Equal Districts Coalition Special Statement: Republican Redistricting Commissioners Must be Held Accountable by Ohio Supreme Court
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2022
Contact:
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 after the Republican members of Ohio’s Redistricting Commission once again openly violated Ohio’s Constitution and multiple Supreme Court orders:
“We have reached a pivotal moment for the future of Ohio’s elected government and for democracy itself. If our state’s top elected officials are permitted to rig district maps to keep their own political party in power, and there are no consequences, what’s to stop every future elected official from doing the exact same thing?
”What is the purpose of laws and Constitutions if Republican officials aren’t made to follow them? There must be consequences.
“It takes an extreme situation for a coalition of professional organizations to reach the conclusion that their state’s governor, top elections official, and other state leaders should be held in contempt of court, but that is where we find ourselves today.
“For months now, Ohio’s Republican Redistricting Commissioners have flagrantly violated our state Constitution by refusing to pass constitutional district maps. They have also actively ignored multiple orders by our state’s highest court ordering them to follow the law.
“Then, this past week, in blatant mockery of the Ohio Supreme Court, the Republican Commissioners met just before the court-mandated deadline and voted to pass a set of Statehouse maps that have already been struck down as unconstitutional.
“They are now openly laughing at the Supreme Court — daring its majority to hold them accountable. We are left with no choice but to ask the court to do so.
“The bipartisan majority on Ohio’s Supreme Court that has repeatedly demanded respect for Ohio’s Constitution has full authority to hold the Republican commissioners accountable. They could impose jail time, daily personal fines, revoke law licenses, and more. All options should be on the table.
“The Ohio Supreme Court also holds clear authority to set election dates, impose a legal Statehouse map under a federal constitutional claim, and/or take additional actions when the Republican-led Redistricting Commission refuses to follow the rules.
”As a separate, equal branch of state government, the Ohio Supreme Court must implement the will of Ohio voters.”
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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.
