A new Focus on Facts is available: Congressional District Boundaries in Ohio: Impact on Voters and Party Representation in the U.S. Congress by Dr. Mark Salling

Abstract: 

On May 3, 2019, a panel of three U.S. Federal court judges in Cincinnati ruled that the boundary lines that have been used since 2011 for all of Ohio’s 16 U.S. Congressional districts are unconstitutional. The court was “…convinced by the evidence that this partisan gerrymander was intentional and effective and that no legitimate justification accounts for its extremity.” The plaintiffs offered testimony and evidence that extreme partisanship was used in 2011 to draw Congressional boundaries, thus denying some voters their constitutional rights. Defendants countered with testimony and evidence that the districts were drawn legally and fairly. Ultimately, the case is likely to end up in the U.S. Supreme Court.

More about Focus on Facts:

Focus on Facts provides brief, thought-provoking information about urban policy issues based on research conducted at the Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs. Our purpose is to stimulate additional discussion and debate. The series includes a “Map of the Month” as well as other formats. Questions or comments about specific topics can be addressed via email to the author(s). Questions or comments about the series of publications can be addressed to the Focus on Facts editor, Associate Dean Bob Gleeson at r.gleeson@csuohio.edu.

This and subsequent reports in this series are available on the Focus on Facts newsletter page.