Testimony: Redistricting

Right now, the Ohio legislature is attempting to pass unconstitutional maps that would determine how our Congressional maps in Ohio would look. Their proposed maps favor the existing GOP power hold in our state by suppressing our voices. We are fighting back. Check out our Director of Policy & Social Impact, Jasmine Henderson’s testimony given. to the Senate Local Government Oversight Committee on November 5th, 2021:

Transcript:

“Thank you for allowing me to testify today. My name is Jasmine Henderson. I am the Director of Policy and Social Impact for the Ohio Women’s Alliance Action Fund, a grassroots organizing focuses on BIPOC, women, queer, trans, and disabled Ohioans. I strongly oppose Senate Bill 258. The ability to vote is something that my family has only had since 1965, due to the voting rights act. My grandmother born in the Jim Crow South was the first person to vote in my family, making me the only 3rd generation in my family to vote. In my lifetime (just 31 years) I have almost never lived in a gerrymandered state and the same voting right that my family fought for is now under attack in the state of Ohio with voter suppression bills made draft and moving my colleague in the House. 

I strongly stand against Senate Bill 258 because it continues the collective split of the voting power of BIPOC voters in Franklin, Hamilton, Summit, and Cuyahoga and Montgomery counties. As many of you know, there are many factors that determine how a person will vote. We know that race, economic and other sociological patterns will impact how a person votes, what party they are more likely to vote for, but most importantly, we know that communities with the same demographics tend to vote alike Senate Bill 258 has been drawn in a way to diminish, but also reduce the collective voting power of primary BIPOC voters in urban areas. For example, Montgomery County (19.8% Black) and Warren County (3.3% Black) are grouped together in one voting district. But due to previous voting histories of both counties and the diverse demographics within the Dayton area, this is not an equitable nor representative district because counties surrounding Montgomery County will be able to drown out the collective voting power of Black Daytonians that disproportionately vote for the Democratic party. 

There are other indications that this district was drawn to disenfranchise more urban and diverse areas, including the economic stratification that would exist within this voting district. The average household income for Dayton was $19,872 versus the $41,000 for Warren. If Senate Bill 258 were truly representative, Montgomery County and Clark County would be an equal district because the voting history of the two counties is similar, meaning constituents have similar stances on morals, values, and political ideology. The racial and economic makeup are also similar therefore indicating the possibility for similar and equitable voting districts. Like Montgomery County, Clark County has a Black population of about 19.8% and an average household income of about $22,380. 

If factors such as race, economic status and previous voting history and patterns were truly centered in drawing districts for Senate Bill 258, I find it hard to believe many of the current districts would be drawn in the current ways presented on this bill. 

In contrast, Senate Bill 237 is a bill that acknowledges the voting pattern of Ohio by drafting maps with a partisan lean between 45% and 55% creating equitable competitive districts that also acknowledges the sociological importance of voting for people like me. This lack of acknowledgment is not present in Senate Bill 258, which would retain 75% of the power in Ohio. 

My community and many other diverse communities use voting as a form of harm reduction to overcome oppression and practice self-determination. This legislative body’s job isn’t to tell me what representation looks like or what self-determination looks like. The only job of this governing body when it comes to redistricting is to make sure my one vote is weighty equity with all other Ohioans. Senate Bill 258 does not allow the complete representation of my collective voting power, in fact, it is diminished. It seems only Senate Bill 237 drew maps that reflect the voting needs of Ohio.

I am strongly opposed to Senate Bill 258 because it simply doesn’t listen to Ohioans when we vote. “

Take action with the Equal Districts Coalition and join us for our Lobby Day on November 16th!