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Redistricting Drive Asks Judge To Order State Board To Do Its Job

picture of the Michigan Capitol Building
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A campaign to amend the Michigan Constitution is asking a judge to order a state board to certify its question for the November ballot.    
Capital Bureau Chief Rick Pluta tells us the amendment would change how the state draws congressional and legislative district boundaries.   

Republicans don’t like the proposal. And this week, the Republican chair of the Board of State Canvassers abruptly canceled a meeting to certify the campaign had gathered enough petition signatures to qualify for the ballot.  

The board chair says he wants to see how legal challenges to the proposal play out. Katie Fahey with the Voters Not Politicians campaign says the court case has nothing to do with the board’s job.    

“The board of canvassers’ job and role is to certify that we got enough signatures. That’s the only thing we’re looking for them to do, and there’s no reason for them not to.”    

The amendment would create an independent commission to handle drawing legislative and congressional district lines. The campaign says that would take partisan politics out of the re-districting process.  

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.
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