John,

A federal appeals court just upheld a voter-approved independent redistricting commission in Michigan, which was overwhelmingly approved by 61% of voters in 2018.

This is a big win — especially since we, along with a bipartisan group of political reform organizations, filed an amicus brief in February in support of the commission.

In response to the news, Issue One Founder and CEO Nick Penniman said:

“This federal court decision is a victory for the people of Michigan who worked tirelessly to ensure that politicians cannot pick their voters. This federal court ruling should give everyone who is fed up with the broken political system hope that we can enact reforms that are both meaningful and constitutional.”

The Michigan measure’s main proponent was a grassroots organization called Voters Not Politicians, which grew out of a Facebook post by Katie Fahey, a concerned citizen who became a national champion of reform. Fahey now serves on Issue One’s board of directors.

At Issue One, we’re committed to returning government to the American people and ensuring that the system works for those it’s intended to. We’re proud to have played a part in supporting this effort in Michigan and are pleased with this win for democracy!

Thanks for your continued support,

Meredith McGehee
Executive Director, Issue One