{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Does Ohio Need Gerrymandering Reform?","description":"With early voting already underway, Ohio voters are being asked to decide if a new approach to redrawing the state\u2019s electoral districts is necessary. At stake is potentially nothing less than the future control of Ohio\u2019s statewide legislative bodies. The nonprofit Citizens Not Politicians asserts that Ohio\u2019s current electoral districts are gerrymandered \u2013 or drawn unfairly to tilt the electoral playing field \u2013 and favors Republicans who currently control both the Ohio House and Senate, while Republican leaders have said no such unfairness exists and that the Democratic failure to secure more of Ohio\u2019s legislative seats is simply an accurate reflection of voter preference. If the proposed ballot initiative passes, control over drawing Ohio\u2019s electoral districts will pass from politicians to a new 15-member nonpartisan board. Will the state\u2019s voters agree that gerrymandering is an issue Ohio needs to solve with a fresh approach, or will the status quo win out? We unpack the future of Ohio\u2019s legislative districts and the stark choice the state\u2019s voters face this fall. Featuring: Kareem Crayton, Vice President, The Brennan Center for Justice Keith Faber, Ohio Auditor of State Maureen O'Connor, Former Chief Justice, The Supreme Court of Ohio  Bradley Smith, The Josiah H. Blackmore II \/ Shirley M. Nault Professor of Law, Capital University  The moderator is Jessie Balmert, State Government Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch | Gannett | USA Today Network.  This forum was sponsored by The Charles F. Kettering Foundation, The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, and The Ohio Debate Commission. Our forum partner was The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus. The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream and marketing partner was The Columbus Dispatch. It was supported by Vue Columbus.  This forum was recorded before a live audience at Vue Columbus in the Brewery District on October 16, 2024. ","author_name":"The Columbus Metropolitan Club","author_url":"http:\/\/columbusmetroclub.org","html":"