Ohioans believe democracy should give everyone a say in the future of their communities and state. We all want to elect leaders who represent our values, regardless of race, background or zip code.

But over the past year, Ohioans have watched certain elected leaders ignore the state’s Supreme Court and be forced to vote in unconstitutional districts in state and legislative elections. I’ve been The lawlessness that affected that process now taints the State Board of Education.

This blatant and lawless gerrymandering not only undermines democracy, it threatens the ability of Ohio families to be fairly represented on state commissions and to provide their children with an honest education.

The State Commission includes 11 elected members and 8 members appointed by the Governor. By law, these 11 members of her represent electoral districts made up of three state Senate constituencies, which cannot be divided by constituency. The law also mandates that these board districts provide both rural and urban representation and be compact “as far as practicable.”

The new board districts drawn up by Gov. Mike DeWine earlier this year do not meet all three criteria.

This is important because certain legislators and members of state committees are attacking efforts to provide Ohio’s children with an education based on truth, facts, and diverse perspectives.

It started a year ago when members of Congress introduced House Bills 322 and 327. The bill, with language imported from extremist national agendas, amounts to a gag order restricting what educators are taught about race, sexuality, gender, religion and history.

Months later, a majority of the state school board decided to withdraw a transformative resolution condemning racism and promoting equity in education. The attacks continued this year, with two members of Congress introducing House Bill 616, attacking Ohio’s Freedom of Learning and labeling our lives and experiences a “dividing notion.”

The immediate solution is to follow the law and redraw the districts of state commissions to minimize the effects of gerrymandering baked into state law districts this year. But neither DeWine nor Secretary of State Frank LaRose intended to give Ohioans a fair and legal map.

As a result, Ohioans who wanted to sit on state committees were forced by August 10 to submit as candidates in precincts that clearly violated the law and did not provide fair representation. This is especially true in Cuyahoga and Franklin counties, where new state commission districts have dramatically reduced opportunities for black Ohio representation.

Without action from the governor and secretary of state, Ohioans who value honest education will have to pay close attention to the five state committee seats that will be voted on in November.

District seats 2, 3, 4, 9, and 10 are currently filled by members who voted to repeal the Board’s anti-racism resolution and continue to downplay the importance of student well-being and personal development. I’m here.

Ohioans have the opportunity to vote for candidates who want every child to have the opportunity to build a strong foundation in a quality public school in their community.

Voting for state board candidates who believe in the value of honest public education is important, but it’s not enough.

Ohioans also need to pay more attention to what’s going on at their local school board. Some of them have passed resolutions that mimic the extremist language of state bills like Forest Hills. involvement can make a big difference.

Our leaders may be willing to risk their democracy, but Ohioans can still help ensure a better future for all. It’s never too late.

Mr. Peoples believes that every child deserves a quality education based on truth, facts and diverse perspectives. Founding Director of Education.