Time to address reforms

The General Assembly appears poised to propose bipartisan changes in how Ohio draws congressional districts. Good. Ohioans are fed up with the toxic congressional gridlock that results in part from U.S. House districts drawn to protect incumbents, a process that also can yield extreme partisan representation.

The determination by Ohio legislators to reshape redistricting is a sign of progress, but, to be adequate, a legislative plan must have genuine safeguards. These include ironclad requirements for districts that are compact and fair, keeping communities as intact as possible . ...

Already, the Fair Districts = Fair Elections Coalition, which includes the League of Women Voters, has been circulating petitions for redistricting reform on next November’s statewide ballot. The coalition plan would transfer responsibility for congressional redistricting to the bipartisan Redistricting Commission voters approved in 2015.

Despite Ohio lawmakers’ partisan redistricting track record, the legislative working group could help dispel concerns with a strong, rulesdriven bipartisan plan. The Ohio General Assembly’s leaders now seemed inclined to address congressional redistricting reforms. They must.

Read the full editorial from the Plain Dealer at bit. ly/2BDv2FF