Voting NO on Ohio’s Issue 1 may seem incompatible with what I’ve written on this blog.
Here are some reasons:
1. Still be 5 incumbents drawing districts.
2. Might be term-limited incumbents drawing new districts for themselves. The new law does not address this potential issue.
3. The law provides fail-safe back door for incumbents whereby a simple majority may approve a 4 year district map if the Commission fails to adopt a plan in accordance with the rules in division (A) (3).
((So stated in Section 8 parts B C And A )
4. The law does not seat even one non-politically affiliated person on the board. Two members are appointed by a elected member of Ohio government.
5. Legislative influence could occur because Members of the Commission must work with current members of the General Assembly and Senate.
6. Does not change way we draw our US Congressional Districts.
7. The Redistricting Reform Act of 2015 sponsored in the U S House by Lofgren, Brownley, Lowenthal and Edwards supported by 19 House Democrats offers a better plan. Ohio has time to write a better bill. Voters should not be asked to settle for legislation that does not fix the problem.
8. The Supreme Court is going to hear gerrymandering issues this term. Waiting for their decisions on the matters before them may very well help Ohio build a better law.
And finally, giving incumbents the authority to draw their own districts is just plain voter neglect of the duty we all have to help build a responsible government.
