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For decades in Ohio, politicians and lobbyists have manipulated voting districts through a process called gerrymandering. It means decision makers are carving out voting districts to protect their interests and guarantee their re-election. In other words, we let politicians choose their voters, rather than voters choosing their representatives. Ohio is one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation. It has historically happened on both sides of the aisle and has always led to unbalance.
That’s why Ohioans came together to deliver 731,306 signatures from every county in Ohio to the Secretary of State’s Office to get the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment on the November ballot. This ballot measure will end gerrymandering by empowering citizens, not politicians, to draw fair districts using an open and transparent process.
The Citizens Not Politicians Amendment will:
- Create the 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission made up of Democratic, Republican, and Independent citizens who broadly represent the different geographic areas and demographics of the state.
- Ban current or former politicians, political party officials and lobbyists from sitting on the Commission.
- Require fair and impartial districts by making it unconstitutional to draw voting districts that discriminate against or favor any political party or individual politician.
- Require the commission to operate under an open and independent process
What’s Next?
The Ohio ballot board will meet in August to assign an Issue number for the measure. We need your help now in educating and informing your coworkers, family, and friends about the benefits of this initiative and how a YES vote is a win for Ohio.
Stay tuned to Rapid Response for more information about how you can help. This is our chance to help working people by bringing competitive state legislative and congressional races to the voters and more civility and less extremism to the public legislative process.
For additional information, please contact District 1 Rapid Response Coordinator, Sue Browne at sbrowne@usw.org or 269 - 838 - 5956