Voter’s lawsuit could play role in Ohio map spat

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

A Republican voter has sued the governor, state elections chief and Legislature alleging the state’s lack of a congressional map will make the 2012 election unconstitutional, and she wants the judge in her county — a GOP stronghold — to draw up a new map.

The lawsuit by Belinda Ward, of Batavia, was filed on Oct. 17 in Clermont County. A hearing is expected by the end of this month.

The suit asks Clermont County Common Pleas Judge Jerry McBride to redraw the congressional districts and retain jurisdiction over future redistricting plans — a factor that could rob Democrats opposed to the GOP-approved map of an opportunity to fight in a federal court.

The lawsuit came after the Republican-dominated Legislature passed a new map setting Ohio’s congressional lines for the next decade, and Democrats kept it from taking effect by launching a signature drive for a ballot challenge. The map reduced the number of districts from 18 to 16, with a dozen favoring the GOP.

Dan Tokaji, a professor at Ohio State University’s law school with expertise in election law, said the lawsuit appears to be an effort to ensure that any revised map remains favorable to Republicans.

“It looks like a rat and smells like a rat. It has the marks of a collusive lawsuit brought by a Republican against Republicans in a court likely to tilt to Republican interests,” Tokaji said.