Fixing Ohio’s redistricting scheme

Fixing Ohio’s redistricting scheme

AColumbus Dispatch story a few weeks ago about nine potential ballot issues in Ohio, warned readers: “Warm up your handwriting skills, Ohio: Supporters of nine issues need nearly 3.2 million valid signatures of registered voters to get their proposals on the ballot.” One petition should appeal to most Ohio voters. The “Ohio Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission Amendment” will remove the congressional redistricting process from our politicians and put it into the hands of a 12-member citizens’ commission.

The citizens’ commission will have equal numbers of Republicans, Democrats, and independents who work together to create fair congressional districts that are geographically compact and minimize the division of counties, cities, townships, and wards. Instead of the current redistricting process where districts are created by politicians to further themselves and their parties, the districts will be politically balanced by a nonpartisan group of citizens.

It will be well worth warming up your handwriting skills for this one.

Jeanne Melvin, Columbus