A message from Jamie Lyons-Eddy, Executive Director of Voters Not Politicians:
Hi Team,
Last month, a panel of federal judges ruled that the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission violated the Equal Protection Clause of the US Constitution by spreading out Black Detroiters among numerous districts based on their race. Six state senate districts and seven state house districts are void and must now be redrawn before the next elections in those districts.
I want to make a few things clear.
First, Michigan voters spoke very clearly in 2018 in support of a transparent and independent redistricting process to prevent politicians from putting a finger on the scale in Michigan elections.
We are confident that nothing in this decision calls into question the process that voters overwhelmingly approved in the Prop 18-2 redistricting amendment.
Second, Voters Not Politicians strongly believes that the citizens commission Michigan voters put in place can (and must) redraw districts that adhere to federal standards, provide fair representation, and preserve statewide partisan fairness in a transparent process that takes into account public comment. This is exactly what voters demanded in 2018.
We will continue to follow this case, and share updates on next steps in this process.
Michigan’s Independent Redistricting Commission exists because of the support of voters like you who want a redistricting process that is independent of politicians, transparent to the people, and allows every voter to make their voice heard. Rest assured that Voters Not Politicians will continue to be a space for voters to make their voices heard on this issue.
Sincerely,
Jamie Lyons-Eddy
Executive Director
Voters Not Politicians
