Senator Skindell Votes To Certify A Constitutional Amendment Proposal

From The Office of Michale Skindell: Today, State Senator Michael J. Skindell (D-Lakewood), in his role as a member of the State Ballot Board, voted to certify a proposed constitutional amendment to change Ohio’s system of drawing congressional districts. The vote, which was unanimous, means the group backing the proposal can begin collecting signatures to place the issue on the ballot next year. “The gerrymandering of our state’s congressional districts creates more partisanship that undermines our ability to find common ground on issues affecting Ohioans on a daily basis,” said Senator Skindell, who made the motion for the board to certify the ballot issue. “I am pleased Ohio voters are a step closer to having the opportunity to decide if it is the right time to make reforms.” The proposal is modeled after a ballot issue voters approved in 2015 that changed the process of drawing Ohio’s state legislative districts.

That plan created a seven-member bipartisan commission made up of legislators and statewide elected officials, and set new guidelines for drawing maps to limit gerrymandering. The group pushing for the congressional redistricting ballot issue will need to collect 305,591 valid signatures of registered voters from at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties to qualify for the ballot.

Image Courtesy of Rick Uldricks