COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohioans will vote in May to change how the state draws its congressional districts to a process that supporters say will lead to fairer, more competitive districts.

The Ohio House on Tuesday approved Senate Joint Resolution 5 in a 83-10 vote, sending the proposal to be filed with the secretary of state's office for the May 8 ballot. The Senate approved the proposed constitutional amendment in a 31-0 vote Monday night.

Tuesday's vote was the culmination of months of behind-the-scenes maneuvering by legislators to craft a bipartisan reform plan that could block a citizen-initiated amendment slated for the November ballot. The final version of the amendment was billed as a compromise among Republicans, Democrats and the Fair Districts = Fair Elections coalition, which collected more than two-thirds of the signatures needed to put an issue on the ballot.

Several lawmakers recognized the work of the coalition and campaign volunteers for pushing the legislature to the vote.

"Ohioans felt their voices weren't being served and that our current system rigged the game, so it was the politicians choosing their voters and not the voters choosing their politicians," Rep. Jack Cera, a Bellaire Democrat, said.

"They inspire me with the work they have done on redistricting and fixing gerrymandering in our state," said Rep. Kathleen Clyde, a Kent Democrat running for secretary of state.

Six Republicans and four Democrats voted against the measure.

Rep. Dan Ramos, a Lorain Democrat, said the proposal would still allow Lorain County to be divided into three congressional districts as it is now and would allow mapmakers to divide racial and ethnic communities.

Rep. Alicia Reece, a Cincinnati Democrat, said the proposal falls short because it does not enshrine the right to vote in the Ohio Constitution.

"I'm for bipartisanship -- that's great -- but I'm for nonpartisanship when it comes to voting," Reece said.

House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger said the resolution is an "historic compromise" at a time when political compromise seems impossible in Ohio and nationally.

Rosenberger, a Clinton County Republican, asked his colleagues to rise above "trying to nitpick something we've worked so hard on and come together as one in an effort to continue to press forward for something I think will be an example for our nation."

Ohioans will vote in May on several changes intended to increase minority party legislators' voice during the redistricting process and reduce politicians' ability to draw districts that favor a political party or incumbent.

If approved by voters, the changes would take effect for the next redistricting process in 2021. Republicans have controlled 12 of Ohio's 16 seats every election since GOP officials drew the maps in 2011 but only garnered 56 percent of the votes cast statewide.

The proposed changes would require 50 percent of the minority party's votes to approve a congressional district map for 10 years. That map would have to keep 65 counties whole within congressional districts and could only split up to 18 counties once and up to five counties twice.

If lawmakers fail to pass a map with bipartisan support, the seven-member redistricting commission in charge of Statehouse maps would then have the opportunity to draw a map.

If the commission fails to pass a map with two minority party members' approval, the legislature gets another chance to pass a map. If it cannot get one-third of the minority to vote for a map, it is only good for four years instead of 10 and must adhere to stricter criteria for splitting communities.

Maps drawn by the General Assembly would need the signature of the governor and would be subject to referendum.

The Fair Districts coalition of more than 40 organizations supports the legislature-passed measure, but it won't be putting its clipboards away just yet. Catherine Turcer of Common Cause Ohio said the coalition members will soon meet to discuss how it will support the measure and what to do about its proposal.

Gov. John Kasich and Secretary of State Jon Husted, two Republicans who called for reform, swiftly praised the bipartisan agreement as did Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, who hails from one of Ohio's most gerrymandered districts known as the "snake by the lake."

A good step for our democracy and for the people of Ohio. Fair districts would keep communities together, not stretch them apart. #FairMapsNowhttps://t.co/FgP7WuJCNC — Marcy Kaptur (@RepMarcyKaptur) February 6, 2018

Kasich said the compromise shines "a light on Ohio once again as a model for the nation." Husted, who came close to striking a redistricting deal with Democrats in 2009, said the agreement should be celebrated as a big deal.

"Congressional redistricting reform will change the future of Ohio politics and has the potential to change our government in Washington, too," Husted said in a statement.

Tuesday's vote also drew praise from former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has championed eliminating gerrymandering. The Kasich ally said he plans to bring a bottle of Austrian schnapps to Columbus' Arnold Sports Festival in March to toast "terminating gerrymandering" in Ohio.