Today, June 1 is the final day to apply for Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.

The commission will be tasked with drawing district lines for the Michigan Legislature and Michigan’s members of Congress for the 2022 election.

As CMF has reported, applications are being processed virtually due to the pandemic. Registered voters can apply online to serve on the commission and several e-notaries are waiving their fees to help this process continue during the pandemic.

The latest data from the state shows it has processed 5,761 applications.

“The response during this application period has been tremendous,” Jocelyn Benson, Michigan secretary of state said. “Michigan is now leading the way in a new age of democratic engagement. The same momentum that sent people to the polls to vote in favor of this commission in 2018 has compelled thousands across the state to apply to serve on it.”

As CMF reported in April, there are concerns whether the pool of applicants is reflective of the state’s demographics and includes diverse representation.

The state is tracking detailed information on the applicant pool. The data from the 5,761 applications received to date shows that:

• 84% (4,809) of applicants are white, compared to 10% or (562) of applicants who are African American and less than 390 applicants who identify as another race.

• 59% of the applicants are men.

• 68% of applicants are over 55 years old, while only 18% fall in the 18 – 34 age range.

• Geographically, the large majority of applicants reside in Southeast or Western Michigan with many counties, especially in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula experiencing single-digit participation rates.

To ensure diverse representation serving on the commission and broad participation in developing inclusive maps, CMF encourages members to share the online application with their networks today as a final reminder.

Following today’s deadline, the state says that Rehmann LLC, an independent accounting firm, will randomly select 200 semifinalist applicants from the total processed notarized applications, using statistical weighting methods to mirror the geographic and demographic makeup of the state.

The applications of the 200 semifinalists will be posted online and their applications delivered to legislative leaders who may reject up to 20 applications, as allowed by the Michigan Constitution.

In August, Rehmann LLC will do a final random drawing of 13 commissioners on behalf of the Secretary of State’s Office.

Want more?

Apply to serve on the commission.

Share the application with your networks.