Ohio House passes redistricting reform

The Ohio House Democrats and Republicans voted 69-28 on Joint Resolution 15, a plan that could change the state’s redistricting process. The Senate passed its own redistricting plan last year.

A proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution could end up on the November ballot if a compromise version passes both chambers by Aug. 4.

Republicans were critical of the legislation initially, disagreeing that the Ohio Supreme Court should be side-stepped for an appointed tribunal. Rep. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark,  changed that when he agreed to vote in favor of the measure.

“Ohioans want and Ohioans need reform in (how) Ohio legislative districts are drawn,” he told the Columbus Dispatch.

“No longer do they want a system in which elected officials choose their voters instead of having voters choose their elected officials.”

HJR 15 and SJR 5 now make their way to the conference committee.  The members of this committee have not yet been appointed but the Speaker and Senator Jon Husted,  sponsor of SJR 5 both believe that the committee will resolve these difference after hearings next week.