COLUMBUS – After a decade of false starts, Ohio voters have approved new rules for drawing state legislative districts that aim to reduce partisan gerrymandering.
READ MORE: In The Columbus Dispatch
Approval of Issue 1 Tuesday marks a sweeping victory for bipartisanship in the closely divided political state. Republican and Democratic lawmakers developed the new apportionment system in an historic compromise last year.
“Ohio voters can do amazing things when they work together. Let’s work together to reform the congressional map,” ProgressOhio Executive Director Sandy Theis said. Issue 1 affects only districts in the General Assembly.
A seven-member commission composed of the governor, secretary of state, auditor and four legislative appointees will now draw the lines, giving the minority party a powerful say on any new 10-year map designating Ohio’s 99 House and 33 Senate districts and got top billing on the ballot as state leaders’ priority issue.
“Redistricting reform has been discussed in Ohio for decades, so I’m glad that our Republican majorities in the Statehouse worked together on the resolution and put the issue before the voters to decide,” said Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges.
“Like the majority of voters, I am pleased to see this issue pass because I believe the reforms included within it are the most effective way of achieving a fair and balanced system.,” Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) said.
Democratic National Committee Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) called it “an important victory towards ensuring a fairer redistricting process in a critical swing state.“
Despite broad support, the campaign struggled for money and attention in an election dominated by a fight over marijuana legalization. In the absence of any organized opposition, it was approved by a margin of 71 percent to 29 percent.
Turnout in Ohio was low, as expected, with approximately 42 percent of voters heading to the polls, casting a total of 3.2 million ballots, according to Secretary of State Jon Husted, who had predicted a turnout of about 30 percent.