A national political expert says the ballot issue to change the way state lawmakers’ districts are drawn gives Ohioans a rare opportunity.
Michael Li is a redistricting expert at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University. He says other states have reformed redistricting through plans brought forward by citizens’ groups. But Li says Ohio’s Issue 1 is special because it was created by lawmakers working across party lines.
“They found a path forward with something that actually looks like a really good reform that has a unique Ohio twist and that perhaps is a model for reforms in places like North Carolina and Virginia where it would also have to go through the Legislature,” Li said.
Issue 1 would create a bipartisan commission to draw state House and Senate districts that encourages buy-in from the minority party.
