Redistricting proposal competes for attention, money in Ohio
COLUMBUS (AP) — It’s the top issue on the fall ballot in Ohio, though not the one getting the most attention.
With less than three weeks before the Nov. 3 election, some backers are expressing nervousness that Issue 1’s victory is not entirely certain, as they work to inform voters about the bipartisan redistricting proposal during a season dominated by whether Ohio should legalize marijuana.
The ballot initiative seeks to revamp how the state draws legislative districts, affecting who represents residents at the Statehouse, and it’s designed to minimize the role of politics in the process.
While the proposal has no organized opposition, it faces some challenges.
“We think it’s going to pass, but it’s fragile,” said former state Rep. Matt Huffman, the redistricting campaign’s Republican co-chairman.
Ohio’s Republican and Democratic parties have endorsed the issue, along with the state chapters of the Chamber of Commerce, League of Women Voters, Common Cause, the American Civil Liberties Union and AFL-CIO.