senate and House district maps for the 2022 election that have twice been declared unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders by the Ohio Supreme Court. Also in a 2-1 decision, in April, the judges representing the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio Eastern […]
Politicking the ballot: How gerrymandering controls which issues go to voters
An old game in politics revolves around putting certain issues on the ballot to energize certain voters to the polls during key elections. This isn’t special to any particular political party; it’s been used by Democrats and Republicans alike in various states around the country for many decades. Perhaps the most infamous iteration of it […]
Redistricting commission again answers for contempt charges
The Ohio Redistricting Commission has yet again responded to requests of the Ohio Supreme Court to hold members in contempt for their actions on legislative redistricting. The state supreme court asked that co-chairs state Rep. Jeff LaRe and state Sen. Vernon Sykes, along with the other members, Gov. Mike DeWine, state Sen. Rob McColley, Auditor […]
Redistricting Commission: Leave unconstitutional maps for 2022 election
The Ohio Redistricting Commission is asking the state supreme court to rule on a legislative plan previously deemed unconstitutional only after it has been used for the 2022 general election. Those that agreed to resubmit a February version of the legislative redistricting plan treated the new/old plan as a “stop-gap” measure in arguments against objections […]
Ohio Redistricting Commission members maintain innocence on contempt
Current and former members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission have defended themselves against allegations of contempt of the Ohio Supreme Court, despite saying the claims are moot now that the commission has adopted a map before the deadline. Court challengers had asked the Ohio Supreme Court to revisit contempt allegations in legislative redistricting cases. The […]
Ohio Redistricting Commission resubmits maps already rejected as illegal by supreme court
The Ohio Redistricting Commission Thursday voted to resubmit maps to the Ohio Supreme Court that the court has already rejected as illegal and unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering. The commission once again passed its third map 4-3 along party lines, with the exception of Republican Auditor Keith Faber, who said he voted no for the same reasons […]
Redistricting commission meets with new staff, still no action
Some of the players on the Ohio Redistricting Commission changed for their Wednesday meeting, but the amount of action did not. The commission met to start the process of redrawing legislative maps, two days before the Friday morning deadline set by the Ohio Supreme Court. This is the fifth attempt at legislative district lines for […]