The League of Women Voters of Ohio is opposing a lawsuit filed by the State of Ohio against the decision to hold back 2020 U.S. Census data till September 30 because of the pandemic and concerns about accuracy. But the clock is ticking on starting the redistricting process. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.
This spring, Ohio will know whether it keeps all 16 members of Congress or it loses one.
“If we have 15, we can't use the old maps, even if we want to, because they're based on 16 districts.”
Common Cause Ohio’s Catherine Turcer helped pass the constitutional amendments requiring state lawmakers to have a Congressional map in place by November 30, and for state lawmakers’ districts done by September 15. So Turcer sees two options – ask the Supreme Court to extend the deadlines or move next year’s May 3 primary.
“And I suspect you might need to have both.”
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has sued to force Census data to be released by March 31, but cities, counties and civil rights groups say they have a deal they have with the Biden administration not to release data before April 16.
