Gov. DeWine starts remap process for state legislative districts

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Aug. 2—COLUMBUS — In the first test of new voter-approved rules, the commission charged with redrawing 99 Ohio House and 33 Senate districts will meet Friday, less than a month from the first constitutional deadline for action.

The move comes about two weeks before the U.S. Census Bureau is expected to release the delayed data necessary for the seven-member Ohio Redistricting Commission to draw new maps.

Gov. Mike DeWine, who will serve as chairman, has set the first meeting for 9 a.m. The panel will have a 5-2 GOP majority — consisting of Mr. DeWine, State Auditor Keith Faber, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and two people each representing legislative Republicans and Democrats.

The panel has a constitutional deadline of Sept. 1 to pass new maps that have the support of the commission's two Democrats, maps that would then stand for a decade until after the completion of the next U.S. Census in 2031.

If the maps fail to get that minority support, the commission would then have until Sept. 15 to try again to pass bipartisan 10-year maps or enact maps with a simple majority vote that would last just four years. The process would then have to start over in four years.

This process is separate from that used to redraw congressional districts. That will be done through legislation that must be passed by the General Assembly and signed by Mr. DeWine.

In recent years, voters approved new rules for both processes that are designed to lessen the ability of the party in charge — in this case Republicans as with the last two redistricting cycles — to draw maps to expand upon their power.

Generally, the resulting maps must be more geographically compact and reduce the number of counties and municipalities divided between districts.

The commission is required to hold three public hearings on proposed maps.

"I hope they hit the ground running, and start hearing from legal, mapping, and political science experts," said Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio. "They can do that without having data in hand. We expect the commission to have a transparent, open, and fair process that results in maps that represent and serve the needs of Ohio voters rather than hyper—partisan political interests."

First Published August 2, 2021, 12:02pm