Redistricting measure makes Michigan ballot

Michigan election officials ruled Wednesday that a proposal to change the way Michigan draws its state legislative and Congressional ballots will be included in the November ballot, MLive reported.

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers approved the proposal’s inclusion in the upcoming ballot in a 3-0 vote. Proposal 2 would change the state’s constitution to set up an independent redistricting commission in time for the next scheduled redistricting after the 2020 Census is released.

Redistricting is currently handled by the state Legislature, which at the moment is controlled by Republicans.

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A Michigan Court of Appeal ruled earlier in the month that the board had to put the proposal on the November ballot, according to MLive.

A group opposed to the ballot proposal currently has an appeal meant to keep the proposal off the ballot pending before the Michigan Supreme Court.

The Proposal 2 effort was led by the advocacy group Voters Not Politicians, which collected signatures on the measure.

The group Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution — which is backed by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce — challenged Voters Not Politicians’ petition, claiming it didn’t detail what parts of the state constitution would be affected by the proposal and thus shouldn’t be included on the ballot.

They argued that Voters Not Politicians’ proposal amounted to a “massive revision” of the constitution, according to MLive.

The Michigan Supreme Court refused Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution’s request that a stay be ordered before the board voted on Wednesday.