Voters overwhelming approved a non-partisan commission in a a stunning redistricting victory

From the Brennan Center:

Ohio voters overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment overhauling how state legislative districts are drawn, a move that may bolster redistricting reform efforts across the country.

The amendment creates a seven-member bipartisan commission consisting of the governor, secretary of state, state auditor, and one member appointed by each leader in the state legislature. It also creates new rules to govern mapdrawing in Ohio, including an express and judicially enforceable provision to prohibit partisan gerrymandering, as well as a requirement to try to draw districts so the number of seats each party is likely to win mirrors its share of the statewide vote.

Ohio’s success may boost other reform efforts elsewhere in 2016. In Illinois and South Dakota, reformers have collected enough signatures to place amendments to create independent redistricting commissions on the 2016 ballot. Next door, Indiana continues to study whether to create its own redistricting commission and reformers are urging the state to follow Ohio’s lead.