Mia Lewis testifies before the Joint Committee on Congressional Redistricting

Co-chairs Bird and Timken, Committee members, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Mia Lewis, and I am the Associate Director of Common Cause Ohio. Common Cause is dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process. 

And so of course, one of the most important foundational aspects of our democracy is fair elections and fair representation – and fair elections and fair representation are only possible when we have fair voting maps. 

My submitted testimony is in support of both Senate Bill 259/House Bill 442 and the congressional map submitted by the Equal Districts Coalition because these maps do not unduly favor one political party or another. But we all know neither of these maps is going to be considered and voted on by this committee. 

Ohio has a process laid out in the Ohio Constitution to create fair maps, but this hearing today is evidence that you are not following that process. According to the Constitution, by September 30th – TODAY – this committee is supposed to have worked together in a transparent fashion to create a bipartisan map to be discussed, debated, and commented on by Ohioans in public hearings – and then voted on. 

Where is that map? 

Without a map to discuss and ultimately vote on, this hearing is a sham. Democrats submitted a map three weeks ago, and just under 100 other maps have been submitted by the public  as well. What’s the hold up? 

It’s obvious to the public that you have a map ready to be introduced at the time that is most advantageous to you. Where is it? Why hasn’t it been introduced? Why isn’t it on the screen so that Ohio citizens at this hearing can see it, analyze it, and make concrete suggestions for improvements that would keep communities together and create fairer representation – as required by the Ohio Constitution that you all took an oath to uphold? 

We want to get started. Show us the map!

Watch the full hearing here.