IDEA Director Dr. Michael Neblo and other OSU faculty were interviewed by OSU’s student newspaper, the Lantern, about what students need to know as they prepare to vote on a state ballot initiative about redistricting this fall. According to the article, Issue 1 is a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution that addresses gerrymandering by replacing the current redistricting commission with a 15-person citizen-led commission overseeing the redistricting of congressional and state legislative districts. Supporters of Issue 1 argue that this change would make the redistricting process fairer and more representative. Among the most prominent advocates for the amendment are organizations like the Brennan Center for Justice and Ohio’s Citizens Not Politicians, which emphasize the importance of placing redistricting power in the hands of the people (The Lantern, 2024). 

Some critics express concern that a citizen-led commission may not have enough expertise to manage redistricting effectively, as Dr. Neblo acknowledged. “The standard [thing] that you worry about is that it requires a certain amount of expertise to draw boundaries. I think ordinary people can train fast enough if they are in remission to compete and implement that competently. They can’t be punished at the ballot box if they behave in a way people don’t like” (The Lantern, 2024). He also pointed out the tension between the need for accountability and the practical challenges of implementing electoral accountability in this context: “It makes sense to say that you can, that it’s better to have electoral accountability, except that we know in practice, that’s not going to be the basis of people’s electoral accountability” (The Lantern, 2024). 

Ohio is widely considered one of the most gerrymandered states, leading to an overwhelming majority of Republican congressional seats despite 53% of the state’s votes leaning in that direction. This imbalance has sparked calls for reform, particularly regarding primary elections, where more extreme candidates tend to emerge. Previous efforts to reduce gerrymandering in Ohio have faced significant challenges. While voters have approved measures to address the issue in the past, adding to the complexity of Issue 1’s fate is an ongoing legal battle over the language used on the ballot. Citizens Not Politicians, the non-partisan coalition backing the amendment, recently filed a lawsuit against the Ohio Ballot Board, claiming the language in the ballot summary is misleading. Supporters of the amendment are now waiting for a decision from the Ohio Supreme Court, which could significantly impact the voting outcome in November (The Lantern, 2024).    

Reference: The Lantern. (2024, September). Everything students need to know about Issue 1. https://www.thelantern.com/2024/09/everything-students-need-to-know-about-issue-1/