Ohio politicians in the legislature and the Ohio Redistricting Commission are about to redraw our US Congressional districts. During the 2024 campaign for a constitutional amendment to create an independent redistricting commission, many of these same leaders claimed that Ohio’s redistricting process worked well for Ohio voters.

Now is their chance to prove it.

Ohio is already one of the most gerrymandered states in the country. Since 2020, Republican Congressional candidates have won about 57% of the statewide vote but secured 67% —10 out of 15— of Ohio’s Congressional seats. 

That gap between how Ohioans vote and how we’re represented in Washington is a direct result of gerrymandering.

Here’s just one example: 67 Ohio school districts are divided into different congressional districts, including 13 school districts that are so small that they only have two buildings. This means two different funding allocations and funding cycles, two different interpretations of the law and rules for people in the same community, and ultimately two different sets of priorities, with different, maybe even competing ideas about how to use resources. 

Ohioans Deserve Better.

If lawmakers truly believe Ohio’s process is fair, they must draw maps that pass the basic test of fairness: Ohio voters should be represented in proportion to how they cast their ballots.

Before Ohio’s redistricting process starts, remind Ohio lawmakers that:

• Ohio is one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation
• Ohioans have voted overwhelmingly in favor of anti-gerrymandering measures and our lawmakers must do their duty to voters and to the law 
• The last Congressional map was struck down by the Ohio Supreme Court, who said it violated the Ohio Constitution
• Ohioans deserve fair maps that reflect our communities, not politicians’ interests.

The upcoming redistricting process is their chance to show us what they meant when they said Ohio’s redistricting process is fair, and that they could put their constituents before themselves or partisan politics.

We oppose gerrymandering no matter which party is doing it, and we will be watching to see if Ohio politicians can stand by their word.