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Voting in Ohio: Redistricting

Introduction

The Anti-Gerrymandering Ballot Initiative failed on November 6, 2024.

Ohio Constitution

Article XI
General Assembly Redistricting

Governmental Entities

Ohio Redistricting Commission
Will reconvene if the Ohio Legislature is unable to draw maps for 2026 election by September 30, 2025.

Rejected Amendment

Proposed Amendment
As of 10/02/23, Attorney General Yost approved the language. The Ohio Ballot Board approved it on 11/20/23. Almost twice the required signatures were turned in 7/1/24.

Ohio Ballot Board description of anti-gerrymandering initiative
State of Ohio ex rel Citizens Not Politicians v. Ohio Ballot Board
9/17/24 Ohio Supreme Court mandates only minor changes to the Republican Ballot Board's ballot summary.
Ballotpedia
A good explanation of Issue 1, includes the summary from the Ohio Ballot Board that will appear on the November 2204 ballot.

Links

Independent redistricting panels aim to draw fairer maps but still invite controversy
CNN 12/15/21
Ohio to redraw Congressional map for 2026 election
13 Action News 12/18/24
Ohio will use same unconstitutional congressional maps in 2024, as court dismisses legal challenges
Cleveland.com, 9/7/23
Proposed Ohio constitutional amendment seeks to end gerrymandering after legislature defied courts
Redistricting Commissions
Wikipedia article discussing how the states do redistricting
Redistricting in Ohio
Ohio Legislative Services Commission Members Brief 4/24

US Supreme Court

Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP (2024)
US Supreme Court decided South Carolina's legislative district maps are not unconstitutionally gerrymandered.
Rucho v. Common Cause (2019)
Partisan gerrymandering claims present political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts.