Katelyn Caralle reports for the Washington Examiner that Michigan voters will have a chance to consider creating an independent redistricting group.
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled Tuesday night in a 4-3 decision that a proposal to create an independent commission on redistricting will appear on the November ballot.
In the split decision, the court ruled that voter-initiated proposals were to be permitted as long as they do not “significantly alter or abolish the form or structure of our government, making it tantamount to creating a new constitution.”
Republicans have maintained or increased congressional and legislative influence since last drawing of political boundaries in 2011, according to the Detroit News. An anti-gerrymandering petition effort had attained almost 400,000 valid signatures for the plan through efforts of volunteers with the Voters Not Politicians committee.
Though the anti-gerrymandering petitions had been certified by the Board of State Canvassers certified the group’s petitions, a group in opposition of the proposals bankrolled by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce challenged the push, arguing the measure should be off the ballot because it was too broad and expansive to just be considered an amendment to the state’s constitution.
