By Charlie Gainor, Staff Writer

Election day is just a couple of short weeks away, and Ohio residents will soon get the chance to cast their vote for one of the most pivotal issues on the ballot in 2024. Issue 1, not to be confused with last year’s Issue 1 regarding reproductive healthcare, is a proposed amendment to the Ohio State Constitution that would be set to replace the state’s current way of drawing congressional lines, which its proponents say will prevent gerrymandering.

According to the proposal, the passing of Issue 1 would establish a bipartisan “Ohio Citizens Redistricting Committee” composed of 15 members: five Democrats, five Republicans and five independent party members. Upon appointment, the committee would officially ban gerrymandering and seek to draw congressional districts based on the preference of Ohio voters in the region. The plans would also prioritize equal population and preserving “communities of interest.” Any challenges to the proposed districts will be handled by the Ohio Supreme Court, who will appoint outside specialists to review and adjust the plan as needed. The first committee would be assembled until Jan. 16, 2031, after which a new committee will take over for the subsequent ten year period.

The amendment was proposed by the bipartisan coalition Citizens Not Politicians, who seek to “ban lobbyists and politicians” from “manipulating voting districts to protect their interests and guarantee their re-election.” The amendment gained over 500,000 certified signatures to be put on the state-wide ballot and has gained a substantial amount of bipartisan support.

“Citizens Not Politicians is a diverse, statewide, grassroots, nonpartisan movement,” said Chris Davey, spokesman for the Ohio Libertarian Party said in the pary’s official endorsement of Issue 1. “This is not a Democrat or Republican issue. This is an issue that affects all Ohioans.”