Ohio Redistricting Ballot Initiative Title and Language Challenge

Lawsuit filed by Citizens Not Politicians and two voters against Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R), the Ohio Ballot Board and four of its members challenging the title and language of a redistricting ballot initiative set to appear on the November ballot. Issue 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to remove state and congressional redistricting powers from politicians and transition them to a 15-member “Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission.” The amendment would also define who would be eligible to serve on the new commission and lay out the redistricting criteria its members would follow when drafting and adopting new maps. The plaintiffs argue that the title and ballot language for Issue 1, which was drafted by the secretary of state and adopted by the Ohio Ballot Board, intentionally misleads voters about the contents of the proposed amendment to serve their own interests and retain politicians’ power over redistricting in Ohio. They claim that Issue 1’s title and ballot language violate the state constitution, and ask the state Supreme Court to direct the defendants to adopt new and lawful title and language for Issue 1. 

RESULT: On Sept. 16, the Ohio Supreme Court largely upheld the allegedly misleading ballot language.

Last updated: September 17, 2024 9:35 am EST