Beginning May 5, 2021, Michigan residents have a new way to participate in the Michigan Independent Redistricting Committee’s (MICRC) work with the launch of a public comment portal that will make it easy for residents to submit written comments, draw or upload maps and more.
“Robust public input is vital to the MICRC’s work of drawing fair districts representative of all Michiganders”, said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. “The MICRC is making it easy for anyone in Michigan to be a part of history and participate in this citizen-led redistricting effort.”
The public comment portal is a one-stop shop for members of the public to engage in the redistricting process. This comprehensive tool was developed in partnership with the MGGG Redistricting Lab, a nonpartisan research group at Tisch College of Tufts University and procured by the Michigan Department of State (MDOS). The public comment portal enables members of the public to easily do the following:
• Submit written public comments
• Draw and submit a Community of Interest map
• Draw and submit a complete or partial district map (Congressional, Michigan House and Michigan Senate)
• Upload or link to a map/shapefile or document
• Comment on other maps or submissions
Commissioners and the public will be able to see submissions and comments in real time. The public comment portal can be found at Michigan.gov/MICRC by selecting the “Visit the Public Comment Portal” button.
Members of the public are encouraged to use the public comment portal to submit materials, however, the Commission will continue to receive email, mail and/or paper submissions and comments from the public. MDOS will continue to provide these comments to the Commission and upload them to the website for public viewing regularly.
More information about upcoming meetings and public hearings of the MICRC can be found at Michigan.gov/MICRC.