In a press release issued about an hour ago, state Rep. Pete Lund, the Shelby Township Republican who chairs the House Redistricting and Elections Committee, apparently reconsidered his previous position that the drawing of new election districts for the state House and Senate and Michigan’s congressional seats will be handled exactly as they have been in the past.
The League of Women Voters and other “good government” groups had come forward earlier this year to demand that the public play a substantive, transparent role in drawing new district lines — through public forums and by submitting proposed district maps.
Lund initially rejected that approach.
But earlier today the committee chairman announced details for those wishing to submit congressional or state legislative redistricting plans.
Proposed district maps can be sent to the clerk of the House of Representatives at: Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Capitol Building, Room 70, P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514.
Lansing, MI 48909-7514.
Plans should be submitted by May 23, 2011. A plan should include proposed districts for the entire state and should include the following, at minimum:
* A map depicting the statewide configuration of proposed districts and a detailed map depicting proposed districts in southeast Michigan. Maps should be on 8-1/2″ x 11″ paper or, alternatively, 20 copies of each map should be submitted;
* The population of each proposed district;
* The maximum population deviation among proposed districts; and
* Other descriptive details that would be useful to the committee.
Plans will be reviewed by committee staff. Additional detailed maps may also be submitted. Plans may be submitted to the full committee at the discretion of committee members.
