COLUMBUS – A fast-tracked map of Ohio’s new congressional districts has cleared the Ohio Senate and is headed to the House.
Voting-rights groups and Democrats objected Tuesday.
“Ohio’s leaders have served up a chaotic, partisan process and congressional districts that disrespect voters and the Ohio Constitution,” Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, said.
The Senate’s approval came less than 24 hours after GOP House Speaker Bob Cupp released the updated version.
Republicans say the map is competitive and doesn’t favor either party.
Opponents decried it as gerrymandered to disproportionately favor ruling Republicans.
“Instead of reaching across the aisle in a meaningful way to work on a map that actually represents the voting preferences of our state, Republicans chose another partisan power grab,” said Ohio Legislative Black Caucus president Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton), who vowed to vote against the map.
The vote comes as Ohio and other states are under the gun to redraw their congressional districts to reflect updated census figures.
Ohio lost one of its 16 seats in a process beset this year by COVID-related delays.