Michigan residents have a first-ever opportunity to be directly involved with the re-drawing of political district lines tonight when the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) hosts its first of 16 public hearings on the redistricting process.
The redistricting process determines the shape of state and federal political districts in Michigan. Voters approved the MICRC via a statewide referendum in 2018.
Credit Steve Carmody / Michigan Radio
The hearing from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday at One American Event Center in Jackson will also be livestreamed. Any Michigander can RSVP to attend the in person or online, and submit public comments virtually, here.
“The most important purpose of the public hearing is to actually hear from Michigan residents about potential redistricting plans that will impact them,” said MICRC spokesperson Edward Woods III.
Associated Press
LANSING, Mich. (AP) Michigan’s new redistricting commission is set to begin taking public comment as it weighs how to draw the boundaries for 13 congressional and 148 legislative districts that will last for a decade.
The series of 16 hearings will start today in Jackson and end July 1 in Grand Rapids.
The panel which has four Democrats, four Republicans and five independents will create the maps instead of the Legislature doing it because voters approved an anti-political gerrymandering constitutional amendment in 2018.
“The new redistricting process ensures that redistricting occurs in an open and transparent manner with the opportunity for statewide participation. Communities of interest for the first time are going to have a voice to prevent gerrymandering and to prevent
Michigan set to begin public hearings on redistricting
By DAVID EGGERTMay 10, 2021 GMT
LANSING, Mich. (AP) Michigan’s new redistricting commission is set to begin taking public comment as it weighs how to draw the boundaries for 13 congressional and 148 legislative districts that will last for a decade.
The series of 16 hearings will start Tuesday in Jackson and end July 1 in Grand Rapids.
The panel which has four Democrats, four Republicans and five independents will create the maps instead of the Legislature doing it because voters approved an anti-political gerrymandering constitutional amendment in 2018.
“The new redistricting process ensures that redistricting occurs in an open and transparent manner with the opportunity for statewide participation. Communities of interest for the first time are going to have a voice to prevent gerrymandering and to prevent the division of neighborhoods for partisan gain, which can harm communities,” Rebecca Szetela, vice-chai
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LANSING Voters, start your engines. Michigan s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission kicks off its first round of public hearings this week, a milestone for the new commission charged with drawing Michigan s political districts for the upcoming decade.
The commission has scheduled 16 public hearings around the state, including one at 6 p.m. May 27 at the Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Ave. The full schedule is available on the commission s website, michigan.gov/micrc.
The constitution states commissioners must hold at least 10 of these hearings throughout the state in order to explain the new redistricting process and hear ideas from the public about their plans. They must hold a second round of hearings after drawing potential maps for congressional, state house and state senate districts.
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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.