Daunt v. Benson: Complaint

Date
Court Level
District Court

On July 30, 2019, plaintiffs filed a complaint in the federal district court for the Western District of Michigan alleging that the eligibility requirements for commissioners to serve on the Michigan Citizens Redistricting Commission (“Commission”) are unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Plaintiffs also argue that the eligibility requirements are not severable from the rest of the constitutional amendment, and thus the whole amendment must be struck down. The plaintiffs requested declaratory and injunctive relief. The constitutional amendment establishing the Commission was approved by over 61% (2.5 million) of Michigan voters, with support from voters of both major political parties.