January 29: Rep. Emilia Sykes sends Sen. Rob McColley a letter asking him to release funding from the Ohio Legislative Redistricting Task Force to Democratic and Republican caucuses so they can start preparation for the map-drawing process, including procuring software/computers and, if needed, hiring consultants.

The Ohio Legislative Task Force on Redistricting, Reapportionment, and Demographic Research includes six members from both the Ohio House and Senate. The co-chairs in 2021 are Sen. Rob McColley, R-Napoleon (the Senate Majority Whip) and Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes, D-Akron (then House Minority Leader). Other appointees include Speaker Bob Cupp, R-Lima; Christine Morrison, the House Republican caucus chief of staff; John Barron, the Senate Republican caucus chief of staff; and Sen. Kenny Yuko, D-Richmond Heights, the Senate Minority Leader.

February 12: US Census Bureau announced that its redistricting data delivery would be officially delayed until September 30, 15 days after Ohio’s first state legislative map deadline. 

All On The Line (AOTL) Ohio calls on elected leaders to immediately begin preparation for the redistricting process given census data delivery delay to mitigate any unnecessary disruptions. No action would be taken to set up the state legislative redistricting process - the process most impacted by the census delay - for another six months. 

February 16: AOTL Ohio launched a call-out tool for the members of the House Government Oversight Committee asking that members support Rep. Kelly’s HB 88 which would provide virtual testimony options and require masks to be worn at the Statehouse.

February 25: Ohio’s Attorney General Dave Yost and Secretary of State Frank LaRose filed a lawsuit, State of Ohio v. Coggins et al, to force the Census Bureau to release census data under the original timeline - sending it to the states by March 31, 2021.

March 3: HR 1 passes the U.S. House of Representatives. 

March 24: Eric Holder testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Hearing on S.1 — The For the People Act.

March 25: Katy Shanahan and All On The Line Ohio volunteers offered 27 pieces of proponent testimony in support of Rep. Kelly’s HB 88 (to allow virtual testimony options at Statehouse) at a Government Oversight Committee hearing. 

March 25: The Equal Districts Coalition is officially introduced. 

March 26: A federal judge dismissed Ohio AG Yost’s lawsuit that attempted to rush the Census Bureau into releasing incomplete redistricting data to the states.