The Ohio NAACP, the Ohio Unity Coalition and the Ohio Organizing Collaborative responded to Gov. Mike DeWine’s statement on the Citizens Not Politicians ballot measure that gained enough signatures to reach the ballot in November.

This amendment is incredibly important because Ohio is still one of the 10 most gerrymandered states in our nation,” said Petee Talley, executive director of the Ohio Unity Coalition. “In 2022, residents in several communities were gerrymandered into districts to dilute their voting power.

The ballot measure will create a 15-person committee made up of Republicans, Democrats and Independents that will independently draw the lines for the district map.

“We need fair state legislative maps to give Black Communities a fair chance for our voices to be heard and remove the gerrymandering that has silenced our voices,” said Tom Roberts, president, Ohio Conference of Branches of the NAACP. “Fair maps give Black communities the power to chose representatives that speak to our interest concerning jobs, justice, education, health care , and safety.”

The initiative is spearheaded by former GOP Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor. She angered republicans when she rejected their redistricting plans. She responded sharply to Governor DeWine’s claims today.

The disinformation from the Governor today is insulting to everyone in Ohio, and especially insulting to the half a million Ohioans — Republicans, Democrats and Independents — who put the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment on the November ballot.

“This initiative is a clear, bipartisan effort to remove politicians from the redistricting process and replace them with an independent citizens commission. said Bria Bennett, communications director, Ohio Organizing Collaborative.

In regards to “The Iowa Plan” that DeWine floated earlier today, O’Connor says it is “a system where the Governor and other politicians get the final say on maps.”

DeWine did not rule out backing an issue to overturn it if the voters approve it.

The issue will be decided on the ballot this November. 

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