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More than 6,000 Michiganders have applied to serve on the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission than will draw new legislative boundaries after the 2020 census.
The commission was established when voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2018.
Boundaries for state House and Senate seats, and U.S. House seats, had previously been established by the state legislature, and were heavily influenced by the party in power. Michigan has been identified as one of the most heavily gerrymandered states in the nation.
Half of the applications received have been processed by the Secretary of State’s office.
Of those applicants, 85 percent are white, and 61 percent are male. Only 17 percent are younger than age 45. That could be a result of the time commitment, which is expected to be intense over more than a year. 51 percent of those who have applied describe themselves as political independents. 35 percent claim to be Democrat, and just 14 percent Republican.
10 of the processed applications came from Houghton County residents, two from Baraga County, and one from Keweenaw County. Ontonagon County is the only county in the state from which no applications have been processed so far.
Applications can still be submitted through June 1. The commission will eventually be made up of 13 members – four Democrats, four Republicans, and five independents.
Learn about applying, and see more about the applications processed so far here.
