Legislative maps must be nonpartisan
The Ohio League of Women Voters has been working against partisan and racial gerrymandering for nearly 50 years; first against the unfair maps created by Ohio Democrats and most recently against maps drawn to create an unfair advantage for Republicans.
League members from across Ohio played key roles in collecting signatures for the fair maps ballot initiatives in 2015 and 2018. We educated voters on the impact of gerrymandering and the initiatives passed overwhelmingly in all of our 88 counties. As a venerable nonpartisan organization, we want to create a democracy where everyone’s voice is heard.
The lines created this year will determine how communities are divided, resources are allocated and how voters are represented for up to the next 10 years.
The League of Women Voters of Ohio asks that you respect not only the letter, but the spirit of the constitutional amendments for drawing both our legislative maps and congressional maps. We want maps that are compact, respect local government subdivisions as much as possible and are not drawn to favor one political party or candidate over another.
We ask the commission to put democracy above their personal or partisan interests and bring fair legislative maps to the people.
Iris J. Meltzer, president, League of Women Voters of Ohio