COLUMBUS — Ohio’s top elections official has paused certain preparations for the May 3 primary in the face of another court decision invalidating GOP-drawn maps of new legislative districts.
Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose coupled a directive issued to county election boards late Thursday with a letter to the Ohio Redistricting Commission.
He said counties are now “simply out of time” to complete the work necessary to hold Statehouse elections as scheduled.
His order prohibits counties from altering or sending ballots until further notice.
LaRose can’t change the election date himself. That’s up to the Legislature or a federal court.
Here’s the latest on the May 3rd primary: Without action by a federal court that allows for General Assembly contests to appear on the May 3rd ballot, at this time only statewide, congressional & local contests will be on that ballot. -tweet from Secy. of State @FrankLaRose
UPDATE 3/20/22 8:37 a.m.: The Ohio Redistricting Commission has decided to look for two independent mapmakers and a mediator to help come up with new district maps following the Ohio Supreme Court’s rejection of a third set of maps presented by the Republican-dominated panel.
The seven-member commission hopes to approve the choices in a Monday night meeting, but the current mapmakers and one staff member of each commissioner are to immediately begin meeting to identify “complex issues” and areas of agreement and disagreement.
The high court sent the maps back to the Republican-dominated commission to be redrawn by March 28.