Nonpartisan election experts and organizations from across the U.S. and Ohio today issued endorsements for voting Yes on Issue 1 to end gerrymandering in Ohio.

“In short, Issue 1 is an effective remedy to Ohio’s long-standing problem with partisan gerrymandering and should be adopted by Ohio’s voters to restore the integrity of democracy in the state,” wrote one of the endorsers, Edward B. Foley, JD, Director of The Ohio State University’s Election Law at the Moritz College of Law.

The bevy of renowned scholars and proponents signing on to the Yes on 1 endorsement also includes leaders from the League of Women Voters of Ohio, Ohio Common Cause, the University of Cincinnati, Cleveland State University College of Law, the Campaign Legal Center, Harvard Law School, and the Brennan Center for Justice.

Today’s endorsers of Issue 1 join a broad bipartisan coalition, including small business owners, veterans, and faith leaders from across Ohio.

The Citizens Not Politicians Amendment, on the ballot this Nov. 5 as State Issue 1, will remove the power to draw legislative districts from politicians and put it in the hands of Ohio citizens through an independent, nonpartisan redistricting commission.

Ohio is one of the 10 most gerrymandered states in the country, and the Ohio Supreme Court ruled seven times that the politicians on the current redistricting commission drew unconstitutionally gerrymandered maps. The Brennan Center released a study this year that found nearly 8 in 10 Ohioans live in an Ohio House district that is uncompetitive because of gerrymandering. 

Here are the statements from the experts included in today’s announcement:

• Dr. Kareem Crayton, Vice President for Washington, DC, and voting rights and redistricting expert, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law: The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law proudly endorses Issue 1. Ohio’s current redistricting system serves the politicians who gerrymandered these maps with no concern for the voters. Ohio is one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation, and the effects on democracy are serious.  Our research shows that 77% of Ohioans live in state House districts where the 2024 race is all but decided due to gerrymandering (Source). The way out of the dysfunction is Issue 1. If passed, Issue 1 would take politicians out of the equation and give the power to draw maps to an independent commission of Ohioans — no elected officials or lobbyists allowed. To end the era of unfair maps in Ohio, vote yes on Issue 1.

• Edward B. Foley, JD, Director, Election Law at the Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University: As an election law scholar, I support Issue 1 because it represents a crucial step toward ensuring fair and representative democracy in Ohio. The foundation of our democracy lies in the principle that voters, not politicians, should decide the outcome of elections. Gerrymandering distorts this principle by allowing political parties to manipulate district boundaries for their own gain, effectively entrenching themselves in power and diminishing the voice of the people.
  
  Issue 1 directly addresses this problem by prohibiting partisan gerrymandering and establishing a commission tasked with drawing district maps that reflect the actual preferences of Ohio’s voters. This measure will require that the proportion of districts that favor each political party corresponds closely to the statewide vote share. By adopting this approach, Ohio will ensure that legislative representation mirrors the will of the people, fostering a more accountable and transparent government.
  
  Critics have suggested that Issue 1 might itself lead to gerrymandering, but this is simply not the case. The amendment includes safeguards to prevent any political party from dominating the redistricting process, while ensuring that all districts are drawn based on fairness and the preservation of communities of interest.
  
  In short, Issue 1 is an effective remedy to Ohio’s long-standing problem with partisan gerrymandering and should be adopted by Ohio’s voters to restore the integrity of democracy in the state.

• Ruth Greenwood, Assistant Clinical Professor of Law, Harvard Law School: Issue 1 will curb partisan gerrymandering in Ohio by stopping self-interested politicians from drawing district lines and requiring voting maps to meet a partisan fairness constraint. That’s what the plain text of the Issue 1 amendment says, whatever distortions politicians may have written in their woefully biased ballot summary. Issue 1 dramatically strengthens safeguards for voters, and gets politicians out of the redistricting process. If Issue 1 is approved by voters in November — as I expect they will — the foxes will no longer be responsible for guarding the henhouse on Ohio’s maps.  

• Simone Leeper, Legal Counsel for Redistricting, Campaign Legal Center: At Campaign Legal Center, we believe that voters should choose their politicians, not the other way around. That’s why we endorse Ohio Issue 1. Ohio’s current redistricting system allows politicians to manipulate voting maps to protect their power, which is why Ohio is one of the most gerrymandered states in the country. State Issue 1 offers Ohioans a chance to change this by establishing a Citizens Redistricting Commission that puts the power in the hands of citizens, not politicians. This amendment is based on the best practices and research on redistricting reform, and it will ensure greater transparency, fairness, and accountability. By supporting Issue 1, Ohioans can take a crucial step toward restoring true representative democracy and ending partisan gerrymandering once and for all.

• Jen Miller, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of OhioThe League of Women Voters of Ohio has been at the forefront of the fight for fair maps for decades, and now, with Issue 1 on the ballot, we have a historic opportunity to finally secure fair representation for all Ohioans—Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians, Greens, and everyone in between. Gerrymandering isn’t a red or blue issue; it’s about ensuring every voter’s voice is heard and counted equally. 
  
  We have opposed partisan gerrymandering regardless of which party was in power, including the Democrats in the 1980s when they drew maps that served their own interests. Today, we are fighting to put an end to this practice once and for all by supporting Yes on Issue 1, which removes politicians from the map-drawing process.
  
  By voting yes on Issue 1, we can create a system that is accountable to voters, not political insiders. This is a once-in-a-generation chance to restore fairness and trust in our elections and ensure that every Ohioan’s vote counts equally.

• David Niven, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Cincinnati: Ohio’s current redistricting process allows politicians to choose their voters, perpetuating a system that prioritizes political power over fairness. As my research shows, partisan gerrymandering leads to unrepresentative outcomes, suppresses the will of the people, and undermines the foundations of democracy. In the recently released report Slanted: How Ohio’s Redistricting Process is Rigged Against Voters, we examined Ohio’s 15 congressional districts and found that Ohio’s current system of redistricting consistently favors political insiders, leading to distorted election outcomes and a lack of fair representation.
  
  Issue 1, the “Citizens Not Politicians” amendment, offers a solution. By removing politicians from the redistricting process, we can establish a system where district lines are drawn fairly and impartially, without the influence of partisan interests. This reform ensures that voters will finally have a real voice in choosing their representatives, instead of the other way around.
  
  The data is clear: when maps are drawn fairly, we get better governance. It’s time to put an end to the gerrymandering that has plagued Ohio’s political landscape for too long. By voting yes on Issue 1, we can restore faith in our elections and create a more representative and accountable government for all Ohioans.

• Steven H. Steinglass Dean Emeritus & Professor Emeritus, Cleveland State University College of Law: Issue 1 represents a crucial step forward for Ohio. For too long, the gerrymander has allowed politicians to select their voters instead of voters choosing their representatives. This is not only unfair but harmful to the integrity of our democracy.
  
  In 2015 and 2018, Ohioans overwhelmingly supported reforms to stop partisan gerrymandering. However, those reforms have been ignored, and in 2022, we witnessed politicians disregarding the rule of law by implementing unconstitutional district maps.
  
  Now, we have a chance to correct this. The proposed amendment will finally remove politicians from the redistricting process, ensuring that district lines are drawn fairly and impartially. This isn’t about favoring one party or the other; it’s about ensuring that every Ohioan’s vote counts equally.
  
  By approving this amendment, Ohio voters can protect their voices and help restore trust in our political process. It’s time to slay the gerrymander once and for all.

• Catherine Turcer, Executive Director for Common Cause Ohio: Common Cause Ohio urges Ohioans to Vote Yes on Issue 1 because we believe that democracy should serve voters, not politicians. For too long, political insiders have manipulated voting districts to benefit themselves, their friends, and their political party. Rigged districts have enabled them to lock in power, undermining the very foundation of fair representation. Our mission is clear: to create transparent and accountable government. That is simply impossible if we don’t have fair districts and fair elections. Ohio voters can ensure that our political system reflects our voices and that elected officials truly represent us by voting Yes on Issue 1.  The Citizens Not Politicians amendment to the Ohio Constitution will restore power to the citizenry and finally enable us to end gerrymandering. 

When passed, the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment will establish an independent redistricting commission, free from current or former politicians and lobbyists. The initiative will create a fair, transparent, and impartial redistricting process that genuinely reflects the will of Ohio’s citizens.
More than 100 organizations, businesses, and thought leaders across Ohio champion the constitutional amendment. The diverse coalition supporting the historic initiative includes Republicans, Independents and Democrats and is made up of business groups, nonpartisan policy groups, labor unions, civil rights organizations, and faith-based organizations representing hundreds of thousands of Ohioans across the political spectrum.

A bipartisan group of more than 90 business leaders has also released an open letter endorsing the amendment.    

Gerrymandering, the practice of drawing political boundaries to favor a particular party or group, undermines fair representation and effective policy. Ohio is recognized as one of the worst states for gerrymandering, affecting the lives of millions of Ohioans.

The Citizens Not Politicians Amendment will:Create the 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission composed of Republican, Democratic, and independent citizens representing the state’s diverse geography and demographics.Ban current or former politicians, political party officials, and lobbyists from serving on the commission.Require the creation of fair and impartial districts, prohibiting any drawing of voting districts that discriminate against or favor any political party or individual politician.Operate under an open and independent process.