This is the third time the court has declared the cards unconstitutional. Earlier, officials said the May 3 primary election “will not be possible” if it happens.
COLUMBUS, Ohio. For the third time, the Ohio Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional maps proposed by the General Assembly for House and Senate constituencies.
The court again declared the cards invalid in a ruling signed by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor. The Ohio District Redistribution Commission has now been ordered (literally) to return to the drawing board and develop a new plan no later than March 28, just 12 days later.
Ohio’s primary election is currently scheduled for May 3, and Secretary of State Frank LaRoise has previously warned that further delays in approving the cards could jeopardize that date. In addition, the deadlines for submitting petitions, as well as the beginning of early and military voting are fast approaching.
“I have already begun working with members of the House and Senate leadership, as well as with minority leaders,” LaRose told Will Week 3News back on March 4th. “They understand that at the moment it is impossible to hold the primaries on May 3 with these district races, and they have to start deciding what will happen next.”
Whenever the Republican-controlled General Assembly approved new maps, courts argued that constituencies were unfairly in favor of the Republican Party. All three times the court agreed, and Republican O’Connor largely sided with the Democrats.
These cards differ from the one that divides 15 Ohio constituencies in the U.S. Congress, and these lines have also been challenged several times in court. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.
