A Citizen’s Guide to Redistricting in Ohio
September 25, 2023 — As the Ohio Redistricting Commission holds public hearings about proposed state House and Senate district maps amid growing concerns about partisanship, a report released today by the national nonprofit The Electoral Innovation Lab describes how the process could be different using a citizen-led independent commission rather than current lawmakers drawing the lines.
A Citizen’s Guide to Redistricting in Ohio reviews the state’s current redistricting system, the processes’ major weaknesses, and why lessons learned from recently formed independent commissions, such as in Michigan and Colorado in 2018, help explain the continuous calls for reform efforts in the Buckeye State.
This report is intended to serve as an informational resource, describing key factors for a successful independent redistricting process, criteria for legislative and congressional districts, and best practices for commissioners in performing their work. The report offers perspectives for balancing the varied interests that arise to reflect the interests of Ohio’s political parties, diverse communities, and individual voters.
Successful reforms in other states point the way for citizen-led commissions to counter gerrymandering.
"The examples of redistricting commissions in Michigan and Colorado show that an independent process can ensure representation of all communities and parties in a balanced manner,” stated Professor Sam Wang, founding director of the Electoral Innovation Lab. “As the saying goes, states are the laboratories of democracy. These states have done successful experiments."