I voted early at the Allen County Board of Elections. I had not paid much attention to Issue 1, but when I read it on my ballot I was stunned. I thought its purpose was to prevent gerrymandering (the act of drawing legislative districts to favor a certain party or candidate). It actually requires gerrymandering (yes, it uses the “g” word) in favor of Ohio’s minority party (Democrats). It repeals all constitutional provisions forbidding gerrymandering.
Its purpose is to assure “proportionality.” Since Ohio voters are about 55% Republican and 45% Democratic, districts are to be gerrymandered to provide proportionality such that 55% of U.S. and state representatives and state senators are Republican, and 45% are Democrats. Serpentine districts are expressly permitted and expected to achieve proportionality.
It goes to some length to set up a complicated taxpayer-funded commission to draw districts. This commission is protected from contact with Ohio citizens to prevent the voters from expressing their feelings to the commission. No lawsuits are permitted to be brought to the commission, except in the case they do not provide proportionality. The commission is provided an unlimited budget, funded by the state, to fight any lawsuits.
There is nothing (that I know of) in Ohio’s Constitution or the U.S. Constitution requiring proportionality. It could be very difficult or impossible to achieve. If the distribution of 55% Republicans and 45% Democrats were very evenly spread throughout the state, every Republican candidate would win with 55% of the vote, irrespective of how the districts were drawn. The only way to properly draw districts is by geographical compactness, which this issue specifically forbids.
Former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor favors proportionality and Issue 1. Seven times she rejected redistricting plans based on common sense rather than a crazy quilt of districts to provide proportionality. A federal court finally ordered the seventh plan be used. It seems she can’t understand the problems and basic unfairness inherent in proportionality. Let’s be grateful she retired.
Please vote no on Issue 1. If it passes, it should immediately be challenged in federal court. I cannot imagine the U.S. Supreme Court would tolerate this abomination.
John Fielding
Elida
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