If Ohio Bans Gerrymandering Today, There Could be Hope for American Democracy

[L. Coyote]

 If Ohio Bans Gerrymandering Today, There Could be Hope for American Democracy By John Nichols

As voters go to the polls today in communities across the country, one state considers a bold fix for our broken political process.

 American democracy is in sorry shape—battered on all sides by big money, restrictions on voting and vapid media that trivialize rather than enlighten. But Robert M. La Follette and the progressive reformers who a century ago established direct primaries, initiatives, and referendums; an elected US Senate; and voting rights for women always said that “the cure for what ails democracy is more democracy.”

In Ohio today, voters have an opportunity to apply the cure.

Ohio Issue 1, a proposed constitutional amendment to ban partisan gerrymandering and establish a bipartisan Ohio Redistricting Commission to draw legislative district lines, is being pitched as a good-government reform. But that undersells its significance. This is a bold response to America’s broken political processes.

The vote on Issue 1 is one of a number of vital tests that are in the ballot in states ...........

[jwirr]

1. At least it would be a start.

[Agnosticsherbet]

2. California did someting like this, and it has worked out very well.

I hope it works in Ohio.

[Codeine]

27. It did! I got a Democratic rep after years of

Republican Ken Calvert. I am proud to be represented by Mark Takano!

[LonePirate]

3. Let's hope this amendment passes. If so, I wonder how much of an impact it will have in 2016.

Or will new maps not be drawn until the 2018/20/22 elections? The OH congressional delegation could/should flip from 12-4 R-D to an 8-8 tie at worst for us.

[jeepers]

5. It surprises me

how much power the people have in the referendum and recall abilities in the states and how little they recognize that power and what it can do to change our nation. There are twenty six states with initiative ability.

[L. Coyote]

22. Consider how many minimum wage initiatives have passed since the first one was filed in Oregon 1988.

Several times even in Oregon.

[NobodyHere]

19. This doesn't directly address congressional districts

Just ones for the state legislature.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

4. It's still an iffy measure.

I voted for it, but it still keeps the thing mostly in the hands of Republicans, with a few token Dems. It's not as 'bold' as that article would have you believe. Still, if it can get them to drawing districts that are closer to squares or rectangles, that will be an enormous change from the slithery serpent looking districts covering the state now.

[mopinko]

6. well at least they wont have to rig the midterms to get control

of the decennial process.

[madinmaryland]

7. I voted Yes on Issue 1 today. It is a start...

It sets up a seven member committee, made up of four split between the two parties and then three from the executive side of government (governor, state auditor, and one other that I can't remember).

[rurallib]

8. will the rigged voting machines let it pass?

the old ace in the hole for the past 15 years

[Enthusiast]

9. +1

[valerief]

10. If Ohio votes for it, the oligarchy will reverse the vote. Cuz freeDUMB. nt

[maindawg]

11. I voted yes

on issue one. No on 2 and yes on 3. One will pass I think because people will read the first part.Then they will vote no on all other issues because they wont read them. That is the rule of thumb so I am told. But Ohio voters know what issue 3 is and if they vote at all it will be for issue 3. What has me worried is the poison republican pill that is issue 2. No one understands it. They don't know that issue 2 will strip ohio citizens of any further petition ballots like issue 3 forever. That would allow the legislature to have all the power. Very bad. People tend to vote no on any issue they do not understand. But we know that the ohio die bold voting machines have been compromised before [2004] Exit polls clearly had Kerry winning. In 2012 Karlmarx Rove was shocked , shocked I tell you that Ohio did not go Red.
We are about to be blown again ladies and gents. Issue 2 will be passed , by tampering if anonymous does not save our worthless asses again. And if they don't, I am so out of this shthole state.

[Fuddnik]

12. We did that in Floriduh, and the legislature geryymandered the fuck out of it anyway.

They're under court order to straighten it out, but they're still trying to get around it.

Wouldn't it be nice if they redistricted Debbie Weaselman-Schlitz out, like they did Kucinich?

[Takket]

13. anyone know a site where the results can be tracked?

[panader0]

14. Robert La Follette-- back when there were sane Republicans.

Robert Marion "Fighting Bob"[1] La Follette Sr. (June 14, 1855 – June 18, 1925) was an American Republican (and later a Progressive) politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, was the Governor of Wisconsin, and was a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin from 1906 to 1925. He ran for President of the United States as the nominee of his own Progressive Party in 1924, carrying Wisconsin and winning 17% of the national popular vote.

His wife Belle Case La Follette, and his sons Robert M. La Follette Jr. and Philip La Follette led his political faction in Wisconsin into the 1940s. La Follette has been called "arguably the most important and recognized leader of the opposition to the growing dominance of corporations over the Government"[2] and is one of the key figures pointed to in Wisconsin's long history of political liberalism.

He is best remembered as a proponent of progressivism and a vocal opponent of railroad trusts, bossism, World War I, and the League of Nations. In 1957, a Senate Committee selected La Follette as one of the five greatest U.S. Senators, along with Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun, and Robert A. Taft. A 1982 survey asking historians to rank the "ten greatest Senators in the nation's history" based on "accomplishments in office" and "long range impact on American history," placed La Follette first, tied with Henry Clay.[3] Robert La Follette is one of five outstanding senators memorialized by portraits in the Senate reception room in US Capitol. One of America's top schools for public affairs, located at the University of Wisconsin-Madison bears his name.

[NonMetro]

15. Gerrymandering By Republicans In Michigan Has Disenfranchised The Majority Of The People.

What happened here and elsewhere should have resulted in criminal charges, but I guess there's no law against undermining democracy, and even if there was, the GOP minority that rules this state is also in charge of the law itself!

[TeamPooka]

16. K&R!

[irisblue]

17. Republican stronghold Hamilton County staying open till 9pm

from Columbus Dispatch.... Hamilton County Common Pleas court judge has ruled polling places must remain open there until 9 p.m. The extra 90 minues was ordered by Judge Robert Ruehlman after a quick hearing. The delay will slow down the tally for statewide Issues 1 (redistricting) Issue 2 (anti-monopoly) and Issue 3 (marijuana legalization). ResponsibleOhio attorneys filed a motion in court late today seeking to keep the polls open in Hamilton County until 9 p.m. — an hour and a half after they are supposed to close — because of problems with new electronic poll books.

From the local paper...http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/11/03/responsibleohio-files-hamilton-co-keep-polls-open/75114904/

"It's the right thing to do," said Common Pleas Judge Robert Ruehlman, after ordering the extension. "I don't want to see anybody not get a chance to vote."

The judge's decision came after supporters of Issue 3, which would legalize the production and sale of marijuana in Ohio, complained that glitches and delays associated with new electronic voter sign-in books caused some county voters to be turned away.

Elections officials disputed those claims, saying most of the problems were minor and were corrected within the first hour or two of polls opening. They said anyone who complained to the board of elections about voting difficulties was directed to polling places where they could cast a ballot.

"The board has gone to extreme lengths to make sure everybody had the opportunity to vote," said Dave Stephenson, the board's lawyer.

[Fritz Walter]

18. I wish Buckeyes better luck than we've had in Florida

After Florida voters overwhelmingly approved a similar constitutional amendment a few years ago, the Repuke-dominated legislature completely ignored it and re-drew Congressional district lines as they damn-well-pleased. Thanks to the League of Women Voters, the state judiciary got involved and ordered a special session of the legislature, which -- surprise, surprise -- failed to draw a map that was not gerrymandered.

A draft proposal, based on the League's proposal, is now under judicial review. I wouldn't wish this on any state in the republic!

[maindawg]

21. still no word

fierce battle online between the hackers and annon
go annaon

[L. Coyote]

23. Election Results coming here:

http://www.dispatch.com/content/sections/news/government-politics/elections/index.html

[L. Coyote]

24. 73% Yes

Issue 1 - Redistricting
Updated Tue Nov 03 21:12:08 EST 2015 - 15% reporting

73%
Yes
527,641 votes

27%
No
192,475 votes

[valerief]

30. +1 gazillion!

[meow2u3]

31. 23% of those voting on this issue are either teabaggers

or otherwise benefit from extreme partisan gerrymandering. In other words, they're repukes.

[Takket]

25. issue 1 yes in a complete blowout

The DNC should be ALL OVER THIS. the public clearly wants in. almost nothing pulls those numbers these days in this divided nation. We NEED THIS on the other 49 states ballots in 2016 so we can STOP Rethugs from holding the HOUSE with fewer votes!

[L. Coyote]

32. And it may have turned out voters. We can do this in other states with initiatives NOW!

[rbrnmw]

26. I want to thank my fellow Ohioans

For voting today it's a start.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

28. Big turnout for an 'off' election too.

With 50% in, 1 million, 830 thousand votes counted.

That'll be close to 4 mill votes out of 7.5 mill registered voters by the time it's done.

[rbrnmw]

29. Hopefully we got some good Democrats

On the local level. I was surprised at the turnout.

[L. Coyote]

33. FINAL *** Precincts Reporting - 100% *** Yes - 2,073,563 - 71%

November 04, 2015 - 09:45AM ET

8905 of 8905 Precincts Reporting - 100%
Yes 2,073,563 71%
No 827,971 29%