VNP Weekly Update: May 17, 2024

The Headlines

This week the MICRC heard Voting Rights Act and partisan fairness analysis on the 33 draft map configurations. They also named several map variations with (at times controversial) bird names. We expect the commission to narrow the options next week, and we will work with partners and bring you our analysis. 

There are significant partisan fairness differences among the maps. It’s critical that among the maps that provide opportunities for historically marginalized communities to choose candidates of their choice and do a good job balancing communities of interest, that the commission move forward with those with the least partisan bias.

In other exciting news, Voters Not Politicians staff and board were able to share our grassroots organizing success with an international audience!

The Details

Redistricting

• After two days of mapping following the commission’s first round of in-person public hearings, the commission’s VRA and partisan fairness experts gave presentations on how the maps fared on the two criteria.
  • As with the House redraw, the commission’s VRA counsel looked at primary election data to determine the likelihood of Black voters in Detroit being able to elect their candidates of choice in the affected districts. 
  • Counsel determined that maps with at least four opportunity districts would likely be compliant, but maps with three districts could also be compliant with narrowly tailored tweaks.
• Of the 33 collaborative and individual maps analyzed, 12 had 4 VRA opportunity districts. 
• The commission spent the rest of Thursday’s meeting distinguishing between all of the maps that received 4’s along with some 3’s, and giving bird names to maps that commissioners preferred.
  • Note that this does not mean that any of the named maps are guaranteed to be moved forward, or any of the maps without names are guaranteed to be cut from the list; the names mainly serve as a way for the public to distinguish between maps as the commission makes its final decision on which maps to push forward for public comment on Tuesday, May 21st. The map names are as follows:
    • Map 349 or 042524 v7 was named Sparrow
    • Map 351 or 042924 v2 was named Starling v1
    • Map 361 or 050724 v5 was named Swift v2
    • Map 362 of 050724 v4 was named Swift v1
    • Map 364 or 050724 v2 was named Dove
    • Map 371 or 050824 v4 was named Hummingbird
    • Map 373 or 050924 v1 was named Cardinal
    • Map 374 or 050924 v2 was named Starling v2
    • Map 377 or 050924 v5 was named Robin
    • Map 378 or 050924 v6 was named Blue Jay
    • Map 379 or 050924 v8 was named Finch
    • Map 385 or 051524 v2 was named Crane
    • Map 386 or 051524 v3 was named Hawk
    • Map 387 or 051524 v4 was named Eagle
    • Map 390 or 051524 v8 was named Flamingo*
• VNP staff wonders what flamingos are doing on this list of birds which, otherwise, are actually seen in the wild in Michigan. Apparently the commission debated whether flamingos are birds at all. They are. 

Voters Not Politicians Takes Our Mission International

Last week, several Voters Not Politicians staff and board members met with a group of young German leaders as part of the Heinrich Boell Foundation’s “Grow the Future” program which aims to strengthen democratic alliances. 

Our team spoke with the group of activists, researchers, and policy advisors about VNP’s success in organizing grassroots citizen action which has fundamentally changed and strengthened Michigan’s democracy. We also discussed the state of democracy in Michigan, in the US, and in Germany, and what we as organizers can do to engage citizens to participate in our democracy and protect our democratic institutions. 

This was a great opportunity to share both challenges and solutions with people who will help lead Germany forward. VNP was honored to be invited by the foundation.

What’s Next

Next week, we expect the commission to begin work paring down the number of draft map options, ahead of the official public comment period. In the meantime, residents can still offer public comment on their preferred maps. The MICRC must submit a set of draft proposed maps to the court by May 22, and virtual and in-person public hearings on those maps are scheduled to begin on May 29. 

Voters Not Politicians is also preparing to drive as many voters as possible to the commission’s in-person public hearings to provide feedback on the draft maps. We will continue our digital ad campaign, as well as getting information about the hearings directly to residents in the affected districts.