The Ohio Apportionment Board is an administrative body which draws the single-member legislative districts for the Ohio General Assembly every ten years following the census. Each of the 33 senate districts is composed of three contiguous of the 99 house of representatives district.
The board has five members:
- the Governor of Ohio,
- the Ohio Secretary of State,
- the Ohio State Auditor,
- a member selected by the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives and the senate leader of the same party
- a member selected by the house and senate leaders of other party.
This format ensures that no party can hold all five seats. At least one seat will belong to the minority party.
In 2011, the board's members are:
- Gov. John Kasich (R)
- State Auditor Dave Yost (R)
- Secretary of State Jon A. Husted (R)
- Assembly Republican Member: Senator Tom Niehaus (R), and
- Assembly Democratic Member: Representative Armond Budish (D)
Democrats controlled the apportionment board in 1971 and 1981. Republicans controlled the apportionment board in 1991, 2001, 2011. The most recent apportionment plan has come under attack for being in violation of the Ohio Constitution, and the Supreme Court of Ohio is currently hearing the matter.
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