A trial on the matter was held in November 2023 and a three-judge panel struck down certain districts for being unconstitutional
Michigan is set to redraw its legislative maps in the state after a lawsuit has been brought against the state.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of black voters in the Detroit area, makes the case that how the Detroit legislative areas are drawn is not fair under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
A trial on the matter was held in November 2023 and a three-judge panel struck down certain districts for being unconstitutional. After an appeal on Jan. 4, the US Supreme Court declined to issue a stay on the three-judge panel ruling on Monday.
As a result, the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will have to redraw the legislative maps.
The lawsuit makes the claim that the borders were drawn intentionally to disenfranchise the black voting block by lowering the percentage of black voters in each district.
The Commission is alleged to have drawn the maps using race as the predominant factor.
During August of 2023, the case was brought by 20 voters in the state. A similar one was dismissed in February 2022 for lack of evidence.
The Michigan Secretary of State responded to the lawsuit, writing, "The district court’s injunction ordering the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to redraw state house districts in time for Michigan’s August 6, 2024, primary election threatens an orderly administration of that election
At the time of the 2022 case, the court's order said that the plaintiffs did not identify “grounds or legal authority that would allow” the court at the time to “question the Commission’s decision."
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