COLUMBUS — The Ohio Supreme Court has rejected newly drawn district maps that retained Republican supermajorities in both state legislative chambers.
A divided court ruled Wednesday the Ohio Redistricting Commission must redraw the boundaries in compliance with a 2015 constitutional amendment within 10 days. That amendment mandated attempts at avoiding partisan favoritism and at proportionally distributing districts to reflect Ohio’s 54% Republican-46% Democratic split.
“Throughout this process, I expected that Ohio’s legislative maps would be litigated and that the Ohio Supreme Court would make a decision on their constitutionality. I will work with my fellow Redistricting Commission members on revised maps that are consistent with the Court’s order,” Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, whose office has a representative on the commission, said in a written statement.
The ruling was a victory for voting-rights and Democratic groups in three lawsuits challenging the lines as unconstitutionally gerrymandered.
“We thank the high court for standing with voters and defending our democracy by ordering the drawing of new Ohio Senate and Ohio House districts. Now we call on the Ohio Redistricting Commission to do what voters and the Ohio Supreme court expect: draw maps that keep communities together and represent the right of every Ohio voter to have fair districts,” said Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio.
“Our plaintiffs…deserve maps that are fair and legal so that their voices can be heard in Columbus on the issues that affect their lives” said Brian Sutherland, a partner at Reed Smith, a legal firm representing the plaintiffs.
Moderate Republican Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor provided a pivotal swing vote, joining the court’s three Democrats and further hinting that voting rights groups might want to take another approach.
“Ohioans may opt to pursue further constitutional amendment to replace the current commission with a truly independent, nonpartisan commission that more effectively distances the redistricting process from partisan politics,” she wrote.
States that have enacted citizen-led, independent redistricting commissions include Arizona, California, Michigan, and Colorado.