Citizen-led redistricting amendment going on Ohio ballot in November

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio voters will decide on a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment looking to change redistricting laws for the state this November.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced Tuesday that the Citizens Not Politicians-led redistricting initiative aiming to remove politicians from the redistricting process will be on the ballot this election. Instead, the amendment proposes a redistricting commission to create a "fair, transparent and impartial redistricting process that genuinely reflects the will of Ohio's citizens," Citizens Not Politicians said.

The proposed commission would be made of Republican, Democratic and independent Ohio citizens from around the state. Current and former politicians, part officials and lobbyists would not be eligible to serve on the commission.

Citizens Not Politicians calls itself a nonpartisan coalition dedicated to ending gerrymandering, or the process of drawing biased political boundaries, in the state of Ohio. They have received support from over 100 Ohio businesses, thousands of Ohio voters and even Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In order to get on the ballot, a measure must get at least 413,487 signatures, which equals 10% of the total vote cast for governor in the last relevant election, according to LaRose. These signatures must also come from at least half -- or 44 of 88 -- of the counties in Ohio, and there must be signatures equal to at least 5% of the total vote cast for governor in those counties.

According to LaRose, the redistricting proposal petition reached 535,005 signatures in 58 counties.

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor helped draft the amendment. She is a lifelong Republican, according to Citizens Not Politicians, and she said the amendment will restore equity to Ohio voters.

"With this amendment on the ballot, Ohioans have the chance to reclaim their power from the self-serving politicians who want to stay in power long past their expirations date while ignoring the needs of voters," O'Connor said.

The amendment will now be sent to the Ohio Ballot Board, which has until Aug. 22 to generate the language that will appear on the ballot Nov. 5, according to a news release from Citizens Not Politicians. The Ballot Board is required to hold a public hearing to adopt the language.

LaRose is one of five members of the Ballot Board, which also includes two Ohio Senators, one citizen and a member of the Ohio House of Representatives. O'Connor said she is confident the board will produce simple and accurate language for voters.

In a previous interview with NBC4, Citizens Not Politicians spokesperson Chris Davey said Ohioans are fed up with a long history of gerrymandering.

Previous redistricting maps drawn by Ohio legislators have been heavily criticized, and rejected by the Ohio Supreme Court. In July 2022, the Court declared a congressional district map "unduly favors" the Republican Party, violating gerrymandering prohibitions. New maps drawn up in November 2023 faced similar criticisms, which appeared to give Republicans 23 likely Senate seats, out of 33, and 61 likely House seats, out of 99.

"Literally in the dark of night, Democrats and Republicans got together and forced gerrymandered maps on the people of Ohio," Davey said. "And the citizens are done with it."