(Plain Press, May 2018)       The League of Women Voters are backing Ohio State Issue One with a volunteer presence out in the community as well as with information on their website. If it passes, Issue One will change the way Ohio draws up congressional district boundaries.

Literature from the League of Women Voters of Ohio says the new way of drawing up Congressional Districts will result in fairer and more competitive Congressional Districts. They say, currently, Ohio has some of the most gerrymandered Congressional Districts in the country. The League of Women Voters say such districts make it possible for a “party that gets fewer votes to win more seats.” Their literature demonstrates how gerrymandered districts are drawn to unfairly favor one party over another.

The League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland’s website says Issue One: “Prevents uncontrolled gerrymandering; Requires bipartisan maps; Reduces community splits”; and the “Public can submit maps”

Visitors to the art openings at Third Friday at W. 78^thStreet Studios in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood were greeted by Sue Dean-Dyke, Melanie Biche and Alice Butts, volunteers from the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland, who passed out literature and talked to potential voters about the importance of passing State Issue One.

Sue Dean-Dyke says she believes Issue One has a chance of passing because it has bipartisan support. Literature from the League of Women Voters of Ohio notes that the State Legislature voted “114 to 10” to place Issue One on the statewide ballot.

Dean-Dyke said that members of the League of Women Voters of Ohio had a seat at the table in helping to create Issue One. The League of Women Voters literature says, “Fair congressional districts ensure voters’ voices count and make it possible to hold politicians accountable.”

According to the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland website, the League is committed to this proposal.  However, if it doesn’t pass on May 8^th, the League of Women Voters will continue to collect signatures to place another proposal to create fair congressional districts on the November ballot.

Common Cause of Ohio has also given its support to Issue 1. Their literature calls for “Fair Districts/Fair Elections.” The literature says: “Let Ohio voters choose their representatives. Keep politicians from hand-picking their voters. Stop the unfair practice of gerrymandering.”