An important initiative on our voting ballots for the November 5, 2024, election is gaining headway in the news. This issue has sparked strong sentiments on both sides of the political spectrum, and it’s crucial for us as voters to fully understand what’s at stake.
You may have seen yard signs for Issue 1. This issue relates to gerrymandering and whether Ohioans want to allow politicians to continue this practice. According to the Ohio Progressive Asian Women’s League (OPAWL), gerrymandering is defined as “the undemocratic practice of politicians picking and choosing their voters by drawing political boundaries that split communities.” The larger group behind Voting Yes on Issue One is Citizens Not Politicians.
Voters who support a “yes” vote on this issue aim to prevent biased and unrepresentative political boundaries. Gerrymandering can unfairly group voters into districts designed to ensure electoral victories for certain politicians. In a fair election, political boundaries should reflect the diverse ideologies of voters within those districts, not be manipulated for partisan gain.
As OPAWL notes, “Politicians have blatantly attempted to dilute the political power of the AAPI community in Ohio, denying us fair political representation through gerrymandering.”
Their website highlights that:
- Ohio is one of the ten most gerrymandered states in the U.S.
- Ohio courts have ruled seven times that politicians have gerrymandered our maps.
- Politicians have manipulated the system for their benefit behind closed doors.
By voting “yes,” we can help prevent politicians and lobbyists from abusing this system. More information about Issue 1 can be found at opawl.org, where you can also find language translations, including Hindi, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean.
Conversely, voters who choose to vote “no” wish to maintain the current ability of politicians to redraw district maps. They want to maintain the power that is already withheld in our current system. Supporters of this position believe that existing politicians can address any issues with the system moving forward and that voting “no” would protect the Ohio Constitution from out-of-state special interests. This perspective is provided by the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition.
Here are some important reminders in the week leading up to the election:
- October 8: Early voting begins
- October 29: Last day to request your absentee ballot for voting by mail
- November 3: Last day of early voting
- November 4: Postmark deadline for absentee ballots
- November 5: Election Day; polls open from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM
Regardless of your choice on Issue 1, it is essential to exercise your right to vote this November. Together, we can create a stronger and more visible Asian American Pacific Islander community!
Note: The OCA Greater Cleveland (OCAGC) board has voted yes to advocate for fair political representation.