The nonpartisan Citizens Not Politicians coalition today filed a lawsuit with the Ohio Supreme Court against the Ohio Ballot Board, challenging the historically deceptive and misleading ballot language adopted Friday for Issue 1, the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment to end gerrymandering. The suit seeks an expedited ruling to ensure that Ohio voters receive a fair and accurate description of the amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot.
“This Court’s intervention is needed to ensure that Ohio voters are provided with the truthful and impartial ballot title and ballot language required by law so that they can exercise their right to determine for themselves whether to amend the Ohio Constitution,” states the lawsuit. The complaint further condemns the Ballot Board’s language as “what may be the most biased, inaccurate, and unconstitutional ballot language ever adopted by the Ohio Ballot Board.”
The complaint filed today with the Ohio Supreme Court can be read in full at https://www.citizensnotpoliticians.org/lawsuit/.
Citizens Not Politicians’ lawsuit emphasizes the egregiousness of ballot language adopted by Secretary of State Frank LaRose and the Ballot Board, arguing, “Politicians do not wish to give up power; they do not want the Amendment to pass, and they’re using control of the Ballot Board to try to scare voters with ballot language so biased and misleading that it approaches comedy.”
One of the most striking Orwellian inaccuracies propagated by LaRose and the Board is the false claim that Issue 1 would require gerrymandering to favor the two largest political parties. “This gets it entirely backward,” the lawsuit asserts, explaining that the plain text of Issue 1 amendment will “ban partisan gerrymandering and prohibit the use of redistricting plans that favor one political party and disfavor others.”
Citizens Not Politicians is seeking a writ of mandamus to compel the Ballot Board to reconvene and adopt ballot language that accurately reflects the amendment’s purpose and content, as required by the Ohio Constitution. The coalition is also challenging the biased title language introduced by Secretary of State Frank LaRose.
Interested citizens are encouraged to sign up at the Ohio Supreme Court to get updates on the case.
When adopted by voters in November, Issue 1 will establish a 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission that is free from political influence, ensuring that Ohio’s legislative and congressional districts are drawn fairly and reflect the will of Ohio’s citizens.
For more information about the lawsuit and the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment, visitwww.citizensnotpoliticians.org.