Up North Progressive

The Citizens Redistricting Commission is all about putting the power of elections in Michigan back into the hands of the people where it belongs. The period for providing feedback on language and guidelines ends today, August 9, 2019. You can read a draft of the proposed application here and offer feedback by emailing the Secretary of State at Redistricting@Michigan.gov

Tomorrow, Aug. 9, is the last day to provide feedback on the language and guidelines we’ve proposed to use for the application process for the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. Review at https://t.co/Y9h9Nm1qoY and send comments to Redistricting@Michigan.gov. pic.twitter.com/pImrlT3xWN

— Michigan Department of State (@MichSoS) August 8, 2019

A group of 15 Republicans filed suit against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in Lansing On Tuesday, July 30, 2019, claiming their constitutional rights are being violated by the new Citizens Redistricting Commission. Their suit claims that the new law violates their first and fourteenth amendment rights for free speech because they are not currently eligible to serve on the commission.

Barely a month has gone by since Justice Roberts handed down the 5 to 4 majority decision that disputes over partisan gerrymandering are not for the courts to decide, but a problem solved through the political process. On November of 2018, Voters Not Politicians used the political process to bring a ballot initiative to the voters of Michigan, and through that political process, the independent citizens redistricting commission became enshrined in the state of Michigan Constitution.

Voters Not Politicians director of campaigns and programs made the following statement in response to the GOP’s frivolous lawsuit:

“It’s no surprise that politicians – who directly benefit from drawing their own election maps and choosing their own voters – want to undermine the voice of voters again. Now that citizens are in charge of a fair, impartial redistricting process, we know that some politicians who will lose power to draw maps in secret for their own benefit will make a last-ditch effort to hold on to it. Michigan is one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation, but voters pushed back by overwhelmingly supporting the new redistricting amendment so voters choose their politicians – not the other way around. We’re confident that the proposal will survive any and all legal challenges, just as it did from many of these same politicians on the way to the ballot.”

The case is frivolous as the Citizens Redistricting Commission is now part of the state of Michigan Constitution. It cannot be struck down even if the court decides the rule about elected officials, lobbyists, and family members having too much influence is unconstitutional.

If you have time today before the feedback period ends, please take a look at the draft proposal for the application and let the Secretary of State know what you think.