As the Ohio state legislature passes transphobic laws while Ohio voters secure abortion rights in the state constitution, the disconnect between voters and government is clear. This gap is largely due to gerrymandering, a practice that voters could end this November.
Gerrymandering involves drawing congressional district lines to benefit a political party, most often by “cracking” an opposition’s voter base into minorities spread across districts or “packing” them into one isolated district. Through gerrymandering, the benefitting party can gain far more seats in state legislatures and the U.S. House of Representatives than if district lines were drawn fairly.
Gerrymandering is illegal in Ohio, but it is difficult to prevent. Before the 2022 midterm elections, the Ohio Supreme Court struck down five separate legislative maps because of partisan gerrymandering, according to Democracy Docket. As a result, Ohioans voted under unconstitutional maps in 2022.
These legislative maps, drawn by a Republican-controlled commission, helped Republicans win supermajorities in the Ohio House and Senate: 67% of House seats with only 59% of the vote, according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, and 64% of Senate seats with 57% of the vote. These extra seats proved convenient when Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed a bill that would ban gender-affirming medical care for minors, according to the ACLU. Using their supermajorities, the Republican legislature overrode the governor’s veto, a power gerrymandering made possible.
A new petition could end gerrymandering in Ohio for good. The petition would turn redistricting over to an independent commission composed of five Republicans, five Democrats and five Independents. The petition’s supporters, a group called Citizens Not Politicians, is currently collecting signatures, and students can volunteer for them from their website. If the petition receives at least 415,000 signatures, according to the Ohio Capital Journal, the petition will be on the November ballot.
Independent commissions have proven results in similar states. Vox reported in January after Republican-controlled redistricting in 2010, Michigan Republicans controlled the state legislature for the next five elections without ever winning a majority of votes. A 2018 referendum turned redistricting over to an independent commission, who drew maps for the 2022 midterm elections. Democrats won 51% of Michigan House seats with 51% of the vote.
Democrats are no strangers to gerrymandering themselves. A judge threw out a Maryland congressional map drawn to benefit Democrats in 2022, according to The Washington Post. Ending gerrymandering would not turn Ohio blue, but it would more accurately represent voters’ beliefs.
There are still many obstacles to fair representation in state government: voting rights continue to be eroded and political lobbying will always be controversial. Ending gerrymandering would be a realistic step to ensuring that Ohio’s government represents its people.