With 6 weeks until Ohio's primary, many voting districts still haven't been decided

With 6 weeks until Ohio's primary, many voting districts still haven't been decided¹

　　Transcript²

　　Advocates rally outside the Ohio Supreme³ Court on Dec. 8, 2021, in Columbus. Justices have struck down three versions of Republican-drawn state legislative⁴ maps for being unconstitutional.

　　Andrew Welsh-Huggins/AP

　　Voters in Ohio are supposed to be able to vote in the state's May 3 primary — up and down the ballot⁵ — but with just six weeks to go, the voting districts for the state legislature haven't been decided.

　　Most states are wrapping up their redistricting process, but Ohio's Supreme Court has rejected the Republican-drawn state legislative maps three times for being unconstitutional, leaving candidates, voters and the state's entire voting infrastructure⁶ confused about what comes next.

　　After the court's latest map rejection⁷, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, told lawmakers and elections officials that it would be impossible under the current circumstances for state House and state Senate races to appear on the May 3 ballot.

　　"Our bipartisan elections officials were ready to conduct this election on time," LaRose wrote in a letter to lawmakers. "However, those boards are now left once again without clear districts to certify⁸ legislative candidates, and they're simply out of time."

　　For the first time, Republican and Democratic lawmakers are now working together to try and draw new districts that the Ohio Supreme Court may allow to move forward.

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　　"We're going to take, hopefully, a little different approach to see if it works but I think it remains⁹ to be seen as to how well it all goes. We're hoping for the best," says House Speaker Bob Cupp a Republican and co-chair of the commission.

　　Looming¹⁰ over the redistricting process and questions about the primary is a federal lawsuit¹¹ filed by a group of Republican voters. They are asking a panel of three federal judges to review the situation in Ohio and to ultimately order the Feb. 24 maps to be used in the May 3 primary.

　　Voters don't know who they're voting for

　　A concern among voting rights advocates is that the ever-changing nature of Ohio's redistricting process can cause whiplash for voters.

　　Voter rights advocates gather in a church in downtown Columbus, Ohio, for an anti-gerrymandering rally on Sept. 21, 2021.

　　Andy Chow/Ohio Public Radio

　　Jen Miller¹², executive director for the League of Women Voters of Ohio, says lawmakers should delay the primary so that confused voters can catch up with what's happening.

　　"Right now, voters don't even know who their candidates are. Candidates don't even know what their districts are. More time means everything," says Miller.

　　Candidates don't know where they're running

　　Incumbents¹³ and challengers don't know what their district lines will ultimately look like, or which communities will be in their districts.

　　State Rep. Thomas Hall, a Republican in southwest Ohio, says there's a lot of uncertainty¹⁴ when it comes to his district, which might end up adding 40,000 new constituents¹⁵. Hall says that confusion goes all the way down to where they put yard signs.

　　"I do a lot of doors, and I do a lot of yard signs to get our message out. But right now, we're kind of in a holding pattern to see where we shouldn't be putting these signs. Obviously, we don't want to create further confusion to the voters," Hall says.

　　Leaders weigh moving the primary

　　Other states, such as North Carolina and Maryland, have already pushed back their primary dates due to delays in redistricting.

　　In Ohio, lawmakers have the prerogative¹⁶ to change the date of an election and so far Republican legislative leaders have been reluctant to postpone¹⁷ the May 3 primary.

　　Senate President Matt Huffman, a Republican, has suggested splitting the primary into two different dates and keeping the May 3 election for statewide and local races.

　　Others have pushed back on that idea, saying it would continue to pile up work for local boards of elections. A second primary could also cost the state as much as $25 million.

　　The Ohio Redistricting Commission has until March 28 to adopt a fourth set of state legislative district maps. Depending on a ruling in the federal court case, state lawmakers will have to make a decision on what to do with the upcoming May 3 primary without any time to put state legislative races on the ballot.

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

4 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

5 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

6 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

7 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。

8 certify   

vt.证明，证实；发证书(或执照)给

参考例句：

• I can certify to his good character.我可以证明他品德好。
• This swimming certificate is to certify that I can swim one hundred meters.这张游泳证是用以证明我可以游100米远。

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

10 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

11 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

12 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

13 incumbents   

教区牧师( incumbent的名词复数 )； 教会中的任职者

参考例句：

• In general, incumbents have a 94 percent chance of being reelected. 通常现任官员有94%的几率会再次当选。
• This arangement yields a wonderful gain to incumbents. 这种安排为在职人员提供了意外的得益。

14 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

15 constituents   

n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素

参考例句：

• She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
• Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 prerogative   

n.特权

参考例句：

• It is within his prerogative to do so.他是有权这样做的。
• Making such decisions is not the sole prerogative of managers.作这类决定并不是管理者的专有特权。

17 postpone   

v.延期，推迟

参考例句：

• I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
• She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。