Columbus dispatch voters guide 202212/15/2023 ![]() ![]() "I don’t think there’s any group of angels that are truly independent, that don’t have any personal bias or party leanings or belief system that are just going to sit down and draw completely unbiased maps," said LaRose, a Republican. "I think that a so-called independent commission kind of forces partisans to pretend they’re not, which is dangerous as well." LaRose also dismissed independent redistricting commissions, which Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor suggested voters consider because state officials are "seemingly unwilling to put aside partisan concerns." He said Ohio may need to further reform its redistricting process but argued a federal "one-size-fits-all" policy isn't the answer. Secretary of State Frank LaRose said Republicans tend to overblow the existence of fraud while Democrats emphasize voter suppression – all for their own political motives. Now they’re doing the same thing themselves." "They have consistently attacked some Republicans, saying that they made false claims that there was fraud in the election and therefore made people wonder about the legitimacy of the elections," Portman said. "OK, I get that. Rob Portman accused Democrats of casting doubt on the election process with claims of voter suppression – likening them to Republicans who incorrectly say former President Donald Trump won in 2020. Republicans, for their part, viewed the federal legislation as overreach. The proposals have since stalled in committees. GOP state lawmakers also introduced multiple election bills last year that would limit drop boxes and change rules for early voting, while allowing people to request absentee ballots online. "Despite demands by voters to end gerrymandering in 20 at the ballot box, we’ve seen more of the same: a breakdown along party lines, a complete lack of transparency, and rigged maps," she said in an email. Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, argued the process is further proof that federal reform would help states like Ohio. The vote in Washington came days after the Ohio Supreme Court struck down the state's legislative and congressional maps, arguing they were gerrymandered to favor Republicans and violated voter-approved redistricting rules. Mapmakers must now redraw the lines to ensure they pass constitutional muster. "Today is just our first step," she said during a news conference. "We will come up to bat with a clear plan." Election reform and redistricting Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus, said Wednesday that she and the Congressional Black Caucus were prepared for this outcome. It's unclear where congressional Democrats will go from here, but Rep. House and Senate and opposed by all Republicans. The bill was supported by Ohio Democrats in the U.S. Sherrod Brown said, referring to the 50 Republicans and Democratic Sens. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia. “They’re on the wrong side of history, these 52 members," Sen. The back-and-forth came to a head Wednesday when Republicans blocked the bill and Democrats failed to muster enough support to change procedural rules to pass it without them. ![]() It also would have banned partisan gerrymandering and restored federal oversight of election laws in states with a history of discrimination.ĭemocrats pushed the changes as GOP-controlled states introduced legislation that advocates say would suppress turnout by minority voters. The proposal – which combines two bills – would have established rules for voting by mail and ballot drop boxes, expanded early voting options and permitted same-day registration. Senate dealt a fatal blow to voting rights legislation this week. Ohio advocates holding out for election reform are, for now, on their own after the U.S. ![]()
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