Time for FAIR Maps

For years NEO-CONS have been chipping away at constitutional norms and freedoms. Back in 1997/98 they hatched a plan to take control of state legistatures over the next 30 years through the redistricting.

It started with drawing maps that create super majorities in traditional swing states and states with potential to become swing or Democratic controlled states. Pack and crack districts. I worked on the maps in Georgia after the 2010 Census for the Georgia Democratic Party along with a few data gurus.  The amount of data available in the software packages back then was pretty good. I can't image how much better it is today. Our maps weren't even considered as the republican majority brushed aside every map we submitted for state senate, state house, Gwinnett county supervisors and school board, and Cobb county supervisors. We didn't try to create a false majority, just make the maps fair. I think I may still have the Gwinnett maps on a hard drive somewhere

The maps in Ohio are an embarrassment. A naked power grab. Based on previous elections the statewide support of Republicans is about 55% but with some very creative map making, they have managed to carve out super majorities in the state house and senate. The congressional map is just as bad with 10 Republicans and 5 Democrats. However, they redrew those maps again and 3 of the current Democrats are now in districts that could easily flip this year. The previous attempts to fix this were full of holes and compromises they exploited. Hopefully, the new Citizens Not Politicians ballot initiative to change the state constitution will make the November ballot and we can go about fixing this for good.

Republican county parties across the state are going after this as Democrats trying to "steal" the majority. It's about fair maps and representation..something they don't care about. Supports are not saying this will create a Democratic majority, just a map that mirrors the desires of all voters in Ohio, MAGA Republicans just want control everything, no matter what, and impose their will. Sounds like fascism to me.

The Citizens Not Politicians Amendment will end gerrymandering by empowering citizens, not politicians, to draw fair districts using an open and transparent process.

• Create 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. 
  

• Ban current or former politicians, political party officials and lobbyists from sitting on the Commission.
  

• Require fair and impartial districts by making it unconstitutional to draw voting districts that discriminate against or favor any political party or individual politician.
  

• Require the commission to operate under an open and independent process.