What you need to know about Ohio Politics and Policy
Nova Dugan-Mezensky · September 16, 2024
Issue 1
What’s At Stake
Ohio is one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation. Politicians and lobbyists in Ohio manipulate voting districts to protect their interests and guarantee their re-election, allowing politicians to choose their voters rather than voters choosing their politicians. Ohio is currently operating under maps deemed unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court. Politicians and back-room insiders have ignored the court and the will of the people, repeatedly submitting maps that have been rejected as unconstitutional. The Citizens Not Politicians Amendment is proposed by a broad nonpartisan coalition of Ohio citizens to end gerrymandering by empowering citizens, not politicians, to draw fair districts using an open and transparent process.
IO Research and Analysis:
What’s On Your Ballot
| Yes on Issue 1 | No on Issue 1 | |
| What It Means | -Creates the 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission made up of Democratic, Republican, and Independent citizens who broadly represent the different geographic areas and demographics of the state. -Bans current or former politicians, political party officials and lobbyists from sitting on the Commission. -Requires fair and impartial districts by making it unconstitutional to draw voting districts that discriminate against or favor any political party or individual politician. -Requires the commission to operate under an open and independent process. | -Keeps power to draw legislative districts exclusively with politicians. -Allows politicians to draw maps that benefit a particular party. -Allows map-drawers to draw districts to benefit an incumbent or candidate. -Keeps current transparency and public disclosure requirement. |
| Political Action Committee | Citizens Not Politicians | Currently, no political action committee has been organized to oppose the ballot initiative. However, NBC 4 reported that Ohio Works is currently “laying the groundwork” for their opposition campaign. |
| Official Social Media | Instagram Facebook Page | As of September 13th, 2024, no official social media accounts exist at this time. |
| Endorsements | Officials -Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D)1 -State Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D)1 -House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D)1, 2 -State Rep. Casey Weinstein (D)1 Former Officials -State Rep. Mike Curtin (D)1 -Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown (D)1 -Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor (R)1 Unions -American Federation of Teachers (AFT) -Ohio AFL-CIO -Ohio Association of Professional FireFighters -Ohio Education Association -Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) Organizations -A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) -Abortion Forward -AFSCME Ohio Council 8 -All in Ohio Kids -American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio -Article IV -Ashtabula County AFL-CIO Labor Council -Brenen’s Coffee Cafe -Brennan Center for Justice -Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen -Building Freedom Ohio -Business for Democracy-Ohio -CAIR Ohio -Campaign Legal Center -Central Ohio Area Labor Federation (ALF) -Central Ohio Labor Council, AFL-CIO -Cincinnati AFL-CIO -Cincinnatus Association -Co-op Dayton -Common Cause Ohio -Communications Workers of America (CWA) – District 4 (CWA) – Local 4300 (CWA) – Local 4302 (CWA) – Local 4319 (CWA) – Local 4322 (CWA) – Local 4324 (CWA) – Local 4326 (CWA) – Local 4340 (CWA) – Local 4372 (CWA) – Local 4400 (CWA) – Local 4502 -Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley -Dayton Building and Construction Trades -Dayton-Miami Valley AFL-CIO -Dirty Girl Coffee -DOHCS -Equality Ohio -Faith Choice Ohio -Faith in Public Life -Freedom Bloc -Gem City Action -Greater Cleveland Congregations -Hall of Fame Central Labor Council -Honesty for Ohio Education -Hyacinth Bean Florist -LatinOHs -LEAD Ohio -Leadership Now Project -League of Women Voters of Ohio -Licking-Knox-Muskingum-Coshocton Central Labor Council -LOVEboldly -Mahoning-Trumbull AFL-CIO -Mid-Ohio Area CLC, AFL-CIO -National Council of Jewish Women – Cleveland -Northern Hills Synagogue -North Shore AFL-CIO -Northcoast Area Labor Federation (ALF) -Northeast Ohio Area Labor Federation (ALF) -Northeast Ohio Voting Advocates -OAPSE-AFSCME -OFUPAC (Ohio Families Unite for Political Action and Change) -Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans Educational Fund -Ohio Citizen Action -Ohio Citizen Action Education Fund -Ohio Coalition on Black Civic Participation -Ohio Conference AAUP -Ohio Environmental Council -Ohio Equal Rights -Ohio Fair Courts Alliance -Ohio Farmers Union -Ohio NAACP -Ohio Organizing Campaign -Ohio Organizing Collaborative -Ohio Student Association -Ohio Sustainable Business Council -Ohio Unity Coalition -Ohio Voice -Ohio Women’s Alliance Action Fund -Ohio Women’s Alliance -Ohioans for Redistricting Reform -OPAWL – Building AAPI Feminist Leadership -Parkersburg-Marietta Building and Construction Trades Council -Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio -Red Wine & Blue -Religious Action Center (RAC-OH) -RepresentUs -RuralOrganizing.org -Service Employees International Union (SEIU) District 1199 WV/KY/OH -Shawnee Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO -Southeast Ohio Area Labor Federation (ALF) -Southeastern Ohio AFL-CIO -Stand Up America -Steel Valley Reproductive Freedom Coalition -The Amos Project -The Care Economy Organizing Project -The Hunger Network of Ohio -The Matriots -The Murray and Agnes Seasongood Good Government Foundation -Tri-County Regional Labor Council -UAW Region 2B -UFCW Local 1059 -United Steelworkers District 1 -Upper Ohio Valley Labor Council -Village Bakery & Cafe -Wild Cat Gift and Party -Woman’s City Club of Greater Cincinnati | Officials -U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson (R)1 -U.S. Rep. Mike Carey -U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R) -Attorney General Dave Yost (R)1, 2 -Gov. Richard Michael DeWine (R)1, 2 -Senate President Matt Huffman (R)1, 2 -State Sen. Robert McColley (R)1 -State Rep. Adam Bird (R)1 -State Rep. Angela King (R)1 -House Speaker Jason Stephens (R)1 -State Auditor Keith Faber (R)1 -Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted (R)1 -Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R)1 -State Treasurer Robert Sprague (R)1 Former Officials -State Rep. John E. Barnes Jr. (D)1 -Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R)1 -State Rep. Bernadine Kennedy Kent (D)1 -U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci (R)1 Political Parties -Republican Party of Ohio1 Organizations -Black Equity and Redistricting Fund1 -Ohio Right to Life1 Individuals -Alex Triantafilou – Chairman of Ohio Republican Party1 |