Lansing, MI – Following today’s release of population data by the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) is calling on the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) to accurately reflect the state’s voters when drawing the 2022 congressional and state legislative maps. The new data enables MICRC to start the redistricting process. A fair congressional map in Michigan will reflect the state’s slight Democratic lean.

“Michigan is a competitive state and a fair congressional map will reflect the slight Democratic lean of its voters as a whole. The map should also reflect the growing number of people of color who call Michigan home,” said Kelly Burton, President of NDRC. “As the MICRC starts the map drawing process, NDRC urges it to be open and transparent so that Michigan voters have an opportunity to have their voices heard.”

NDRC believes that congressional and state legislative maps should reflect the state’s population growth and its political makeup. With the counties in northern central Michigan losing population, the lost seat should come from this area, allowing the surrounding districts to grow naturally and absorb the lost district. As the MICRC starts the 2021 redistricting process, it must keep the state’s large African-American and Arab-American populations from having their votes diluted through cracking and packing.

NDRC also calls for a continued robust public hearing schedule – both before and after maps have been drafted – that is accessible to all Michiganders. The schedule should include ample prior notice, diversity in locations around the state, and virtual testimony options.

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