‘Count MI Vote’ meeting Sunday in Pentwater.

‘Count MI Vote’ meeting Sunday in Pentwater.

#OceanaCounty #VotersNotPoliticians

PENTWATER — Local residents have a chance to learn more about the boundaries of congressional and legislative districts Sunday, April 2, from 1-3 p.m. at the Pentwater Friendship Center on North Rush Street.

The town hall forum focuses “on taking the power to draw these districts away from professional politicians who benefit from those decisions, and giving it to Michigan citizens,” according to a Count MI Vote press release. The meeting is one of approximately 30 events around the state, sponsored by the non-partisan Voters Not Politicians Ballot Committee, in conjunction with the grassroots organization, Count MI Vote.

“We intend to begin collecting signatures in the spring,” said Voters Not Politicians spokesperson Katie Fahey. “But before the final language for such important proposed changes to our state’s constitution is written, we want to hear from people all across Michigan.”

Voters Not Politicians will propose amending the constitution so that a panel of Michigan citizens will decide the boundary lines for both congressional and state legislative districts. The process is now totally controlled by the state Legislature and Governor.

“It is an obvious conflict of interest for lawmakers to create their own districts,” Fahey said. “It’s politicians choosing their voters, when it should be voters choosing their politicians.”

The ballot committee must collect 315,654 valid signatures within a 180-day period to qualify for a November 2018 referendum.

For those unable to attend, there will be an online town hall webinar at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 30. For details on how to participate, check the Voters Not Politicians web site.

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