Lake County Board of Elections Unaffected By Redistricting

While other Boards of Election were left scrambling by the recent U.S. congressional redistricting plan, Lake County was relatively unscathed.

The redistricting plan wasn't finalized until January, but Lake County has not changed at all, Board Director Scott Daisher said. It was all in the state's 14th district before and it remained in the same district.

Meanwhile, neighboring counties like and have had to adjust to new district lines before overseas voting begins Saturday.

It all began with the 2010 U.S. Census. Population loss resulted in Ohio losing two Congressional seats, from 18 to 16. Plans began for redrawing Congressional district in time for the March 6, 2012 primary.

Under threat of a referendum, the state Legislature created a bill that allowed for two primaries; one in March for state representatives and on in June for U.S. Congress and the president.

On Dec. 14, Ohio lawmakers brokered a deal to accept a revised congressional map and a March 6 primary. The costly second primary in June was eliminated.

However, on Jan. 4, Democrats filed a lawsuit with the Ohio Supreme Court over the new Statehouse legislative districts, claiming it heavily favored Republican candidates.

But election board workers across the state then had barely a month to prepare ballots for the March primary. Ballots needed to be ready for Jan. 21, the day when the law requires overseas ballots to be mailed.

Consequently, other counties had to adjust to different districts in a short amount of time.

For example, longtime Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich will have to face off against Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur in a primary battle for the new 9th district, which stretches from Kaptur's home of Toledo east into Cuyahoga County.