DETROIT – It’s a major upheaval to Michigan’s political landscape. A federal court ruled that 13 Metro Detroit state House and Senate seats need to be redrawn because they violate the constitution.
A federal court said the maps violated the Equal Rights Act.
Background: Judge orders voting maps to be redrawn in Metro Detroit
House Districts 1, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, and 14 have to be redrawn, and Senate Districts 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, and 11. Not only do the maps need to be redrawn, the process needs to start immediately.
The Court of Appeals ruling was unanimous. The Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission drew the maps based on race, got bad information from their so-called “experts,” and in the end, diluted the Black vote to the point that it doesn’t matter.
In 2018, Michigan voters opted to take the drawing of these seats out of the hands of the legislature. Every 10 years, the party in power would draw the maps maps which had to satisfy legal criteria. The complaint was the process was too political and the seats were gerrymandered.
The new commission would be made up of citizens, who ultimately drew the maps worse than lawmakers ever did.
Elections can only happen in the impacted districts once the maps are redrawn. With the November General Election looming, time is of the essence.
The Redistricting Commission is set to meet Thursday, Dec. 28.