Ohio could delay presidential primary if redistricting process too slow

Ohio election board officials said they may have to move the 2012 presidential election to a later date if legislators cannot agree quickly on new congressional districts that will be drawn from 2010 census data.

Several county officials have warned Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted the Oct. 1 deadline to draw districts is too short of time to effectively prepare for the March 6, 2012 primary, The Columbus Dispatch reports.

The message local elections officials tell me is, either finish redistricting early enough that we can do this in time for the March time frame, or move the primary back,” said Husted, who will be sworn in on Sunday.

Redistricting is also bound to hurt Ohio’s power in presidential elections with the loss of two U.S. House seats to a total of 18 after the recent release of census data.

Ohio’s redistricting is currently decided by a five-member State Apportionment Board made up of the governor, secretary of state, auditor and a member from each major party of the legislature. With the current board consisting of four Republicans, it is assumed districts will be gerrymandered to favor the GOP.

Husted said his decision to delay Ohio’s presidential primary will be based upon how fast legislators and the governor draw the new districts.

“What I don’t want to see happen is to have a late decision on this,” he said. “A late decision will make it very tough on the local boards and elections officials.”