Ohio redistricting reform topic of contests, editorials

The deadline in the Ohio Secretary of State competition to redraw the state’s election districts has been extended to April 24. The redistricting game aims to promote an open dialogue about the redistricting process and lead to the development of recommendations for the General Assembly’s process.

Ohio Redistricting Competition partners include former State Representative Joan Lawrence, The League of Women Voters of Ohio, State Representative Dan Stewart, Ohio Citizen Action and Common Cause Ohio.

The winners will be announced May 11. Visit ohioredistricting.org to learn more about the competition.

The Columbus Dispatch featured an editorial in early April proposing Ohio lawmakers and officials draw unbiased legislative districts by forming a bipartisan commission to remap Ohio.

The paper cited a proposal by state Sen. Jon Husted, (R-Kettering), the former Ohio House speaker who is running next year for secretary of state, as a step in the “right direction.” Husted proposes a state constitutional amendment for this November that would ensure a bipartisan approach when federal and state legislative districts are redrawn after the 2010 census.

His plan outlines how a bipartisan commission should be elected to redefine both state and congressional district boundaries. Party leaders of the Ohio House and Senate should then appoint four members to the commission, and five votes could be the determining approving factor to begin a remapping plan.