Posted: December 15, 2011

Ohio Sets New Maps and March Primary Date

The Ohio legislature passed H.B. 369 on December 14, 2011, by a referendum-proof margin, eliminating concerns that Ohio would hold a split primary in 2012. The bill will be effective immediately after being signed by Governor Kasich. The bill includes a congressional map slightly revised from the one proposed earlier in the fall by House Republicans. H.B. 369 also establishes a single March 6, 2012, primary and sets a December 30, 2011, filing deadline for candidates for President and Vice President, candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, and national convention delegates. The bill voids any filing for one of these positions filed before the bill’s effective date; a candidate whose earlier petition is voided must re-file. State and local candidates and ballot issues are not affected by the bill; the filing deadline for state and local candidates (which has already passed) remains December 7, 2011. H.B. 369 also creates an eight-person Redistricting Reform Task Force, with membership to be divided equally between the two major parties. The Task Force will issue a report with recommendations for reforming the redistricting process by June 30, 2012.