Michigan Voters Could Establish an Independent Redistricting Commission
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What the Initiative Does
Proposal 2 would amend the Michigan constitution to establish an Independent Citizen’s Redistricting Commission to redraw congressional and legislative districts. The Commission would consist of 13 independent citizens, and would meet every 10 years after the federal census to determine state and congressional districts that are politically competitive. Of the Commission’s 13 members, four would be Republican-affiliated, four would be Democratic-affiliated, and the remaining five would be independent.
The Secretary of State would oversee the commission, and would choose qualified applicants at random and enact the Commission’s redistricting decisions.
The following types of people would be ineligible to serve on the Commission:
- A partisan candidate or elected official in local, state or federal government;
- An officer in a political party;
- A consultant or employee for a political candidate, campaign or PAC;
- Legislative staffers;
- Registered lobbyists and their employees;
- Unclassified state employees, except those who work for public universities, the courts or the armed forces;
- The parent, child or spouse of any of the above people, including stepparents and children.
Currently, the Michigan State Legislature is responsible for drawing congressional and state legislative district boundaries.
In Favor
Gerrymandering has resulted in unfair, less competitive districts that don’t properly reflect constituents’ views. Having balanced districts will make it harder for bad politicians whose constituents don’t agree with their views to stay in office, leading to more representative government.
Opposed
Redistricting is a fundamental duty of state legislators. Taking this responsibility away from the legislature, and giving it to unelected officials, makes the process unaccountable to voters. At $5.5 million a year in additional expenditures, this proposal will also be very expensive to enact.
In-Depth
Voters Not Politicians, also known as “Yes on 2,” is leading the campaign in support of Proposal 2 with the support of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, Our Revolution, American Federation of Teachers - Michigan, and others. Voters Not Politicians says in support of Proposal 2:
“On election day, we, the voters of Michigan, deserve to have our say. We expect our elections to be fair and transparent so that our votes matter and our voices are heard. Politicians don't agree. They manipulate our voting maps to keep themselves in power. They draw voting maps that directly benefit themselves, instead of putting community interests and voter needs first. This allows politicians the power to choose their voters, instead of giving the voters the power to choose their politicians. This process gives us inattentive, ineffective, and unpopular representatives who keep getting re-elected over and over.”
State Rep. Rick Johnson (R), former Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives and a convention delegate for Donald Trump in 2016, adds that change is needed:
“We need change. This might not be the only change, but I hope it’s something. This country and this state can’t continue down the road we’re on right now because we’ll all be broke. There won’t be a legitimate unit of government that can stand this stuff that’s going on.”
The Committee to Protect Voters Rights is leading the campaign in opposition to Proposal 2 with the support of State Rep. Eric Leutheuser (R-58), the Michigan Republican Party, and Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution. The opposition campaign has largely received its funding from a handful of large donors, most linked to the Michigan business community. Sarah Anderson, a spokesperson for the Michigan Republican Party, says:
“VNP [Proposal 2] places the power of redistricting out of the hands of elected officials who are held accountable to voters and into the hands of a randomly selected group who will be unelected and unaccountable with no qualifications, eliminating checks and balances.”
The Commission is expected to cost at least an extra $5.5 million a year. This would be in addition to the Secretary of State’s Office’s existing budget.
Proposal 2 made it on the Michigan ballot after supporters submitted more than the 315,654 valid signatures required.
Summary by Lorelei Yang
(Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com / luismmolina)
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