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Democrats offer map changes they say allow for constitutionally-required representational fairness

Reaffirm commitment to working together on bipartisan, 10-year map
September 13, 2021
Democratic Newsroom

Ohio Redistricting Commission Co-Chair Sen. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) and House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a joint statement today as the Democratic lawmakers proposed district line changes that would bring the Commission’s state legislative district maps closer to Ohio’s constitutional requirement for representational fairness. The Democratic Commission members also reiterated their commitment to working together with the Commission’s five Republican members on a bipartisan, 10-year plan by the Sept. 15 deadline. 

“Democrats and Ohioans want us to work together to deliver a map that meets the moment and our mandate for representational fairness. The changes Democrats offered today show it’s possible to both adhere to our constitutional duties and live up to the spirit of the reforms voters passed in 2015. 

“We hope the Republican members of the Commission were serious when they said they want to work with us to improve these maps and put us on a path to passing a bipartisan, 10-year plan. Time is running out. We need swift action to ensure we uphold our constitutional duty to deliver fair maps and better representation for all of us—the way the voters intended.”  

Editor’s note: The Senate version of the Democratic proposal is here. The House version is here