Stop Gerrymandering in Ohio

Let’s End Gerrymandering in Ohio with Citizens Not Politicians Amendment to the Constitution

When politicians draw biased, ridiculously shaped voting districts to favor their own interests and guarantee re-election it’s called gerrymandering. Ohio is one of the 10 most gerrymandered states in the U.S. Because of gerrymandering, incumbents running for re-election almost never lose. Recently, Ohio politicians even implemented voting districts that the Ohio Supreme Court had ruled unconstitutional. In Ohio, politicians choose their voters instead of the voters choosing their elected officials.

The proposed Citizens Not Politicians Amendment to the Ohio Constitution bans lobbyists and politicians from the process of shaping our voting maps and instead empowers voters to choose their politicians.

Join us today to restore power to where it belongs: with citizens, not politicians.

Content from Citizens Not Politicians

How will the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment Stop Gerrymandering?

The Citizens Not Politicians Amendment will end gerrymandering by empowering citizens, not politicians, to draw fair districts using an open and transparent process. It will:

  • Create the 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission made up of Democratic, Republican, and independent citizens who broadly represent the different geographic areas and demographics of the state.
  • Ban current or former politicians, political party officials and lobbyists from sitting on the Commission.
  • Require fair and impartial districts by making it unconstitutional to draw voting districts that discriminate against or favor any political party or individual politician.
  • Require the commission to operate under an open and independent process.

Want more information?
Read the proposed Amendment.
Read the Redistricting FAQs

Content from Citizens Not Politicians

Didn’t We Fix This Already???

In 2015 and 2018, Ohio voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of changing the way we draw voting maps. Ohioans passed two amendments to make map-making more bipartisan, adding more rules to protect against gerrymandering. The problem with both of those amendments was they still left politicians in charge.

The Ohio Redistricting Commission, put in place as a result of Ohioans passing redistricting reform, is made up of the Governor, the Secretary of State, the Ohio Auditor, two Republicans from the legislature, and two Democrats from the legislature. Though bipartisan, the Commission is likely to always tip heavily to one party or the other. The current Ohio Redistricting Commission has five Republicans and two Democrats, and it’s still partisan!

In 2022, the maps the Commission presented violated the new constitutional amendment. On five separate occasions the Ohio Supreme Court ordered the Commission to create new maps. Eventually federal judges ordered the Commission to create a new map within a certain time window or use one of the maps that had been deemed unconstitutional. The Commission let the clock run out, and Ohio citizens were forced to vote on unconstitutional maps in 2022.

What did we learn from this? It’s time to remove politicians from the process of making Ohio’s voting maps.

Content from Fair Districts

How is the League of Women Voters Involved?

The League of Women Voters of Ohio is a member of the Fair Districts Ohio coalition, comprised of grassroots organizations committed to fairer state legislative and congressional maps. Fair Districts Ohio is a non-partisan team of voting rights experts and organizations working to create a better and more equitable representational democracy. The coalition is led by Common Cause Ohio and the League of Women Voters of Ohio. Other members include the Ohio A. Philip Randolph Institute, the Ohio Council of Churches, the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition, and other good government organizations.

Fair Districts Ohio is one of several groups working to pass the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment.

How Can You Join the Fight for Fair Maps in Ohio?

  • Sign the petition! Across Ohio, we need more than 413,000 valid signatures to get this issue on the ballot in November 2024. In Montgomery County, you can sign the petition at the League Office, 127 N. Ludlow St., in downtown Dayton. Before you go, please call 937-228-4041 to make sure someone will be available to help you. If you can’t make it to the office, the League can help you connect with volunteers near you who have petitions.

    You can also sign at events in the greater Miami Valley area and across Ohio. To find an event near you, follow Citizens Not Politicians on social media or on Mobilize.
  • Volunteer to help us collect signatures to get the proposed amendment on the ballot. We’ll be collecting signatures through the month of June 2024. To volunteer with Fair Districts Ohio, sign up in this google form.
  • Request a speaker for your organization to learn more about Citizens Not Politicians and to provide an opportunity for the collection of signatures! Use this speaker request form.
  • Help us spread the word on social media by using artwork and content in this Partner Toolkit.
  • Buy a “Ban Gerrymandering” T-shirt or hat
  • Donate to the campaign!