COLUMBUS, Ohio — On Thursday, the Ohio Redistricting Commission failed to comply with an Ohio Supreme Court order to redraw new legislative maps. Instead, four of the five Republicans on the commission voted to resubmit previous maps to the court that were ruled unconstitutional.

Voting rights advocates were yelling and screaming, “Hold them in contempt! Hold them in contempt” as Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio; Secretary of State Frank LaRose, R-Ohio; Sen. Rob McColley, R-Napoleon; and Rep. Jeff LaRe, R-Violet Township, moved forward again with the third set of legislative maps.

Auditor Keith Faber, R-Ohio, voted against the maps but because he claimed they were gerrymandered to favor Democrats.

“I don’t think that members of this commission could possibly be more contemptuous of the Ohio Constitution and Ohio voters and the Ohio Supreme Court. It’s utterly disturbing that our democracy doesn’t matter more to the leaders of this state,” said Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio.

Ohio House Minority Leader Rep. Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, moved to adopt an updated version of the independent mapmakers maps they drew in the last round of legislative redistricting. All five Republicans shot that down.

“You heard the secretary of state. Under current law, we didn’t have any opportunity to consider another map. So we really weren’t left with much choice. We’re kind of in a time lock,” said LaRe.

LaRose argued if the commission adopted any other maps than the third set, then it would be impossible to hold a primary Aug. 2 for General Assembly candidates.

The state legislature could have passed an emergency bill to shift the deadlines but had no desire to do so.

“I will point out as the minority leader of the Ohio House of Representatives, I never received a call asking if there were votes available. So I would start there,” said Russo.

The maps the commission adopted Thursday favor Republicans in at least 54% of Ohio House and Senate districts. However, more than one-third of the Democratic-leaning districts are considered more competitive than safe.

“The biggest concern that I have is not having a fair and free election but also disenfranchising voters who don’t have confidence that their vote matters,” Russo said.

The Ohio Supreme Court said in March the third maps were unconstitutional because they unfairly favored the Republican Party. Last month, the court told the commission to draw a fifth set of maps and to do so from scratch.

That did not happen.

Now the question is, will the justices hold the commissioners in contempt for failing to follow their order? Time will tell.