Voting rights groups’ lawsuit against Ohio heads to trial

CINCINNATI – Voting rights groups that charge that Ohio’s congressional map was unfairly manipulated by state Republicans will have their say in federal court.

The trial for a lawsuit filed last year is scheduled to open Monday in Cincinnati. The suit challenges the district maps in effect through 2020 for “an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander” that violates voters’ rights.

Plaintiffs say the current map locks in a 12-4 GOP majority in Ohio’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives.

The suit could result in new district maps for the 2020 House elections.

The state has argued that the Democrats haven’t been unfairly affected since Republicans held 13 of Ohio’s seats in the House — compared to the Democrats’ five — before the redistricting. Ohio’s delegation lost two seats due after the 2010 Census.