Our Fight for Fair Maps Continues
The Census will be conducted in 2020 and new state legislative and congressional districts will be drawn in 2021. Ohio's new rules reining in gerrymandering are important, but voters need to be engaged in the mapmaking process and hold the mapmakers accountable. Sign the End Gerrymandering Pledge and ask your state legislators to do the same!
On June 27, the US Supreme Court ruled that the federal judiciary cannot rein in partisan gerrymandering. It is up to us to strengthen the safeguards that voters put in place because the federal courts will not step in.
Chief Justice John Roberts: “We conclude that partisan gerrymandering claims present political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts. Federal judges have no license to reallocate political power between the two major political parties, with no plausible grant of authority in the Constitution, and no legal standards to limit and direct their decisions.”
Justice Elena Kagan's dissent: "The partisan gerrymanders here debased and dishonored our democracy, turning upside-down the core American idea that all governmental power derives from the people."
BACKGROUND ON OHIO'S REDISTRICTING REFORM EFFORT:
Thanks to the hard work of redistricting reformers all over the state, Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved two historic amendments to the Ohio Constitutitioin that rein in gerrymandering. Issue 1 of 2015 created the Ohio Redistricting Commission to craft state legislative districts and Issue 1 of May 2018 addressed congressional gerrymandering. Both reforms focus on with new rules that focus on keeping communities together and greater transparency and public engagement in the mapmaking. Voters were clear that we all deserve fair districts and fair elections. Both Issues passed in every single Ohio county and with sizable margins (more than 72% of the vote).
On June 27, the US Supreme Court ruled that the federal judiciary cannot rein in partisan gerrymandering. It is up to us to strengthen the safeguards that voters put in place because the federal courts will not step in.
Chief Justice John Roberts: “We conclude that partisan gerrymandering claims present political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts. Federal judges have no license to reallocate political power between the two major political parties, with no plausible grant of authority in the Constitution, and no legal standards to limit and direct their decisions.”
Justice Elena Kagan's dissent: "The partisan gerrymanders here debased and dishonored our democracy, turning upside-down the core American idea that all governmental power derives from the people."
BACKGROUND ON OHIO'S REDISTRICTING REFORM EFFORT:
Thanks to the hard work of redistricting reformers all over the state, Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved two historic amendments to the Ohio Constitutitioin that rein in gerrymandering. Issue 1 of 2015 created the Ohio Redistricting Commission to craft state legislative districts and Issue 1 of May 2018 addressed congressional gerrymandering. Both reforms focus on with new rules that focus on keeping communities together and greater transparency and public engagement in the mapmaking. Voters were clear that we all deserve fair districts and fair elections. Both Issues passed in every single Ohio county and with sizable margins (more than 72% of the vote).
Who Are We?
The Fair Districts = Fair Elections Coalition is committed to reining in partisan gerrymandering. We seek fair state legislative and congressional maps that keep communities together because we believe that all elections should be fair and meaningful.
Who Supports Congressional Redistricting?
This site is paid for by the League of Women Voters of Ohio, 100 E. Broad St., Suite # 1310, Columbus, Ohio 43215. To contact the League, please call 614-469-1505.