LANSING, Mich. — A federal court ruling ordered Michigan’s congressional and state legislative districts to be re-drawn, and is already causing a lot of confusion.
Even the experts aren't totally sure what's going to happen now.
The judges said the state's districts need to be drawn so they're fair to voters of all parties.
But getting there could be messy.
“This issue of redistricting in Michigan is proving to be something that people do care about in Lansing and elsewhere," said Susan Demas, Editor-In-Chief of Michigan Advance.
Lots of voters in Michigan might live in a different district by the end of the year, if yesterday's ruling is upheld.
"I don't think this is going to go into effect, because it'll cause way more hassle than it's going to be worth," said Political Consultant Mark Grebner.
The new districts would level the playing field, taking away what the court says is an unfair advantage republicans gave themselves,
"Just because a district is fair for voters, doesn't mean that that representatives or senators see it that way. After all, they were elected to those districts and probably like the boundaries just fine." said Demas.
The ruling calls for special senate elections next year, two years ahead of schedule.
There are a lot of unanswered questions about that.
"That also impacts some senators right now that would only get to serve six years instead of eight under our term limits law. `There are a lot of unhappy people at the capitol right now," said Demas.
"If someone was elected for the first time in 2018, and then they hold a special election in the same district in 2020, are those your two terms, and then you're wiped out? It isn't clear, the court didn't say anything about it in its decision," said Grebner.
Political analysts say the ruling will be chaotic for voters here in Michigan.
"It makes perfect sense from a constitutional law perspective, but it doesn't make any sense at all in trying to hold elections and run a political system," said Grebner.
The new maps have to be drawn by august first and will be used in next year's elections.
An independent commission will take over redistricting starting after the 2020 census.
The ruling has not been appealed so far.
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