July 20, 2021
The Path to Fair Maps in Ohio (July 2021)
On July 13th, 2021, the Ohio Environmental Council, All on the Line, and League of Conservation Voters Education Fund hosted an in-depth exploration of Ohio’s redistricting process, its history, and the opportunities for fair maps in 2021.
Justin Kwasa from the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund sketched the national landscape for redistricting in 2021 and the way the environmental movement is participating in the redistricting process nationwide. In particular, he highlighted states across the country and how their redistricting processes differ from Ohio’s.
Then, Katy Shanahan from All on the Line provided an in-depth overview of Ohio’s redistricting history, the constitutional amendments passed in 2015 and 2018, and the redistricting process for 2021.
Finally, Chris Tavenor and Callia Tellez from the Ohio Environmental Council ran an interactive workshop in community mapmaking, showcasing how individuals can describe their communities and geographic spaces in support of Ohio’s redistricting process. They specifically focused on community mapmaking as a tool to define regions, assets, and shared interests of the people who live near one another. They demonstrated the power of these maps to provide important information to decision-makers in the redistricting process.
Collectively, the session provided attendees, including Ohio attorneys, with a working knowledge of Ohio’s 2021 redistricting process and the opportunities to involve themselves in ensuring equal representation for all who call Ohio home.
We want to give a big thank you to all who made this event possible. If you weren’t able to tune in live, check out this recording!