Redistricting

Leading GOP officials, including Gov. Mike DeWine, joined forces against Issue 1, arguing the new commission was flawed and unaccountable.

Opponents of Ohio's Issue 1 say the ballot language is fair and accurate, but backers of the redistricting amendment say the wording is confusing to voters.

A constitutional amendment on Ohio's fall ballot seeks to ban elected officials from the legislative and congressional line-drawing process. But some of those politicians are fighting it.

This November, Ohio voters will decide whether or not to reform the state’s redistricting system. Will high voter turn out influence the results?

Despite objections from the group behind the amendment effort, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled the ballot language needed only minor changes. Now voters will once again have the chance to vote on how congressional maps are drawn.

In Arizona and Michigan, independent commissions draw the maps, but the process hasn’t been without its bumps. In Iowa, an advisory commission drafts congressional and state boundaries but the state legislature retains final authority to implement them. Guests include: Colleen Coyle Mathis, former chair, Arizona Independent Restricting Commission; Dave Wells, research director, Grand Canyon Institute, retired professor, Arizona State University; Lauren Gibbons, state government reporter, Bridge Michigan; and O. Kay Henderson, news director, Radio Iowa.

In Arizona and Michigan, independent commissions draw the maps, but the process hasn’t been without its bumps. In Iowa, an advisory commission drafts congressional and state boundaries but the state legislature retains final authority to implement them.

The Franklin County Board of Elections said Friday would be the hope for when the Ohio Supreme Court would rule on the ballot language lawsuit.

When it comes to redistricting everyone says they want fair maps. That’s the easy part. The hard part is setting a legal standard for drawing them. We’re untangling how to draw fair maps this episode. Guests include: Dave Wasserman, Senior Editor & Elections Analyst for The Cook Political Report; Samuel Wang, Princeton Gerrymandering Project Professor; Dan Vicuna, director of redistricting and representation for Common Cause.

When it comes to redistricting everyone says they want fair maps. That’s the easy part. The hard part is setting a legal standard for drawing them.