Stark County voters gave a resounding thumbs-down to an Ohio redistricting initiative that also failed statewide.
With all precincts reporting, Issue 1 failed countywide by a tally of 99,072 votes against to 73,047 in favor, or 58% to 42%, according to unofficial results from the Board of Elections .
Statewide, the issue lost with 2,883,705 votes against and 2,478,017 in favor, or 54% to 46%, with nearly all votes reporting, according to the unofficial tally.
Issue 1 would have changed the process that Ohio uses to redraw congressional and legislative districts. The initiative aimed to wrest that power from elected officials and give it to an independent commission with no political ties. Supporters had argued that it would end gerrymandering in the state, but opponents said it promoted gerrymandering.
GOP voters Cathie and Neal Singleton, both of Canton, said they opposed Issue 1 when casting their ballots at the Westbrook Park United Methodist Church in Canton.
“I don’t see why you need to change the way things are,” Neal Singleton said. “It’s been the same way for years and just fine.”