Ohio only has one state-wide issue on the ballot this November, and supporters across Toledo are encouraging residents to vote for it.

At a community town hall in Sylvania, members from the Democratic, Republican, independent, Green, and Libertarian parties gathered at Olander Park to share why they were voting “yes” on Ohio’s Issue 1.

A yes vote supports the creation of a 15-member independent citizen commission that would draw Ohio’s congressional and state legislative maps.

The commission would include five Democrats, five Republicans, and five independents. The 15 members cannot be current politicians or affiliated with a politician. This includes immediate family members, staffers, lobbyists, and political consultants.

A “no” vote opposes the creation of the citizen-led commission and keeps the redistricting process in the hands of politicians.

Currently, the Ohio Redistricting Commission is made up of three statewide elected members and four appointed members. The commission is made up of five members of the Republican Party and two members of the Democratic Party.

“We have a legislature that is dominated by Republicans … and the current situation benefits those maintaining that control,” said Doug Haynam, former chair of the Lucas County Republican Party, who supports Issue 1. “So why would I, as a Republican, want to see change in that system? … I think it’s short-sighted to base your political decisions about something that’s fundamental like redistricting on your current advantage.”

Most of the opposition for Issue 1 has come from conservative groups, including the Ohio Republican Party, the Ohio Christian Alliance, and the Ohio Right to Life.

“What he is describing is Republicans have drawn maps to protect the Republican majority, but that’s not true,” Matt Dole, a spokesman for Ohio Works, said. Ohio Works is the main opposition committee encouraging voters to vote no on the issue.

“[Politicians] have drawn maps, and Republicans have won races, and Democrats have lost races,” he added. “The reality is, is that Republicans win races in Ohio because Democrats don’t have a very good candidate pool, and it’s a Republican state.”

The opposition claims that a yes on Issue 1 would enshrine gerrymandering into the state Constitution.

The ballot language, which was upheld by the state’s GOP-controlled Supreme Court, says the commission will be “required to gerrymander.”

“We’re very upset about how the opposition is handling the publicity on this issue, certainly the language on the ballot, which is confusing and untruthful to say the least. [They are] accusing this amendment as being an amendment to promote gerrymandering, and of course it’s not,” said Ann Fabiszak-Payne, co-president of the local League of Women Voters.

The original language submitted to the GOP-controlled Ballot Board said the new commission would “ban partisan gerrymandering.”

“My advice to everyone who is concerned about this issue and wants to vote is to remember that if you don’t want anything to change, if you like the way things are, vote ‘no,’” Ms. Fabiszak-Payne said. “But if you want change, if you want to get politicians out of the process and put people in there who are interested in making it fair … vote ‘yes.’”

Nancy Larson, president of Sylvania’s Democratic Club, said she’s heard pushback from Republicans, claiming that she only supports the issue to flip control of the statehouse, which is currently controlled by Republicans.

Democrats are widely in support of the issue passing, but Ms. Larson said said she would support the issue no matter her party affiliation. The Sylvania Democratic Club organized the event at Olander Park.

“It’s not fair whoever is doing it, and it offends my value of fairness,” she said. “Either way, the accountability is just totally out of control, and I do hope that we get to a point where we can have politicians who have to represent all of their people, the majority of their people, and not be making minoritarian decisions that we all have to live under.”

Before the event, Ms. Larson said she expects Issue 1 to pass in November because of the bipartisan support it has received. She said this issue goes beyond loyalty to a party, it’s an issue of democracy.

Mr. Dole said Democrats and other people supportive of the issue are taking a subjective approach.

“The definition of gerrymandering for Democrats, for the ‘yes on one’ folks, they define gerrymandering as drawing lines they don’t like,” Mr. Dole said. “It’s a completely subjective definition. Democrats think the lines Republicans drew were gerrymandered based on nothing more than ‘we don’t like them.’”

Across town at the Toledo Federation of Teachers Hall on St. Clair Street in Toledo, union representatives from the Ohio Federation of Teachers, the United Auto Workers, and the Ohio Education Association joined members from non-partisan organizations Common Cause Ohio, and the League of Women Voters for a community meeting. All of the groups have been active in the campaign for people to vote yes on Nov. 5.

“These folks, they’re drunk on power,” Catherine Turcer, executive director of Common Cause Ohio, said. “And what do you do with drunks? Take away their keys. You take away the ability to draw those district lines.”

The last day to register to vote in the November general election is Oct. 7. Early and absentee voting starts Oct. 8.

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