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Michigan s redistricting commission will launch the first of 16 public meetings Tuesday to hear from residents about the factors they hope are considered as voting districts are redrawn.
The public listening sessions begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Jackson and will end in Grand Rapids July 1. People can attend in person, as space and social distancing allow, or online via Zoom.
The 13-member Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission is tasked with redrawing Michigan s voting districts for Congress, the state House and state Senate ahead of the 2022 elections.
During the twice weekly public hearings across the state, commissioners hope to hear from residents about how the districts should be drawn to respect a community s interests, history, culture and economy.
Where and when will the redistricting commission s public hearings be held?
The Michigan Constitution requires the commission to hold at least 10 public hearings across the state before drawing any districts.
The commission has planned 16 public hearings that will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Each public hearing will run from 6 to 9 p.m. Social distancing will be enforced at the public hearings and masks will be required. Temperature checks required by venues or local health orders will be enforced, and those with a temperature above 100.4 degrees will not be allowed entrance.
Jackson Tuesday, May 11 at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.) at American 1 Event Center, 128 W. Ganson St., Jackson.
Michigan’s redistricting commission prepares to take in-person input on redrawing political maps
Posted May 08, 2021
Michigan Redistricting Commission set times and dates for statewide public hearings at a March 30, 2021 meeting.
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The commission is also officially taking map suggestions through a new online comment portal.
Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission a group of five independents, four Republicans and four Democrats randomly selected from a pool of thousands of applicants is constitutionally obligated to redraw the state’s Congressional, state House and state Senate political district maps based on the latest U.S. Census data and a myriad of other criteria, including communities of interest.
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The Michigan redistricting process, which could have a direct effect on who represents Monroe County voters, has begun with a series of public hearings scheduled to begin next week.
Although none of the planned meetings are being held in Monroe or Lenawee counties, the eventual decisions may affect who represents those citizens in Washington, D.C., and Lansing.
It’s possible that when the process is complete, Monroe County could fall into U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell’s 12 congressional district. For decades, Monroe had been represented by her late husband, John Dingell, before being shifted into Rep. Tim Walberg’s district.
Where and when will the redistricting commission s public hearings be held?
The Michigan Constitution requires the commission to hold at least 10 public hearings across the state before drawing any districts.
The commission has planned 16 public hearings that will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Each public hearing will run from 6 to 9 p.m. Social distancing will be enforced at the public hearings and masks will be required. Temperature checks required by venues or local health orders will be enforced, and those with a temperature above 100.4 degrees will not be allowed entrance.
Jackson Tuesday, May 11 at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.) at American 1 Event Center, 128 W. Ganson St., Jackson.