Yesterday, Michigan’s Independent Citizen’s Redistricting Commission voted to hire Baker-Hostetler to serve as their litigation counsel should the maps they draw be challenged in court. We find this development very upsetting as the Baker-Hostetler firm is notorious for defending highly partisan and gerrymandered district maps in states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.

Today’s release of redistricting data allows Michigan to begin the process of drawing new voting district maps that will shape our elections for the next ten years. While this process has historically been conducted behind closed doors with little to no public input, 2021 will mark the first time Michigan’s district maps will be drawn by an independent citizen-led commission.

"The reforms in the 'For the People Act' are overwhelmingly popular across the political spectrum," said Quentin Turner, Program Director of Common Cause Michigan. "The bill draws from policies that have long had bipartisan support at both federal and state levels, including Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission."

These bills do nothing but increase barriers for voters to be heard by their government, particularly for seniors, the homeless, students, and low-income voters. These voter suppression bills are a solution in search of a problem that does not exist and only create more confusion and distrust among voters. We urge the full House to swiftly reject this attack on our voting rights.

Every Michigander deserves to be heard by their government, regardless of their age, race, political party, or zip code. These anti-voter bills are just another blatant attempt to put up barriers between people and their right to vote. We urge the Michigan House to reject this partisan attack on Michigan voters’ constitutionally protected voting rights.