COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio lawmakers have missed another deadline related to redistricting. The state legislature’s first constitutionally-mandated target to get a congressional district map drawn for the next decade was midnight Thursday.
What You Need To Know
- The Ohio General Assembly was supposed approve a new congressional district map
- The deadline was Thursday, Sept. 30 at midnight
- Democrats introduced a last-second map while Republicans had not submitted a proposal
- The Ohio Redistricting Commission has until the end of the month to host hearings and approve a map
The Ohio General Assembly was supposed approve a new congressional district map. That did not happen.
“I’m profoundly disappointed that they’re not honoring the Constitution and even trying to bring a map to the people,” said Jen Miller with the League of Women Voters of Ohio.
Hearings were also supposed to have been scheduled and taken place by the deadline with an official map being introduced, adopted and publicly debated.
“In 2018, almost is 75% of the voters voted to approve a new way of mapmaking that would be transparent and bipartisan and collaborative,” Miller said. “And instead, we’re seeing absolutely no respect for voters.”
On Wednesday, Ohio Senate Democrats unveiled a last-second proposal calling for eight Republican and seven Democratic districts.
“I think it’s important that we meet these deadlines and so our introduction of the bill demonstrates that it can be done,” said Sen. Vernon Sykes, D-Akron.
Unsurprisingly, Ohio Senate Republicans, who have not introduced its own map, were not fans of the Dem’s idea.
A majority caucus spokesperson said the maps include “A fatter snake on the lake, the district around Columbus gives new meaning to the ‘horseshoe’ and the 7th looks like a big thumbs up for maybe a new member of Congress.”
The congressional process now goes to the Ohio Redistricting Commission which has until the end of the month to host hearings and approve a map before the second constitutionally-mandated deadline comes around.
“We haven’t really arranged a date yet. I’ll have have discussions with the Senate President (Matt Huffman) and the others and co-chair (Vernon) Sykes to see when we can do that,” said Ohio House Speaker Robert Cupp, R-Lima.
Just like in the legislative map making process, in order for the commission to pass a 10-year map, both Democrats on the seven-member panel have to approve of them. If not, it will be another four-year map.
Should the commission not get the job done by Oct. 31, it goes back to the state legislature. From there, a 10-year map only works if at least 50% of Democrats in the Ohio House and Ohio Senate are on board.
Miller said if what she called another partisan, gerrymandered map gets approved, the League of Women Voters of Ohio will either file a lawsuit and/or look to bring another ballot initiative to Ohioans.
