Refresher on Michigan’s New Redistricting Process

Proposal 18-2, authored and championed by Voters Not Politicians, established the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC). 61% of Michigan voters approved the passage of Proposal 18-2. Michigan’s new redistricting process requires that voters – not politicians – draw the political maps for Congress, the Michigan State Senate, and the Michigan State House every ten years. The entire process is required to be fair, impartial, and transparent. 

As a reminder, Voters Not Politicians was the citizen-led force which developed this process, and championed it to the ballot. From there, the Secretary of State’s office took responsibility for executing the commissioner selection process (explained below) and then the commission itself executed the process of drawing and approving the district maps. 

Here’s what that process looked like in full:

Key Points 

• MICRC is made up of everyday citizens. It is comprised of 4 Democrats, 4 Republicans, and 5 non-affiliated members. The selection process involves a weighted random drawing from a pool of qualified applicants to create a diverse and representative commission. Voters Not Politicians designed this selection process to put redistricting in the hands of independent public servants and to give every voter the opportunity to be represented in the redistricting process.
  1. Commissioners must be at least 18 years of age and a registered Michigan voter. 
  2. Commissioners must NOT be or in the past six years have been any of the following;
     • A candidate or elected official for partisan federal, state, or local office
     • An officer or member of the governing body of a political party
     • A paid consultant or employee of an elected official or candidate
     • An employee of the legislature
     • A registered lobbyist
     • An immediate family member of any individual listed above
       
• The redistricting process must be transparent. Michiganders want a redistricting process that is transparent to the people and allows every voter to make their voice heard.
  1. Meetings held by the MICRC must be live-streamed and available to the public. 
  2. Every resident of Michigan has the right to give public comment before, during, and after map drawing. 
  3. A minimum of 15 public hearings are required before final maps can be approved
     
• The Michigan constitution requires fair maps and provides for seven ranked criteria.
  1. Equal population and compliance with the Voting Rights Act and other federal laws
  2. Geographically contiguous 
  3. Maps reflect the state’s diverse population and communities of interest
  4. No advantage to any political party
  5. No advantage to any incumbent or candidate
  6. Consideration of municipal boundaries
  7. Reasonably compact

• Maps must be approved by a constitutional majority of the commission.
  • The final maps must be approved by a majority of the commissioners, including at least two Democrats, two Republicans, and two non-affiliated members.
    
• Only the independent commission can approve district maps. 
  • The voter-approved constitutional amendment specifies that “in no event shall any body, except the independent citizens redistricting commission acting pursuant to this Section, promulgate and adopt a redistricting plan or plans for this state,” including in cases where legal challenges result in court-ordered remedies or redrawing of district lines. 

What’s Next

The next steps for the MICRC involve adhering to the court’s order for the redrawing of specific districts in metro Detroit. The commission is tasked with completing this process by February 2nd, 2024, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and addressing concerns raised during the court proceedings. There will be a designated public comment period, where the MICRC will actively seek input from the public. 

This commitment to an inclusive and participatory process reflects the MICRC’s dedication to upholding the core principles of the Proposal 18-2 constitutional framework that Michigan voters approved. While this process will take time, it will be transparent, and will  ensure that voters, not politicians, draw the lines.