Ohio Voters Reject Issue 1, Keeping Political Map-Making in Elected Officials’ Hands

Ohio voters have turned down Issue 1, a proposed amendment that would have changed the state’s political redistricting process. The measure was rejected with approximately 53% voting “No” and 46% voting “Yes.”

Issue 1 aimed to shift map-drawing responsibilities from a seven-member panel of elected officials to an independent commission, in a bipartisan effort led by the group Citizens Not Politicians. Advocates argued that this change would combat gerrymandering and increase fairness in districting. However, with the defeat, redistricting will remain in the hands of state-elected officials, as has been the case in recent years.