Cincinnati Enquirer: The threat of a 4-year map was supposed to inspire Ohio

Republicans on the Ohio Redistricting Commission approved a four-year map that would give the GOP a veto-proof majority in the Ohio Statehouse despite the objections of the commission's two Democrats.

Bipartisanship aside, maps that last for four or six years have certain political advantages,  David Niven, an associate professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati and former speechwriter for Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, told Cincinnati.com.

What was intended as a penalty could start to look like a prize if you're the political party in power. For example, if Delaware County continues to gain Democratic voters, Republicans could draw a new map to adjust for that shift in four years.

"It's hardly a punishment to say you can pick whatever districts you want now and then you get to pick it again," Niven said.

Niven teaches American politics at UC and conducts research on campaigns, political communication and death penalty policy. 

Read the original Cincinnati.com article.  

A re-print appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal

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