Redistricting public hearings announced. Here are the dates and locations

Members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission are sworn in at the Ohio Statehouse on Friday. From left, Senate President Matt Huffman, state Auditor Keith Faber, House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes, Gov. Mike DeWine, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, House Speaker Bob Cupp and Sen. Vernon Sykes. Photo by Susan Tebben

BY SUSAN TEBBEN

Ohio Capital Journal

The Ohio Redistricting Commission announced the schedule for meetings throughout the state where the public will be able to give input on redrawing legislative districts.

Public hearings will be in:

  • Cleveland: Aug. 23 – 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Cleveland State University Student Center, Room SC311 (Ballroom, 3rd Floor), 2121 Euclid Avenue Cleveland. COVID-19 guidelines require masks indoors at all times
  • Youngstown: Aug. 23 – 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Youngstown State University, 1 University Plaza, Kilcawley Center, Chestnut Room, Youngstown. COVID-19 guidelines encourage masks and to maintain social distancing
  • Dayton: Aug. 24 – 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sinclair Community College, 444 W. Third St., Dayton. COVID-19 guidelines encourage masks and to maintain social distancing
  • Cincinnati: Aug. 24 – 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., University of Cincinnati, 2600 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati. COVID-19 guidelines require masks indoors at all times
  • Zanesville: Aug. 25 – 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Ohio University – Zanesville, Campus Center, 1425 Newark Road, Zanesville. COVID-19 guidelines require masks indoors at all times
  • Rio Grande: Aug. 25 – 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Rio Grande Community College, 218 N. College Ave, Rio Grande. COVID-19 guidelines require masks for unvaccinated people and masks when social distancing cannot be maintained
  • Lima: Aug. 26 – 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Ohio State University – Lima, Life Science Building, Room 100, 4240 Campus Drive, Lima. COVID-19 guidelines require masks indoors at all times
  • Toledo: Aug. 26 – 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., University of Toledo, 2801 Bancroft St., Toledo. COVID-19 guidelines require masks indoors at all times
  • Akron: Aug. 27 – 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., University of Akron, 302 E. Buchtel Ave., Akron. COVID-19 guidelines require masks indoors at all times
  • Mansfield: Aug. 27 – 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Ohio State University – Mansfield, Riedel Hall, Room 151. 1760 University Drive, Mansfield. COVID-19 guidelines require masks indoors at all times

The public will be able to give testimony and submit map proposals during the hearings. The hearings will also be broadcast live, but details on that were not released on Friday.

Here is a map of Ohio’s Statehouse redistricting process, with the Ohio Redistricting Commission’s deadline for a vote circled:

 This flow chart shows the new process for redrawing Statehouse districts. Circled is the deadline in question because of U.S. Census data delays.

Here is a map of Ohio’s U.S. Congressional redistricting process: