Groups Representing Ohio Voters Want Redistricting Process To Start Now

The U.S. Census Bureau won’t have official data ready for redistricting until this fall. But groups representing Ohio voters are asking Gov. Mike DeWine to start the process of drawing legislative and congressional district maps. 

The League of Women Voters of Ohio and Common Cause Ohio want DeWine to get the redistricting process started now, despite the lack of census data. They want lawmakers who will sit on the panel that approves new maps to be chosen, even if they can’t immediately start the map-drawing process.

And Common Cause’s Catherine Turcer is urging the state to come up with an online site where Ohioans can see the process in action and submit feedback. 

“When there is an adjusted timeline, we could see some possibility of some shenanigans," Turcer said.

This year will be the first time the state will use new, voter-approved redistricting processes approved in 2015 and 2018.

The voter groups also said the 2022 primary should be rescheduled from May to June to give the redistricting panel more time to draw the maps. 

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