Federal court orders LaRose to hold second primary in August with ‘unconstitutional’ maps

COLUMBUS — Ohio’s second primary election will be held on Aug. 2 using a set of statehouse district maps previously deemed “unconstitutional” by the Ohio Supreme Court.

Federal judges ordered in a ruling Friday that Secretary of State Frank LaRose should use the previously rejected maps in State Legislative and Party Central Committee Primary Election unless new maps are approved by midnight on May 28.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Ohio Supreme Court rejects GOP-drawn Statehouse maps for 5th time

“Between the standoff among state officials and the delay in getting the case, our options were limited. So we chose the best of our bad options,” the court wrote in the ruling.

“Assuming no map is approved by midnight on Saturday, May 28, we order Secretary of State Frank LaRose to push back Ohio’s state primaries to August 2, 2022, and to implement Map 3 for this year’s elections only,” the court added.

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