LANSING (WKZO-AM) — While Michiganders are debating whether or not to put recreational marijuana and other issues on next year’s ballot, the League of Women Voters would like to see someone pursue the creation of independent commissions to do redistricting.
Michigan initially installed one when they rewrote the constitution in 1960, but it was deemed unconstitutional at the time and rejected.
Michigan League President Judy Karandjeff said the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 over the summer to allow independent commissions, which they feel is preferable to Michigan’s current system of letting the party in power pick the boundaries.
“We have some concerns about how that process is working, and are trying to educate people on the current process and what other states are doing,” Karandjeff said.
She says Ohio has just such an initiative on their ballot next month.
“Now, I don’t know enough about politics in Ohio, but I do know it’s always one of those states that’s pretty evenly split,” Karandjeff said.
Many feel that taking the politicians out of the process will be better for everyone, but convincing majority Republicans of that in Lansing could be a tall order.
– John McNeill
