Voters overwhelmingly backed a plan to reform Ohio’s hyper-partisan process for drawing legislative districts, and supporters are already looking ahead to passing the same reforms for congressional districts next year. …The current five-member redistricting panel, which includes the governor, secretary of state, auditor and two legislative appointees, will be expanded to seven members with two additional legislative selections.
If at least two minority party members vote to approve the new maps, they take effect for 10 years. If not, then the maps must be redrawn again in four years.
Supporters say the issue also creates clearer rules for drawing districts that will limit gerrymandering and give the Ohio Supreme court clearer guidance if a map is challenged. It also says the panel “shall attempt to draw” a map that does not primarily favor a political party, and corresponds closely to the statewide preferences of voters.