Voting rights advocates worry members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission are intentionally running out the clock and unafraid of consequences as they jeopardize fair, constitutional elections in our state. They may be right.

“Throughout this litigation, respondents have repeatedly flouted (the Ohio Supreme Court)’s express orders, and they now continue to disobey its clear and constitutionally authorized directives,” says a motion filed by advocates including the League of Women Voters of Ohio and individual voters. “They are doing so again, by refusing to convene and initiate the map-drawing process.”

Those advocates would like the state Supreme Court to hold members of the commission in contempt of court for what seems to be intentionally disregarding their responsibility to Ohio voters.

Meanwhile, with a new May 6 deadline rapidly approaching, the commission shows no interest in meeting, or doing any work to create district maps that will not be rejected by the court. In fact, according to a report by NBC news, the two Democrats on the commission invited the commission as a whole to meet Monday morning to get back to work. All Republicans on the commission declined the invitation.

“We only have 10 days left, so we are here to demonstrate that we are ready, able, and prepared to continue the work,” commission co-chair and Democratic state Sen. Vernon Sykes said Monday, according to NBC News.

But because of a federal court order that says the state can use an already-rejected set of maps, if the commission does not reach a compromise by May 28, it is easy to see why advocates fear the commission is content to sit back and continue to neglect its duty. The federal order made it clear the intent was to ensure there would be elections in Ohio –not to give the commission an incentive to do nothing.

Commissioners who chose to use it as such, anyway have thusfar been given no reason to fear consequences of their malfeasance. Perhaps the Ohio Supreme Court should consider advocates’ suggestion, and show commissioners there will be a price to pay, after all.