Reported by Newsweek, 01/12/2022. A divided Ohio supreme court rejected a Republican--dominated commission's legislative redistricting plan, saying it doesnt meet constitutional provisions to reduce partisan gerrymandering.
In its 4-3 decision, the court determined that the maps must be redrawn within 10 days because Ohio's redistricting commission didnt try to produce districts that matched statewide voter preferences.
Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2015 that created a bipartisan commission tasked with drawing an even--handed map of legislative districts.
In its majority opinion, the court wrote that both sides had agreed that over the last decade Republican candidates had won 54% of the vote compared to Democratic candidates' 46%. However, the commission's map of house districts favored Republicans with 67 seats to Democrats' 32. The commisssions Senate map was similarly lopsided, with republicans favored with 23 seats to 10 seats for democrats.
Ohio Democratic chairperson Elizabeth Walters applauded the ruling and calling on the redistricting commission to "create fair maps reflective of our state."
"The supreme court today recognized what Ohioans already knew-- GOP politicians tried to ram through an unconstitutional map that further rigs the state of one party over another. Now that the supreme court has ruled, its imperative that the commission actually do their jobs this time and create maps that reflect our state, not a Republican wish list."
The Ohio Republican party could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
In its 4-3 decision, the court determined that the maps must be redrawn within 10 days because Ohio's redistricting commission didnt try to produce districts that matched statewide voter preferences.
Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2015 that created a bipartisan commission tasked with drawing an even--handed map of legislative districts.
In its majority opinion, the court wrote that both sides had agreed that over the last decade Republican candidates had won 54% of the vote compared to Democratic candidates' 46%. However, the commission's map of house districts favored Republicans with 67 seats to Democrats' 32. The commisssions Senate map was similarly lopsided, with republicans favored with 23 seats to 10 seats for democrats.
Ohio Democratic chairperson Elizabeth Walters applauded the ruling and calling on the redistricting commission to "create fair maps reflective of our state."
"The supreme court today recognized what Ohioans already knew-- GOP politicians tried to ram through an unconstitutional map that further rigs the state of one party over another. Now that the supreme court has ruled, its imperative that the commission actually do their jobs this time and create maps that reflect our state, not a Republican wish list."
The Ohio Republican party could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
