Beginning in 2021, Ohio will use two unique systems to draw its congressional and state legislative districts. We want candidates and elected officials to listen to constituents in their districts.. COLUMBUS - In a nation complaining about congressional gerrymandering and rigged elections, Ohio just voted to do something about it. But the fact that most state justices are elected, unlike federal judges, highlights a weakness in anti-gerrymandering reforms that rely on judicial review. Take our story from Malawi today by contributor Xanthe Scharff. WASHINGTON - U.S. Over the weekend, Ohios redistricting commission published a new set of maps that Democrats also refused to endorse, cuing up another court review. To promote bipartisan fairness, any plan would require at least two votes form . Fair Districts Ohio fights gerrymandering - thedemlabs.org Each week, we explore unique solutions to some of the world's biggest problems. We tackle difficult conversations and divisive issueswe dont shy away from hard problems. And it was in the honesty: What made me feel best was that I was told it was good Id left, making more space for Malawian women to take up leadership, she says.Our opportunity is that we can kick open some doors through our access to resources and get it to girls who are going to power change.. While courts in North Carolina and Pennsylvania have struck down skewed maps in the past on the basis of constitutional safeguards for free and fair elections and equal protection, thats not explicitly about redistricting. By the end of June, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide two cases that could, for the first time, set constitutional limits on how far lawmakers can draw district lines to benefit their parties. contact customer service When he approved the congressional map back in November, GOP Gov. Select stories from the Monitor that empower and uplift. The States Are Now the Best Route to Gerrymandering Reform The answer lies in the plan itself. "The voters shouldn't have to wait until 2022," says Freda Levenson, the legal director for the ACLU of Ohio, of the first election that will be impacted by Issue 1. Ohioans voted overwhelmingly in 2015 and 2018to curtail these practices and require maps be drawn fairly, yet the Ohio Redistricting Commission refuses to submit legislative maps that meet the state constitutions criteria. Combining these 16 statewide races and removing votes for third-party or independent candidates leaves the Republicans with a 54.1% to 45.9% advantage over Democrats. Top Ohio court strikes down state's gerrymandered - POLITICO Ohio voters approved a gerrymandering reform proposal Tuesday that would change how the state draws congressional district lines following the next US Census. But youll find in each Monitor news story qualities that can lead to solutions and unite usqualities such as respect, resilience, hope, and fairness. As David Daley describes in his book Ratf**ked, the GOP rented a room in the Columbus Doubletree for months to draft a plan in secret. Of the remaining districts, they can split 18 counties into two districts and five counties into three districts. HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. How Democrats learned to stop worrying and love the gerrymander But by 2017, the League of Women Voters and other groups had begun gathering signatures to bring their own proposed reform of the US House redistricting process for a statewide vote. May 30,2017 - Ohio Ballot Board approves gerrymander reform initiative from Fair Districts Ohio seeking popular vote in 2018 on proposal to take congressional redistricting out of hands of state legislature and turn it over to seven-member bipartisan commission. Reform of the congressional maps was shelved, though, with then-Speaker John Boehners opposition rumored to be the key reason. continue to use the site without a The Brennan Center for Justice estimates that congressional gerrymandering in Ohio is responsible for two to three additional GOP seats in Congress. The Ohio GOP, though, sees it mostly as a way to preserve that status quo fearing that if they didnt cut a deal here, a more radical measure could have gained support and passed through a separate ballot initiative. All rights reserved (About Us). By taking politicians out of the process, the thinking goes, states might curb gerrymandering the skewing of district lines for partisan gain. Thanks to the hard work of redistricting reformers all over the state, voters approved a historic state constitutional amendment that will institute strong protections against the congressional partisan gerrymandering. Primary election results: Ohio Issue 1 gerrymandering reform passes - Vox After egregiously aggressive GOP gerrymandering in 2011, Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment in 2015 that set new guardrails on the practice when it came to drawing . Press two for Ohio showtimes: The Barbenheimer crazy has hit Ohio's Senate delegation. Youll get the Monitor Weekly magazine, the Monitor Daily email, and unlimited access to CSMonitor.com. This story has been updated with comment from Eric Holder and Catherine Turcer. In that case, the threshold for success would fall, but bipartisanship would still be necessary to pass a map at least one-third of each partys members would have to vote for it, to pass it and send it for the governors signature. Fair Districts uses technology to organize citizens to demand their elected officials protect democracy and draw fair legislative districts. Tokaji, who favors reform, pointed to Justice Anthony Kennedys retirement from the Supreme Court as clearing the way for Thursdays decision to stay out of political gerrymandering disputes. But some leading Republicans also displayed a surprising openness to dealmaking. But, he adds, state judges dont have as robust protections that insulate their judicial independence from political retaliation.. After a decade of dismantling the law, the Supreme Court gave it an unexpected boost. However, the deal does force any map without significant bipartisan support to expire after just four years rather than lasting for 10. Ballot issue 1 was a compromise and didnt have as many teeth as the fair election (petition proposal). Maybe wed beat it back, maybe not. Updated: 01/14/2022 03:19 PM EST. The recent failure of Democrats to enact voting rights legislation in Washington has underscored the limits of federal oversight of how states run elections. Thats good for voters. Cincinnati Enquirers Chrissie Thompson reported. Fill out your contact information to send a message to your elected officials telling them to take the End Gerrymandering Pledge now!". it is organizing Fair Maps Day on Tuesday, September 21 where people across Ohio come together at the StateHouse to demand FAIR MAPS. About a year ago, I happened upon this statement about the Monitor in the Harvard Business Review under the charming heading of do things that dont interest you: Many things that end up being meaningful, writes social scientist Joseph Grenny, have come from conference workshops, articles, or online videos that began as a chore and ended with an insight. Among other measures, the bill would have prohibited the types of gerrymanders that both parties have long employed for political advantage. Heres how you can help. Take Franklin County, home to our State Capitol and one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. The redistricting work likely will take place in the fall. Explore them here. After the 2014 elections, Huffman then a Republican state House member who had played a key role in passing the recent gerrymandered maps introduced redistricting reform plans for both congressional and state legislature maps. Members of Fair Districts Ohio had hoped this lawsuit would force map makers to draw fair districts. Ohio Supreme Court Strikes Down Republican Gerrymander of Map One of the most powerful but least understood obstacles to voting and fair representation isgerrymandering. Indeed, even supporters admit that the reform doesnt go as far as they might like they just think its a worthwhile improvement anyway. Second, were not in the subscriptions business. Ohio voters have made their voices heard and sent a clear message that they want a fair, transparent government that works for them, said Ann Henkener of the League of Women Voters of Ohio. Progress Report: Grassroots Reforms Fight Gerrymandering Both party establishments are on board with the reform, as are business and labor groups in the state. Vox is here to help everyone understand the complex issues shaping the world not just the people who can afford to pay for a subscription. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Early returns showed Democrat U.S. House candidates leading in 54% of Ohio's 15 congressional districts with about 64% of the overall vote total in the first election held. improve functionality and performance. When my father was a young man,he had to pass a poll testbefore he could exercise his constitutional right to vote. Original post: A strange thing will happen during Tuesdays Ohio primary election: One of the most pro-Republican-gerrymandered states in the country will put an actual bipartisan deal to reform gerrymandering in front of its voters. Issue 1, if approved, would create a new congressional redistricting process that would proceed in a series of stages designed to incentivize bipartisan agreement. The current rules for how congressional redistricting happens in Ohio are simple: The state legislature can pass a plan, and the governor can sign or veto it, just like any ordinary bill. Uncontested races included are those for which there was not both a Republican and Democrat, though in some cases there were third-party or independent candidates.Rich Exner, cleveland.com. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio's shameful gerrymandering controversy has earned the state unwanted attention with a story in New Yorker magazine, calling the GOP-dominated General Assembly a. If you were to come up with a punchline to a joke about the Monitor, that would probably be it. Hear about special editorial projects, new product information, and upcoming events. The Brennan Center works to reform and defend our countrys systems of democracy and justice. Fair Districts Ohio organizes citizens to fight this gerrymandering. Reformers see this as a clear improvement on the status quo, which gave the minority party little recourse. If lawmakers from either side object to the final maps, they must be redrawn after four years. logged you out. "Today, Ohio voters are the winners. David DeWitt on Twitter Support our mission by making a gift today. And activist groups are generally either supportive or neutral. Republicans in the legislature realized that voters were paying attention.. Reader support helps keep our explainers free for all. On the eve of a showdown in the U.S. Senate on voting rights reform, the Ohio Supreme Court struck . The Ohio chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, for example, did not take a position on the ballot measure, and its senior policy director expressed concern the process would encourage deals that are advantageous to politicians but not in the best interests of their constituents. Senate Republicans criticized the voting rights bill as federal overreach based on false claims of voter suppression. Rich Exner, data analysis editor, writes cleveland.coms and The Plain Dealers personal finance column - Thats Rich! After failing to create an independent commission, reform advocates in Ohio a former swing state that now tilts Republican tried another tack. An update on major political events, candidates, and parties twice a week. If lawmakers cant agree on a map, the process goes to a seven-member bipartisan commission, which can only adopt a plan with the support of two members of the minority party in the legislature. Ohio's anti-gerrymandering amendments trusted elected officials to draw their own districts, compromise with members of the opposing party and follow the Ohio Supreme Court's orders. A weekly update on music, movies, cultural trends, and education solutions. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy. The Brennan Center works to build an America that is democratic, just, and free. Federal statutes on civil rights and redistricting also allow for such cases to be tried there. The 4-3 decision began by calling gerrymandering "the antithetical perversion of representative democracy." It noted that Ohio voters passed two amendments to constrain the legislature's ability to draw partisan legislative . subscription. The standards that it set are not as high as it could be," Levenson said. As the Cincinnati Enquirers Chrissie Thompson reported at the time, many Democrats were initially skeptical of Huffmans sincerity. Oops. Under Issue 1 approved by Ohio voters in May 2018, the legislature will still hold control over approval of the next map in following the 2020 census. Should the commission fail to agree on a plan, lawmakers will get a second chance at redistricting. The ACLU of Ohio has also said it neither supports nor opposes the measure because it doesnt go far enough. See stories from the gerrymandering series at this link. The Supreme Court left open the possibility of contesting maps in state courts, but Ohio previously did not have any congressional district rules that could be challenged. Its a rare bipartisan deal to reform redistricting. Ohio strikes blow against gerrymandering - The Conversation In an effort to try and prevent cracking voters and diluting one partys voting power, map drawers will have to preserve 65 of Ohios 88 counties in a single congressional district. For me as the leader, it made your job easier, Obhof said. The reintroduced Freedom to Vote Act would prevent voter suppression, gerrymandering, and election denial tactics. The reform includes a deadline of Sept. 30. Learn how you can do more to strengthen democracy. 19802023 The Christian Science Monitor. Congressional Redistricting Reform - Common Cause Ohio Theyll still need a 60 percent supermajority to pass a new congressional map, but they would need the support of just one-third of the lawmakers in the minority. It's been a tough few weeks for gerrymandering reform. That put the onus on state courts to hear lawsuits over redistricting, including alleged racial discrimination in drawing boundaries. 0:00. Reform has also been approved for the Statehouse map, but those rules wont be in place until 2021 as well. Instead, the Ohio Redistricting Commission has produced three sets of maps, all useless because they're illegal. Our work isn't possible without your support. 4 above. If a century old process has worked, maybe you shouldnt tear it down for one contentious issue. Because we dont want to keep having this same fight., But this time around, the midterm environment began to look increasingly challenging for Republicans, just as the new ballot initiative was gaining steam. The only question is will there be a veto-proof supermajority, he says. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. For example, large numbers of Black voters are routinely drawnor packedinto Congresswoman Joyce Beattys district, with a smaller number of Black voters getting cracked across surrounding districts at such low numbers that candidates have no need to earn their votes to win. 2021 is the first year maps are being drawn using the new rules, which focus on a . With the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, those barriers will only worsen. Under the new process, lawmakers still have initial control of mapmaking, but they can only pass a map with a 60 percent supermajority in the legislature, including the votes of 50 percent of the minority party. In 2015, the Fair Districts = Fair Elections Coalition worked to pass state legislative redistricting reform. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Otherwise, a four-year map could be approved. Sign up for the Mike DeWine, a Republican, has signed into law a congressional map that creates 15 new districts in the state, but anti-gerrymandering advocates are slamming the map saying it was. Nonpartisan redistricting? Census Bureau says it may not have redistricting data ready for the states until early fall, creating deadline issues in Ohio, Census 2020 Q&A: Who gets counted, new chance to complete online, iPhone 8-equipped enumerators and more, Census Bureau wraps data collection, but stops short of promising an official 2020 count by the Dec. 31 deadline; accuracy concerns linger locally. Stay informed about the latest scientific discoveries & breakthroughs. Those 16 state and federal races - including Ohio wins by Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Mike DeWine - - taken together show a 54% to 46% advantage for the GOP over the Democrats. But they could no longer pass it with a simple majority vote. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 7/1/2023). The ruling is a . The redistricting reform passed today in Ohio makes it much harder for politicians to rig elections through gerrymandering and gives me hope that we can restore fairness to our elections in states around the country, said former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who chairs the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, which supported the measure. Issue 1 has other reforms too. More LOCAL to Love. But the truth is, the Voting Rights Act has been under assault since the moment it was enacted.
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