State elections determine fair districts are in and pot is not

The New Political

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More than 7.5 million Ohioans participated in Tuesday’s election and voted on the issues appearing on the ballot. Ultimately, two of the three issues passed.

Issue 1, which dealt with ending gerrymandering in Ohio’s legislative districts, passed by the largest margin of any of the three issues with 71.46 percent voting in favor, according to Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted’s website.

“It was just one of those moments in time — a rare moment in time, in a very divided state — where the two major parties came together and fortunately did something greatly in the public interest, to give the public rational-looking legislative districts,” said Rep. Michael F. Curtin, D-Columbus, who has supported Issue 1 since its introduction to the House. “Even though it won’t take effect until 2022, it’s a huge move forward in good government for the people and now hopefully we can get the second half of the job done, and that’s to do the same thing with congressional districts.”

Distracted drivers may have to refocus if new regulations are passed

The New Political

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A proposed bill could redefine distracted driving and create new strategies to prevent it in the future.

House Bill 86, first proposed to the Ohio House on February 25 by Rep. Cheryl Grossman, R-Grove City, would outlaw any action that would impair a driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle, as well as any use of an electronic wireless communications device. If passed, the bill would also create a driver education fund in the state treasury.

The proposed definition of distracted driving is more broad than the current law.  Although a new version of the Ohio Revised Code, which goes into effect today, provides details on what qualifies as texting while driving and ways in which someone can use a “handheld electronic wireless communications device” without being charged with a minor misdemeanor, Grossman’s proposed bill would add additional regulations to this part of the law.