Election results show Ohio lawmakers 'insulated from reality,' negligent in serving Ohioans
Maureen O'Connor is a retired chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court. Yvette McGee Brown is a former Ohio Supreme Court justice.
The citizens of Ohio spoke loudly and clearly Tuesday, passing two significant measures that had faced opposition from a gerrymandered legislature.
Regardless of how you voted on Issue 1 and Issue 2 — the reproductive rights constitutional amendment and legalizing adult-use marijuana —, the election results clearly demonstrate that when politicians draw their own legislative districts for the purpose of maintaining their power, the result is that these politicians become insulated from reality and do not represent the people they are supposed to serve.
This disconnect between legislative actions and voter intent reveals the stark reality of Ohio's problematic electoral landscape — one of the most gerrymandered in the country.
More: Ohio is nation's most antidemocratic state. GOP vow to sink abortion, marijuana rights proof
Ohio politicans rig the system.
It is no secret that our state's legislative maps have been manipulated, enabling politicians to pick their voters and safeguard their seats, rather than allowing voters to choose their politicians.
The political insiders defied multiple Ohio Supreme Court rulings, ignored the will of the people who overwhelmingly passed anti-gerrymandering measures, and repeatedly passed maps that are ridiculously drawn to keep incumbents in power.
These politicians are so out of touch that when both parties got together in the dark of night and voted for the latest gerrymandered maps, they laughably said it’s proof that the system worked because the vote was bipartisan.
No, it’s proof that politicians can’t be trusted to draw fair maps whether they are Republicans or Democrats.
To fix this, we are part of a broad, nonpartisan statewide coalition that is working to put a new constitutional amendment on the ballot next November that will end gerrymandering once and for all.
Ohioans are not powerless to stop gerrymandering.
The Citizens Not Politicians Amendment is a nonpartisan solution, crafted by Ohioans for Ohioans, and it will transfer the power of drawing district lines from politicians to citizens. With a citizens commission – not a politician commission – the amendment will require that Ohio’s diverse population be fully represented, and will require fair districts that empower voters in a transparent process.
Gerrymandering is an assault on our democracy.
It deprives citizens of meaningful representation and diminishes the efficacy of our votes. The Citizens Not Politicians Amendment will bring a fair process, free from the influence of current or recent political officeholders, those with strong political affiliations, and lobbyists.
It mandates that maps cannot be drawn to favor one party over another, and it requires that the process be open and transparent. The most recent maps were cooked up behind closed doors as Democrat and Republican politicians and their operatives conspired to create jig-sawed maps designed to keep them in power.
Our support for this amendment transcends party lines and speaks to the core values of our republic.
The Citizens Not Politicians Amendment is a necessary measure to restore faith in our electoral system and ensure that elected officials truly represent the will of Ohio's citizens.
We urge you to visit www.citizensnotpoliticians.org/petition to read the amendment for yourself.
In the coming months, our volunteers will be in every corner of the state collecting signatures to put the amendment on the ballot next November. We need more than 413,000 signatures from 44 counties. Please sign the petition. Join us in supporting this vital initiative to place the power of redistricting where it belongs—with the people.
As Ohio continues to confront challenges and embrace opportunities, it is imperative that our legislative bodies genuinely reflect the will of the electorate. Ending gerrymandering is not just about drawing lines on a map; it's about drawing a line in the sand for democracy, integrity, and the equitable representation of all Ohioans.
This election showed once again what happens when politicians sit in cozy, safe districts designed to insulate them from the people.
Next November, we, the citizens of Ohio, will take back our state.
Maureen O'Connor is a retired chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court. Yvette McGee Brown is a former Ohio Supreme Court justice.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Marijuana, abortion election wins proof Ohio politicians must be stopped
