Buckeye Reporter

On September 9, two former Democratic lawmakers, one from Ohio and one from Michigan, introduced their organization, Black Equity and Redistricting Fund, to openly oppose state Issue 1 on the fall ballot.

Issue 1 is presented by its proponents as a measure to eliminate gerrymandering of legislative district maps in Ohio. However, critics argue that the constitutional amendment would exacerbate gerrymandering and threaten gun rights.

According to Gongwer News Service, former Ohio Rep. John Barnes of Cleveland, who had alleged racism in a 2014 defamation lawsuit against the Ohio Democratic Party, called Issue 1 "ideological vigilantism." Barnes stated that Issue 1 would lead to the end of accountability for congressional and legislative mapmakers in Ohio.

"The system that we have in place is appropriate because it's fair," he said. "It's reflective of one thing — one person, one vote."

Barnes further commented to WOSU Public Media: “This is a scheme designed to undermine democracy under the guise of reforming gerrymandering. No one I know believes in gerrymandering. But we also don't believe in a unilateral shift that takes away opportunities from people," Barnes said. “This is likened to ideological vigilantism. It's a process of people trying to hijack the Ohio voter system for an outcome inconsistent with democracy."

Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, a former Michigan representative, criticized the proposed Ohio Citizen Redistricting Commission as being "worse than ours in Michigan," referring to her state's Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. She argued it would remove the ability to sue.

"I was appalled to learn that Issue 1 won't even afford people an opportunity for due process," she said according to Gongwer News Service. "How do you enshrine legislation in the Constitution that will take away a citizen's voice and then claim it's citizens' work? That's foolishness."

Gay-Dagnogo blamed Michigan's redistricting commission for the current lack of Black Democrats in Michigan's congressional delegation and predicted similar outcomes for Ohio if Issue 1 passes.

"Those three Black congressional seats that you enjoy here?" she said. "You won't have them."

She also criticized citizen-led redistricting panels for their lack of knowledge about mapmaking processes and legal requirements.

"You know what you end up with? A disaster," she said. "Because that's what we ended up with in Michigan."

Former representative Bernadine Kennedy-Kent from Columbus echoed these concerns about appointing inexperienced individuals to lead the map-drawing process.

"If you just put people in there who don't have knowledge or accountability, then you really do take away voters' rights," Kennedy-Kent said according to WOSU Public Media.

Gay-Dagnogo added her perspective based on her experience with Michigan's redistricting overhaul passed by voters in 2016: "Initially, I supported blindly," she admitted. "Many members here in Ohio may have similarly supported without realizing that the outcome will mean diminished black leadership."

Critics urge voters not to be swayed by what they describe as misleading propaganda from Issue 1 supporters and emphasize voting NO on Issue 1 this fall.