Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission

In the Media

Early Public Comment Roundup Gives ICRC A Glimpse At Road Ahead

May 20, 2024 Gongwer

Members of the public have been providing public comments since the inception of the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission Track, but on Monday, commissioners got a peek at what those commenters were saying about the maps created between...

In the Media

New House map combats racial gerrymandering in Michigan Legislature

Apr 9, 2024 The Michigan Daily

Three federal judges approved new Michigan House of Representatives voting districts on March 27. The map’s passing followed a lawsuit, Agee v. Benson, filed March 23, 2022, that alleged illegal racial gerrymandering in 13 Detroit-area House and...

In the Media

'It's messy': The ups and downs of Michigan's inaugural citizens redistricting commission

Feb 1, 2024 The Detroit News

For six days in November, 88-year-old Susan Smith sat on a polished wooden bench in a windowless federal courtroom in Kalamazoo as judges heard hours of testimony on the future of Michigan’s legislative maps. The testimony, as is the case with...

News

An assessment of Michigan's redistricting process

Dec 5, 2022

In the aftermath of the first election that used newly-drawn districts in Michigan, created by an independent citizen’s commission, the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy and the Program in Practical Policy Engagement hosted a Policy Talk to...

An assessment of Michigan's redistricting process

News

Michigan State-Michigan collaboration to measure Partisan Advantage in redistricting

Oct 27, 2022

The effect of redistricting will be a major topic as the results of the 2022 elections are analyzed in the weeks and months ahead. In some states, districts were drawn by partisan legislatures; in others those maps were challenged in the courts with...

Michigan State-Michigan collaboration to measure Partisan Advantage in redistricting

Publication

Local government officials offer mixed reviews to Michigan's new approach to redistricting

Oct 26, 2022

Local officials in Michigan have rendered a mixed verdict on the state's new constitutionally mandated approach to redrawing electoral maps with the goal of reducing gerrymandering and promoting fairer elections. Only 24% of local officials are...

U-M survey finds early lack of awareness among local leaders with state’s new approach to redraw legislative districts

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Policy Brief: Local government officials give mixed reviews to Michigan’s new approach to redistricting

Oct 26, 2022

A new policy brief presents the opinions of Michigan local government leaders on Michigan’s new approach to electoral redistricting and the performance of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC). These findings are based...

A blue map of Michigan layered over a blue neighborhood map

CLOSUP Updates

Webinar: Michigan redistricting: A model for the nation? Evaluating the state's new maps and process

Jan 19, 2022 Event details

Date & Time Jan 19, 2022, 7:00-8:30 pm EST Michigan has brand new electoral maps designed through an innovative new process, and the state's politics will never be the same. This webinar will analyze and evaluate Michigan’s new redistricting...

In the Media

U-M expert on redistricting: The road back and ahead

Nov 16, 2021 Michigan News, University of Michigan

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission is nearing the end of its work to draft new maps in an effort to end partisan gerrymandering. The mission was straightforward—use an independent commission instead of the state legislature...

News

Ivacko: Challenges abound as leaders assemble for Mackinac Policy Conference

Sep 20, 2021

Many of Michigan's business, political and academic movers and shakers are gathering this week for the annual Mackinac Policy Conference after the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of last year's event. While the number of people...

Ivacko: Challenges abound as leaders assemble for Mackinac Policy Conference

In the Media

Michigan’s new redistricting commission sued in anticipation of missing deadlines

Sep 14, 2021 Michigan Radio

The citizen-led commission in charge of drawing new political maps in Michigan is being sued because it’s unlikely to meet...

In the Media

Letter: Redistricting commission's constitutional mandate comes first

Jul 13, 2021 Detroit News

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In the Media

Former justice says redistricting committee should ignore UM advice

Jul 6, 2021 KPVI News 6

Former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Stephen Markman urged Michigan's independent redistricting committee to use geographical boundaries instead of racial, ethnic, or religious groups to determine the state's new voting...

In the Media

Former justice says redistricting committee should ignore UM advice

Jul 5, 2021 Iosco County News Herald

In the Media

What happens now that Michigan's first round of redistricting hearings is complete?

Jul 4, 2021 mlive.com

(Subscription required) With the last of 16 initial public hearings in the books, Michigan’s independent redistricting commissioners will now turn to the next step of drawing the state’s political maps — compiling and analyzing public comments while...

In the Media

Former justice discourages redistricting commission from using UM guidance

Jun 28, 2021 Detroit News

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In the Media

The University of Michigan Guide to Gerrymandering

Jun 25, 2021 Wall Street Journal

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News

Chamberlin on lawmaker transparency and redistricting

Jun 13, 2021

John Chamberlin, Ford School professor emeritus of public policy and political science, says a recent controversy in Lansing calls out the need for increased transparency when it comes to lawmakers. A Michigan state representative is proposing a law...

Chamberlin on lawmaker transparency and redistricting

In the Media

Chamberlin discusses Michigan redistricting

May 25, 2021 MLive

As the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission begins its work, Michigan citizens are being called upon to help with the process. John Chamberlin, professor emeritus of public policy and political science, explained how the new...

Chamberlin discusses Michigan redistricting

News

CLOSUP to help expand Michigan redistricting resources in partnership with MSU’s IPPSR

May 24, 2021

Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) and the Ford School’s Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) are collaborating to educate and assist Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting...

The Next Big Thing: Redistricting In Michigan And The Role Of Communities Of Interest

In the Media

Michigan's redistricting commission wants to see your ideal political maps. Here's how to make them

May 19, 2021 M Live

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In the Media

You can influence how Michigan's electoral maps get re-drawn

May 11, 2021 Michigan Radio

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In the Media

Schwarz weighs in on Michigan redistricting

May 9, 2021 The Blade

With the loss of a congressional district as a result of the most recent census, Michiganders have been left guessing what the new districts will look like. Most likely, districts will become more competitive for the upcoming midterm elections, but...

Schwarz weighs in on Michigan redistricting

In the Media

Chelsea Community Forum Summary for April 10, 2021

Apr 26, 2021 The Sun Times News

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In the Media

Chamberlin talks about Michigan's transparent redistricting process and census impact

Apr 22, 2021 Detroit News

New 2020 Census data means the loss of a Michigan Congressional seat, and redrawing the district lines will happen through a new citizen-driven process. "The process this year is radically different than the past," said John Chamberlin. "The public...

In the Media

As Michigan begins redistricting, ‘communities of interest’ take center stage

Apr 21, 2021 Bridge Magazine

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In the Media

Your questions about Michigan's new redistricting process answered

Mar 28, 2021 Detroit Free Press

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In the Media

Gerrymandering split up communities in the past. New redistricting process aims to keep them together

Mar 2, 2021 Detroit Free Press

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News

Michigan's redistricting effort makes slow but steady progress, despite delayed data, other challenges - Chamberlin

Feb 25, 2021

John Chamberlin, Ford School professor emeritus of political science and public policy, describes himself as a "redistricting junkie." Not unexpectedly, he possesses a keen interest in and understanding of the efforts under way to develop Michigan's...

Publication

U-M survey finds early lack of awareness among local leaders with state’s new approach to redraw legislative districts

Feb 23, 2021

Michigan’s local government leaders reported mixed familiarity with the state’s new approach to redistricting, according to a 2020 survey whose results were released today by the the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) at the...