COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The more than two-year legal battle over the maps of Ohio Statehouse districts that were crafted in response to the 2020 Census may be over.
In a 4-3 ruling late Monday, the Ohio Supreme Court cited unanimous, bipartisan passage in September of a new round of legislative maps in dismissing three long-running lawsuits brought by Democratic and voting-rights groups.
Political Cartoons View All 1270 ImagesThe high court side-stepped additional constitutional questions on the maps, rejecting as moot the state’s requests that it vacate earlier rulings that found five straight rounds of Statehouse maps unconstitutional.
The proposal would create a 15-member citizen panel of Republicans, Democrats and independents representing a geographic and demographic cross-section of the state, called the Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission, to replace the existing Ohio Redistricting Commission.
“Only when Ohio bans politicians and lobbyists from rigging maps will voters have fair representation in Congress and the Ohio Statehouse.”
Persons:
”, Jennifer Brunner, Brunner, Maureen O'Connor, O'Connor, Jen Miller
Organizations:
Ohio Statehouse, Democratic, GOP, Statehouse, Democrats, Ohio, Commission, League of Women Voters
Locations:
COLUMBUS , Ohio, Ohio