In less than two weeks, Ohio voters will decide on a radical ballot measure that inherently contradicts America’s founding principles and will further erode a republican form of government in the Buckeye State.

On Tuesday, November 5, the voters will decide whether to pass the measure officially titled “Issue 1.” If passed, this proposed constitutional amendment would establish a technocratic “Citizens Redistricting Commission,” comprised of unelected technocrats who are unaccountable to the Legislature or voters, to redraw Ohio’s congressional and state legislative districts every 10 years.

Supporters claim this measure would prevent gerrymandering. In reality, however, it is a direct assault on our traditional, republican form of government that the Founding Fathers established.

Unaccountable Commission

The Founding Fathers established the United States as a constitutional republic — which operates under the rule of law — and not a democracy, which operates under the ever-changing whims of men. Nor did they establish a technocracy, which is run by unelected “experts” who rule via central planning. Furthermore, they established a system of self-government via elected representatives (i.e., legislators). A technocratic body that is unaccountable to the people, and that operates independently of the people’s elected representatives, violates these important principles.

Redistricting commissions don’t necessarily result in fairer representation. For example, in the 2010 redistricting cycle, California Democrats used the state’s independent redistricting commission to draw maps that overrepresented Democrats. They did so again after 2020.

Not only is the proposed redistricting commission antithetical to the American form of government, but so is the method Ohio is using to implement it. Statewide referendums inherently contradict our republican form of government. In addition to being a major step toward democracy — and away from a republican form of government — they make it easy to adopt radical and poorly thought-out measures that significantly grow the size and scope of government.

Furthermore, they usually empower left-wing interests rather than ordinary citizens. An analysis of recent referendums reveals that leftist groups and donors have used them to enact radical policies, including legalized abortion, ranked-choice voting, and Medicaid expansion.

Readers can find more information about the problems of independent redistricting commissions and direct democracy in the article “Restore State Government,” published in the October 14 issue of The New American magazine.

Ohio voters would be wise to vote “No” on Issue 1, and prevent the further decimation of a republican form of government in the Buckeye State.