Constitutional Ballot Issue Slated for Ohio May Primary

Image from Mansfield News Journal

This year's primary election is scheduled for May 8th.  In addition to the various parties selecting their candidates, there are a number of ballot issues.  Below are two of them.

The first issue is state-wide and concerns the creation of a bipartisan process for drawing congressional districts.  The second issue, a proposed tax increase, concerns all of Fayette County.

There  are other ballot issue particular to various townships and school districts.  To learn the issues in your township or district, and for other voter information, visit the Fayette County Board of Elections web site.

Issue 1

Creates a bipartisan, public process for drawing congressional districts.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment

Proposed by Joint Resolution of the General Assembly

To amend the version of Section 1 of Article XI that is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2021, and to enact Sections 1, 2, and 3 of Article XIX of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to establish a process for congressional redistricting.

A majority yes vote is necessary for the amendment to pass.

The proposed amendment would:
•
End the partisan process for drawing congressional districts, and replace it with a process with the goals of promoting bipartisanship, keeping local communities together, and having district boundaries that are more compact.
•
Ensure a transparent process by requiring public hearings and allowing public submission of proposed plans.
•
Require the General Assembly or the Ohio Redistricting Commission to adopt new congressional districts by a bipartisan vote for the plan to be effective for the full 10-year period.
•
Require that if a plan is adopted by the General Assembly without significant bipartisan support, it cannot be effective for the entire 10-year period and must comply with explicit anti-gerrymandering requirements.

If passed, the amendment will become effective immediately.

SHALL THE AMENDMENT BE APPROVED?

YES
NO

Proposed Tax Levy

(Additional)

Fayette County

A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage.

An additional tax for the benefit of Fayette County for the purpose to provide for ambulance and emergency medical services at a rate not exceeding one and three tenths (1.3) mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to thirteen cents ($0.13) for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for three (3) years, commencing in 2018, first due in calendar year 2019.