The continuing saga of Ohio’s redistricting. It is literally a mess. There are several updates including General Assembly maps, the Ohio Supreme Court Contempt of Court, the Federal Court hearing that is currently ongoing and the May 3rd Primary Election. The Ohio Republican Party has made a mockery out of the redistricting process from the start by having no intent of agreeing to any constitutional maps that a majority of Ohio voters overwhelmingly demanded twice. Speaker Bob Cupp – a former Ohio Supreme Court justice – has continually shown his contempt not only for the court and his former colleagues on the court, but also for Ohio voters.

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Common Cause Ohio and Fair Districts have provided excellent explanations on the redistricting process and where Ohio is at – for the moment. It is very complicated, confusing and going to be very expensive by the time Ohioans have the opportunity to hold a primary. This is wasteful – potentially costing Ohioans up to $20 million, very confusing and unnecessary. This entire fiasco is due to the the GOP Redistricting Commission members repeatedly drawing unconstitutional maps and and the state legislators refusing to move the primary date.

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Late tonight, the Ohio Supreme Court struck down the third set of state House and Senate maps late Wednesday, effectively ending any hope of a May 3rd primary with both legislative and statewide races. In addition, the court made a few suggestions on how the Ohio Redistricting Commission on how it could be more transparent during the next round of mapmaking and rebuked State Senate President Matt Huffman (R).

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Ohio’s elections officials and the state’s Republican attorney general have implored the Ohio legislature to move the May 3 primary, saying delays in setting new state legislative and congressional lines have jeopardized an orderly, accurate election. But state lawmakers have balked, and for now, planning for the election is going full speed ahead. Why? Because of hardened opposition from General Assembly Republicans, particularly in the Ohio House.

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