Efforts Underway for Re-Drawing State’s Congressional Districts

A meeting hosted by the State Government and Elections Sub-Committee on Redistricting and the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting was held at Ohio University-Zanesville Wednesday afternoon.

The meeting allowed for public input on how to go about re-drawing the State’s district lines as a result of the 2010 census, since the state lost two of its seats. One presenter, Jim Slagle with the Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting spoke to committee members about the importance of the process being non-partisan and responsive to the public’s needs. Slagle’s campaign has done just that allowing Ohioans, through their web site, to draw their own lines for re-districting.

"They’ll be judged by objective non-partisan criteria, they’ll be scored and in fact we’re offering 5,000 dollars in cash prizes for some of the top scoring plans because we want to encourage quality participation because of how important this issue is," said Slagle.

You can find more information on the campaign at www.drawthelineohio.org

Another presenter, Coshocton Resident Robert Brems drew up his own map of how to redistrict the state which he presented to the committee.

"I think everybody should take an interest in it and come to these kind of sessions or enters the contests and at least let your opinions be known because the process is important," said Brems.

The state is expected to have the lines re-drawn by the end of the year.