You may have already heard the news: Governor DeWine FINALLY called the first meeting of the Ohio Redistricting Commission. 

When: Friday, August 6, 9:00 AM

Where: Senate Finance Hearing Room, Ohio Statehouse

This is a public meeting and you are welcome (and encouraged) to attend. For those not able to attend in person, the meeting will be streamed live on the Ohio Channel. 

The Ohio Redistricting Commission is the group of seven who will craft new Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate district maps, and may weigh in on the Congressional maps as well. 

This first meeting of the commission will be mostly administrative — but still very important. We will learn who will be on the commission, and what their plan is for public hearings and more. 

House and Senate leadership from both parties will make appointments to complete the commission. One appointee each by President Matt Huffman, Speaker Bob Cupp, Minority Leader Kenny Yuko and Minority Leader Emelia Sykes will join the Governor, Auditor, and Secretary of State. We have been waiting for the announcement of the legislative members  so we can begin to exert pressure where it counts. 

We are eager to learn the schedule for public hearings! Public participation and transparency are key components of the redistricting reforms passed with our help in 2015 and 2018. As soon as we know the schedule for hearings around the state, we will blast the information out to one and all so as many as possible can show up. Please stay tuned, and watch your email!

Participation in public hearings is our most important opportunity to influence the process, to put pressure on the official mapmakers, and realize the promise of Ohio’s redistricting reforms. 

Now is a great time to get your testimony ready — whether you plan to show up in person or submit written testimony. It’s also a great time to get your community or district map ready to share. 

Sign up here if you intend to present testimony at a public hearing on redistricting.

Quick tips on testimony: shorter is better; be prepared for questions; highlight where you are from, and what Ohio Senate and House district you live in, and why the Statehouse and legislative decisions matter to you. 

You will learn many more tips by joining our training this evening on how to prepare for public testimony: Redistricting: Prepping for Public Hearings, August /3 7PM. (Register even if you can’t attend and we’ll send follow up information.)

We’ve been asking Governor DeWine to convene the commission for months. Now that they are finally getting to work, let’s show up to let the commissioners know we care, we’re watching, and we want fair maps! Remember, half of making a difference is showing up!