Ohio's Congressional Redistricting Map, Primary Election Still in Limbo (ContributorNetwork)

Ohio may finally have a new congressional map if state lawmakers can come to agreement later this afternoon. House Bill 319 was passed in September but Democratic lawmakers feeling the new voting districts showed bias and favored Republican candidates appealed the bill's passage to Secretary of State John Husted. Although the bill was initially upheld due to state statutes relating to the attachment of fiscal appropriations, the issue was placed in front of the Ohio Supreme Court for review. The Ohioans for Fair Elections group persuaded the justices that the attached funds were routine election expenses and implementation of the map was halted.

National Impact of Ohio Congressional Redistricting Map

Due to the December filing deadline, lawmakers established two primary dates so Presidential candidates could circulate petitions and file to run in the swing state pending a lengthy battle over map design. Candidates would be unable to be placed upon an Ohio ballot in 2012 if they circulated petitions in jurisdictions which exist now but are eliminated by the final map design. The cost of holding a primary for state and local elections and another for Presidential, and United States Senator and House of Representatives could cost taxpayer millions of dollars.

Emergency Measures

Even though Republicans hold the majority in the Ohio House of Representatives, 66 Democratic voters are needed to pass the new redistricting map as an emergency. If the map is not passed with an emergency clause, Ohio's redistricting map would be subject to a repeal referendum. The Ohio Democratic Party and related liberal advocacy groups are poised to place the issue on the ballot, further delaying the state's primary election and causing President Obama and Republican Party candidates vying for a nomination nod to wait a far longer than normal to secure Ohio vote.

New Map Demographics

The newest version of the map which will be placed in front of lawmakers today maintains a 12 to 4 Republican to Democratic ratio opposed by liberal lawmakers in September. Changes in congressional voting districts included combining urban areas in Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Cincinnati together in an effort to increase the number of black voters in a Democratic leaning area. Republicans have been in discussion with the Ohio Black Caucus to find middle ground and secure more Democratic votes on the proposed map. The new design maintains the Democratic district centering around Franklin County in the Columbus area. Both the original and new version of the political redistricting map combines the areas House of Representatives members Marcy Kaptur and Dennis Kucinich currently represent. If the latest version is approved, the pair of lawmakers would face each other next year in an area analysts feel leans in Kaptur's favor.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111103/us_ac/10357015_ohios_congressional_redistricting_map_primary_election_still_in_limbo

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