The campaign for a proposed constitutional amendment that would change Ohio’s constitution by redrawing voting districts has raised more than $23 million this year, according to campaign budget data. reports.
The Citizens Not Politicians campaign, called the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment, aims to lifted a total of $23,033,931 this year.
Vote NO on issue 1
NEWS: A campaign to add gerrymandering to the Ohio Constitution has raised more than $23 million, according to a recently released campaign finance disclosure form, with most of the money coming from groups outside Ohio.
— Jon Husted (@JonHusted) August 8, 2024
The majority of donations — about 85 percent — came from out-of-state entities, according to the study. analysis Group financial statements Ohio Capital Journal.
“The biggest money donors are progressive or nonpartisan groups in the Washington, D.C., area, which have funded about 60% of the campaign so far,” the outlet reports. “The Sixteen Thirty Fund has given the largest chunk of money, $6 million. Groups account for 98% of the funding, while 2% comes from individual donors. To be clear, individual donors are donating to larger groups.”
Every 10 years after the U.S. Census, the seven-member Ohio Redistricting Commission is tasked with redistricting Ohio’s 99 House of Representatives and 33 Senate districts to reflect the most recent census results.
The commission was established by an amendment to the Ohio Constitution that was approved by 71 percent of Ohio voters in November 2015.
Citizens, not politicians proposed constitutional amendmentHowever, it would replace the Ohio Redistricting Commission by creating the Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission.
If voters approve the constitutional amendment, the fresh commission would consist of 15 members — five Democrats, five Republicans and five independents — and would not allow current or former elected officials to serve on it.
The group says its proposal will ensure “an open and transparent process and fair outcomes that preserve political power in the people.”
However, Ohio Republican Party leaders opposed the proposal, arguing that such changes to state redistricting laws would not end gerrymandering.
“If this ballot measure were to pass, Ohio would effectively end the system that mandates and forces mapmakers to create gerrymandered districts. In fact, Ohio would have extreme gerrymandering,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said last week regarding the proposal.
The Ohio Republican Party also opposed the proposed constitutional amendment, with Chairman Alex Triantafilou calling it a “shameful effort” that “misleads voters by suggesting that Issue 1 eliminates gerrymandering, when in fact this amendment will ensure that political and racial gerrymandering continues to occur.”
The proposition will go before Ohio voters on the November 5 popular vote as Issue 1.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at Ohio Star AND Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
