Letters to the Editor: Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine points to a map during a press conference in Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, where he opposed a fall ballot measure aimed at remaking the state's troubled political mapmaking system. If it passes, DeWine said he will work with state lawmakers next year to advance a competing amendment based on the Iowa model. (AP Photo/Julie Carr Smyth)

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine points to a map during a press conference in Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, where he opposed a fall ballot measure aimed at remaking the state's troubled political mapmaking system. If it passes, DeWine said he will work with state lawmakers next year to advance a competing amendment based on the Iowa model. (AP Photo/Julie Carr Smyth)
Ideas & Voices
Oct 19, 2024
X

In the last week, I’ve seen several yard signs that oppose Ohio’s Issue 1. The top line reads, “STOP GERRYMANDERING.” I find this frustrating because it’s a shameless attempt to confuse voters. Despite the Ohio Supreme Court’s recent approval of language suggesting that Issue 1 creates gerrymandering, the ballot initiative does the opposite. Gerrymandering, by definition, draws districts for the purpose of giving the party creating those districts a political advantage. This ballot initiative would create a bipartisan commission to draw districts that do not pre-establish an advantage for either party. Ohioans have voted several times to eliminate gerrymandering, but the GOP has undermined the voters each time. Faced with a real threat to their power this time, they are simply lying to voters to cling to that power. They want to rule over the voters rather than representing them--as they have done for years now. Honest disagreement on issues is part of a healthy democracy. Unfortunately, it seems the state GOP has no interest in honesty or democracy. I urge my fellow citizens — whatever your party affiliation — to stand up for your own voices by voting YES on Issue 1.

- Jeff Roush, Bellbrook

We learned politicians cannot be trusted. When Ohioans passed anti-gerrymandering reform in 2015 and 2018 politicians were foolishly left in charge of drawing new electoral districts following the 2020 census. Seven times the maps they drew were declared unconstitutionally drawn by the Ohio Supreme Court. Ohioans still vote under unconstitutional maps. Citizens were not pleased. Politicians desiring to keep their power held a special election in August of 2023 to increase the threshold to get a citizens-initiated amendment on the ballot. But Ohioans were smarter than the politicians. Despite Secretary of State LaRose’s misleading and biased ballot language for the reproductive rights amendment, Ohioans said no to the politicians by voting Yes for the amendment. It is no surprise, when Citizens Not Politicians was successful in getting Issue 1 redistricting reform on the November 2024 ballot, that Secretary of State LaRose, staunchly against this reform, as chair of the Ohio Ballot Board abused his power by writing the ballot summary using misleading, inaccurate, and confusing language intended to trick voters into voting no against their own interest. Voting YES on Issue 1, will demonstrate that the power of the people over politicians is always greater.

- Alan Schaeffer, Dayton

In Other News
1
Ombudsman helps man avoid eviction
2
VOICES: A National Day of Prayer to help Ukraine during war
3
VOICES: Free clinics play vital role in our communities
4
SUDDES: Lame-duck sessions a real threat to Ohioans’ wallets – and...
5
Ideas & Voices wants to hear from you in 2025