In 2018 Michigan passed a ballot measure to end partisan gerrymandering

[dlk]

We just saw Democrats win control of both houses the Michigan legislature and the governorship for the first time in over 40 years, not a coincidence.

[roamer65]

1. +1000

Exactly why I voted for it.

[dlk]

2. Without federal legislation, we need a similar ballot measures in other states

Last edited Sun Nov 13, 2022, 10:37 AM - Edit history (1)

Minority rule is strangling our democracy.

[Maraya1969]

6. Why without federal legislation? I was just thinking they should do this at the federal level.

Something like that would turn most of our country blue.

[LiberalFighter]

13. Yes! Anything to do with federal elections should be legislated by Congress.

That way the laws are applied the same state to state. County to county.

[drmeow]

16. I think the OP means

"Absent" federal regulation - not that we don't need federal regulation but given we don't have federal regulation

[Maraya1969]

17. Oh. Thanks

[democratsruletheday]

36. proud Michigander here....

thank god we passed it or we'd be in Ohio or Wisconsin's shoes right now

[MiHale]

3. The s... eating smiles are getting real hard to lose...

Plus most times it turns into heartwarming chuckles.

Blue Water, Blue skies, Blue government, Michigan my Michigan.

[dlk]

21. Enjoy the win

It will be worth it!

[uponit7771]

4. THANK YOU !!! America needs nationwide voting standards!!!

[dlk]

5. It's a new day, indeed

n/t

[In It to Win It]

7. That's awesome! We passed the same in Florida in 2010

and Republicans didn’t give a fuck.

[dlk]

12. It comes down to what the courts allow after Republicans file their usual multiple lawsuits

Every state court has different judges.

[In It to Win It]

15. I don't disagree

The maps were stuck down by the state court as unconstitutional, only to be reinstated by the appeals court (pending their final decision) and the Florida Supreme Court refusing to reverse the appeals court.

5 years ago, the Florida Supreme Court would have struck down the map. That’s when we had Democratic-appointed Justices on the court but they’re gone now.

[dlk]

22. Judicial appointments are crucial

They can change everything.

[In It to Win It]

29. Absolutely!

That makes governorships, especially in Florida, all the more important.

Winning that one seat has the potential to change the game entirely for Democrats in Florida. Governors pick the judges and Supreme Court justices and they enact or veto the redistricting maps.

In DeSantis’ first election in 2018, he just barely eeked out a victory, only winning by a few thousand votes. Had our guy won, it would have been a game changer for Democrats in Florida and also nationally, giving Dems more seats in the House. Florida Supreme Court precedent says abortion is protected under our state constitution’s privacy clause so the women of Florida had 2 layers of protection, federal constitution (with Roe) and our state constitution. Our guy would have appointed justices that would have protected abortion in our state constitution but now that’s vulnerable.

That one position of governor means everything in Florida politics.

[SoBlueInFL]

35. I am still convinced something hinky was afoot with that race and with Trump's r/o

recent comments, I'm even more convinced.

[catbyte]

8. That's what made our 2022 legislative results possible. I can't believe that other states won't

allow their citizens to start petition drives to bring proposals to a general vote. Seems pretty undemocratic to me.

[dlk]

20. That's the point, for Republicans

They largely don’t believe in democracy because many of their views are in the minority, and if cheating allows imposing their will on everyone else, anyway, Republicans don’t mind.

[WestMichRad]

34. I may be wrong on this, but...

… I think that some states don’t allow for citizen-driven petitions like Michigan does.

Repukes here in Michigan have tried to change the rules to make it much more difficult to gather enough signatures for a petition to qualify for the ballot. So far, they haven’t succeeded. And it’s only thanks to the slim Democratic majority on the state Supreme Court that some proposals make the ballot; Repukes fight citizen-driven ballot initiatives in every possible way.

[rustbeltvoice]

9. Ohio passed a ballot issue on that twice,

and the Repukes in Columbus defied it repeatedly, and got support from US Supreme Court.

[dlk]

11. I'm afraid the conservative majority on SCOTUS is in the pockets of billionaires and corporations

Their corruption is in plan sight and with lifetime appointments, they don’ care.

[Botany]

18. And with Nan Whaley's run for governor in OH dragging down the rest of the ticket not only did ...

.... she sink Ryan's chance @ the U.S. Senate but 3 wonderful women running for OH's Supreme
Court too and they could have ruled on the gerrymandered districts which makes all Congressional
races in OH over before the 1st vote is cast.

OH is truly fucked.

[In It to Win It]

25. To the Ohio Supreme Court's credit, they did strike down the map

Unfortunately, for the Legislature to run out the clock on the time limit the federal court gave them, forcing the federal court to pick out of a slate of unconstitutional maps to enact.

I’m worried for the Ohio Supreme Court’s jurisprudence on this matter because of the 4-Justice majority that struck down the map, one of them is leaving (Chief Justice O’Connor). That now leaves a 3-Justice minority that would strike down Ohio’s illegal gerrymanders.

[Joinfortmill]

10. Let's see more of this, please.

[jaxexpat]

14. Nice move with the gerrymandering prohibition, Michigan.

But did you really have to send so many of your MAGAts to Wisconsin? Canada could have taken some of them off your hands, I'm sure. They're our #1 trading partner.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

31. We'd love to send more MAGAts to Canada, but ...

... they have standards.

[paleotn]

19. That's fantastic!

In 2016 I worried that Michigan was following Ohio's path. Not anymore.

[dlk]

24. Gerrymandering is the key

Michiganders now have much to look forward to from their elected representatives.

[jimlup]

23. Absolutely!

+1000

[mountain grammy]

26. It's a great story

and it was started by one woman's facebook post..

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/michigan-s-push-end-gerrymandering-offers-hope-divided-nation-advocates-n1272989

and it was an amendment to the state constitution.

[dlk]

27. Never underestimate the power of a woman...

A very inspirational story!

[gibraltar72]

28. Ballot initiatives are the solution.

In Mi. we had initiatives on ballot recently for Marijuana, redistricting and this time womens rights, financial disclosure and voting rights. Every one passed. Republicans fought against every one. Initiatives give reasons to get people to the polling place. I hope other states and citizen groups look to Mi. and see the value of citizens getting what they want on ballots.

[dlk]

30. Without federal legislation, this is the alternative

In some states where the ballot measure has been approved, the courts have overruled the ballot measure, ignoring the will of the voters. Without overriding the filibuster in the senate, federal legislation to end gerrymandering won’t pass without 60 votes. There is much work to be done.

[yellowdogintexas]

32. first you have to be in a state where ballot initiatives

are allowed. We don't have initiative, referendum or recall in Texas. I am kind of surprised since Texas is so my way or the highway about things.

If (big if) we can take back our Legislature, we might get it into the Constitutional Amendment vote which is at the end of the Legislative year (or should I say 6 months). Then we get to have our say. This is a very low turnout vote so if we geared up our voters to turn out we might get it. Those are some BIG ifs though.

[gibraltar72]

38. I understand not all states allow citizens to participate

in democracy. But those that do should use it more, it drives votes.

[yellowdogintexas]

43. without question. Just wish we could do it here

except I am not sure outcomes would make me any happier

[FoxNewsSucks]

33. This is a great example

of how one US senator fucked the rest of the country.

Had voting rights passed in early 2021, we'd be celebrating a lot of Michigans right now.

Instead, republicons are working feverishly to undo everything. Thanks to that senator.

[calimary]

37. We need that in every state.

[h2ebits]

40. There are other states that have citizen committees to establish district maps

Colorado passed this into law a couple of years back and, at the time, I recall that several other states were listed as having also created laws to curtail gerrymandering. Due to the census, we picked up a new district. And, voila! despite an incredibly nasty ad campaign by the Republicans--we have a new Democrat elected in that district.

Additionally, keep your fingers crossed. Boebert, who won her election overwhelming 2-years ago, is in an extremely tight race this time. When all the ballots are processed and counted, I am hoping that she will be gone.

[TheFarseer]

39. How did they do it?

Is there an independent commission or something?

[bif]

41. The old gerrymandering maps were ridiculous!

I live in a suburb of Detroit. And our congressional map went from downriver, through the east side of Detroit and up to Pontiac. Absolutely idiotic!

[dlk]

42. Every state has rules for ballot initiatives

Once the rules have been met, ideally the measure goes on the ballot for the voters to decide. Of course, Republicans file lawsuits against anti/gerrymandering ballot measures and depending on the makeup of the state courts, and whether or not Republicans take their case to the Supreme Court, where the conservative majority is hostile to such initiatives, the measure may or may not reach a vote in the state. If the ballot measure survives, along with the inevitable legal challenges, and the voters approve it, the measure becomes state law.