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Redistricting maps: Michigan residents can offer feedback at public hearings

Michigan redistricting panel holding public hearing Wednesday in Detroit

Capitol building in Lansing, Michigan. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

LANSING, Mich. – Members of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) are urging residents to speak up about draft congressional and legislative maps.

The first of five public hearings will be held on Wednesday in Detroit. The panel wants feedback on 10 maps it drew collaboratively along with several more that were proposed by individual commissioners.

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“Show up, speak up. We need the input from our citizens. It's a citizen-driven process to draw fair maps,” said MC Rothhorn, one of four Democrats on the commission, which also includes four Republican and five members who affiliate with neither major party.

The public hearing will be held from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., break for recess, and then continue at 5 p.m. through 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 20. Michigan residents can attend the meeting in person at the TCF Center in Downtown Detroit, or remotely by Zoom or by phone.

Michigan’s voter-created panel is responsible for the once-a-decade, post-census redistricting process instead of the Legislature, which controlled map drawing the last two decades and was criticized for partisan gerrymandering. Courts previously oversaw redistricting after a prior apportionment commission deadlocked and later was declared invalid.

More: Michigan redistricting map draws anger from both parties

Public meetings also are scheduled for Thursday in Lansing, Friday in Grand Rapids, Monday in Gaylord and Oct. 26 in Flint. People will have 90 seconds to speak, in person or virtually.

Sign-up or RSVP for the MICRC Public Hearings (links below)! 10/20 - Detroit http://research.net/r/F7VVLRN 10/21 -...

Posted by Redistricting Michigan on Monday, October 18, 2021

Commissioners said they are open to making changes to the drafts, including wholesale ones. They must factor in criteria such as keeping “communities of interest” together and ensuring the maps do not disproportionally favor one political party.

“We're certainly not taking the position that these maps are done by any stretch of the imagination. So if major changes need to be made, then I think we're ready and willing to make them,” said chair Rebecca Szetela, an unaffiliated member.

The drafts would be fairer to Democrats on a partisan basis than the maps drawn by GOP lawmakers in 2011. But the African American community in Detroit is mobilizing in opposition over fears that it would be harder to elect Black legislators.

There would be no majority-Black districts, as there are now, based off legal guidance the commission has received as it tries to undo past “packing” of African American voters. There would be about 20 majority-minority legislative seats and two majority-minority congressional seats when Hispanics, Asians and other minorities are factored in.

Commissioners said they are awaiting voter-turnout data to help assess concerns that Black candidates would be unable to win. The commission plans to vote Nov. 5 on maps and, following a 45-day comment period, adopt final maps by late December.


Related: Expert: Michigan redistricting panel can make maps fairer


About the Authors
Cassidy Johncox headshot

Cassidy Johncox is a senior digital news editor covering stories across the spectrum, with a special focus on politics and community issues.

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