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Redistricting Reformers Want Change In Drawing Congressional Districts

The lawmakers that pushed for state legislative redistricting reform now want to change the way congressional districts are drawn. Ohio Public Radio's Andy Chow reports.  

Republican Senator Frank LaRose and Democratic Senator Tom Sawyer, both from the Akron area, have a joint resolution in the General Assembly to bring more fairness to congressional district maps.

Now the two senators are also taking their plan to the Constitutional Modernization Commission, another path to a constitutional amendment.

LaRose says they’re trying both options in case one might be faster than the other.

“We’ll move on those parallel tracks to try and get this in front of voters as soon as possible so that hopefully next year or the year after they can approve congressional redistricting,” said LaRose.

Issue 1 on this November’s ballot would change only state legislative district drawing. Supporters say it will prevent gerrymandering, when districts are drawn to benefit one political party over the other.

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