What’s next for redistricting?

November 16, 2022

Despite the Ohio Supreme Court declaring maps drawn by the Ohio Republicans illegal and unconstitutional at least seven times, Ohioans just elected representatives to the state Legislature and Congress using maps illegal and unconstitutional maps. The result? Republicans dominated statehouse elections and lost two congressional seats.

The illegal and unconstitutional maps could only be used for 2022. Thus, mapmakers must craft new districts for the 2024 election.

House Speaker Bob Cupp (R) stated last week: “How we’re going to do that I think is still a question that we’re going to have to come to grips with. There’s just a lot of unknowns.”

And what are those ‘unknowns’? Whether the U.S. Supreme Court will intervene at the request of Republican leaders, who argued that the Ohio Supreme Court overstepped in striking down the congressional map. The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to accept this case.

In addition, lawmakers and the Ohio Redistricting Commission will be dealing with a new state Supreme Court that’s more likely to side with the Ohio Republican leaders on map challenges. Elections have consequences.

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Common Cause Ohio and Fair Districts has provided a few links of interest:

  • The League of Women Voters of Ohio’s Statehouse Day is December 7. Join others in lobbying for voting rights and fair maps! Register HERE.
  • For those who can’t make it, there is a Moore v. Harper listening party, also December 7. Register HERE.

If you are interested in reading about the many amicus briefs submitted to support the sane people in the Moore v. Harper case, the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU has created an annotated guide HERE.

If you haven’t listened yet, check out This American Life episode about Ohio Redistricting.

Finally, here’s a recording of last month’s interview with Patricia Sinay from the California redistricting commission. On December 14 at 6pm, we will have the opportunity to learn from Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commissioner Anthony Eid.