Unlike other states that are choosing to redraw their congressional maps this year, Ohio must do so. That’s because the map passed as part of the 2021 redistricting cycle was only a four-year map passed along party lines, rather than a 10-year bipartisan map. The map passed this year – no matter in which step of the process it is passed or whether it receives any bipartisan support – will remain in place until 2031. That means the next 3 congressional elections will use the map that comes out of the process ahead of us. The full process is detailed here.

Congressional maps are made up of 15 districts and the representatives elected in each represent us in the U.S. House of Representatives. State legislative maps are made up of 99 House districts and 33 Senate districts, and the representatives from each represent us in the Ohio legislature.. Both are critical because they determine who represents us in the halls of Congress in Washington, DC and in the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus.

Usually, it happens every 10 years after the Census is conducted. But in Ohio, we’ve had to go through multiple redraw processes (including the one this year for our congressional map) because multiple versions of them were  struck down by our state Supreme Court and/or passed without bipartisan support.

There are two types of gerrymandering – partisan gerrymandering and racial gerrymandering. Partisan gerrymandering is when district lines are drawn to benefit one political party instead of fairly representing voters. Racial gerrymandering is when district lines are drawn to disadvantage racial minorities. Both are forms of political cheating and undermine our voting power at the ballot box. They weaken our democracy by letting politicians choose their voters, instead of voters choosing their politicians.

Ohioans can testify at hearings, submit written comments, share their stories, and hold lawmakers accountable. Public pressure is one of the strongest tools we have to fight gerrymandering and to demand the politicians in charge of the process deliver a new map that reflects how we vote and what our communities need. Interested in plugging in? Learn more about how to tell your personal story with our Equal Districts Storytelling Kit.

The Ohio legislature is primarily in charge of redrawing our congressional map this year, but the Ohio Redistricting Commission – the politician-filled entity that passed our state legislative maps – can also play a role.

The redraw process starts in the legislature who has the first opportunity to propose and adopt a new map with broad bipartisan support. If they cannot do that, the Ohio Redistricting Commission gets an opportunity to do so. If the Commission cannot pass a bipartisan map, the process returns to the legislature who has an opportunity to either pass a bipartisan map or one along party lines.

No matter who passes our final map – either the legislature or the Commission - it will be in place until the 2032 redistricting process.

The Ohio Constitution has rules in place to protect our communities against being unnecessarily split apart into different districts and to protect against partisan gerrymandering. To read more details about the constitutional requirements for our new congressional map, check out our website’s “Redistricting in 2025” section.

Bipartisan support means that a new map has gotten support from members of both political parties. During our redraw process this year, mappers have multiple opportunities to pass a bipartisan map, but the legislature can also pass one along party lines. Check out our website's resource page to learn more about the level of bipartisan buy-in required for a new map.

You can both testify in person at hearings and/or send in written testimony by email to the legislative committees and Redistricting Commission members once hearings have been scheduled. Use this guide to learn more about preparing, submitting, and delivering testimony.

Not at all. Lawmakers need to hear from everyday Ohioans about how any new proposed maps affect our schools, jobs, health, and access to real political representation. Your lived experience is critical and you are the expert in what would be best for you, your family, and your community.

Yes. Written testimony also carries weight and it’s a great option if you can’t attend a hearing.

We will keep a close eye on the entire redraw process and plan to share the latest information – including how you can join our fight for a fair map – through social media and email updates. Join us!

Redistricting shapes every issue you care about, from school funding to healthcare access to job opportunities and more. Whatever issue brings you to the political table – whether that’s acting on climate, racial justice, or voting rights – our ability to make progress on any of it depends on whether we can elect leaders to Congress who reflect our values. Fair maps mean a fair shot at better policies and put us on equal footing in our ability to elect leaders who actually represent us and whom we can hold accountable when they don’t.

Our current maps carve apart communities of interest in our biggest cities, dilute the political power of communities of color across the state, and are unrepresentative of the partisan makeup of our state. These communities bear the brunt of the negative impacts of our gerrymandered district lines and harder for them to win policies that reflect their needs.

Lawmakers who aren’t accountable to voters make decisions that don’t reflect community needs, like cutting school budgets while funding football stadiums, throwing people off their health care plans, and attacking our rights and freedoms.

Redistricting battles in Ohio are part of a larger fight across the U.S. for fair representation and voting rights. When Ohioans win fair maps, it strengthens democracy everywhere.