The Ohio Ballot Board is facing a lawsuit over language used in a proposed redistricting amendment.
The Citizens Not Politicians campaign filed the suit on Tuesday, claiming the board's approved ballot language for the measure is "deceptive and unconstitutional."
According to a report by Newsweek, the lawsuit argues that the wording may be the most biased and inaccurate the state has ever seen. The legal action targets the Ohio Ballot Board, Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and other state officials.
The proposed amendment aims to change Ohio's political mapping system, which has been criticized for creating gerrymandered districts favoring Republicans. The current redistricting commission, consisting of lawmakers and state officials, would be replaced by a 15-member citizen-led panel under the new proposal.
The lawsuit's primary contention is the ballot language approved by the Ohio Ballot Board last week. The board's description of the proposed constitutional amendment states that it would establish a Citizens Redistricting Commission "required to gerrymander" Ohio's legislative and congressional districts.
Citizens Not Politicians argue that this language "gets it entirely backward," as their proposal aims to ban partisan map manipulation. The group claims that their plan ensures the commission's maps reflect statewide partisan preferences while creating geographically contiguous districts representing communities of interest.
Republican State Senator Theresa Gavarone defended the board's wording, stating that the definition of "gerrymander" used in the ballot language aligns with the Oxford English Dictionary.
The proposed amendment seeks to overhaul the current redistricting system in Ohio. The existing process has been criticized for producing maps deemed unconstitutionally gerrymandered, favoring the Republican Party in the state.
Under the new proposal, the 15-member citizen-led panel would consist of Republicans, Democrats, and independents. Retired judges would be responsible for selecting the commission members, aiming to create a more balanced and representative redistricting process.
The lawsuit argues that the current ballot language violates the Ohio Constitution, stating that "every single paragraph of the ballot language includes misleading and biased language that further serves to sway voters against the Amendment."
Following the ballot board meeting on Friday, Secretary of State LaRose and Senator Gavarone did not speak directly to reporters. Instead, they recorded a podcast with John Fortney, the communications chief for Republican Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman.
During the podcast, they defended the board's actions and criticized the fall proposal. They referred to the measure as "Political Outcomes Over People," arguing that it is undemocratic, overly broad, and impractical. The Citizens Not Politicians campaign provided the following statement in their lawsuit:
This Court's intervention is needed to ensure that Ohio voters are provided with the truthful and impartial ballot title and ballot language required by law so that they can exercise their right to determine for themselves whether to amend the Ohio Constitution.
The lawsuit against the Ohio Ballot Board highlights the ongoing debate over redistricting and gerrymandering in the state. The Citizens Not Politicians campaign is challenging the board's approved language for a proposed amendment that would change Ohio's political mapping system. The legal action seeks to ensure voters receive impartial information about the measure. As the case progresses, it will likely draw attention to the broader issues of fair representation and electoral map drawing in Ohio.
