The League of Women Voters of the Akron Area is hosting a conversation with retired Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor at 5:30pm, Tuesday, September 24 at the Akron-Summit County Public Library Main Branch, 60 S. High St., to discuss the Citizens Not Politicians amendment to end gerrymandering. The amendment will appear as Issue 1 on the November ballot.
The event is free and open to the public and will be moderated by J. Cherie Strachan, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and Director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron and Akron Press Club board member. The Akron Press Club is co-sponsoring the event.
About the issue
In 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled seven times that the politician-led redistricting commission drew maps for the Ohio General Assembly and U.S. Congressional districts that were unconstitutionally gerrymandered.
Ohio is one of the 10 most gerrymandered states in the country. Gerrymandering, drawing representational districts to favor one political party over another, allows politicians to pick their constituents instead of voters selecting their representatives. Retired Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice O’Connor is leading the citizen-led initiative to amend the Ohio constitution to create an independent citizen commission to draw Ohio’s legislative districts.
The conversation with the retired Chief Justice will address the who, what, why and how of the amendment, including how gerrymandering impacts everything that happens legislatively in the state from appropriations to citizens’ rights.
About the League of Women Voters of the Akron Area
The League of Women Voters of the Akron Area, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Visit LWVAA at www.lwvaa.org.