Citizens Not Politicians: Vote ‘Yes’ on Issue 1 to End Gerrymandering in Ohio

As someone who has collected petition signatures to help place Issue 1 on the ballot this year and worked our text banks to get out the word about this important proposal, I am well-versed in the Citizens Not Politicians movement and our amendment on the ticket this Election Day.

I’d like to give you a little rundown, highlighting what’s at stake and the importance of voting ‘Yes’ on Issue 1 tomorrow.

Currently, elected officials make up the seven-person commission responsible for drawing our voting districts. Two Republicans and two Democrats with the final three spots held by the Secretary of State, Governor, and Auditor. And what party holds a monopoly on the latter three positions: the Republican party. Seems like a pretty uneven commission, right?

Per Ohio criteria, district lines must be refreshed every 10 years after the U.S. Census. The current commission has spent the last three years proposing wildly gerrymandered maps again and again. And the Ohio Supreme Court has rejected map after map, even citing that the redrawing efforts seem to unjustly benefit the right. Think about that. A Republican-majority Supreme Court telling their fellow conservatives that the proposed maps are biased.

The current redistricting commission has flouted judicial rulings by ignoring court violations, mandates, and deadlines. Proving that they believe they are above the law. And the longer these political officials go unchallenged, the more election days come and go with Ohio utilizing unconstitutional maps because there is no alternative and “that’s as good as we’re going to get at the moment.”

The Citizens Not Politicians movement was born out of this never-ending nonsense. A coalition with the sole goal of bringing a proposal to our ballot that will once and for all lead to fair maps in Ohio.

What does voting ‘Yes’ on this proposal mean?

• A 15-member bipartisan commission made up of Ohio citizens from all three parties: Democrat, Republican, and Independent
• An open and autonomous redrawing process
• Impartial district lines that don’t favor one party
• A total ban on selecting commission members who are currently or formerly: politicians, political donors and officials, and/or lobbyists
• Meetings that would allow for public feedback on redrawing efforts

The work achieved by Citizens Not Politicians has been supported by individuals from across the political spectrum, as well as countless civil rights organizations, unions, and business owners.

And surprise, surprise. Who is upset by the Issue 1 proposal? DeWine, LaRose, and other conservative leaders. They’re the ones who benefit most from gerrymandered maps and stand to lose their positions should we finally have an unbiased approach. They’re the ones who claimed special elections were a waste of taxpayer dollars, but then proceeded to have an August election last year where they attempted and failed to make it impossible for Ohio citizens to bring our own initiatives, such as this one, to the ballot. They’re the ones who changed the ballot language for this very issue in order to confuse and manipulate voters.

The choice is simple. If you believe in fair maps, if you champion citizen-led initiatives and power to the people, if you think corrupt politicians shouldn’t be involved in drawing voting district lines, if you want to end gerrymandering…vote ‘Yes’ on Issue 1.

To learn more details about Issue 1 and the citizen-led commission, as well as read the full text of the proposed amendment, check out the Citizens Not Politicians website here.