The Michigan Supreme Court voted 4-3 to reject a lawsuit by well-funded special interests to keep the Voters Not Politicians ballot initiative off the November ballot. The initiative would end political gerrymandering in Michigan by stripping the power to draw districts from state legislators and creating an independent citizen redistricting commission to draw U.S. House and state legislative districts after each decennial census.

“We are thrilled that the Michigan Supreme Court has respected the will of the 425,000 Michiganders who signed a petition to place the Voters Not Politicians initiative on the ballot,” said Kathay Feng, Common Cause national redistricting director. “This all-volunteer effort started so citizens could end a corrupt system in which self-interested politicians manipulate districts for political advantage behind closed doors. Now Michigan voters will have the opportunity to make their voices heard.”

Former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) and former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) joined Common Cause to file an amicus brief supporting placement of the Voters Not Politicians initiative on the November ballot. Common Cause, which led the effort to create a citizen redistricting commission in California and other states, played a role in the early stages of the policy development process to assist the coalition in designing the initiative. Three other states – Colorado, Missouri and Utah – are also looking to the November 2018 ballot to approve proposed redistricting reforms; Ohio approved reforms in May 2018.

To read the amicus brief, klicken Sie hier.