Redistricting Republicans might gas up chainsaw
Statehouse Republicans – at this writing – might go to the wall for the gerrymandered (politically rigged) General Assembly districts they have drawn.
Either that or at least two of the Redistricting Commission’s Republicans will join with the panel’s two Democrats to OK a map Democrats can live with (more precisely, not die with).
Either way, and despite the state constitution’s giving legal jurisdiction to the state Supreme Court, whatever plan is adopted (assuming the commission gets its act together) could end up in federal court because of the federal Voting Rights Act.
Among other features, the act aims to protect the rights of voters who belong to a racial or ethnic minority. And whatever the Redistricting Commission approves, for four years or for 10, might not do that.
The commission, which voters created in 2015 by ratifying a constitutional amendment, is comprised of seven members. Who those members are depends on who holds these three offices – governor, state auditor and secretary of state – plus four other members, two per party.
Because Gov. Mike Dewine, Auditor Keith Faber and Secretary of State Frank Larose are Republicans, they, plus the panel’s other two Republicans, make the commission 5-2 Republican.
If it reaches bipartisan agreement on 99 new Ohio House and 33 new Senate districts, the districts will take effect for 10 years; otherwise they are good for four.
For Republicans, the Machiavellian calculation might come down to this: Is it likely that the GOP
freedom to the forefront at the expense of “respecting life” – a sentiment that “pro-life” Republicans claim to hold dear on their hot-button issue of abortion – reeks of hypocrisy.
Republicans do it anyway. They know that propaganda works, know how to use propaganda and are willing to use it despite the dishonesty it requires and that their COVID-19 policies pose life-and-death risks for Americans everywhere.
Republicans also know that, by and large, Americans will not oppose their hypocrisy and their reckless decisions that endanger the lives of Americans.
John E. Reinier Sr., Columbus
Redistricting Commission failed in addressing gerrymandering
Gerrymandering, setting voting districts to give one political party the advantage to squash competition, began many years ago to keep voting power from the common people and, especially more recently, from people of color.
Ohio is among the 2021 top-10 gerrymandered
states in the nation – along with several southern states.
I attended two of the recent sessions held by the Ohio Redistricting Commission and nearly cried. The Republican members of the commission, including
Gov. Mike Dewine, should be ashamed of the mockery they are making/have made of their constitutional duty to create fair district maps in Ohio, as mandated by 75% of voters in 2015.
The commission’s process and proposed maps released on Sept. 9 are a stab in the back to the voting public and democracy itself — the commission’s proposed maps are even more gerrymandered than the current ones.
I told a friend I was going to the commission hearing in Columbus this week, and he laughed and said it was a waste of my time.
His cynicism is mirrored by hundreds of thousands of voters who live in gerrymandered districts throughout Ohio. I am ashamed of my state.
Deborah A. Crawford, Columbus