Every 10 years following the U.S. Census, district lines for political offices must be redrawn in states across the country to accurately reflect their population. In Michigan, a randomly selected commission of citizens is responsible for drawing U.S. Congressional and Michigan State legislative district lines. Voters passed this constitutional amendment in the November 2018 general election, which makes citizens — not legislators or special interests — responsible for drawing district lines. The commission will be composed of 13 Michigan registered voters: four who self-identify as Democrats, four who self-identify as Republicans and five who self-identify as unaffiliated with either of those political parties.

For a discussion about the Indepedent Redeistricting Commission featuring Secretary of State Benson, as well as a tutorial on filling out the application, click here. 

Under the new constitutional provision, voters charged the Secretary of State with administering the application and selection process of commissioners, as well as providing administrative support to the commission once formed. On October 23, 2019, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson made the application for the Citizens Redistricting Commission available online at RedistrictingMichigan.org. All applications must be printed and notarized before being returned to the Michigan Department of State by June 1, 2020. For more information on the application and selection process, visit the Secretary of State's website to view updated public comment FAQ. Questions abour the application process should be directed to Redistricting@Michigan.gov

For more information about the League's role in redistricting, click here.

The League of Women Voters supported Proposal 3, "Promote the Vote", which was passed by Michigan voters in the November, 2018 election. This new constitutional amendment ensures that every eligible person can vote and that every vote will be counted. It safeguards our elections with audits and more accurate voting lists, and removes barriers that can make it harder for citizens to fulfill their responsibility to vote. Michigan citizens are now guaranteed these new voting rights:

• A citizen can register to vote anytime with proof of residency. Click here for details.
• All registered voters can access to an absentee ballot for any reason.  To apply for an absentee ballot, click here to access the application.
• The right to vote a secret ballot is protected.
• Military service members and overseas voters will get their ballots in time for their votes to count.
• Voters have the option to vote straight party.
• Citizens will be automatically registered to vote at the Secretary of State’s office unless the citizen declines.
• The accuracy and integrity of elections are ensured by audits of election results

For detailed information about voter registration, click here.  To open the Know Your Voting Rights booklet produced by the ACLU and co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters, click here. 

The League of Women Voters of Michigan was the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit filed against the State of Michigan concerning PA 608, which imposed a myriad of new restrictions on ballot initiatives. The League supports and encourages the grassroots efforts to initiate legislation, to amend the constitution or to recall our elected officials through the ballot initiative process. We are very pleased with the Court of Claims judge’s decision on September 27, 2019 which supported the claims that a 15% limit on the percentage of initiative signatures that come under any U.S. House district is unconstitutional. Also cited as unconstitutional is the requirement that petition circulators fill out a check box on the petition indicating whether they are paid or volunteer staff. On January 27, 2020, the Michigan Court of Appeals agreed with the lower court's decision to strike down the changes to Michigan's ballot drive law, declaring the changes unconstitutional. The court's ruling removes unreasonable barriers to circulating petitions in Michigan and vindicates the constitutional right to petition.  Read information about the court's decision here.

Michigan's Senate and House of Representatives are appealing this decision to Michigan's Supreme Court. Oral arguments were scheduled for March 11, 2020.

In 2018, citizens collected enough signatures to place initiatives on the ballot that would raise the minimum wage to $12 per hour for all Michigan workers and guarantee one hour of sick time for 30 hours worked. But instead of allowing citizens to vote on these important measures at the November 2018 election, the Michigan legislature adopted them into law in order to keep them off the ballot—and then proceeded to gut them as soon as the election was over. This cynical move is unconstitutional and had never been done before. The Michigan Constitution gives citizens the right to propose laws that must either be adopted by the legislature or voted on by the electorate the ACLU’s brief explains. “It therefore violates the Constitution for the Legislature to do what it did here: ‘adopt’ the people’s proposal—with no intention of allowing it to become law—and then snuff out that proposal during the same legislative session.” This case was argued in the Michigan Supreme Court in July 2019 and a decision is pending. 

UPDATE: On December 18, 2019, the Michigan Supreme Court announced that it will not decide whether the Legislature’s maneuver to “adopt and amend” the state’s minimum wage and paid sick leave laws during last year’s lame-duck session was constitutional. “We are not persuaded that granting the requests would be an appropriate exercise of the Court’s discretion,” the order read. The court will only rule if there is “actual controversy” through a lawsuit challenging the laws.

Inclusiveness enhances the organization’s ability to respond more effectively to changing conditions and needs, and therefore, LWVMI will in both principles and practices promote the inclusion in participation in any activity of LWVMI all persons whatever their gender, race, socio-economic status, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin or disability. Read more about the League's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion by clicking here.

The League of Women Voters of Michigan is one of 21 members of the Oil and Water Don't Mix Coalition that sent a letter to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality ("MDEQ") and the US Army Corps of Engineers ("Corps") on June 29, 2017 regarding Enbridge Oil Company’s joint application to the MDEQ and the Corps (No. 2RD-DFDK-Y35G) to install 22 anchor supports on the Line 5 pipelines in the Mackinac Straits. The Coalition members are Michigan organizations dedicated to the protection of Michigan’s water, natural resources, public trust in those resources, the environment, communities, and the health, safety and general welfare of citizens.

The Coalition organizations are requesting that MDEQ and the Corps take the following actions with regard to Enbridge’s joint application:
1. Reject as incomplete due to its overly narrow scope of review;
2. Require a comprehensive review of Line 5 in the Straits that includes an assessment of adverse environmental impacts, risks, and feasible and prudent alternatives;
3. Temporarily terminate the transport of crude oil in the Line 5 pipelines during this comprehensive review; and
4. Hold a formal public hearing given that Enbridge Line 5 occupies publicly owned waters and bottomlands and the threat of a catastrophic oil pipeline rupture to the Great Lakes are of tremendous controversy and have generated an extraordinary level of public engagement. Read the entire letter here.

Other resources:
Under-the-Straits tour of Pipeline 5 (3 min. video)
Area businesses expressing concern about Pipeline 5 (3 min video)

1. Join the LWV
    a. Connect with people who share your democratic values
    b. Share in decision making and work
    c. Know you are a part of bigger coalitions

2. Learn About Issues
    a. Improve your general knowledge of issues – learn from others
    b. Focus on issues important to you – Share your knowledge
    c. View issues from a broader perspective – respect people’s right to different viewpoints

3. Strengthen our Voice & Establish Relationships
    a. Engage
    b. Mentor
    c. Demonstrate
    d. Advocate

4. Be Realistic – build bridges, not walls
    a. Compromise
    b. Non-partisan solutions

5. Stay Positive
    a. Hard work needs positivity – remember to have some fun
    b. Avoid burnout - take time for yourself & your loved ones