Issue 2 Loses Big At The Polls

A proposed constitutional amendment that would have taken redistricting powers away from state lawmakers and given them to a new citizen commission has been turned down by Ohio voters. Opponents of the redistricting amendment – the Ohio Republican Party, along with business and socially conservative groups – raised more than $7 million to fight it. Coalition spokesman Carlo LoParo says everyone agrees that the map drawing process can be improved, and this complicated and convoluted issue didn’t do it. “The voters took a look at the issue and decided it’s not a better solution than the current plan. If we improve the system, we should at least improve the part of the system that everybody has a concern with," LoParo said. Issue 2 was backed by Democrats and union groups. Spokesman Brian Rothenberg says the other side ran a deceptive campaign, but it wasn’t a waste. “They admitted there is a problem with the system. And the day will come when people will have a voice in their government again," said Rothenberg. Rothenberg says now Issue 2’s supporters will pressure lawmakers to have conversations on how to change redistricting now, and not wait till the next maps are drawn.