Issues > Redistricting Ohio – 2021

Redistricting Ohio - 2021


Website: U.S. Census Bureau
Website: Fair Districts Ohio
Website: Common Cause Ohio
Website: The Ohio Citizens' Redistricting Commission (OCRC)

 

Who Are We?

Several groups are involved with the redistricting project - from providing data to hosting educational programs so we can be informed citizens. Visit each group's website for the latest information, webinars or other events.

Census2020
The Census2020 provides the data of
apportionment results to all states for
their use to redraw Congressional and
state districts beginning in 2021.

Census Bureau Statement on Redistricting Data Timeline

The “Historical Apportionment Data Map” currently
displays apportionment results for each census
from 1910 to 2010.

The 2020 Census apportionment results
will be added to the map as they become available.
The Census Bureau plans to release
apportionment counts by April 30.
Dates have been delayed - see information below.

Visit map here.

 

The Fair Districts = Fair Elections Coalition 
is committed to reining in partisan gerrymandering.
We seek fair state legislative and
congressional maps that keep communities
together because we believe that 
all elections should be fair and meaningful.

Common Cause Ohio
has been a leading voice for
government accountability for five decades.

 

The Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission (OCRC)
is an independent, non-artisan commission made up of
15 volunteer members. Commission members will include
academics, political party officials, community representatives,
and others from across the state.
The commission's activities include:
hosting public hearings for community input,
collecting publicly available data for mapmaking,
and supporting public education on redistricting.

Members of the OCRC:

  • Barbara Sykes, former state representative, Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OBLC) Foundation President & CEO
  • Tom Roberts, former state senator, President of the Ohio State Conference of the NAACP
  • Andre Washington, President of the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) Ohio Chapter, Vice Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party
  • Katy Shanahan, All On The Line Ohio State Director
  • Kathleen Clyde, former state representative (OCRC Co-Chair)
  • Greg Moore, Promise of Democracy Foundation (OCRC Co-Chair)
  • Jeniece Brock, Health Scientist Policy & Advocacy Director for the Ohio Organizing Collaborative (OCRC Secretary)
  • Sam Gresham, Chair of Common Cause Ohio
  • Akii Butler, Ohio Student Association
  • Dr. Richard Gunther, Retired professor
  • Chris Tavenor, Ohio Environmental Council
  • Dr. Lis Regula, Professor and LGBTQ activist
  • Jeremy Blake, Newark City Council member, Equality Ohio board member
  • Dr. Ellen Greene Bush, Clinical Psychologist
  • Alan Bannister, Ohio political professional, former Ohio statewide political director for Joe Biden
  • Amina Barhumi, Council on American-Islamic Relations CAIR-Ohio

Commission members are selected through an application or referral process. There is no requirement for existing familiarity with redistricting. We desire a wide range of background knowledge on the topic. Additional members may be appointed to the current commission.

 

Timeline for Redistricting Ohio

Ohio can’t draw new congressional map until 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled federal courts shouldn’t play a role in fixing partisan gerrymandering. Gerrymandering will now be in the hands of Ohio’s legislators through 2021. If an agreement cannot be reached, then the Ohio Redistricting Commission will play a role. And if all fails, the fate of redistricting will ultimately be in the hands of the Ohio Supreme Court. Right now, the Ohio Supreme Court is made of four Republicans and three Democrats. 

December 31, 2020 - DELAYED
Received by President Joe Biden - April 26, 2021
Census Bureau, by law, delivers apportionment counts 
to the U.S. President

April 1, 2021 - DELAYED
Rescheduled to September 30, 2021
Census Bureau will send redistricting counts
to each state. These counts will be used  to redraw
state legislative districts based on population changes.
In Ohio, state legislature is required to propose a
new district map, conduct public hearings and vote.
If the is bipartisan - supported by at least half of the
members in each party - new districts go into effect
for a 10-year period beginning in 2022.

Delayed - New date will be posted
Deadline for the Ohio Redistricting Commission to draw
maps if legislators fail to approve one. 
If the commission's map receives bipartisan support,
new districts are approved for 10 years.
If efforts to achieve a bipartisan compromise fails,
new districts can be drawn by the majority party, but new
districts are authorized for only four years - not 10 years.
The Redistricting Commission has not released a projected
timeline for the 2020 cycle as of 2.01.2021.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Ballotpedia


ARTICLES

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There will be several virtual events hosted
so we all understand what is involved in the
redrawing of Ohio's Congressional & Legislative Districts.

For events scheduled to keep Ohioans informed
about the redistricting process,
please visit here.