Ohio is restarting its congressional redistricting process, not because of any special push from leadership or even a response to a spontaneous redraw. The drawing of congressional districts and legislative districts has certain standards, but some “mandatory standards” for statehouse districts are “general standards” for congressional districts, according to a legislative brief on the process. Next steps and deadlinesA joint committee on congressional redistricting has announced they will meet for the first time on Sept. 22. With the current make-up of statewide officeholders, this means the Ohio Redistricting Commission has a 5-2, Republican-to-Democratic split. The Republican swing vote in both the previous congressional redistricting decisions was Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, who has since retired.