FULL TEXT OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Be it Resolved by the People of the State of Ohio that Articles XI Sections 1 through 10, and XIX
Sections 1 through 3 of the Ohio Constitution are repealed and Article XX is added to the
Constitution as follows with new language appearing in standard text and existing language to be
repealed appearing with strike throughs:

Article XX

Section 1. Establishment of the Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission

(A) To ensure an open and transparent process and fair outcomes that preserve the political
power inherent in the people, the Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission is hereby
established upon the effective date of this article and shall be responsible for adopting a
redistricting plan for the general assembly and a redistricting plan for the United States
House of Representatives, as provided in this article.

(B) Redistricting and the operations of the commission shall be governed in accordance with
the procedural and substantive requirements set forth in this article.

(C) The commission shall consist of fifteen members who have demonstrated the absence of
any disqualifying conflicts of interest and who have shown an ability to conduct the
redistricting process with impartiality, integrity, and fairness. Membership on the
commission shall consist of:

(1) Five members who are affiliated with the First Major Party;

(2) Five members who are affiliated with the Second Major Party;

(3) Five members who are independent.

(D) The commission shall be constituted and convened no later than May 16, 2025, and no
later than January 16 of every year ending in one for subsequent redistricting cycles.

(E) The term of office for each member of the commission shall expire upon the appointment
of the first member of the succeeding commission.

Section 2. Establishment of Bipartisan Screening Panel; Screening of Applicants;

Formation of the Commission

(A) A bipartisan screening panel is hereby established upon the effective date of this article to
review and screen applicants interested in serving as members of the commission. The
bipartisan screening panel shall consist of four retired judges, two of whom affiliate with
the First Major Party and two of whom affiliate with the Second Major Party.

(B) In the initial 2024-2025 redistricting cycle and in each subsequent redistricting cycle,
members of the bipartisan screening panel shall be selected as follows:
 (1) The four members of the Ohio ballot board who were appointed by members of
the general assembly shall convene to oversee selection of the bipartisan
screening panel. All administrative and operational support for this selection shall
be provided by the Department of Administrative Services.

(2) The four members of the ballot board convened under section 2(B)(1) of this
article shall make available an application form no later than December 16, 2024,
and no later than May 1 of every year ending in zero, that interested retired judges
shall use to apply to be a member of the bipartisan screening panel. The form
shall require that an interested retired judge submit sufficient information to
enable the four members of the ballot board to assess the judge’s qualifications
and ability to be impartial and competent, and to carry out required duties with
full public confidence. To be eligible to serve on the bipartisan screening panel, a
retired judge shall satisfy all the requirements of section 3 of this article. In
addition, a retired judge shall attest that he or she has had no known
communication material to redistricting matters with anyone ineligible under
section 3(C) of this article during the sixty days prior to the submission of his or
her application and that he or she is and will continue to be otherwise free from
conflicts of interest. The deadline for interested retired judges to submit
applications to the ballot board is 30 days after the application first becomes
available.

(3) After submission of applications, the bipartisan screening panel shall be

constituted as follows:

(a) The members of the ballot board who affiliate with the First Major Party
shall review the applications of retired judges who affiliate with the First
Major Party and provide a list of eight eligible applicants and their
applications to the two members of the ballot board who affiliate with the
Second Major Party. The members of the ballot board who affiliate with
the Second Major Party shall review the applications of retired judges who
affiliate with the Second Major Party and provide a list of eight eligible
applicants and their applications to the two members of the ballot board
who affiliate with the First Major Party.

(b) From these lists, the members of the ballot board affiliated with the First
Major Party then shall select two judges affiliated with the Second Major
Party, and the members of the ballot board affiliated with the Second
Major Party shall select two judges affiliated with the First Major Party.

(c) The members of the bipartisan screening panel shall be selected no later
than January 30, 2025, and no later than June 30 of every year ending in
zero.

(C) During his or her service on the bipartisan screening panel, each member of the panel
must promptly disclose any contacts with any person disqualified from service on the
commission under section 3(C) of this article and can be removed by a unanimous vote of
other members of the bipartisan screening panel for any of the causes set forth in section
4(C)(1), (3), (4), or (5) of this article. In the event of resignation or removal, a
 replacement will be appointed from the same list and using the same process as for the
original appointment. Members of the bipartisan screening panel shall be paid a per diem
equal to the per diem paid to a judge assigned to serve on a court of appeals in Ohio.

(D) Once constituted, the bipartisan screening panel shall administer the application process
and conduct the commissioner selection process in a manner that is impartial, transparent,
and fair and that promotes applications from a geographically and demographically
representative cross-section of Ohio.

(1) To assist it in its duties, the bipartisan screening panel shall engage a professional
search firm to solicit applications for commissioner, screen and provide
information about applicants, check references, and otherwise facilitate the
application review and applicant interview process.

(a) Upon approval of this article, and in each year ending with zero, the
Department of Administrative Services shall design and issue a request for
proposals from interested professional search firms, including soliciting
information necessary for a conflict-of-interest check, and shall contract
with the chosen professional search firm. The Department of
Administrative Services shall create a list of no more than three
recommended professional search firms and provide it to the bipartisan
screening panel.

(b) From the list provided by the Department of Administrative Services, the
bipartisan screening panel shall select a professional search firm based on
its specialization in screening high-level public sector employees,
professional and technological capability to carry out the process,
including investigations of applicants and public broadcasting of
interviews, an ability to abide by the requirements of open meetings and
public records laws, and, during the current year and for six years
preceding the application deadline, absence of any conflicts of interests or
connections or relationships with interested parties, including, but not
limited to, any employment of or contracting relationships or other
involvement with elected officials or candidates for office, or any
contractual relationships or other involvement with political parties, ballot
measure campaigns, or political action committees.

(2) The form used by applicants interested in serving on the commission shall obtain
all required disclosures and information necessary for the bipartisan screening
panel to determine each applicant’s qualifications, conflicts of interest, party
affiliation, relevant experiences and skills, community ties, and commitment to
impartiality, compromise, and fairness.

(a) Party affiliation shall be determined based on the applicant’s voting record
in party primaries and various other relevant factors including, but not
limited to, political contributions, campaign activities, and other reliable
indicia of partisan affiliation.
 (b) An applicant who has voted in two consecutive even-year primary
elections for the same political party in the six years immediately
preceding the application deadline shall be presumed to be affiliated with
that party unless relevant factors demonstrate otherwise.

(c) All applications shall be submitted under penalty of perjury by a deadline

set by the bipartisan screening panel.

(3) The bipartisan screening panel shall provide adequate public notice of the
application process and accept applications for a period adequate to gather
applications from a geographically and demographically representative cross-
section of Ohio.

(4) After the close of the application period, the bipartisan screening panel shall
review submitted applications and by majority vote create a pool of ninety
applicants who are qualified to serve on the commission pursuant to sections 3(A)
and (C) of this article, who have made requisite disclosures pursuant to section
3(B) of this article, and who collectively form a geographically and
demographically representative cross-section of Ohio. This applicant pool shall
consist of thirty applicants affiliated with the First Major Party, thirty applicants
affiliated with the Second Major Party, and thirty applicants who are independent.

(5) The bipartisan screening panel shall make public the name, the current
municipality or township of residence, and the partisan affiliation, if any, of each
person in the applicant pool and shall create a portal for public comment on the
applicants. Members of the bipartisan screening panel, in conjunction with the
search firm, shall conduct or direct the search firm to conduct and publicly
broadcast interviews with each applicant in the pool that examine the applicant’s
partisan affiliation, relevant experience and skills, community ties, and
commitment to impartiality, compromise, and fairness.

(6) After reviewing public comments and conducting interviews, the bipartisan
screening panel shall select and publish a list of forty-five finalists for
commissioner who are well qualified and collectively form a geographically and
demographically representative cross-section of Ohio. The finalists shall include
fifteen applicants affiliated with the First Major Party, fifteen applicants affiliated
with the Second Major Party, and fifteen independent applicants.

(7) In a public meeting not later than three days after publication of the finalist list,
the bipartisan screening panel shall randomly draw six commissioners from the
finalists. Two shall be affiliated with the First Major Party, two shall be affiliated
with the Second Major Party, and two shall be independent.

(8) The initial six commissioners shall review the applications, public comments, and
interview records of the remaining finalists and, in a subsequent public meeting
held within 21 days of their selection as commissioners, select nine additional
commissioners from the remaining applicants in the pool, three of whom are
affiliated with the First Major Party, three of whom are affiliated with the Second
Major Party, and three of whom are independent. To be selected, an applicant
 must receive affirmative votes from a majority of the initial six commissioners
including the votes of at least one commissioner affiliated with the First Major
Party, one commissioner affiliated with the Second Major Party, and one
independent commissioner. These selections shall be based on the strength of the
applications and shall ensure that the commission reflects the geographic and
demographic diversity of Ohio.

(E) Within 60 days of the deadline contained in section 1(D) of this article, the bipartisan
screening panel with the assistance of the professional search firm shall create by a
majority vote a pool of at least six potential special masters who are willing to serve if
needed, in the event of a legal challenge to a redistricting plan under section 8 of this
article.

(1) A person may not be included in the pool of potential special masters unless the
person has established that he or she is not disqualified pursuant to section 3(C) of
this article, has made disclosures pursuant to section 3(B) of this article, and has
been screened by the bipartisan screening panel and determined to have:

(a) The skill, knowledge, and ability to analyze redistricting plans and, if
needed, produce redistricting plans that satisfy all requirements of this
constitution and federal law, and in accordance with the record before the
court;

(b) A lack of contractual relationships with any political party, political action
committee, office holder, candidate, or party-affiliated organization in the
preceding six years;

(c) A lack of substantive communications regarding redistricting matters in

the preceding six years with any individual disqualified pursuant to section
3(C) of this article; and

(d) A lack of any relationships, connections, personal or professional

activities or affiliations, or conflicts of interest that may undermine public
trust in the independence of potential special masters or the integrity of the
redistricting process.

(2) The bipartisan screening panel shall remove from the pool the name of any
potential special master whom the panel determines no longer satisfies the
qualification requirements in section 2(E)(1) of this article or who is no longer
available to serve. A person included in the pool of potential special masters shall
notify the bipartisan screening panel immediately if any of the information
provided to the panel during the screening process changes or if he or she is no
longer willing or able to serve as a special master.

(F) The terms of members of the bipartisan screening panel shall expire upon the certification
by the Secretary of State of redistricting plans for the general assembly and United States
House of Representatives for each redistricting cycle.

Section 3. Qualifications; disclosures; post service restriction

(A) To be eligible to serve, a commissioner shall be a resident of Ohio who has continuously
resided in the state during the current year and immediately preceding six years and shall
be an elector in good standing at the time of application.

(B) Each applicant seeking to serve on the commission shall disclose:

(1) Contributions made by the applicant to federal, state, or local candidates for
elective office, political parties, or political action committees, including direct
and in-kind contributions, during the current year and immediately preceding six
years;

(2) The applicant’s history of partisan affiliations, including primary ballots voted,
non-monetary contributions to political campaigns, and any other political
engagement, including, but not limited to, involvement in political campaigns or
other political organizations whether paid or volunteer;

(3) The identity of family members who would be ineligible under section 3(C) of
this article; and

(4) Personal or professional relationships with persons during the current year or the
immediately preceding six years who would be ineligible under section 3(C) of
this article; and

(5) All financial information required by law.

(C) The following persons shall be ineligible to serve on the commission, on the bipartisan
screening panel, as a special master, or as staff, a professional, or a consultant to the
commission:

(1) Current elected or appointive officials to federal, state, or local office and their
immediate family members;

(2) Persons who have served in any federal, state, or local elective or appointive
office in Ohio for any period during the current year and immediately preceding
six years and their immediate family members;

(3) Persons who have been a candidate for any federal, state, or local elective office
in Ohio during the current year or immediately preceding six years and their
immediate family members;

(4) Persons who have served as an officer, paid consultant, or contractor to any
political party, political action committee, or campaign committee at the federal,
state, or local level for any period during the current year and immediately
preceding six years and their immediate family members;

(5) Persons who have served as a staff member, paid consultant, or contractor for any
elected official or candidate for any federal, state, or local office for any period
 during the current year and immediately preceding six years and their immediate
family members;

(6) Persons who have been a registered lobbyist or legislative agent with the State of
Ohio or the federal government for any period during the current year and
immediately preceding six years and their immediate family members.

(D) Commissioners shall be ineligible to hold elective or appointive state office in Ohio for
six years following the certification of the redistricting plan for the general assembly.

Section 4. Commission internal governance and staff

(A) All deliberations and actions of the commission shall be in public meetings and all
actions by the commission shall require the affirmative vote of at least nine
commissioners. including the vote of at least two commissioners affiliated with the First
Major Party, two commissioners affiliated with the Second Major Party, and two
independent commissioners. The presence of nine commissioners shall constitute a
quorum.

(B) At the first meeting of the full commission, the commission shall select two members to
serve as co-chairs. The co-chairs may not have the same partisan affiliation. The co-
chairs shall be responsible for presiding over meetings of the commission on an
alternating basis and performing such other administrative duties as designated by the
commission.

(C) A commissioner shall be removed only by the commission and only for cause after
notice, a public hearing, and an opportunity for members of the public to comment. Any
of the following shall be cause for removal:

(1) Knowing failure to disclose information pursuant to section 3 of this article;

(2) Willful disregard for the provisions in section 5 of this article;

(3) Wanton and willful neglect of duty or gross misconduct or malfeasance in office;

(4) Incapacity or inability to perform his or her duties; or

(5) Behavior involving moral turpitude or other acts that undermine the public’s trust
in the commission and the redistricting process.

(D) The commission shall fill any vacancy on the commission by selecting from the list
established pursuant to section 2(D)(6) a finalist with the same partisan affiliation as the
removed or resigned commissioner.

(E) The commission shall retain staff, professionals, and consultants as needed to assist with
the responsibilities, duties, and operations of the commission. All staff, professionals,
and consultants shall be retained through a public application process undertaken with the
assistance of the Department of Administrative Services. All applicants seeking to serve
 the commission as a member of staff, a professional, or a consultant shall be subject to
the disclosure requirements and disqualifications in sections 3(B) and (C) of this article.
Commission staff shall include the following positions:

(1) Executive director and other administrative staff to assist with facilitating broad
public participation in redistricting including, but not limited to, public outreach,
transparency, scheduling hearings, data management, and deployment of
technology.

(2) Legal counsel with demonstrated experience in compliance and redistricting and,
in particular, in enforcing or otherwise applying the Voting Rights Act of 1965;
and

(3) Demographer or demographers with district mapping experience.

(F) Commissioners and commission staff, professionals, and consultants shall owe a duty to
the commission as a whole and shall act in the utmost public interest of the people of
Ohio and not that of any party, individual, or special interest.

Section 5. Redistricting process

(A) The commission shall conduct its hearings in a manner that invites broad public
participation throughout the state, including by using technology to broadcast
commission meetings and to facilitate meaningful participation from a range of Ohioans.

(1) In performing their duties, commissioners and commission staff, professionals,

and consultants shall adhere to all applicable public records and open meetings
laws.

(2) Commissioners and commission staff, professionals, and consultants shall not
communicate with any outside person about the redistricting process or
redistricting plan outcomes other than through designated public meetings or
official commission portals.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall attempt to contact
any member or members of the commission or commission staff, professional, or
consultants with the intent to influence the redistricting process or redistricting
plan outcomes other than through designated public meetings or official
commission portals. Any communication received by a commissioner or
commission staff, professionals, or consultants in violation of this provision shall
be immediately disclosed to the commission as a whole including legal counsel. If
the commission determines that the communication is a material violation of this
provision and that the identity of the person who made the communication and the
subject matter of that communication are of public interest, the commission shall
vote on whether to make such information public.

(B) Before adopting any redistricting plan, the commission shall hold at least three rounds of
public meetings:
 (1) Prior to the release of draft redistricting plans, but not later than July 11, 2025,
and not later than May 1 of every year ending in one, the commission shall hold at
least five initial input hearings to gather information from the public on
communities of interest and other factors that Ohioans believe should inform the
commission’s creation of redistricting plans. Hearings shall take place in all five
regions of Ohio, with at least one hearing in the northwest region, one in the
northeast region, one in the southeast region, one in the southwest region, and one
in the central region. The commission shall provide at least fourteen days’ notice
of the initial regional hearings.

(2) After release of draft redistricting plans, but not later than August 25, 2025, and
not later than June 15 of every year ending in one, the commission shall hold at
least five hearings across the five regions of Ohio to gather comments on the draft
plans. The commission shall provide at least fourteen days’ notice of the regional
draft redistricting plan hearings.

(3) In the event that the commission makes subsequent revisions to a draft
redistricting plan, the commission shall hold at least two hearings to gather
comments on any such plans. The commission shall provide at least three days’
notice of the revised redistricting plan hearings.

(4) No later than September 19, 2025, and no later than July 15 of every year ending
in one, the commission shall adopt final redistricting plans. Proposed final
redistricting plans shall be made public no later than three days prior to a meeting
to adopt final redistricting plans.

(C) The commission shall make census and relevant election data, demographic data, and
other public records broadly accessible and provide a portal for digital submission of
public comments. All redistricting plans, whether draft or final, shall be produced with
digital geographic files in a format that allows for analysis and reproduction of
demographic data, and an analysis of district performance.

(D) Within three days of approval of any final redistricting plan, the commission shall issue
and make publicly available a report for such redistricting plan that explains the basis on
which the commission made decisions and sets forth how the commission used the public
comments and the evidence presented to it to achieve compliance with the requirements
for drawing districts. The report shall include relevant definitions of terms and standards
used for drawing each such plan. In conjunction with the report, the commission shall
also release the complete record before the commission.

(E) If any final redistricting plan adopted by the commission is not challenged under section
8 of this article, the commission shall submit that final redistricting plan to the Secretary
of State for certification ten days after the redistricting plan report in section 5(D) of this
article is made publicly available. The Secretary of State shall certify each final
redistricting plan within one day of receiving the plan.

Section 6. Rules for drawing districts

(A) Each redistricting plan shall contain single-member districts that are geographically
contiguous and that comply with the United States Constitution and all applicable federal
laws, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

(B) To ban partisan gerrymandering and prohibit the use of redistricting plans that favor one
political party and disfavor others, the statewide proportion of districts in each
redistricting plan that favors each political party shall correspond closely to the statewide
partisan preferences of the voters of Ohio.

(1) For purposes of this section, the statewide proportion of districts in each
redistricting plan that favors each political party shall be determined by:

(a) Calculating the number of districts in the redistricting plan that would
have been won by the candidates representing the First Major Party and
the Second Major Party using the two-party vote in each statewide
partisan general election contest held in the preceding six years for which
precinct-level data is available;

(b) Dividing each of these numbers by the total number of districts in the
redistricting plan to obtain the proportion of districts in the redistricting
plan that would have been won by candidates representing the First Major
Party and the Second Major Party in each election contest; and

(c) Calculating the median of these proportions for each political party.

(2) The statewide partisan preferences of the voters of Ohio shall be determined by:

(a) Calculating the proportion of the statewide two-party vote received by the
candidates representing the First Major Party and the Second Major Party
in each statewide partisan general election contest held in the preceding
six years for which precinct-level data is available; and

(b) Calculating the median of these proportions for each political party.

(3) For the purposes of this section, to correspond closely means that the statewide
proportion of districts in each redistricting plan that favors each political party
may deviate by no more than three percentage points in either direction, or if this
is arithmetically impossible, by the smallest possible proportion that is larger than
three percentage points, from the statewide partisan preferences of the voters of
Ohio.

(4) No redistricting plan shall be drawn with consideration of the place of residence
of any incumbent elected official or any candidate for state or congressional
office.

(5) In deciding whether to adopt a particular redistricting plan for the general
assembly, the commission shall not take into account senators whose terms will
not expire within two years of the plan’s effective date would be affected by
following the provisions of Section 6(E).
(C) Each redistricting plan shall also comply, to the extent possible, with the criteria listed
below in order of priority; provided, however, that application of the criteria below does
not permit adoption of a redistricting plan that violates paragraphs (A) or (B) of this
section:

(1) Districts for the same office shall be reasonably equal in total population;

(a) The total population of Ohio as determined by the most recent federal
decennial census shall serve as the population basis for equalizing district
population.

(b) Persons in the custody of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and

Corrections or its successor agency shall be counted at their last known
pre-incarceration address for purposes of equalizing district population.

(2) Districts shall ensure the equal functional ability of politically cohesive and
geographically proximate racial, ethnic, and language minorities to participate in
the political process and to elect candidates of choice; and

(3) Districts shall preserve communities of interest to the extent practicable.

(a) A community of interest is an area where the record before the

commission demonstrates the existence of communities of people with
broadly shared interests and representational needs, including, without
limitation, interests and representational needs that arise from common
ethnic, racial, social, cultural, geographic, environmental, socioeconomic,
or historic identities or concerns.

(b) Counties, municipal corporations, townships, and school districts may

constitute communities of interest provided the record before the
commission clearly and convincingly demonstrates such subdivision is a
community of people who have broadly shared interests and
representational needs that are greater than those of other overlapping
communities of interest.

(c) Under no circumstance shall communities of interest include a community

defined based on a shared political identity or common relationships with
political parties or political candidates.

(d) In considering which overlapping communities of interest to preserve, the

commission shall give greater consideration to those communities of
interest whose representational needs would be most benefited from the
community’s inclusion in a single district.

(D) In the redistricting plan for the general assembly, districts for the Ohio House of
Representatives shall be numbered from one to ninety-nine, and districts for the Ohio
Senate shall be composed of three contiguous House of Representatives districts and shall
be numbered from one to thirty-three.
 (E) At any time the boundaries of Ohio Senate districts are changed in any general assembly
final redistricting plan adopted pursuant to this article, a senator whose term will not
expire within two years of the time the adopted redistricting plan becomes effective shall
represent, for the remainder of the term for which the senator was elected, the Senate
district that contains the largest portion of the population of the district from which the
senator was elected, and the district shall be given the number of the district from which
the senator was elected. If more than one senator whose term will not so expire would
represent the same district by following the provisions of this section, the commission in
the report required under section 5(D) of this article or the Supreme Court of Ohio
adopting a final redistricting plan under section 8(D)(3) or (4) of this article shall
designate which senator shall represent the district and shall designate which district the
other senator or senators shall represent for the balance of their term or terms.

Section 7. Impasse procedure

(A) If the commission fails to adopt any final redistricting plan under section 5 of this article
by September 19, 2025, or by July 15 of every year ending in one, the following
procedures shall be followed to resolve the impasse:

(1) Each commissioner shall have three days to submit no more than one proposed
redistricting plan for each redistricting plan that is the subject of impasse for a
ranked-choice selection process. Any redistricting plan submitted for the ranked-
choice selection process shall comply with the criteria in section 6 of this article
and shall be made publicly available for comment for seven days.

(2) Within two days of the end of the public comment period, each commissioner
shall then rank all the submitted redistricting plans starting with his or her most
preferred redistricting plan followed by submitted redistricting plans ranked in
decreasing order of preference. The submitted redistricting plan that wins a total
vote runoff shall be the final redistricting plan. A total vote runoff process shall be
conducted as follows:

(a) If a majority of commissioners rank the same submitted redistricting plan

in the first position, that submitted redistricting plan is adopted.

(b) If no submitted redistricting plan garners a majority of first-position

rankings, each submitted redistricting plan is allocated the number of
points corresponding to the commissioners’ rankings. The method of
allocating points for each submitted redistricting plan is to allocate one
point for every commissioner’s first-rank vote, and two points for every
commissioner’s second-rank vote, with this process continuing until all
commissioners’ votes are allocated for each submitted redistricting plan.
Each submitted redistricting plan’s points total is the sum of the points
from all commissioners, and the submitted redistricting plan with the
highest point total is eliminated. The rankings of the other submitted
redistricting plans are then adjusted if necessary to reflect that elimination
and any changes in the point total. If there is a tie for the highest point
total, the submitted redistricting plan to be eliminated shall be chosen
through a random process.
 (c) This process of eliminating the submitted redistricting plan with the
highest point total is repeated until a redistricting plan has the majority of
first-position rankings at which point it becomes the adopted final
redistricting plan.

(B) With respect to any final redistricting plan adopted under the provisions of this section,
the commission shall issue a report consistent with section 5(D) of this article and shall
submit that final redistricting plan to the Secretary of State for certification consistent
with section 5(E) of this article, and the Secretary of State shall certify that final
redistricting plan consistent with section 5(E) of this article.

Section 8. Jurisdiction of Supreme Court; expedited judicial review; effect of determination

of constitutionality.

(A) The Supreme Court of Ohio shall have exclusive, original jurisdiction in all cases which
contend that a redistricting plan adopted by the commission fails to comply with the
requirements of section 6(B) of this article.

(B) Any registered elector in Ohio may seek review of an adopted redistricting plan under
this section by filing a petition within ten days of the commission’s issuance of the report
required under section 5(D) of this article. If more than one such petition is filed, the
Supreme Court of Ohio shall consolidate such petitions into a single action for purposes
of adjudication. In any action brought under this section, the record before the court shall
be limited to the record before the commission.

(C) The commission shall have exclusive standing to defend any action brought under this
section and shall file a response to any petition within five days of the petition’s filing.

(D) Actions brought under this section shall be adjudicated using the following expedited
review process:

(1) Within five days of the filing of any petition under this section, the Supreme
Court of Ohio shall by unanimous vote select two special masters from the pool
established by the bipartisan screening panel under section 2(E) of this article. If
the court is unable to unanimously select two special masters, the administrative
director of the Supreme Court of Ohio shall randomly select two special masters
from the pool created by the bipartisan screening panel. The two special masters
selected shall be entitled to reasonable compensation set by the Supreme Court of
Ohio commensurate with their skills, experience, and expertise and consistent
with industry standards, plus reimbursement of reasonable, actual, and necessary
expenses. The special masters shall hold a public hearing within twenty days of
the filing of the commission’s response to the latest filed petition. No later than
seven days after conclusion of the hearing, applying a standard of review
deferential to the decisions of the commission, the special masters shall review
the challenged redistricting plan, considering only the record before the court, to
determine whether it complies with section 6(B) of this article and shall issue a
report setting forth their determination of whether the commission abused its
discretion in concluding that the challenged redistricting plan complies with the
 requirements of section 6(B) of this article.

(2) If a petitioner or the commission disagrees with the report and determination
issued by the special masters, such party shall have seven days to file objections
with the Supreme Court of Ohio.

(a) If no objection to the special masters’ report and determination is timely

filed, the Supreme Court of Ohio shall issue an order adopting the
special masters’ report and determination as the final, non-reviewable
decision of the court.

(b) If any such objections are filed, the Supreme Court of Ohio shall hold a
public hearing on the objections within fifteen days of the filing of the
latest filed objection. Applying the same standard of review deferential
to the decisions of the commission, based on the record before the court,
the Supreme Court of Ohio shall issue a written order, with opinion,
within ten calendar days after the hearing, addressing and either
upholding or rejecting each objection to the special masters’
determination as to whether or not the commission abused its discretion
in concluding that the challenged redistricting plan complies with
section 6(B) of this article.

(3) If a final order of the Supreme Court of Ohio issued under paragraph (D)(2) of
this section determines that the commission abused its discretion in concluding
that a challenged redistricting plan fails to comply with the requirements of
section 6(B) of this article, the commission shall have seven days to make any
adjustments necessary to bring the redistricting plan into compliance and submit
the revised redistricting plan to the special masters and the Supreme Court of
Ohio. If the commission makes the necessary adjustments, the Supreme Court
shall issue an order adopting the revised redistricting plan as the final, non-
reviewable decision of the court.

(4) If the commission fails to make the necessary adjustments within seven days or
the court, in consultation with the special masters, concludes that the commission
has failed to adequately remedy the violation of section 6(B) of this article, the
Supreme Court of Ohio shall immediately order the special masters to make such
minimal adjustments within five days as are necessary to bring the challenged
redistricting plan into compliance. Changes made to a challenged redistricting
plan by the special masters shall not be reviewable by any court, and the Supreme
Court of Ohio shall issue a final order adopting the redistricting plan as adjusted
by the special masters.

(E) Within one day of the issuance of a final order approving a redistricting plan by the
Supreme Court of Ohio in a case brought under this section, the commission shall submit
such plan to the Secretary of State, who shall certify any such redistricting plan within
one day of receipt.
 (F) Except for claims brought under this section, no other challenges to an adopted final
redistricting plan, including challenges to the decisions of the commission with respect to
how best to comply with the criteria in section 6(C), may be brought in any court.

Section 9. Financial and administrative independence

(A) Commissioners shall be entitled to one-hundred and twenty-five dollars per day, plus
reimbursement for reasonable expenses at the rate set by the United States Internal
Revenue Service, for each day attending commission meetings or otherwise carrying out
the responsibilities of the commission. This amount shall be adjusted for inflation
annually beginning in 2025.

(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this constitution or any laws of this state, the
general assembly shall make appropriations to the Department of Administrative
Services, the bipartisan screening panel, and the commission in amounts adequate for
each entity to fulfill its duty under this article, and the general assembly shall further
appropriate amounts adequate for funding those entities’ participation, if necessary, in all
related litigation. If the general assembly fails to comply with any of its obligations under
this paragraph, the Supreme Court of Ohio shall compel it to comply with such
obligations forthwith.

(1) For purposes of funding the commission, adequate funding shall mean:

(a) For redistricting in 2025, an amount appropriated by the general assembly

no later than December 10, 2024, that is not less than seven million
dollars.

(b) For each redistricting cycle after 2025, an amount appropriated no later
than January 1 of a year ending in zero that is not less than the amount
appropriated under sub-paragraph (B)(1)(a) of this section, adjusted for
inflation.

(c) The general assembly shall make separate and timely appropriations to
cover all the commission’s expenses in any related litigation.

(2) For purposes of funding the bipartisan screening panel, adequate funding shall
mean an amount appropriated no later than December 10, 2024, and January 1 of
every subsequent year ending in zero, that is not less than one-eighth of the
amount appropriated under sub-paragraph (B)(1)(a) of this section, adjusted for
inflation. The general assembly shall make separate, timely, and adequate
appropriations to cover all the bipartisan screening panel’s expenses in any related
litigation.

(C) The work and compensation of the special masters under this article shall be timely and
adequately funded out of the budget of the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Section 10. Implementation

 (A) Upon the effective date of this article, all redistricting plans used to elect members of the
general assembly or the United States House of Representatives are void for any
subsequent election.

(B) In order to facilitate compliance with section 6 of this article, the Secretary of State shall,
within 90 days after any election, collect the precinct boundaries used by each county for
any statewide election held, and shall maintain such data and shall make it publicly
available on an ongoing basis in a manner suitable for analysis of the redistricting plans.

(C) The redistricting process set forth in this article shall take place once in a redistricting
cycle.

Section 11. Definitions

(A) “Effective date of this article” means the date on which the Secretary of State certifies
that voters have approved the addition of this article to the Ohio constitution.

(B) “Independent” means a person who is not affiliated with either the First Major Party or
the Second Major Party as determined by the bipartisan screening panel based on
available information.

(C) “First Major Party” means the political party whose candidate for governor received the
highest number of votes in the last election held for such office.

(D) “Second Major Party” means the political party whose candidate for governor received
the second highest number of votes in the last election held for such office.

(E) “Retired judge” means a person who left judicial service on any Ohio court by reason of
resignation or retirement. “Retired judge” does not include a person who was removed or
suspended without reinstatement from service on any Ohio court pursuant to the Rules
for the Government of the Judiciary or who resigned or retired from service on any Ohio
court while a complaint was pending against the person under those rules. A retired judge
may at the time of his or her selection be serving, and may thereafter continue serving, as
an assigned judge, teacher, mediator, or arbitrator so long as that service does not conflict
with the duties of the bipartisan screening panel.

(F) “Special master” means a person with the demonstrated ability, knowledge, experience,
and expertise to analyze, create, and, where warranted, modify redistricting plans in
accordance with constitutional requirements, as well as the capacity to evaluate evidence
relevant to such plans and such requirements and to generate a thorough, credible report
and determination regarding the same that will withstand judicial review and engender
public confidence. This may include a person with appropriate demographic analysis
abilities, experience with mapping populations at a state level, and legal understanding of
compliance requirements.

(G) “Adjusted for inflation” means annually applying the United States City Average
Consumer Price Index for urban consumers in the Midwest Region, East North Central
Division, or the future equivalent of such index.

(H) “Department of Administrative Services” means that department or its successor agency.
 (I) “Redistricting cycle” means the redrawing in 2024-2025 and following each subsequent
federal decennial census, in accordance with this article, of the boundaries of the districts
used to elect members of the general assembly and the United States House of
Representatives.

Section 12. Construction and severability

(A) The provisions of this article are severable. If any provision of this article or its
application is held to be invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or
applications, which shall be given maximum possible effect in the absence of the invalid
provision or application.

(B) If any provision of this article conflicts with other provisions of this constitution,
conflicts shall be resolved in favor of this article.

(C) All references to days in this article shall be understood as calendar days. If any deadline
or date in this article falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or official state holiday, the date or
deadline shall be extended to the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or official state
holiday.

(D) The commission may make reasonable adjustments to its deadlines in this article if
conditions beyond its control require such adjustment to allow adoption of redistricting
plans.

Article XI

Section 1. (A) The Ohio redistricting commission shall be responsible for the redistricting of this
state for the general assembly. The commission shall consist of the following seven members:
(1) The governor;
(2) The auditor of state;
(3) The secretary of state;
(4) One person appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(5) One person appointed by the legislative leader of the largest political party in the house of
representatives of which the speaker of the house of representatives is not a member;
(6) One person appointed by the president of the senate; and
(7) One person appointed by the legislative leader of the largest political party in the senate of
which the president of the senate is not a member.
No appointed member of the commission shall be a current member of congress.
The legislative leaders in the senate and the house of representatives of each of the two largest
political parties represented in the general assembly, acting jointly by political party, shall
appoint a member of the commission to serve as a co-chairperson of the commission.
(B)(1) Unless otherwise specified in this article or in Article XIX of this constitution, a simple
majority of the commission members shall be required for any action by the commission.
(2)(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2)(b) of this section, a majority vote of the
members of the commission, including at least one member of the commission who is a member
of each of the two largest political parties represented in the general assembly, shall be required
to do any of the following:
(i) Adopt rules of the commission;
(ii) Hire staff for the commission;
(iii) Expend funds.
(b) If the commission is unable to agree, by the vote required under division (B)(2)(a) of this
section, on the manner in which funds should be expended, each co-chairperson of the
commission shall have the authority to expend one-half of the funds that have been appropriated
to the commission.
(3) The affirmative vote of four members of the commission, including at least two members of
the commission who represent each of the two largest political parties represented in the general
assembly shall be required to adopt any general assembly district plan. For the purposes of this
division and of Section 1 of Article XIX of this constitution, a member of the commission shall
be considered to represent a political party if the member was appointed to the commission by a
member of that political party or if, in the case of the governor, the auditor of state, or the
secretary of state, the member is a member of that political party.
(C) At the first meeting of the commission, which the governor shall convene only in a year
ending in the numeral one, except as provided in Sections 8 and 9 of this article and in Sections 1
and 3 of Article XIX of this constitution, the commission shall set a schedule for the adoption of
procedural rules for the operation of the commission.
The commission shall release to the public a proposed general assembly district plan for the
boundaries for each of the ninety-nine house of representatives districts and the thirty-three
senate districts. The commission shall draft the proposed plan in the manner prescribed in this
article. Before adopting, but after introducing, a proposed plan, the commission shall conduct a
minimum of three public hearings across the state to present the proposed plan and shall seek
public input regarding the proposed plan. All meetings of the commission shall be open to the
public. Meetings shall be broadcast by electronic means of transmission using a medium readily
accessible by the general public.
The commission shall adopt a final general assembly district plan not later than the first day of
September of a year ending in the numeral one. After the commission adopts a final plan, the
commission shall promptly file the plan with the secretary of state. Upon filing with the secretary
of state, the plan shall become effective.
Four weeks after the adoption of a general assembly district plan or a congressional district plan,
whichever is later, the commission shall be automatically dissolved.
(D) The general assembly shall be responsible for making the appropriations it determines
necessary in order for the commission to perform its duties under this article and Article XIX of
this constitution.

Section 2. Each house of representatives district shall be entitled to a single representative in

each general assembly. Each senate district shall be entitled to a single senator in each general
assembly.

Section 3. (A) The whole population of the state, as determined by the federal decennial census
or, if such is unavailable, such other basis as the general assembly may direct, shall be divided by
the number "ninety-nine" and by the number "thirty-three" and the quotients shall be the ratio of
representation in the house of representatives and in the senate, respectively, for ten years next
succeeding such redistricting.
(B) A general assembly district plan shall comply with all of the requirements of division (B) of
this section.
(1) The population of each house of representatives district shall be substantially equal to the
ratio of representation in the house of representatives, and the population of each senate district
shall be substantially equal to the ratio of representation in the senate, as provided in division (A)
of this section. In no event shall any district contain a population of less than ninety-five per cent
nor more than one hundred five per cent of the applicable ratio of representation.
(2) Any general assembly district plan adopted by the commission shall comply with all
applicable provisions of the constitutions of Ohio and the United States and of federal law.
(3) Every general assembly district shall be composed of contiguous territory, and the boundary
of each district shall be a single nonintersecting continuous line.
(C) House of representatives districts shall be created and numbered in the following order of
priority, to the extent that such order is consistent with the foregoing standards:
(1) Proceeding in succession from the largest to the smallest, each county containing population
greater than one hundred five per cent of the ratio of representation in the house of
representatives shall be divided into as many house of representatives districts as it has whole
ratios of representation. Any fraction of the population in excess of a whole ratio shall be a part
of only one adjoining house of representatives district.
(2) Each county containing population of not less than ninety-five per cent of the ratio of
representation in the house of representatives nor more than one hundred five per cent of the
ratio shall be designated a representative district.
(3) The remaining territory of the state shall be divided into representative districts by combining
the areas of counties, municipal corporations, and townships. Where feasible, no county shall be
split more than once.
(D)(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (D)(1)(b) and (c) of this section, a county,
municipal corporation, or township is considered to be split if any contiguous portion of its
territory is not contained entirely within one district.
(b) If a municipal corporation or township has territory in more than one county, the contiguous
portion of that municipal corporation or township that lies in each county shall be considered to
be a separate municipal corporation or township for the purposes of this section.
(c) If a municipal corporation or township that is located in a county that contains a municipal
corporation or township that has a population of more than one ratio of representation is split for
the purpose of complying with division (E)(1)(a) or (b) of this section, each portion of that
municipal corporation or township shall be considered to be a separate municipal corporation or
township for the purposes of this section.
(2) Representative districts shall be drawn so as to split the smallest possible number of
municipal corporations and townships whose contiguous portions contain a population of more
than fifty per cent, but less than one hundred per cent, of one ratio of representation.
(3) Where the requirements of divisions (B), (C), and (D) of this section cannot feasibly be
attained by forming a representative district from whole municipal corporations and townships,
not more than one municipal corporation or township may be split per representative district.
(E)(1) If it is not possible for the commission to comply with all of the requirements of divisions
(B), (C), and (D) of this section in drawing a particular representative district, the commission
shall take the first action listed below that makes it possible for the commission to draw that
district:
(a) Notwithstanding division (D)(3) of this section, the commission shall create the district by
splitting two municipal corporations or townships whose contiguous portions do not contain a
population of more than fifty per cent, but less than one hundred per cent, of one ratio of
representation.
(b) Notwithstanding division (D)(2) of this section, the commission shall create the district by
splitting a municipal corporation or township whose contiguous portions contain a population of
more than fifty per cent, but less than one hundred per cent, of one ratio of representation.
(c) Notwithstanding division (C)(2) of this section, the commission shall create the district by
splitting, once, a single county that contains a population of not less than ninety-five per cent of
the ratio of representation, but not more than one hundred five per cent of the ratio of
representation.
(d) Notwithstanding division (C)(1) of this section, the commission shall create the district by
including in two districts portions of the territory that remains after a county that contains a
population of more than one hundred five per cent of the ratio of representation has been divided
into as many house of representatives districts as it has whole ratios of representation.
(2) If the commission takes an action under division (E)(1) of this section, the commission shall
include in the general assembly district plan a statement explaining which action the commission
took under that division and the reason the commission took that action.
(3) If the commission complies with divisions (E)(1) and (2) of this section in drawing a district,
the commission shall not be considered to have violated division (C)(1), (C)(2), (D)(2), or (D)(3)
of this section, as applicable, in drawing that district, for the purpose of an analysis under
division (D) of Section 9 of this article.

Section 4. (A) Senate districts shall be composed of three contiguous house of representatives
districts.
(B)(1) A county having at least one whole senate ratio of representation shall have as many
senate districts wholly within the boundaries of the county as it has whole senate ratios of
representation. Any fraction of the population in excess of a whole ratio shall be a part of only
one adjoining senate district.
(2) Counties having less than one senate ratio of representation, but at least one house of
representatives ratio of representation, shall be part of only one senate district.
(3) If it is not possible for the commission to draw representative districts that comply with all of
the requirements of this article and that make it possible for the commission to comply with all
of the requirements of divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section, the commission shall draw senate
districts so as to commit the fewest possible violations of those divisions. If the commission
complies with this division in drawing senate districts, the commission shall not be considered to
have violated division (B)(1) or (2) of this section, as applicable, in drawing those districts, for
the purpose of an analysis under division (D) of Section 9 of this article.
(C) The number of whole ratios of representation for a county shall be determined by dividing
the population of the county by the ratio of representation in the senate determined under
division (A) of Section 3 of this article.
(D) Senate districts shall be numbered from one through thirty-three and as provided in Section 5
of this article.

Section 5. At any time the boundaries of senate districts are changed in any general assembly
district plan made pursuant to any provision of this article, a senator whose term will not expire
within two years of the time the plan becomes effective shall represent, for the remainder of the
term for which the senator was elected, the senate district that contains the largest portion of the
population of the district from which the senator was elected, and the district shall be given the
number of the district from which the senator was elected. If more than one senator whose term
will not so expire would represent the same district by following the provisions of this section,
the plan shall designate which senator shall represent the district and shall designate which
district the other senator or senators shall represent for the balance of their term or terms.

Section 6. The Ohio redistricting commission shall attempt to draw a general assembly district
plan that meets all of the following standards:
(A) No general assembly district plan shall be drawn primarily to favor or disfavor a political
party.
(B) The statewide proportion of districts whose voters, based on statewide state and federal
partisan general election results during the last ten years, favor each political party shall
correspond closely to the statewide preferences of the voters of Ohio.
(C) General assembly districts shall be compact.
Nothing in this section permits the commission to violate the district standards described in
Section 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 of this article.

Section 7. Notwithstanding the fact that boundaries of counties, municipal corporations, and
townships within a district may be changed, district boundaries shall be created by using the
boundaries of counties, municipal corporations, and townships as they exist at the time of the
federal decennial census on which the redistricting is based, or, if unavailable, on such other
basis as the general assembly has directed.

Section 8. (A)(1) If the Ohio redistricting commission fails to adopt a final general assembly
district plan not later than the first day of September of a year ending in the numeral one, in
accordance with Section 1 of this article, the commission shall introduce a proposed general
assembly district plan by a simple majority vote of the commission.
(2) After introducing a proposed general assembly district plan under division (A)(1) of this
section, the commission shall hold a public hearing concerning the proposed plan, at which the
public may offer testimony and at which the commission may adopt amendments to the proposed
plan. Members of the commission should attend the hearing; however, only a quorum of the
members of the commission is required to conduct the hearing.
(3) After the hearing described in division (A)(2) of this section is held, and not later than the
fifteenth day of September of a year ending in the numeral one, the commission shall adopt a
final general assembly district plan, either by the vote required to adopt a plan under division
(B)(3) of Section 1 of this article or by a simple majority vote of the commission.
(B) If the commission adopts a final general assembly district plan in accordance with division
(A)(3) of this section by the vote required to adopt a plan under division (B)(3) of Section 1 of
this article, the plan shall take effect upon filing with the secretary of state and shall remain
effective until the next year ending in the numeral one, except as provided in Section 9 of this
article.
(C)(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(1)(b) of this section, if the commission
adopts a final general assembly district plan in accordance with division (A)(3) of this section by
a simple majority vote of the commission, and not by the vote required to adopt a plan under
division (B)(3) of Section 1 of this article, the plan shall take effect upon filing with the secretary
of state and shall remain effective until two general elections for the house of representatives
have occurred under the plan.
(b) If the commission adopts a final general assembly district plan in accordance with division
(A)(3) of this section by a simple majority vote of the commission, and not by the vote required
to adopt a plan under division (B) of Section 1 of this article, and that plan is adopted to replace a
plan that ceased to be effective under division (C)(1)(a) of this section before a year ending in
the numeral one, the plan adopted under this division shall take effect upon filing with the
secretary of state and shall remain effective until a year ending in the numeral one, except as
provided in Section 9 of this article.
(2) A final general assembly district plan adopted under division (C)(1)(a) or (b) of this section
shall include a statement explaining what the commission determined to be the statewide
preferences of the voters of Ohio and the manner in which the statewide proportion of districts in
the plan whose voters, based on statewide state and federal partisan general election results
during the last ten years, favor each political party corresponds closely to those preferences, as
described in division (B) of Section 6 of this article. At the time the plan is adopted, a member of
the commission who does not vote in favor of the plan may submit a declaration of the member's
opinion concerning the statement included with the plan.
(D) After a general assembly district plan adopted under division (C)(1)(a) of this section ceases
to be effective, and not earlier than the first day of July of the year following the year in which
the plan ceased to be effective, the commission shall be reconstituted as provided in Section 1 of
this article, convene, and adopt a new general assembly district plan in accordance with this
article, to be used until the next time for redistricting under this article. The commission shall
draw the new general assembly district plan using the same population and county, municipal
corporation, and township boundary data as were used to draw the previous plan adopted under
division (C) of this section.

Section 9. (A) The supreme court of Ohio shall have exclusive, original jurisdiction in all cases
arising under this article.
(B) In the event that any section of this constitution relating to redistricting, any general
assembly district plan made by the Ohio redistricting commission, or any district is determined
to be invalid by an unappealed final order of a court of competent jurisdiction then,
notwithstanding any other provisions of this constitution, the commission shall be reconstituted
as provided in Section 1 of this article, convene, and ascertain and determine a general assembly
district plan in conformity with such provisions of this constitution as are then valid, including
establishing terms of office and election of members of the general assembly from districts
designated in the plan, to be used until the next time for redistricting under this article in
conformity with such provisions of this constitution as are then valid.
(C) Notwithstanding any provision of this constitution or any law regarding the residence of
senators and representatives, a general assembly district plan made pursuant to this section shall
allow thirty days for persons to change residence in order to be eligible for election.
(D)(1) No court shall order, in any circumstance, the implementation or enforcement of any
general assembly district plan that has not been approved by the commission in the manner
prescribed by this article.
(2) No court shall order the commission to adopt a particular general assembly district plan or to
draw a particular district.
(3) If the supreme court of Ohio determines that a general assembly district plan adopted by the
commission does not comply with the requirements of Section 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 of this article, the
available remedies shall be as follows:
(a) If the court finds that the plan contains one or more isolated violations of those requirements,
the court shall order the commission to amend the plan to correct the violation.
(b) If the court finds that it is necessary to amend not fewer than six house of representatives
districts to correct violations of those requirements, to amend not fewer than two senate districts
to correct violations of those requirements, or both, the court shall declare the plan invalid and
shall order the commission to adopt a new general assembly district plan in accordance with this
article.
(c) If, in considering a plan adopted under division (C) of Section 8 of this article, the court
determines that both of the following are true, the court shall order the commission to adopt a
new general assembly district plan in accordance with this article:
(i) The plan significantly violates those requirements in a manner that materially affects the
ability of the plan to contain districts whose voters favor political parties in an overall proportion
that corresponds closely to the statewide political party preferences of the voters of Ohio, as
described in division (B) of Section 6 of this article.
(ii) The statewide proportion of districts in the plan whose voters, based on statewide state and
federal partisan general election results during the last ten years, favor each political party does
not correspond closely to the statewide preferences of the voters of Ohio.

Section 10. The various provisions of this article are intended to be severable, and the invalidity
of one or more of such provisions shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.

Article XIX

Section 1. (A) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the general assembly shall be
responsible for the redistricting of this state for congress based on the prescribed number of
congressional districts apportioned to the state pursuant to Section 2 of Article I of the
Constitution of the United States.
Not later than the last day of September of a year ending in the numeral one, the general
assembly shall pass a congressional district plan in the form of a bill by the affirmative vote of
three-fifths of the members of each house of the general assembly, including the affirmative vote
of at least one-half of the members of each of the two largest political parties represented in that
house. A congressional district plan that is passed under this division and becomes law shall
remain effective until the next year ending in the numeral one, except as provided in Section 3 of
this article.
(B) If a congressional district plan is not passed not later than the last day of September of a year
ending in the numeral one and filed with the secretary of state in accordance with Section 16 of
Article II of this constitution, then the Ohio redistricting commission described in Article XI of
this constitution shall adopt a congressional district plan not later than the last day of October of
that year by the affirmative vote of four members of the commission, including at least two
members of the commission who represent each of the two largest political parties represented in
the general assembly. The plan shall take effect upon filing with the secretary of state and shall
remain effective until the next year ending in the numeral one, except as provided in Section 3 of
this article.
(C)(1) If the Ohio redistricting commission does not adopt a plan not later than the last day of
October of a year ending in the numeral one, then the general assembly shall pass a
congressional district plan in the form of a bill not later than the last day of November of that
year.
(2) If the general assembly passes a congressional district plan under division (C)(1) of this
section by the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members of each house of the general
assembly, including the affirmative vote of at least one-third of the members of each of the two
largest political parties represented in that house , and the plan becomes law, the plan shall
remain effective until the next year ending in the numeral one, except as provided in Section 3 of
this article.
(3) If the general assembly passes a congressional district plan under division (C)(1) of this
section by a simple majority of the members of each house of the general assembly, and not by
the vote described in division (C)(2) of this section, all of the following shall apply:
(a) The general assembly shall not pass a plan that unduly favors or disfavors a political party or
its incumbents.
(b) The general assembly shall not unduly split governmental units, giving preference to keeping
whole, in the order named, counties, then townships and municipal corporations.
(c) Division (B)(2) of Section 2 of this article shall not apply to the plan. The general assembly
shall attempt to draw districts that are compact.
(d) The general assembly shall include in the plan an explanation of the plan's compliance with
divisions (C)(3)(a) to (c) of this section.
(e) If the plan becomes law, the plan shall remain effective until two general elections for the
United States house of representatives have occurred under the plan, except as provided in
Section 3 of this article.
(D) Not later than the last day of September of the year after the year in which a plan expires
under division (C)(3)(e) of this section, the general assembly shall pass a congressional district
plan in the form of a bill by the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members of each house of
the general assembly, including the affirmative vote of at least one-half of the members of each
of the two largest political parties represented in that house. A congressional district plan that is
passed under this division and becomes law shall remain effective until the next year ending in
the numeral one, except as provided in Section 3 of this article.
A congressional district plan passed under this division shall be drawn using the federal
decennial census data or other data on which the previous redistricting was based.
(E) If a congressional district plan is not passed not later than the last day of September of the
year after the year in which a plan expires under division (C)(3)(e) of this section and filed with
the secretary of state in accordance with Section 16 of Article II of this constitution, then the
Ohio redistricting commission described in Article XI of this constitution shall be reconstituted
and reconvene and shall adopt a congressional district plan not later than the last day of October
of that year by the affirmative vote of four members of the commission, including at least two
members of the commission who represent each of the two largest political parties represented in
the general assembly. A congressional district plan adopted under this division shall take effect
upon filing with the secretary of state and shall remain effective until the next year ending in the
numeral one, except as provided in Section 3 of this article.
A congressional district plan adopted under this division shall be drawn using the federal
decennial census data or other data on which the previous redistricting was based.
(F)(1) If the Ohio redistricting commission does not adopt a congressional district plan not later
than the last day of October of the year after the year in which a plan expires under division
(C)(3)(e) of this section, then the general assembly shall pass a congressional district plan in the
form of a bill not later than the last day of November of that year.
A congressional district plan adopted under this division shall be drawn using the federal
decennial census data or other data on which the previous redistricting was based.
(2) If the general assembly passes a congressional district plan under division (F)(1) of this
section by the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members of each house, including the
affirmative vote of at least one-third of the members of each of the two largest political parties
represented in that house, and the plan becomes law, it shall remain effective until the next year
ending in the numeral one, except as provided in Section 3 of this article.
(3) If the general assembly passes a congressional district plan under division (F)(1) of this
section by a simple majority vote of the members of each house of the general assembly, and not
by the vote described in division (F)(2) of this section, all of the following shall apply:
(a) The general assembly shall not pass a plan that unduly favors or disfavors a political party or
its incumbents.
(b) The general assembly shall not unduly split governmental units, giving preference to keeping
whole, in the order named, counties, then townships and municipal corporations.
(c) Division (B)(2) of Section 2 of this article shall not apply to the plan. The general assembly
shall attempt to draw districts that are compact.
(d) The general assembly shall include in the plan an explanation of the plan's compliance with
divisions (F)(3)(a) to (c) of this section.
(e) If the plan becomes law, the plan shall remain effective until the next year ending in the
numeral one, except as provided in Section 3 of this article.
(G) Before the general assembly passes a congressional district plan under any division of this
section, a joint committee of the general assembly shall hold at least two public committee
hearings concerning a proposed plan. Before the Ohio redistricting commission adopts a
congressional district plan under any division of this section, the commission shall hold at least
two public hearings concerning a proposed plan.
(H) The general assembly and the Ohio redistricting commission shall facilitate and allow for the
submission of proposed congressional district plans by members of the public. The general
assembly shall provide by law the manner in which members of the public may do so.
(I) For purposes of filing a congressional district plan with the governor or the secretary of state
under this article, a congressional district plan shall include both a legal description of the
boundaries of the congressional districts and all electronic data necessary to create a
congressional district map for the purpose of holding congressional elections.
(J) When a congressional district plan ceases to be effective under this article, the district
boundaries described in that plan shall continue in operation for the purpose of holding elections
until a new congressional district plan takes effect in accordance with this article. If a vacancy
occurs in a district that was created under the previous district plan, the election to fill the
vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term shall be held using the previous district plan.

Section 2. (A)(1) Each congressional district shall be entitled to a single representative in the
United States house of representatives in each congress.
(2) The whole population of the state, as determined by the federal decennial census or, if the
federal decennial census is unavailable, another basis as directed by the general assembly, shall
be divided by the number of congressional districts apportioned to the state pursuant to Section 2
of Article I of the Constitution of the United States, and the quotient shall be the congressional
ratio of representation for the next ten years.
(3) Notwithstanding the fact that boundaries of counties, municipal corporations, and townships
within a district may be changed, district boundaries shall be created by using the data from the
most recent federal decennial census or from the basis directed by the general assembly, as
applicable.
(B) A congressional district plan shall comply with all of the following requirements:
(1) The plan shall comply with all applicable provisions of the constitutions of Ohio and the
United States and of federal law, including federal laws protecting racial minority voting rights.
(2) Every congressional district shall be compact.
(3) Every congressional district shall be composed of contiguous territory, and the boundary of
each district shall be a single nonintersecting continuous line.
(4) Except as otherwise required by federal law, in a county that contains a population that
exceeds the congressional ratio of representation, the authority drawing the districts shall take the
first of the following actions that applies to that county:
(a) If a municipal corporation or township located in that county contains a population that
exceeds the congressional ratio of representation, the authority shall attempt to include a
significant portion of that municipal corporation or township in a single district and may include
in that district other municipal corporations or townships that are located in that county and
whose residents have similar interests as the residents of the municipal corporation or township
that contains a population that exceeds the congressional ratio of representation. In determining
whether the population of a municipal corporation or township exceeds the congressional ratio of
representation for the purpose of this division, if the territory of that municipal corporation or
township completely surrounds the territory of another municipal corporation or township, the
territory of the surrounded municipal corporation or township shall be considered part of the
territory of the surrounding municipal corporation or township.
(b) If one municipal corporation or township in that county contains a population of not less than
one hundred thousand and not more than the congressional ratio of representation, that municipal
corporation or township shall not be split. If that county contains two or more such municipal
corporations or townships, only the most populous of those municipal corporations or townships
shall not be split.
(5) Of the eighty-eight counties in this state, sixty-five counties shall be contained entirely within
a district, eighteen counties may be split not more than once, and five counties may be split not
more than twice. The authority drawing the districts may determine which counties may be split.
(6) If a congressional district includes only part of the territory of a particular county, the part of
that congressional district that lies in that particular county shall be contiguous within the
boundaries of the county.
(7) No two congressional districts shall share portions of the territory of more than one county,
except for a county whose population exceeds four hundred thousand.
(8) The authority drawing the districts shall attempt to include at least one whole county in each
congressional district. This division does not apply to a congressional district that is contained
entirely within one county or that cannot be drawn in that manner while complying with federal
law.
(C)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(2) of this section, for purposes of this article,
a county, municipal corporation, or township is considered to be split if, based on the census data
used for the purpose of redistricting, any contiguous portion of its territory is not contained
entirely within one district.
(2) If a municipal corporation or township has territory in more than one county, the contiguous
portion of that municipal corporation or township that lies in each county shall be considered to
be a separate municipal corporation or township for purposes of this section.

Section 3. (A) The supreme court of Ohio shall have exclusive, original jurisdiction in all cases
arising under this article.
(B)(1) In the event that any section of this constitution relating to congressional redistricting, any
congressional district plan, or any congressional district or group of congressional districts is
challenged and is determined to be invalid by an unappealed final order of a court of competent
jurisdiction then, notwithstanding any other provisions of this constitution, the general assembly
shall pass a congressional district plan in accordance with the provisions of this constitution that
are then valid, to be used until the next time for redistricting under this article in accordance with
the provisions of this constitution that are then valid.
The general assembly shall pass that plan not later than the thirtieth day after the last day on
which an appeal of the court order could have been filed or, if the order is not appealable, the
thirtieth day after the day on which the order is issued.
A congressional district plan passed under this division shall remedy any legal defects in the
previous plan identified by the court but shall include no changes to the previous plan other than
those made in order to remedy those defects.
(2) If a new congressional district plan is not passed in accordance with division (B)(1) of this
section and filed with the secretary of state in accordance with Section 16 of Article II of this
constitution, the Ohio redistricting commission shall be reconstituted and reconvene and shall
adopt a congressional district plan in accordance with the provisions of this constitution that are
then valid, to be used until the next time for redistricting under this article in accordance with the
provisions of this constitution that are then valid.
The commission shall adopt that plan not later than the thirtieth day after the deadline described
in division (B)(1) of this section.
A congressional district plan adopted under this division shall remedy any legal defects in the
previous plan identified by the court but shall include no other changes to the previous plan other
than those made in order to remedy those defects.