redistricting
Groups say Ohio legislative maps still violate constitution
The newest maps approved by the Ohio Redistricting Commission remain unconstitutional and “grossly disproportionate,” according to objections filed by anti-gerrymandering groups. The ORC now has until Friday to respond to three objections made to maps they adopted in a Saturday meeting last week, according to an Ohio Supreme Court directive released on Wednesday. The League […]
Ranking Dem says GOP attorney general blocked her from lawyers in redistricting suit
The ranking Democrat in the Ohio House said Attorney General Dave Yost has blocked her from legal representation as the Ohio Supreme Court reviews the latest redistricting proposal from state lawmakers. The Ohio Redistricting Commission voted 5-2 along party lines Saturday to send over a revised map after the court overturned its first effort, determining […]
Brennan Center finds widespread gerrymandering in latest round of redistricting
Ohio’s Supreme Court threw out the state’s latest congressional and legislative maps after determining GOP lawmakers used the process to entrench their partisan advantage. A nationwide study from the Brennan Center for Justice suggests they’re far from alone. The think tank’s assessment of redistricting now that about half of states have submitted maps shows that, […]
Is meeting all criteria while drawing fair and constitutional maps impossible? Hardly
In order for redistricting maps to pass Ohio Constitution muster, multiple criteria are in play. In addition to federal requirements under the Voting Rights Act, the state constitution as amended by voters in 2015 and 2018 requires state legislative and U.S. congressional district maps be compact, contiguous, competitive, preserve a certain number of whole counties, […]
Gov. DeWine doesn’t regret backing invalidated maps, promises better next time around
Gov. Mike DeWine is promising a more inclusive and transparent process after the Ohio Supreme Court threw out a pair of new House and Senate maps Wednesday. In an end of year interview with Ohio Capital Journal, DeWine said talks have already begun, and a first meeting could happen Monday. “The first thing we need […]
Ohio Supreme Court: Legislative maps unconstitutional
The Ohio Supreme Court sided with challengers of Ohio House and Senate redistricting maps, saying new maps must be drawn within 10 days. In a ruling released Wednesday afternoon, the Supreme Court announced a 4-3 decision, saying the Ohio Redistricting Commission “did not attempt to meet the standards set forth” in the legislative redistricting process […]
Judge puts federal redistricting discrimination suit on hold
A U.S. district court judge put a federal redistricting lawsuit on hold Wednesday, treating a pause for a pair of Mahoning County residents’ discrimination lawsuit as “the most efficient use of judicial resources.” Judge John R. Adams, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio Eastern Division, said the lawsuit relies on […]
Supreme Court dissenting justices on redistricting mock Ohioans’ rights to judicial review
The argument of the three Republican supreme court justices dissenting against the anti-gerrymandering opinion issued by the court 4-3 Wednesday appears to be: Republican politicians are allowed to rig the game in their favor against the wishes of Ohio voters and in violation of the Ohio Constitution, and the Ohio Supreme Court has no authority […]
Federal lawsuit seeks immediate change to congressional maps
As the Ohio Supreme Court weighs its decision on congressional and legislative redistricting, a group involved in a federal lawsuit wants to see the maps changed immediately. Parties suing the state accusing the Ohio Redistricting Commission and legislative leaders of ignoring racial data and federal anti-discrimination laws have asked a U.S. District Court to demand […]
Congressional redistricting hits the Ohio Supreme Court
The case of congressional redistricting was heard by the Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday, where arguments about reforms put in place by voters and the data used by the General Assembly to draw maps framed consideration of districts going forward. Ben Stafford, an attorney representing the National Redistricting Action Fund’s challenge of the congressional maps […]
Congressional redistricting to be argued before New Year
The Ohio Supreme Court will hear arguments on both congressional redistricting lawsuits before the new year begins. In a filing on Friday, the court announced oral arguments for Adams v. DeWine and League of Women Voters v. Ohio Redistricting Commission, which will happen on Dec. 28 at 9 a.m. via videoconferencing. Adams v. DeWine is […]
LaRose, Huffman, Cupp ask Supreme Court to reject redistricting oral argument
Ohio’s Secretary of State is asking the the state supreme court to reject a request for oral arguments in a challenge to the congressional district map. Secretary Frank LaRose said, as he said in a previous filing with the court, that scheduling a time for the state’s highest court to hear arguments on both sides […]