About Redistricting reform

Issue 1: Creates a bipartisan, public process for drawing legislative districts

What it's about: Changing the way Ohio draws lines for state lawmakers' districts

What it would do:

• Set up a seven-member panel to draw new state legislative districts. The commission would include the governor, the secretary of state, the state auditor, and four other members appointed by the legislature's majority and minority leaders.

• Require four votes to pass a new redistricting plan, with at least two of those votes coming from members of the minority party.

• If at least two members of the minority party agree on the lines, they would last for 10 years. If not, the lines would be redrawn in four years.

How things are now: A five-member panel redraws the lines every decade following the new U.S. Census. The panel includes the governor, the auditor, the secretary of state, someone representing the majority party and someone representing the minority party. In 2011, that meant four of the five members were Republicans and drew lines to their advantage.

What happens if it passes: The new panel would redraw lines in a more bipartisan way following the 2020 census.

Argument for: Under the current system, politicians can guarantee their party's control of certain seats through gerrymandering. That means political views of the state's lawmakers don't match Ohioans' overall. President Barack Obama won the election with 50.7 percent of the vote. Yet, Republican lawmakers hold 60 seats to Democrats’ 39 in the Ohio House.

Argument against: No organized opposition. Under the current model, one political party might control the process now, but it could change next decade. The political party that wins should get to draw the lines.

Who's for it: Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, Ohio Republican Party, Ohio Democratic Party, League of Women Voters Ohio and others

Who's against it: No organized opposition.

Web sites for more information: The group supporting Issue 1, Fair Districts for Ohio, has a website:

Read the language: The proposed amendment would:

• End the partisan process for drawing Ohio House and Senate districts, and replace it with a bipartisan process with the goal of having district boundaries that are more compact and politically competitive.

• Ensure a transparent process by requiring public meetings, public display of maps, and a public letter explaining any plan the Commission adopts by a simple majority vote.

• Establish the bipartisan Ohio Redistricting Commission, composed of 7 members including the Governor, the Auditor of State, the Secretary of State, and 4 members appointed by the majority and minority leaders of the General Assembly.

• Require a bipartisan majority vote of 4 members in order to adopt any final district plan, and prevent deadlock by limiting the length of time any plan adopted without bipartisan support is effective.

If passed, the amendment will become effective immediately.

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