What could fair congressional districts look like?

by Catherine Turcer, Common Cause Ohio

​Redistricting happens following the census and is based on changes in population so it’s
hard to know exactly how a fairer congressional map might look but we have some clues.

Following the 2010 census, redistricting reform advocates joined forces to create the
Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting. The goals of the Campaign were simple:
1. Increase transparency during the 2011 Ohio redistricting or mapmaking process and
2. Give citizens the opportunity to draw state legislative and congressional districts
themselves.

Together, the League of Women Voters of Ohio, Common Cause Ohio, Ohio Citizen
Action and other partners held a real-time competition using census data and partisan
information created by Cleveland State University Prof. Mark Salling. This competition
gave citizens the opportunity to draw state legislative and congressional districts.

Criteria for the 2011 Ohio Redistricting Competition

1. Compactness
2. Competitiveness
3. Representational fairness (not favoring one political party over another and mapmaking that reflect the partisan makeup of Ohio as a whole)
4. Respect for county and municipal boundaries

Mapmakers were also give guidance on how to create majority-minority districts that
respect the Voting Rights Act.

This congressional map was created by
Illinois State Rep. Mike Fortner, a Republican from West Chicago. 

 
Highlights of Mike Fortner’s Map

1. 79 of Ohio’s 88 counties are in a single district. 
2. Only six counties which are smaller than 721,000 are split into two districts.
3. Cincinnati, Dayton, and Akron are all kept whole, instead of being split as in the current maps.
4. Districts are more compact.Eight districts are highly competitive (political index within 5%).
5. Fairly balanced between Republican and Democratic districts.

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This congressional map was created by ​attorney Tim Clarke of Avon Lake, Ohio.

Highlights of Tim Clarke’s Map

1. Cuyahoga, Franklin, and Hamilton counties each have an entire district within the county.
2. 73 of Ohio’s 88 counties are in a single district.  
3. No county is split between more than two districts.
4. Eight districts are highly competitive (political index within 5%)
5. An even balance between Republican and Democratic districts.

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CONGRESSIONAL MAP:  This map was created by political consultants and Team [then Speaker John] Boehner and approved by the Ohio General Assembly. 

How does the current congressional map compare?

1. Franklin County has an entire district within the county.
2. District 9 runs from Toledo to Cleveland and Akron is split into four congressional districts
3. There are no highly competitive districts (none within political index within 5%)
4. There are twelve districts that favor Republicans and four that favor Democrats.

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How do these districts impact congressional elections?
Partisan makeup of Ohio Congressional districts is a perfect predictor for the political party of the winners in every single districts in 2012, 2014, 2016. Districts that lean towards Democrats, were won by Democrats; Districts that lean towards Republicans were won by Republicans.

Gerrymandering isn't new.  District lines have been manipulated by one politcal party or another for more than 200 years but computers have enabled mapmakers to craft truly precise ways to marginalize the opposing party. This chart by Steven Nass provides an explanation for how gerrymandering works: 

Voters deserve fair districts and fair elections! In 2015, we established the Ohio Redistricting Commissioin to draw state legislative district lines.  More than 71% of voters approved new rules prohibiting gerrymandering.  We need to fix congressional redistricting before the next census! 

Want to help get the word out about the need for congressional redistricting reform? 
Click here to add your name to our growing list of supporters of Congressional redistricting reform. Find the Fair Districts = Fair Elections Coalition on Facebook and Twitter.  
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​Donations can be made to the League of Women Voters of Ohio – go to www.lwvohio.org, click donate, and in the memo please include a note indicating your contribution is for “Fair Districts.”