Redistricting Commission Must Provide Footage, Hidden Memos Immediately
Attorney General Rules Redistricting Commission Violated Constitution by Conducting Business Behind Closed Doors
LANSING, MI, November 22, 2021 – FAIR Maps Executive Director Tony Daunt today demanded the state’s redistricting commission immediately publish all legal memos, minutes, and all available footage stemming from their secret meeting held in October.
Attorney General Dana Nessel today issued an opinion ruling that the commission is presumed to have violated the Michigan Constitution by conducting its business in secret.
“Numerous Michiganders across the partisan and ideological spectrum condemned the secret October meeting as a violation of the spirit and letter of the 2018 amendment establishing this commission,” said Daunt. “With the Attorney General’s opinion now public, commissioners should immediately release all memos, written notes, minutes, and every frame of footage or other recording made during their illegal secret meeting.
“The Constitution says public has the right to know what they did and what they discussed. Commissioners must stop breaking the law immediately.”
Nessel’s opinion came after state senators Ed McBroom (R-Waucedah Township) and Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) issued an urgent and bipartisan request for clarity about the commission’s constitutional transparency responsibilities.
FAIR Maps participates in every aspect of Michigan’s redistricting process to achieve FAIR – Fair and Independent Redistricting – plans that appropriately reflect the diversity of Michigan’s population and the communities where they live.
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