Dear Editor:
The ballot language for Issue 1 is misleading at best – but very close to lying.
It says that Issue 1 would repeal the constitutional protections against gerrymandering that were voted for in 2015 and 2018.
What protections? The ones that the state legislature ignored when they didn’t follow 6 rulings of the Ohio Supreme Court when it said the district maps that were approved by the legislature were unconstitutional?
The legislature ignored the rulings and played political games to run the clock out so there wouldn’t be time to have constitutional maps.
We can expect more of the same if the legislators continue to draw the maps to protect their districts. Issue 1 will take the map drawing out of the legislators’ hands.
Vote Yes on Issue 1 because the legislators can’t be trusted.
Kathleen Tate
Howard, Ohio
Editor’s Note: Below is a statement from Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber on tonight’s Ohio Supreme Court decision to largely affirm the official Ballot Board language for State Issue One. (This is the only public statement from the official “No” side of the issue.)
“The Court was thoughtful in its approach and they got it right.
The ballot language is now clear: Issue One will force gerrymandering into the state constitution while destroying the anti-gerrymandering reforms Ohio voters approved by more than 70%. Issue One hurts Ohio.”