Opinion: Redistricting reform proposal not sufficient

Sick of politicians doing what’s best for politicians and ignoring what’s best for the people?  Well, they’re at it again.  Meet Issue 1.

Touted by its supporters as “historic” redistricting reform and the end of gerrymandering, Issue 1 leaves the power to draw congressional districts right it’s always been – under the control of the General Assembly – instead of shifting it to an independent citizens redistricting commission. This violates the principle, endorsed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015, that voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around. For the entire history of our state, letting politicians draw districts for politicians has always led to the same result – partisan gerrymandering. Partisan gerrymandering is the single biggest reason why working people in Ohio have less political clout today than ever before and why the career politicians who occupy Ohio’s seats in Congress are at their most untouchable. 

Ten years ago, Democratic candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives won 51 percent of the votes cast in Ohio and 55 percent of the state’s congressional seats (ten), while Republican candidates won 46 percent of the votes cast and 45 percent of those seats (eight). In 2011, a small group of unelected political operatives under the direction of then-Speaker John Boehner met to make sure that type of parity never happened again.  Holed up in a Columbus hotel room nicknamed “The Bunker,” they drew a gerrymandered congressional district map for Ohio, which the GOP-controlled General Assembly adopted.  The new map was rigged by Republicans to prevent a repeat of 2008.

The first election under the new map was in 2012, and it was immediately apparent from the results that the boys from “The Bunker” had hit their mark. Republican candidates won 51 percent of the votes cast in the 2012 congressional election. This time, though, that percentage translated into a whopping 75 percent of the state’s congressional seats for the GOP. Democrats haven’t won more than four congressional seats in any Ohio election since 2012. That’s classic partisan gerrymandering. 

If you’re an Ohio voter thirsty for reform of the state’s corrupt redistricting process, here’s all you need to know about Issue 1: it’s unlikely to change the partisan balance in Ohio’s congressional delegation much, if at all. How do we know? Not a single incumbent Republican member of Congress from Ohio has publicly opposed Issue 1. If they’re not scared by Issue 1, you should be. A recent analysis published by cleveland.com showed how, even if Issue 1 passes, Republicans could easily draw a map limiting Democrats to between four and six congressional seats in Ohio, compared to the current four. A possible maximum swing of two measly congressional seats from Republican to Democratic hands – from four to six out of a probable total of 15 – that’s the “historic change” Issue 1 offers. It reminds me of an expression my Italian grandma used, which roughly translates to, “That’s a long way to go for a little piece of sausage.” 

Not only won’t Issue 1 significantly change the composition of Ohio’s congressional delegation, it’s miscast as redistricting reform. Far from ending partisan gerrymandering, Issue 1 would legalize “bipartisan gerrymandering,” giving mapmakers free rein to draw districts purposely to protect incumbent members of Congress – all of the majority party’s and just enough of the minority party’s to approve the map.  

If Issue 1 passes, the process for drawing Ohio’s 2021 congressional district map still would be dictated by the state legislature. Make no mistake, if Issue 1 passes, the boys from “The Bunker” will be back in business. Nothing in Issue 1 prevents the legislature from again delegating to them the task of redrawing Ohio’s congressional district map.

If Issue 1 passes, a small number of Democrats joining all Republicans is all it would take to get another Republican-friendly map through the legislature again in 2021. If you think that’s unlikely, consider this: although the 42 Democrats in the General Assembly had it in their power to keep Issue 1 off the ballot, only four voted to do that. Shame on the rest for getting steamrolled yet again by Ohio Republicans.

If Issue 1 passes, Republicans, with minimal Democratic support, could exploit its provisions to draw a map that legally utilizes the most odious tools in the gerrymandering toolbox. These include drawing lines that blatantly favor one party over the other and that party’s incumbents, drawing districts that are not compact, and unnecessarily splitting counties, cities, townships, villages, and other communities of interest for the sake of incumbent protection.

Real redistricting reform means that Ohio, a state where congressional votes traditionally hover around 50 percent for each party, would also have an evenly split congressional delegation. In today’s hyper-partisan environment, this would be achievable only if a truly independent citizens commission is allowed to draw our congressional districts. Such a commission could only be created through a separate citizens initiative, not Issue 1. 

When Arizona voters passed an initiative creating an independent citizens redistricting commission – which most of Arizona’s incumbent House members publicly opposed – that commission redrew the state’s congressional district map in a way that allowed both parties to compete statewide. The result:  an Arizona congressional delegation split 5-4 between Republicans and Democrats. Reform-minded Ohio voters deserve nothing less from a redistricting reform plan.

If you’re a fan of gerrymandering and incumbent protection, Issue 1 is for you. If not, though, vote NO on Issue 1 on May 8 and hold out for a different initiative in 2020 – one that would create a truly independent citizens redistricting commission in time for redistricting in 2021. This is the only way we can change the status quo, guarantee a level playing field for future congressional elections in Ohio, and take power away from career politicians and give it back to the people. 

Attorney Paul M. De Marco lives Downtown.