The League of Women Voters of the Midland Area recognizes that our members are our League’s most valuable asset!  Members give the League visibility and credibility:

·        Empowering voters to exercise their right to vote and to have that vote count.

·        Educating citizens and fostering dialogue to improve campaign finance transparency

·        Conducting candidate forums.

·        Providing Voters’ Guide information both through print and online (Vote 411) versions.

·        Advocating for positive change at the local, state, and national levels that impacts us all.

As a member you belong to all three levels of the League; local, state, and national. This year’s membership for an individual is $70, household membership is $105, the student membership is free. 

Esther Williams, Executive Director of Midland Recycles

Join us on Zoom for a presentation on local, regional, and state recycling efforts, markets and realities. The Zoom link will be sent to Members December 1.

Together, SB303 and SB304 would require voters to take additional steps to have their ballot count if they don’t have an ID. The other bill in the package, HB5007, which was already passed by the chamber, would eliminate fees for getting or renewing an official state personal ID card.

Our League will be having an informational program on this topic in March.

The Michigan Dept. of Civil Rights has issued a memo discussing the maps adopted by the MICRC and the Voting Rights Act. The Voting Rights Act requires that a percentage of Minority - Majority districts must be retained. Read the memo here.

The MICRC has proposed a new state House district map that creates majority-Black districts in Detroit.

Bridge Michigan article about Minority - Majority House district maps.

Proposed Maps: a list of the proposed maps is listed in The Bridge. Scroll down to see list on right side of article.

(https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigans-redistricting-panel-advances-maps-legislature-shake-next)

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission has published the proposed redistricting maps as of November 5, 2021. There is now a 45 day public comment period. Comments can be made via the Citizens portal, or at one of these public meetings. You can also watch the November 5 meeting on YouTube.

Meetings during the 45-Day Public Comment Period after Proposed Maps are Published –

Bi-weekly on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The best place to get information for the Commission's activities is here. This page has a link to watch previous hearings and meetings, a link to the schedule, and links to the individual meetings (scroll down).

The MICRC is scheduled to adopt the final maps on Dec. 30. The commission is required to publish the final maps within 30 days after adopting a plan. Included with the final maps will be reference materials and data used in drawing the final maps and any programming information used to produce and test the plan.

In addition, the Michigan Secretary of State will keep a public record of all MICRC proceedings and will publish each map and required documentation. The adopted redistricting plan with new legislative boundaries for the state House, state Senate and congressional districts will become law 60 days after publication. These district maps will take effect before the 2022 primary and general elections.

December 30, 2021 is the last day the Commission can vote on the final maps.

“The American people demand that their government protect the freedom to vote. This morning 59 activists were arrested in front of the White House, calling on President Biden to use the full power of his office to get voting rights legislation passed. We the people will not back down until our right to vote is guaranteed. Our senators and the President, who are elected — not appointed — officials, should be front and center in the fight for voting rights.

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