Republicans, Democrats and Independents from across Ohio today began collecting signatures from their fellow citizens to put the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment to end gerrymandering on the ballot in November 2024. “We are a united movement of Ohioans of all walks of life and across the political spectrum,” said Michael Ahern, an Independent voter from Blacklick. “This has nothing to do with red and blue; … Read more

The Ohio Ballot Board today unanimously certified the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment, clearing the way for everyday citizens across Ohio in the coming days to begin collecting signatures to put the constitutional amendment to end gerrymandering on the ballot in 2024. “For years, I have seen how politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, ignore the will of their constituents, knowing they will continue to be elected … Read more

One-Digit Discrepancy Does Not Impact Substance of the Amendment, Which Will Be Refiled to Begin Signature Gathering Soon The nonpartisan Citizens Not Politicians coalition working to end gerrymandering in Ohio sent a letter today to the Attorney General indicating that it found a one-digit typographical error in the Attorney-General approved summary language for the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment.  The full text of the amendment sets … Read more

Statewide Nonpartisan Coalition to Soon Begin Collecting Signatures to Place Amendment on November 2024 Ballot to End Gerrymandering in Ohio Today’s decision by the Ohio Ballot Board that the nonpartisan Citizens Not Politicians Amendment is a single subject that can be circulated for voters as one constitutional amendment means supporters will soon be able to begin collecting signatures to place the amendment on the ballot … Read more

The committee Citizens Not Politicians today released the following statement regarding the Ohio Redistricting Commission’s approval of new state legislative maps: “This is a bipartisan gerrymander by politicians who decided to protect themselves and their friends, ignoring the people of Ohio. It could not be more clear that we need citizens — not politicians — drawing legislative maps that put the people first,” said former … Read more

Today, the nonpartisan Citizens Not Politicians coalition submitted a slightly revised summary of their Ohio redistricting initiative to the Ohio Attorney General. The changes to the summary are minor and technical; none of the policy specifics have changed in the refiling.  The amendment will:  The amendment and updated summary can be found at www.citizensnotpoliticians.org/petition. “Our previous submissions were fully accurate and truthful summaries of this … Read more

The committee Citizens Not Politicians today released the following statement in response to the Ohio Attorney General’s decision to reject for a second time the petition summary for the proposed amendment to end gerrymandering in Ohio by removing politicians from the process and empowering citizens: “We are disappointed and frustrated that the Attorney General has chosen to reject our petition summary for a second time. … Read more

Politicians, lobbyists, and party officials would be banned from serving on new citizens redistricting commission Columbus, OH—The committee Citizens Not Politicians today filed a revised petition summary with the Ohio Attorney General for a statewide ballot initiative to eliminate the state’s politician-dominated commission for drawing state and federal legislative districts. The constitutional amendment would instead create a 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission (OCRC), with members … Read more

Round two of Ohio’s battle between the people and the politicians has begun with the drive to abolish congressional and legislative districts drawn by elected officials. The Blade Editorial Board has already concluded the politician driven system currently used in Ohio no longer has any credibility with citizens (“A better idea in Michigan,” Feb. 6). Former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, disgusted with … Read more

“It is not at all uncommon for the Attorney General to reject the summary of a petition in this first early stage of bringing a constitutional amendment. We believe our summary was accurate.  But we will review the Attorney General’s guidance, will make necessary adjustments, and will collect new signatures with our broad, statewide, nonpartisan coalition of partners to refile as soon as possible because … Read more

“In retrospect, looking at those constitutional amendments, realizing who populated the commission, it was doomed to fail,” said former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor.

The current Ohio Redistricting Commission (ORC) is made up of seven spots, all politicians…. The Citizens Not Politicians proposal would create a 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission (OCRC) made up of Republican, Democratic and independent citizens who broadly represent the different geographic areas and demographics of the state.

Redistricting activists laid out their roadmap Monday on a quest to cut the cord between elected officeholders and drawing the lines that establish their office boundaries.

With a goal of creating fair and impartial districts in Ohio, one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation, the committee Citizens Not Politicians today filed a statewide ballot initiative to eliminate the state’s politician-dominated commission for drawing state and federal legislative districts. The constitutional amendment would instead create a 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission (OCRC), with members selected by citizens, not politicians. The OCRC would be made up of Democrats, Republicans and independent Ohio voters.

Groups are starting to collect signatures to get a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 2024 ballot that would scrap Ohio’s current system for drawing legislative and congressional district maps and create a new one.