Another major blow from the Ohio Supreme Court as it once again rejected the Ohio Redistricting Commission's redrawn general assembly and congressional voting district maps. 

21 WFMJ talked with a candidate who brought a lawsuit, saying the maps submitted were not fair, or were gerrymandered in Republican's favor. 

 

The Ohio Supreme Court has given the Redistricting Commission ten days to resubmit new maps that are constitutional. 

 

The clock is ticking after Ohio's Supreme Court ruled the states Redistricting Commission must file new maps boundaries for general assembly and congressional voting districts with the Secretary of State by the February 17th, 2022. 

 

The new maps must also be filed with the Ohio Supreme Court by 9:00 a.m. February 18th, 2022.

 

Bria Bennett who is running for State Representative in the 64th district sued along with over a dozen other people and groups who say the maps were unconstitutional.

 

"This is another huge win for democracy and for voters, the Ohio Supreme Court was very clear with with decision, and the redistricting commission and the republican majority Redistricting Commission ignored them so it was only right the Supreme Court struck it down. So another big win," said Bennett. 

 

Some of the groups include the ACLU, A. Philip Randolph Institute, and the League of Women Voters.

 

"Anytime you start to look around the big C's, Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, you start to get squiggles that don't even look appropriate, and those are the ones that have been called out, and those are the ones that should be given the most attention," said Bennett.

 

"If you look at the map right now it packs a lot of democrats in Trumbull County together, which is why you have a district of Warren, Niles, Liberty, Girard. It's because it essentially they said here, here's your district, you can have your district but we'll take the surrounding ones," added Bennett

 

A spokesperson for Ohio Governor Mike DeWine SAID they must review the Supreme Court decision before they make a comment. 

 

21 WFMJ also reached out to the Mahoning and Trumbull Republican Party Chairmen but haven't heard back from them yet.

 

21 WFMJ asked about the timeline of ten days.

 

"The plaintiffs on my case submitted maps, there were several maps submitted, constitutional maps submitted, so they have a pool to chose from, they just have to put party affiliation aside and go with what the people want, which are fair maps that are constitutional," said Bennett.

 

People or groups who disagree with new maps submitted to the Ohio Supreme Court on the 18th will have three days to file objections.