The presidential race has dominated national headlines, but Ohioans have “gerrymandering” on the minds.
Nearly 900 people have responded to The Dispatch’s nonscientific poll on Ohio Issue 1, Citizens not Politicians’ redistricting reform amendment, on the Nov. 5 ballot.
At the writing of this piece, 78% of respondents said they will vote for the amendment which would remove elected Republicans and Democrats from drawing districts for seats in Congress, the Ohio House and Ohio Senate.
Instead, the constitutional amendment would create a balanced independent commission of citizens to fairly draw boundaries for 15 congressional districts, 33 state Senate districts and 99 state House district.
Nearly 200 respondents — 22% — said they have or will note no. Nearly all respondents indicated that they understand the concept of gerrymandering — the manipulation of voting district boundaries to give one political party an unearned advantage.