"We simply cannot ignore one part of the Constitution to comply with another," said Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose Thursday.

He and the Ohio Redistricting Commission find themselves in a couple desperate races with time. Thursday, the Republican-led commission said it could not submit redrawn House and Senate maps as the Ohio Supreme Court directed them.

Democrats gave them two options that met the court's criteria of representing the 54-46 Republican advantage, but they got thrown out. Friday night, the court said the Republicans on the commission have five days to submit a written explanation for missing that deadline.

"Those looking to cast blame or score political points will perhaps represent that the situation we're in is simply because of a lack of will and I don't believe that's the case," LaRose said Thursday.

The other race with time - making sure the May primary isn't impacted.
State law says new maps had to be drawn no later than this week so boards of election could prepare to get military and other absentee ballots printed and sent out by March 18.

Jessie Balmert, reporter for the Columbus Dispatch, says redistricting is an inherently messy process, but rarely to this extent.

"We are getting, as the Secretary of State said, dangerously close to violating federal law," says Balmert. "You need those (district) lines to tell people which House or Senate district they're in, and we just don't have that information right now."

There's also the possibility of splitting the primaries - one for for local elections - one for state House and Senate races.
That, many believe, would disenfranchise voters.
Whatever is to happen between now and then, it's a race against time no side seems to be winning.