Gerrymandering/Redistricting

In response to the U.S. Supreme Court denying the appeal of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, Common Cause Michigan Executive Director Quentin Turner released the following statement:

LANSING, MI — Today, Common Cause filed a joint amicus brief with Michigan State University professor Jon X. Eguia in Agee v. Benson, a case in which plaintiffs argue that Michigan’s state legislative maps violate the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act.

Today, the U.S. Census Bureau will release population data from the 2020 Census in an easy-to-use format for Americans who want to advocate for fair maps in this year’s redistricting cycle. The new format of the data will be made available to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico and will be key to increasing participation in the ongoing redistricting efforts.

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.