Letter to the Editor: Support for amendment to end gerrymandering

What is gerrymandering and why should you care? Gerrymandering is when politicians and lobbyists draw the district maps to guarantee re-election. Ohio is one of the 10 most gerrymandered states in the nation. Voters should be picking their representatives not politicians picking their voters.

Gerrymandering lowers voter participation. Voters lose faith in the system when they feel like their vote doesn‘t matter. Gerrymandering steals voter power. Rigged districts dilute the power of groups who oppose the party and politicians in power.

The Citizens not Politicians Amendment will end gerrymandering in Ohio. It will establish a 15-member redistricting commission made up of five Republicans, five Democrats and five Independents. It will require that no political party is favored. It will operate in an open transparent manner.

The Commission will hold hearings in each of the five regions of Ohio. The maps will comply with the Voting Rights Act. They will not allow a political party or person to be favored.

This action is being led by nonpartisan redistricting advocates and experts.

We have already voted twice overwhelmingly for redistricting reform, but the politicians ignored us. In order to fix it for good, we must pass the Citizens not Politicians proposed constitutional amendment. We are gathering signatures to get it on the ballot.

If you would like to sign a petition, I can be reached at tlg_co@hotmail.com. If you would like to gather signatures or more information, visit citizensnotpoliticians.org.

Terry Grange, Marion

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Ohio needs constitutional amendment to end gerrymandering