Several pieces of good news came out of the Statehouse Wednesday night. All involve a compromise bill setting the 2012 primary election and establishing new congressional districts.
One positive aspect is evident from the use of the singular noun in relation to primary voting; Ohio is to have one primary election next year, not two.
The primaries were split into two dates in October after Democrats mounted a challenge to the Republican-drawn map.
Conducting two primary elections instead of one would have cost another $15 million. Plus, the single primary is to be in March, meaning Ohio would be part of Super Tuesday balloting.
According to a map of the new congressional districts from Ohio News Network, all of Seneca County would be part of the Fourth Congressional District. The downside: That district would meander through all or parts of 14 counties, from Shelby and Champaign in west central Ohio to Lorain in the north.
But, again, there's good news. As part of the compromise with Democrats to resolve the dispute over GOP-drawn congressional districts, a task force is to be established to make recommendations for changing the mapmaking process.
Even better, the deal means all Ohioans can avoid having to endure political ads related to the primaries for three additional months.
