Dear Voter:
During the 2018 election, Michigan voters approved Proposal 2, adding an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to the state Constitution that will be responsible for drawing district lines for the state House, state Senate and U.S. Congress every 10 years.
The Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will be a 13-member commission comprised of randomly-selected citizens including four members who self-identify as republicans, four members who self-identify as democrats, and five members who self-identify as independent voters.
As a registered Michigan voter, you may apply to serve on the commission as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. No special skills or expertise are necessary.
This mailer contains information on the commission, eligibility requirements and information on how to apply. Additionally, detailed information, including the application, is available online at RedistrictingMichigan.org.
Sincerely,
State Senator Sean McCann
Website: SenSeanMcCann.com
Toll-free: (855) 347-8020
District: (269) 381-7158
The Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission
DATES TO KNOW
Fall 2019 – June 1, 2020: Application period
Oct. 2019: Applications available online
Jan. 1, 2020: Random mailing of at least 10,000 applications
June 1, 2020: Deadline for submitting applications
June – Aug. 2020: Selection process
Fall 2020 – Fall 2021: Commission takes public comments
Nov. 1, 2021: Maps adopted by commission
Dec. 31, 2021: Maps become law
Maps take effect for 2022 elections
The Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission
State Senator
Sean McCann
Website: SenSeanMcCann.com
Toll-free: (855) 347-8020
District: (269) 381-7158
What’s Redistricting?
Every 10 years when the U.S. Census Bureau completes the U.S. Census, they gain new data about where people live. This data, along with other information, is used to redraw the lines that define districts out of which voters elect political leaders. This process of determining district lines is known as “redistricting.”
In Michigan, a randomly selected group of citizens (the commission) is responsible for drawing these lines. District lines determine how voters will be grouped together to elect representatives to the U.S. Congress and Michigan’s House and Senate.
Applications to serve on the commission are available at RedistrictingMichigan.org
How to apply to serve on the commission
Applications have also been mailed to thousands of randomly selected registered Michigan voters. For those wanting to apply, applications are due by June 1, 2020 and must be notarized. Free notary services are available at your local secretary of state branch office, and a county-by-county list of notaries providing this service for free is available on online at www.RedistrictingMichigan org.
Commissioners will be selected no later than Sept. 1, 2020.
Who is eligible to be on the commission?
Commissioners must be registered Michigan voters and meet certain eligibility requirements. Those NOT eligible to serve on the commission include (either currently or in the past six years):
- Elected officials to partisan federal, state or local office;
- Declared candidates for partisan federal, state or local office;
- Officers or members of the governing body of a national, state or local political party;
- Paid consultants or employees of a federal, state or local elected official or political candidate, of a federal, state or local political candidate’s campaign or of a political action committee;
- Employees of the Legislature;
- Registered lobbyist agents with the Michigan Bureau of Elections, or any employees or such persons;
- Unclassified state employees who are exempt from classification in state civil service, except for employees of courts of record, employees of the state institutions of higher education and persons in the armed forces of the state; and,
- Parents, step-parents, children, step-children or spouse of any individual listed above.
I filled out my application and signed it in the presence of a notary. NOW WHAT?
You have two options for returning your application to the department of state.
OPTION 1
Mail the application to:
Michigan Department of State
P.O. Box 30318, Lansing, MI 48909
OPTION 2
Apply online: https://redistrictingapplication.sos.state.mi.us/
Applications must be completed and returned by June 1, 2020.
How will commissioners be selected?
STEP 1: In June 2020, following the closure of the application period, 200 semi-finalist applicants will be randomly selected. Of the 200 randomly selected, 60 will affiliate with the Republican Party, 60 will affiliate with the Democratic Party and 80 will be independent, or not affiliated with either political party. The secretary of state’s office has contracted with an accounting firm that will use statistical weighting methods to ensure the pool of 200 semi-finalists mirrors the geographic and demographic makeup of the state, as specified by the state Constitution.
STEP 2: In July 2020, once a pool of 200 potential commissioners is randomly selected, the minority and majority leaders of the Michigan Senate, the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives and minority leader of the Michigan House of Representatives can each remove up to five applicants from the semi- finalist pool for any reason (20 total).
STEP 3: In August 2020, from the remaining finalist pool received from the Legislature, the secretary of state’s office must randomly select four people who self-identify as affiliating with the Republican Party, four people who self-identify as affiliating with the Democratic Party and five people who self-identify as unaffiliated with either political party to serve on the commission.
By Sept. 1, 2020, the final 13 commissioners will be selected.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF
Commissioners are expected to work with their colleagues in good faith to engage citizen input to craft state legislative and U.S. Congressional districts for the entire state of Michigan. The initial months of the commissioners’ work will involve collaborating with other commissioners to establish a committee structure and procedures, hiring staff and outside experts, and developing a plan for citizen engagement.
The work of the commissioners will later involve efforts to gather the input and advice of citizens as maps are being drawn and considered. Similarly, it will involve reviewing map submissions from the public for consideration. Ultimately, commissioners are required to reach consensus on the maps and vote on the final districts for state House, state Senate, and U.S. Congress in Michigan.
The commission will convene in the fall of 2020 and will be required to enact district maps no later than Nov. 1, 2021. Commissioners will set meeting dates and other commitments within those parameters during that time as well. Some weeks the time commitment may be limited to a handful of hours, while others may be much more intensive. Commissioners will receive compensation equal to 25% of the governor’s salary, which amounts to approximately $40,000.