Ohio Capital Journal: Discussions underway to propose new redistricting reform to Ohio voters

As Ohio enters its second year of redistricting, still without a constitutional map under its belt, a movement to reform the process is also reappearing.

One might ask: Didn’t we already reform the process? Isn’t that how the Ohio Redistricting Commission came to be?

“This process could have worked,” said Catherine Turcer, executive director of Common Cause Ohio. “It should have worked, and we have constitutional officers who have refused to actually follow what Ohio voters have put in the (state) constitution.” …

Now, a year has gone by and the 2022 election will run under maps the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled as unconstitutional. The court has threatened to bring commission members in for contempt hearings, but the hearings never happened, and the court is still waiting on the next set of congressional and legislative maps to be submitted to it.

“You’re talking about these folks, they’re drunk on power,” Turcer said. “And when people are drunk, what do you do? You take away their car keys.” …

What may also push a future initiative over the finish line is the year-long education Ohio voters have received as the effort stretched on.

Miller said it’s “critical” that voters express their opinion on the ballot, and Turcer sees a more education Ohio electorate as the way forward.

“What is super clear to me is that the Ohio Constitution gives us the opportunity to tackle change if the state legislature is not willing to do so,” Turcer said.