The Headlines
This week, the Detroit News published a survey that shows many Michigan voters are dissatisfied with the condition of U.S. democracy. 68% — a shocking majority — of respondents are unhappy with our country’s democracy. We have made great strides in strengthening Michigan’s democracy over the past few years, but it’s clear that our work is far from over.
That’s why Voters Not Politicians is focused on protecting our investments in Michigan’s democracy, and expanding our grassroots movement to reach more nascent pro-democracy activists.
In The Details this week, I have additional guidance on the draft maps submitted for public comment by the MICRC, as well as a guide on how concerned individuals can use the online mapping portal to submit feedback on the maps. I’ll also share information from our most recent Democracy Academy workshop, and what’s next for the program.
The Details
Redistricting
- Last week, the MICRC moved a total of 12 draft maps forward to the formal public comment period.
- 60% of Michigan voters, including over 80% of Detroit voters, voted to adopt a redistricting process for maps that don’t favor any political party. Once the federal requirements have been met, and COI testimony weighed and accommodated, the maps with the best partisan fairness scores should be chosen.
- We looked at several aspects of the finalist maps, but for the sake of brevity, we will simply point to the most significant drawbacks or features of each.
- Compared to the full finalist map pool, three maps offer fewer opportunity districts for Black voters to choose representative candidates. These are the individual maps made by commissioners Lange (400), Wagner (401), and Curry (366). In our view, there is no reason to adopt maps that don’t do the best possible job of addressing the dilution of Black representation that spurred the lawsuit.
- The remaining maps have varying levels of partisan bias, with Dove scoring worst, followed by Orton (393) and Finch v2 (399).
- Starling, Crane, and Cardinal’s comparatively poorer partisan fairness scores take them out of the top performing maps in the finalist pool.
- Of the final three options, Heron (376) and Szetela’s individual map (404) are the two best, with Phoenix (403) trailing as a distant third. Heron, a slightly modified copy of Hummingbird, scores extremely well on partisan fairness and meets VRA requirements. Szetala’s map also scores extremely well on partisan fairness and appears to take to heart the many comments made by community members who testified about their communities of interest. Phoenix, which was advanced by commissioner Kellom as her individual map, scores not quite as well on partisan fairness but is a third place option that seems likely to respect Detroit neighborhoods, a particular strength of commissioner Kellom.
- We are strongly encouraging all Michiganders who support fair redistricting, and especially those who live in the affected districts, to use the online portal to submit negative feedback (red pins) on the less desirable maps, and positive feedback on the acceptable options. Voters Not Politicians has developed a guide on how to access and use the online portal. Public comment can be made through the portal now through June 21st.
- I would like to take a moment here to celebrate the transparency and public input that makes this process infinitely superior to the secret, politician-driven redistricting we used to have in Michigan.
- On Wednesday, the MICRC held the first of two virtual town halls to display and review the 12 draft proposed State Senate maps.
- As part of their outreach to the public, the commission is hosting a Millennial Roundtable on June 5 at 6:30 pm to answer questions and encourage more young Michiganders to get involved in the redraw. Voters Ed Fund’s own Alyson Grigsby, Education Programs Manager, will be one of the panelists!
- The next virtual town hall will be on June 6th from 10 AM – 1 PM and 5 PM – 7:30 PM. You can view the town hall via the MICRC YouTube Channel or sign up here to provide public comment and ask questions.
- The commission will also host three in-person public hearings in Detroit the following week. These public hearings are focused on gathering public feedback on the submitted draft maps:
- June 11th at Detroit Cass Tech/2502 Second Ave.: 10 AM – 3 PM and 4 PM – 7 PM
- June 12th at Detroit King/3200 E. Lafayette: 10 AM – 3 PM and 4 PM – 7 PM
- June 13th at Detroit Renaissance/6565 W. Outer Drive: 10 AM -3 PM and 4 PM – 7 PM
Democracy Academy
- On May 20th, Democracy Academy hosted the third workshop of its six-virtual-workshop series: Citizen Lobbying Your Local Government.
- The workshop covered the importance of using local grassroots lobbying as a tool to advocate to your elected officials about local community concerns.
- Two Democracy Academy volunteers, Bob S. and JP F. shared their own testimonies on how they have utilized citizen lobbying of their elected officials regarding local community projects, including creating bike lanes in Waterford Twp. and improving revenue sharing in Macomb County.
- As of the end of May, Democracy Academy has worked with over 100 budding activists across Michigan.
What’s Next
Voters Not Politicians is committed to making sure Metro Detroiters make their voices heard on the draft maps. The commission will be hosting another virtual town hall on June 6th and in-person public hearings on June 11, 12, and 13th. Over the next two weeks, VNP will be dropping flyers in several neighborhoods across the affected districts, directing residents to the public hearings. We will also continue reaching out to residents through our digital ad campaign, which has thus far reached over 225,000 Metro Detroit residents.
On Thursday, June 13th, VNP will also host another Public Comment Coaching session to teach residents how to use the online portal to provide feedback on the commission’s proposed maps. Both the comment portal and the training are open to all Michigan residents, especially those who live in affected and potentially affected senate districts.
The next Democracy Academy workshop will focus on the highly anticipated topic: Participatory Budgeting! This workshop was developed in partnership with Janet Anderson, Adjunct Professor of Urban Studies at Wayne State University, and will teach attendees about the process of participatory budgeting, how it is used in select Michigan communities, and how it can be expanded to more municipalities.
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