Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio endorses anti-gerrymandering ballot measure
For Immediate Release: June 18, 2024
Media Contact: Diamond Crumby
330-524-8114, [email protected]
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio (PPAO) officially endorse Citizens Not Politicians (CNP), the group leading the ballot initiative to end gerrymandering in Ohio. Currently, politicians are involved in drawing their districts, allowing them to manipulate their voting districts in favor of their own biases and political interests.
Over the last decade, Ohioans have long struggled to have their elected officials represent their shared values. Despite rulings from the Republican-leaning Ohio Supreme Court declaring that four previous redistricting maps were unconstitutional, the case was dismissed.
Lauren Blauvelt, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, released the following statement:
“Ohioans are ready to protect democracy and reproductive freedom again on November 5th. When anti-abortion politicians lose, they will lie and change the rules to maintain their power. We must give everyday citizens a voice in our state government and the opportunity to vote out politicians who refuse to listen or represent them by supporting Citizens Not Politicians.”
The Citizens Not Politicians Amendment would ban politicians from participating in the Ohio Redistricting Commission. Instead, 15 citizens from across the state would make up the Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission and represent Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. If this amendment were to pass on November 5, 2024, gerrymandering would end in Ohio by making it unconstitutional to draw voting districts that favor any political party or politician.
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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio supports advocacy for reproductive health and reproductive rights, including grassroots organizing, community education, and lobbying.