The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has rejected the language of a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at reforming the state’s process for redrawing political maps. The rejection, announced by Republican Attorney General Dave Yost’s office, cited the need for accurate and unbiased summaries to ensure informed voter decisions.
Citizens Not Politicians, a group that includes two former Ohio Supreme Court justices, intends to place the amendment on the next year’s fall ballot. Despite the rejection being a common occurrence in the early stages of proposed amendments, the group maintains that their summary accurately represents their proposal and plans to adjust it based on the Attorney General’s guidance.
The proposed amendment seeks to replace the current Ohio Redistricting Commission, composed of statewide officeholders and state lawmakers, with an independent panel directly chosen by citizens. This effort arises due to the repeated failure of the existing structure to produce constitutionally fair maps, leading to court rejections and concerns over gerrymandering.
The proposed amendment suggests forming a 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission comprising Republicans, Democrats, and independents, with geographical and demographic diversity. It also prohibits politicians, political party officials, lobbyists, and major political donors from serving on the commission, aiming to ensure impartial districting that does not favor any party or individual.
Critics argue that the proposed system could still be manipulated by partisan interest groups. Republican legislative leaders have appealed decisions regarding maps to the U.S. Supreme Court, and Republican Governor Mike DeWine has yet to reconvene the existing commission to address the state’s legislative maps. Despite admitting the current system’s shortcomings, DeWine has not fully endorsed the proposed amendment.
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