Voters First files 767,256 signatures with Ohio Secretary of State

Voters First, the citizens group pushing to change the way Ohio draws its legislative and congressional districts expects to see their proposal on the ballot in November.

Needing the signatures of 385,253 registered voters to qualify the proposed, “We have confidence the 767,000 signatures submitted to the Secretary of State is more than enough signatures to put the measure on the fall ballot,” said Council 8 Political and Legislative Director Robert Davis.

“Thanks to the many Council 8 members who circulated and signed the petitions, Ohioans have a chance to fix our broken redistricting process. Now we have to get behind this initiative and get it passed,” he said.

According to Davis, the proposal takes the once every ten year map-drawing job away from elected officials, and puts it in the hands of an independent 12-person citizen commission. This commission will create fair district boundaries in a process that is open and accountable to the people of Ohio.

“This is about power and we know the politicians and their cronies will say and do anything to protect their own power,” Davis said. “The November ballot will be a long one, so it is critical we make sure our sisters and brothers don’t stop after voting for President Obama and Senator Sherrod Brown,” he said.