COLUMBUS — The state board charged with redrawing legislative districts put the final touches Thursday on a plan expected to keep majority Republicans in power at the Statehouse.

        The state Apportionment Board, dominated 4-1 by Republicans, made technical changes to the plan, which legislative Democrats could take to court as early as next week.

        The board held an unscheduled session because the changes had to be made by a 1 p.m. deadline Thursday to give public notice of the plan, said Scott Borgemenke, board treasurer.

        The changes affect 20 Ohio House districts and the Senate districts in which they fit because small areas — mostly unpopulated township lands — weren't included.

        Meanwhile, the panel's only Democrat, Senate Minority Leader Leigh Herington of Ravenna, said his party's legislators may take the plan to federal court because they believe it violates the U.S. Voting Rights Act.

        Federal law requires minorities to be represented fairly and prohibits the dilution of minority voting strength through district-drawing practices.

        The GOP plan includes 14 minority-leaning House districts and four in the Senate. Legislative Democrats said the plan could include at least two other minority-leaning House districts — in Cincinnati and Columbus.

        “We may be looking at that next week,” Mr. Herington said. “The whole issue is whether this is an appropriate map.”

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