Issue 4: Amendment for Independent Redistricting Process
Click here to view complete amendment (pdf).
How does the current system function?
Currently, the Ohio State Legislature draws legislative and Congressional districts themselves. Because legislators have a direct interest in where the district boundaries are, they frequently draw boundaries that benefit their own political party and themselves. They pack as many voters from one party into a given district, or split up voters that share a common interest, to help guarantee that they win election with little competition. This system creates "safe seats" and can virtually guarantee that an incumbent is reelected. Worse, the system ensures that voters have no real choice in electing those who will represent them. The result is elected officials that don’t have to be responsive to the voters.
What does this amendment do to change the current system?
The Common Cause backed amendment would prevent politicians from drawing their own legislative districts and prevent decisions from being made by legislators behind closed doors without input from citizens. It creates a truly independent commission with an open process that allows citizens to submit plans for legislative districts. The commission would be required to create competitive districts and would be prohibited from packing or splitting concentrations of voters for partisan advantage. It would also try to respect municipal and county boundaries, but without regard to where incumbent politicians live.
Who would sit on the independent redistricting commission?
Members of the Commission must be truly independent. The amendment ensures that elected officials, candidates for elected office, political party operatives and lobbyists are ineligible to serve on the commission.
How does this amendment prevent one political party from pushing through a partisan olan?
First, the amendment establishes that no more than two members of the 5-member commission can be from any political party. Passage of any plan will require the support of at least one member of the opposing political party or the independent member of the commission. Second, only the plans that create the highest number of competitive districts will be considered for approval. Any person or group could submit a congressional and legislative redistricting plan, and the commission would choose the plans judged to create the most competitive districts without dividing up counties and cities.
How is the five-member independent redistricting commission appointed?
The first member would be appointed by the state appeals court judge with the longest continuous service on the court. The second member would be appointed by the next senior appeals court judge from a different political party. The first two commission members then would appoint the other three, including one member not affiliated with any political party.
When would the redistricting amendment take effect?
The amendment would take effect immediately and the Independent Redistricting Commission would begin preparing a plan that would be implemented for the 2008 general elections. After that, new plans would be chosen in the year after each federal census, starting in 2011. The current redistricting plan is unfair to the people of Ohio, leaving tens of thousands effectively disenfranchised; if the people of Ohio pass the amendment, it should take effect as soon as possible.
Learn more about Common Cause's national work on redistricting.