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    • What issues are on the ballot in Ohio? Issue 1 covers gerrymandering
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    What issues are on the ballot in Ohio? Issue 1 covers gerrymandering

    Kathleen William Posted on

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    Ohioans don't like gerrymandering, which is why both sides of the Issue 1 debate say they have a solution to it.

    But what is gerrymandering? Gerrymandering is the manipulation of district boundaries to give one political party an undeserved advantage over another. The term comes from a salamander-like district signed into law by Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry in 1812.

    What does packing mean in gerrymandering?

    There are many ways to gerrymander. One method is called packing. This technique would allow mapmakers to fit most of an area's Republicans into a district that the Republican candidate is guaranteed to win by a wide margin, while ensuring that Democrats can win surrounding districts.

    What is cracking in gerrymandering?

    Another method is called cracking. Using cracking, mapmakers could divide a Democratic city into two districts with enough Republican voters to dilute Democrats and ensure that two Republicans win those seats.

    Let the incumbent operators compete against each other

    A third tactic pits two incumbent MPs from the same party against each other to ensure one loses. Similar to a game of musical chairs, when the music stops, someone is left without a seat.

    There are some limits to gerrymandering: The federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 prevents voters from being disenfranchised because of their race, color or membership in a linguistic minority group.

    If passed, Issue 1 would replace the current politician-led commission with a 15-member citizens' commission made up of five independents and five members each of the two leading political parties, currently Republican and Democrat. Members could not be elected officials, lobbyists or political consultants.

    Proponents of Ohio Issue 1 say removing self-interested politicians from voting districts will curb gerrymandering. The measure would also require the maps to accurately match how Ohioans voted in recent elections.

    Opponents of Issue 1 say the current rules are designed to prevent gerrymandering. Currently, state legislatures and a seven-member commission of elected officials draw the districts.

    You can learn more about Issue 1 with these resources:

    You can read the full amendment here:

    Jessie Balmert covers state government and politics for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

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    Kathleen William
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