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When redistricting is fair, transparent, and includes everyone, our maps are more likely to be representative and secure free, fair, and responsive elections for the next decade. That is why we are advocating for a process that prioritizes opportunities for meaningful public input, public access to the redistricting data used by mapmakers in Ohio, and a mapmaking process conducted openly rather than behind closed doors.

Complaint to Ohio Election Commission alleges that ALEC illegally gave sophisticated voter management campaign software linked to the RNC worth $3,000 to its state chairs, Sen. Robert McColley and Rep. Scott Wiggam, ALEC board member Rep. Bill Seitz, and other ALEC members. Similar complaints are being filed with the IRS and in 14 other states.

The corruption by FirstEnergy highlights the need for greater transparency, beginning first of all with transparency of corporate political spending. With full and transparent information, shareholders can see and decide if the corporation’s political giving is on the up-and-up, and citizens can see if elected officials are “in the pocket” of — and doing the bidding of — their large corporate donors.

Even after the largest scandal in the history of the state, we are nowhere closer to reigning in the influence of money in Ohio politics than we were one year ago. It is not yet too late for us pass new laws that will shine a light on “dark money.” However, our state legislative leaders need to act with urgency and make transparency and accountability a top priority — or Ohioans will undoubtedly face yet another embarrassing scandal.

Today, the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition, a coalition that includes Common Cause Ohio, ACLU Ohio, All Voting Is Local, and the League of Women Voters of Ohio, sent a letter to Governor Mike DeWine urging him to veto three provisions that undermine the state’s ability to hold free and fair elections, embedded within HB 110, the state operating budget bill.