Ohio's Upcoming Congressional Redistricting: How Teens Like Us Can Lead the Redistricting Movement
- Dakota Johnson
- Feb 2
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 13
By Dakota Johnson
2/2/25
Ohio is about to redraw its congressional map…again.
Ohio voters passed Article XIX of the Ohio Constitution in 2018 in an attempt to fix a crumpling redistricting system. Article XIX established an updated, clear new set of rules regarding how Ohio can redraw congressional maps going forward. However, this article may not protect us as much as it says it does.
Ohio’s maps have long been vulnerable to partisan gerrymandering—when politicians draw voting districts to unfairly favor their party by manipulating district lines to weaken competing parties’ influence and secure more seats in elections. Because of this history,
Ohio’s current congressional map—used in the 2022 election—was required to meet Article XIX’s new bipartisan standards. However, our current map failed to do so, triggering a redraw before the upcoming 2026 elections.
These midterm elections, scheduled for November 3rd, 2026, will include all 435 U.S. House of Representatives (HOR) seats—including Ohio’s 15 congressional districts—along with U.S. Senate seats, all of Ohio’s state HOR seats, about half of it’s State Senate seats, and numerous local offices and ballots. A lot of seats, right?
But why is this important? Why should WE care?
Although many people think redistricting is solely for lawyers and politicians to deal with, it directly impacts our communities, schools, voting processes, and our futures, especially in advocating for our own rights and voices later in life. And yes, it may seem like gerrymandering just leads to competitive political debates. However, gerrymandering often leads to the direct opposite—uncompetitive elections, meaning our voices, especially as young voters, can be diluted and easily dismissed by the broader population.
Choosing to advocate for our districts prevents puppeting and drawing of lines by politicians, who would then be given the power to pick our their voters, instead of voters picking them. As a result, legislation becomes harder to pass, especially on issues we care about, not just the politician we “voted” into office.
It’s crucial that new district lines accurately reflect the beliefs and choices of those who live within the district, instead of hungry politicians desperate to hold office. With a new map to properly redefine our state’s true lines, colors, and representation, we have a rare but strong chance as young voters to influence the redistricting process before a new map takes shape.
Soon enough, politicians and commissions will begin to propose new maps, new districts, and inevitably separate once-unified cultures, communities, and streets. What can you do? Make an effort to follow along with your local, county, and state politics and decisions, and be ready to act.
How YOU can get involved:
Learn your map! Tools like Dave's Redistricting App are very helpful for familiarizing yourself with your district and voter policies.
Testify against poor districting. How can you speak up against legislation and such politicians? Testify at public commission hearings. The more that know, the less impact politicians have on redistricting our voices.
Email your representatives. Tell your reps. What is important to you? They are your advocates; hold them accountable.
Stay talking. Use social media. Classrooms. Workspaces. The dinner table. Most people aren’t even familiar with redistricting, much less that it is a key piece in our upcoming election. Work to educate those around you. You are spreading awareness!
Our generation is often told we are the “future of democracy.” And although not all of Gen Z can vote at the moment, each and every person is presented with an equal opportunity to make a difference in their community.
Stay informed, spread the word, and be ready to act, because when people show up for what’s important to them, the numbers (and the maps) reflect it.
Gen Z, show up for yourself, your rights, and your future.
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