In a recent vote, Ohio voters rejected a proposal to create a non-politician commission to draw maps for state lawmakers and members of Congress. However, Republican lawmaker Sen. Bill Blessing believes the solution to gerrymandering lies in increasing the number of state legislators, rather than changing how the maps are drawn. Blessing proposes increasing the House from 99 members to 153 and the Senate from 33 members to 51, citing the benefits of smaller districts and increased representation of voters. While Blessing acknowledges that passage of his proposal is unlikely this year, he hopes to gather support from fellow Republicans and potentially present the idea to voters in the future. With Ohio’s General Assembly being significantly smaller than other states despite its population size, Blessing argues that increasing the number of lawmakers could lead to a more representative legislature. He believes that addressing the issue of gerrymandering is essential, and hopes that his proposal will spark meaningful discussion and action among legislators. Despite the rejection of the previous ballot issue, Blessing remains optimistic about the potential for reform in the future. The proposal would need approval from three-fifths of lawmakers before being presented to voters for a decision.
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Republican senator suggests increasing the number of state lawmakers as a solution to redistricting in Ohio
