Common Cause Endorses & Will Push Michigan Anti-Gerrymandering Ballot Proposal to Put Voters Before Politicians

After an overwhelming vote by Common Cause Michigan members, the organization has endorsed and will advocate for the passage of the Voters Not Politicians anti-gerrymandering constitutional amendment. The initiative will create an independent redistricting commission and removing the ability of legislators to draw district lines for partisan gain and handpick their constituents to ensure their reelection.

"Voters should be choosing politicians to represent them and politicians have no business choosing their voters in a democracy. Every eligible American wants their voice to be heard and their vote to count in determining the future of our families and communities. The Voters Not Politicians proposal would help to do just that by empowering an Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission - instead of politicians and lobbyists - to draw district lines for Congress and the state Legislature," said Kathay Feng, National Redistricting Director at Common Cause.

Voters Not Politicians turned in more than 425,000 signatures to the Secretary of State's office in December. The organization is now awaiting the expected approval of the Board of State Canvassers that would put the measure on the November 2018 ballot.

"The support of Common Cause is an important milestone for our campaign," said Katie Fahey, president and treasurer of Voters Not Politicians. "We are expecting more endorsements in coming weeks, as Michigan learns how our current process undermines democracy and supports a system rigged for establishment politicians and against regular citizens."

Over 98 percent of Michigan Common Cause members votes cast were in support of the initiative. Winning this initiative would bring transparency, fairness and accountability to the redistricting process. Without it, politicians will continue to turn democracy on its head - picking their voters instead of the other way around.

Common Cause members are supporting Voters Not Politicians at events this week, where they can hear from the group's organizers along with members of California's similar - and successful - impartial Citizens Redistricting Commission. Townhalls have already been held in Lansing and Grand Rapids, and an event in Troy will take place tonight:

• Friday, January 26: Troy Educational Town Hall at 7 PM
  Troy Community Center Room 303, 3179 Livernois Rd, Troy, MI 48083

"For too long, politicians have been able to manipulate the district lines for themselves and their party with no regard for what's best for the people. But for the first time in Michigan's history, we have a real chance to create a fair and transparent redistricting process - and prioritize fair representation for Michiganders over partisan politics," said Feng.

To learn more about the Voters Not Politicians Ballot initiative, click here.

To view this release online, click here.