COLUMBUS — Citing a “lack of clarity and accuracy” the Ohio Attorney General’s Office has rejected petition language for a constitutional amendment aimed at remaking Ohio’s troubled system for drawing political maps.
Republican Dave Yost’s office said Wednesday that the submission by the group Citizens Not Politicians failed to present a fair and truthful summary of what is proposed.
The group, joined by two former Ohio Supreme Court justices, says it will adjust the wording and try again.
The proposed amendment calls for replacing the Redistricting Commission with a 15-member citizen panel of Republicans, Democrats and independents. The Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission’s makeup would represent a geographic and demographic mix.
The amendment also would bar current and former politicians, political party officials, lobbyists and high-giving political donors from sitting on the commission. To ensure maps are fair and impartial, districts would be precluded from discriminating against or favoring a political party or individual politician.
The current commission has repeatedly failed to produce constitutional maps.
Backers hope to put the proposed amendment on the fall 2024 ballot.