Don't Believe the Lies. Issue 1 Empowers Black Voters, Opens Doors to More Diverse Representation in Government

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland), president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC), fellow OLBC members Sen. Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati), Sen. Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus), Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) and Ohio Organizing Collaborative’s Deidra Reese held a press conference Tuesday to dispel the false claims and disinformation being spread concerning Issue 1’s impact on Black voters. 

“I understand that some of my colleagues in the Senate have come out against Issue 1 and I respect the opinion of my colleagues, however we are here to set the record straight and debunk the misinformation and myths that Issue 1 would disenfranchise Black voters,” said OLBC President Upchurch. “Here are the indisputable facts: Issue 1 will keep communities together. Issue 1 will compile with the Voting Rights Act before all other criteria. Issue 1 will empower Black voters and communities. Issue 1 will protect and provide a path of expansion for Black representation. The truth is the Issue 1 amendment explicitly states that it will ‘ban partisan gerrymandering and prohibit the use of redistricting plans that favor one political party and disfavor others.’ That’s why I’m voting ‘YES’ on Issue 1.”

“This isn’t about politics; it’s not about Republicans versus Democrats. This is about fairness and justice. It’s about making sure every Black child in Ohio grows up in a state where their vote counts, and their future is bright,” said Rep. Jarrells. “For the first time, we have a real, enforceable path to ensure that Black voters in Ohio have the power to elect leaders who will fight for us. We’ve fought for too long to let fear and misinformation stop us now. Issue 1 is our chance to build a fairer, stronger Ohio—one where our voices are heard, our communities are protected, and we build an Ohio that we all deserve.”

The press conference set the record straight following a news conference held by State Senator Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) where she and other supporters of gerrymandering deliberately misconstrued the facts on Issue 1 in an attempt to persuade Black voters from supporting the citizen-led ballot initiative that would give citizens, not politicians, that power to draw fair maps, ending the extremists' grip on power at the Statehouse. 

“Ohio is not Michigan, and we have learned from and improved upon their redistricting reforms,” said Sen. Ingram. “How dare the opponents of Issue 1 claim that it will be harmful to Black communities when they are actively choosing not to hear or pass legislation here in the Statehouse that would positively impact not only Black Ohioans but all Ohioans? That is what is directly harming our Black communities. Fair maps are fair for everybody. Issue 1 is about fairness, transparency, and ensuring that all people are represented in the legislature. Issue 1 will make sure that every vote counts.”

“It is imperative that we reform the current mapmaking process to ensure fairness and transparency for the benefit of all Ohioans,” said Sen. Craig. “There are many critical bipartisan pieces of legislation that would ease the burdens on Ohio families, but these bills have been stalled in the legislature because the people of Ohio are not being adequately represented. Issue 1 would increase political engagement among Black and minority voters, provide opportunities to actively participate in the redistricting process, and ensure that their votes have a meaningful impact. I will be voting ‘YES’ on Issue 1 to ban gerrymandering and safeguard a representative legislature because the future of our state depends on it.”

More than 60 Black faith leaders from communities across Ohio signed an open letter this month urging Ohioans to vote “YES” on Issue 1 to end partisan gerrymandering and empower historically disenfranchised communities and people of color.

“The beauty of Issue 1 is that it gives citizens control of the process. It takes the partisanship out of it, by making certain that politicians and lobbyists do not control that process. That’s the most important thing. It also makes certain that it is done in the light of day, not at the eleventh hour behind closed doors,” said Deidra Reese, Ohio Organizing Collaborative voting engagement director. “We want a transparent process. We want a process where the people have the ability to influence those decisions. We want to make sure that we have lines that are constitutional. Issue 1 will give us that.”

Issue 1 is supported by every major civil rights organization in Ohio, including the NAACP, Ohio Unity Coalition, and Ohio Organizing Collaborative. At last week’s press conference, Sen. Reynolds said the public should “fact check” her remarks, so we did. 

Sen. Reynolds: Ohio’s Issue 1 could lead to a loss of representation for minority communities.

TRUTH: Redistricting outcomes for Black voters would not be hampered by the proposed Citizens Not Politicians Amendment’s partisan fairness criteria. Black voters have been playing defense against self-interested politicians and redistricting bodies for far too long. The opportunity for change that Issue 1 presents would lead to improved political involvement and likely better outcomes for all Ohio voters.

Sen. Reynolds: Ohio’s Issue 1 will fragment cohesive minority voting blocs, diluting Black individuals' political influence. 

TRUTH: The ballot initiative proposed is required to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in addition to other constitutional protections targeted toward the wellbeing of minority communities. The initiative has safe-guards to help prevent dilution of minority interests. Issue 1 is centered on giving power back to the people, which includes Black Ohioans who have had politicians co-opt their greater interests. 

Sen. Reynolds: The sole point of the ballot initiative is about giving Democrats control.

TRUTH: The sole purpose of the ballot initiative is to make sure its citizens, not politicians, are making the right choices for Ohio’s future. Issue 1 would create a 15-person commission that is made up of Democratic, Republican, and Independent citizens who broadly represent the different geographic areas and demographics of the state. 

Sen. Reynolds: Proportionality is another term for gerrymandering.

TRUTH: Proportional representation is an electoral system that elects multiple representatives in each district in proportion to the number of people who vote for them. Gerrymandering is manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency so as to favor one party over another.

Opponents of Issue 1 have tried to use Michigan’s redistricting process to attack the amendment. This is not the Michigan model. This is a nonpartisan solution by Ohioans for Ohioans. Ohio’s Issue 1 is better than Michigan’s redistricting policy in three key ways: 

1.       Ohio’s Issue 1 has clearer, more explicit criteria for compliance with the Voting Rights Act and stricter bans on partisan gerrymandering, ensuring a fair and accountable process. 

2.      While Michigan relies more on randomness, Ohio’s Issue 1 establishes a structured, multi-partisan selection process involving bipartisan judges, ensuring balanced representation. 

3.      Issue 1 also provides more detailed guidelines for hiring experts and consultants with a focus on Voting Rights Act compliance, whereas Michigan’s process offers fewer specifics on how outside help is managed.

Tuesday’s press conference can be viewed here.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A picture from Tuesday’s news conference is attached to this press release. Courtesy: Ohio House Democrats.