Ohio Supreme Court Strikes Down 4th Set of Unconstitutional Maps, Rejecting All Remaining Excuses for Republican Failure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2022

Contact:
Maki Somosot, maki@ohorganizing.org
Rachel Coyle, coyle@innovationohio.org

COLUMBUS — Today, the Equal Districts Coalition — a group of over 30 Ohio advocacy organizations and labor unions engaged in the redistricting process — released the following statement, applauding a bipartisan Ohio Supreme Court majority for once again rejecting Republican-drawn Statehouse maps as unconstitutional:

“Today, a bipartisan majority of Ohio Supreme Court justices once again stood with voters and refused to cave to unconstitutional district maps.

“There are no viable excuses left. The Republican Redistricting Commissioners are literally the only thing standing between Ohio voters and fair maps. It’s time to end this constitutional crisis and vote for the bipartisan mapmakers' maps.

“The state Supreme Court made clear that fair maps are possible, and legal maps already exist in the independent mappers’ nearly finalized drafts. There’s no need to waste more of Ohioans’ time or money. The Commission can still get this right in time for the 2022 election.

“The Republican Commissioners need to finally come to the table in good faith and to join with their Democratic colleagues in their steadfast commitment to delivering equal districts for Ohio.”

Below are some additional highlights from today’s important victory:

Fair maps are possible — In fact they already exist

Today’s Court ruling highlighted that the redistricting commissioners already have legal maps in front of them — drawn by a Democratic mapmaker and a Republican mapmaker working together.

A pair of professional mapmakers — hired by the Redistricting Commission using Ohioans’ tax dollars — has already nearly completed maps that are fair, representative, and reflective of Ohio voters. These maps are not perfect, but they are a good compromise that captures the spirit of bipartisanship and prioritizes the preferences of Ohio communities. They offer the perfect starting point for the next redraw.

There’s no need to waste more Ohio tax dollars

The Commission agreed to pay independent mappers $100,000 to help craft fair maps — something they very nearly achieved before Republicans pulled the plug and instead voted for the unconstitutional fourth plan. We agree with the Ohio justices that to “completely abandon that work seems like a waste of resources and taxpayer dollars and could take us further away from the constitutionally required goal of a fair district plan." The Commission needs to stop wasting Ohio’s time and money — they need to pass fair maps now.

There is plenty of time left to draw legal districts

As the Ohio Supreme Court stated in today’s ruling, there is plenty of time available to draw constitutional Statehouse maps for the 2022 election. The Court notes that several states will have primaries in late August or even September, so there is no need for Ohio’s primary to occur earlier.

To be clear: Anyone who claims Ohio’s primary must be held on August 2nd or earlier is simply creating an artificial deadline so they can pretend there isn’t enough time to draw legal districts.

Drawing districts to benefit your own party is not only illegal, it’s wrong, and Republicans know it.

As Supreme Court Justice Michael Donnelly notes in his concurrence, Secretary of State Frank LaRose has previously agreed with the need for equal districts. LaRose once said, ‘even if our party benefitted, it’s still wrong. By gerrymandering districts, we send the message that winning elections is more important than finding effective policy solutions for all.’ Will Frank LaRose finally live up to his word and vote for fair, constitutional maps?

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The Equal Districts Coalition is the largest redistricting coalition in Ohio, with over 30 member organizations. It includes the Ohio State Conference of the NAACP, Ohio Organizing Collaborative, OAPSE/AFSCME, Ohio Farmers Union, AFSCME Ohio Council 8, the Ohio Environmental Council, OFUPAC, Innovation Ohio, the Ohio Student Association, ProgressOhio, All On the Line-Ohio, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, Ohio Council of Churches, NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, URGE – Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, LEAD Ohio, the Ohio Women’s Alliance, the Ohio Federation of Teachers, Ohio Education Association, CAIR-Ohio, Campus Vote Project, For Our Future Ohio, Ohio Unity Coalition, Equality Ohio, The Freedom Bloc, and more.