Dear Editor:

In this fall election Ohio voters will be voting on State Issue 2. I would like to tell you what State Issue 2 is and why it is important that you vote yes on Issue 2.

What Is Issue 2? Issue 2 is a reform effort led by the League of Women Voters, CommonCause Ohio, Ohio Citizen Action, and the NAACP. Issue 2 would take the power over redistricting out of the hands of the politicians and put it in the hands of the people. The current system allows the majority party to draw the state legislative and congressional voting districts to its benefit, often creating a host of noncompetitive districts. One party rule through gerrymandering is one reason our government doesn’t work as well as it should, because it thwarts competitive elections and empowers narrow minded and uncompromising ideologues from the party in control. Elected representatives from “safe” districts are less likely to compromise and more likely to hold extreme positions; legislative bodies are more polarized and in gridlock.

What Does Issue 2 Do?

Issue 2 creates an independent citizens commission consisting of four Republicans, four Democrats and four citizens of neither party who will draw the maps. Commission members would be picked in a multistep process. At least seven votes would be required to approve a map. Final maps should most closely meet four criteria: preserving whole communities; maximizing the number of competitive districts; balancing the number of districts leaning toward one party or another to closely match the state’s political leaning; and keeping districts compact. No map is to be adopted with intent to favor a political party, incumbent or potential candidate.

Why is it important to vote yes on Issue 2? Issue 2 is a common sense reform that makes how we draw district lines more accountable, transparent, and balanced. Politicians have rigged the system and want to keep it rigged. Nothing is more important to the future of Ohio than ensuring the right to fair, competitive elections. Issue 2 will go a long way towards ensuring that our politicians are held more accountable to us. Referring to Issue 2, Mike Curtin, retired associate publisher of The Dispatch in Columbus said, “It is not perfect. The perfect plan does not exist and will never exist. I would ask you to use your common sense, and to acknowledge the time honored maxim to not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Voting yes on Issue 2 is a step in the right direction. It empowers voters to choose their politicians instead of politicians picking their voters.

Alice Schneider,
Past President,
League of Women Voters