Michigan redistricting panel, which pledged openness, meets in secret

EAST LANSING — As opposition builds to proposed legislative maps, the state's redistricting commission on Wednesday met in private to discuss whether the districts comply with federal law.

Members did so despite wide objections and repeated pledges of openness and transparency, as well a constitutional amendment mandating they “conduct all of its business at open meetings.”

The 13-member commission, created by voters in 2018 after lawmakers drew legislative boundaries for decades behind closed doors, moved on Wednesday to suspend rules and discuss two memos in a closed session: one titled "Voting Rights Act” and another called “The History of Discrimination in the State of Michigan and its Influence on Voting.”

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission instructed reporters to leave the meeting, blocked the room’s door windows with paper, and paused a live stream of the session.

Read more: https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-redistricting-panel-which-pledged-openness-meets-secret