COLUMBUS — Ohio House Speaker Robert Cupp, R-Lima, said Tuesday the Ohio Redistricting Commission will meet publicly over the next two days as the deadline approaches to pass new state House and Senate district maps, but after the deadline to give 24-hour notice passed Tuesday evening, the commission announced it will just meet Thursday afternoon.

What You Need To Know

  • The Ohio Redistricting Commission has just days to come up with new boundaries for the state House and Senate after having two previous maps rejected by the Ohio Supreme Court

  • Ohio House Speaker Robert Cupp said the commission will meet Wednesday and Thursday

  • Timing is crucial as county boards of election will soon need to print absentee ballots for the May 3 election

The Ohio Supreme Court has told the commission it has until Thursday night to adopt a third set of Ohio House and Senate maps.

Cupp joked with reporters during a press conference, saying, “Do you like suspense? We’re all in a little suspense these days.”

Cupp tried to lighten the mood around the tense situation surrounding the legislative redistricting process. After dodging reporters for days, Cupp announcing Tuesday the commission will meet Wednesday and Thursday.​

“Don’t have an agenda yet. This is uncharted territory, and we are trying to work our way through it. So that’s about all I know at this point,” said Cupp. 

Cupp said “I do not know” when asked if Republican maps will be introduced at the meetings.

Cupp said the commission members and their staffs have been meeting behind the scenes but have not agreed on any proposals.​​ The Democrats introduced maps last week favoring Republicans in 54 percent of the districts. Cupp said the commission may want to take a deeper look at those.

“Obviously, we know what our job is and what the expectations are, and we’re trying to find a way to accomplish those things,” Cupp said.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, R-Ohio, said not only is it becoming more mechanically impossible by the day to conduct a primary on May 3 without approved maps but the commission may have to tell the court it is not possible to create constitutional maps.

“That’s up to the mapmakers to advise us on that and whether you can actually draw a certain number of districts for a certain party without violating other parts of the Constitution, that’s something that’s worth considering,” said LaRose.

“This is completely achievable,” said Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington.

Russo said between the Democrats and the public, there are hundreds of maps the Ohio Supreme Court could accept if the Republicans refuse to introduce maps or continue to not negotiate in good faith.

“Creating more gerrymandered districts is more difficult than creating fair districts. So, you know, I don’t know what will happen if we move forward and don’t have a map. I don’t think that will be the case,” Russo said.​

Thursday’s meeting is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m.

​As a former Ohio Supreme Court justice, Cupp said he does not want to speculate what the court could, would or should do if the commission does not approve new maps.

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