Frank LaRose issues directive after federal ruling to use rejected redistricting maps

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose issued a directive to county boards of elections on Friday following a federal court order to conduct the August primary with the third set of redistricting maps previously rejected by the Ohio Supreme Court.
The federal court recognized in its decision that Ohio voters have the constitutional right to have their voices heard in a primary election this year.
This ruling is a temporary solution allowing LaRose and Ohio's 88 county boards of elections to conduct a fair election, while not removing the burden on the Ohio Redistricting Commission to adopt a more permanent, constitutional solution for 2024 and beyond.
LaRose says his office and its partners at the 88 county boards of elections have already begun working to implement these directives.
"Despite the unprecedented delays and challenges we've faced this year, we remain committed to giving Ohioans the accessible election they expect and the confidence in the integrity of that election, which they deserve," LaRose said.
The directive issued by LaRose states the following:
- A statewide primary election will be conducted on August 2, 2022 for the offices of State Representative, State Senator, and Member of [Political Party] State Central Committee.
- The boards will use the district data files for the Third District Map adopted by the Ohio Redistricting Commission on February 24 (86 of 88 counties have already completed programing their systems for this set of maps).
- All boards must program their voter registration and central tabulation systems with with the third district map data by June 7.
- Boards must follow the revised elections calendar set forth in the directive for candidate petition recertification, protests, residency, withdrawals, independent candidacies, campaign finance deadlines, and other key requirements associated with conducting a statewide primary election on August 2.