The following statement can be attributed to Nancy Wang, Executive Director of Voters Not Politicians, on the petitions filed today by the Michigan Republican Party and special interests for rehearing before the entire bench (“en banc”) of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in their ongoing lawsuit to dismantle Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission:
The contention and lack of action we’re seeing in Lansing right now demonstrate why voters – not politicians – must be the ones who draw district maps that represent our communities. Gerrymandering ensures politicians are “safe” in their districts and insulated from political consequences when they fail to serve the voters. The Michigan Republican Party and others are trying to use the courts to overturn the voter-approved Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission so that politicians can go back to drawing election districts that serve themselves and political parties. Every court to have considered their claims has rejected them and we are eager to see the end of these wasteful lawsuits.
Click here to read the petition filed by conservative operative Tony Daunt and click here to read the petition filed by the Michigan Republican Party and activists.
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Voters Not Politicians is a nonpartisan advocacy organization that works to strengthen democracy by engaging people across Michigan in effective citizen action. Learn more at www.votersnotpoliticians.com.
