Voters get chance to slay gerrymander beast | Thompson

Mike Thompson | Detroit Free Press

Gerrymandering, the practice of drawing political boundaries for partisan advantage, has worked well — if you're supporter of the political status quo. After all, it's led to politicians in Michigan and elsewhere creating "safe" districts for themselves so they can focus on catering to special interests without fearing a backlash at the polls.

Late Tuesday evening, the Michigan Supreme Court gave voters an opportunity to crush the status quo by issuing a ruling that allows an anti-gerrymandering measure to appear on the November ballot.

Want to learn more about how we can create our political boundaries in a manner that puts the interests of ordinary Michiganders first? Check out the Voters Not Politicians website for starters. Then be sure to read the following articles and columns on freep.com:

►More: How Michigan is an extreme example of gerrymandering

►More: Gerrymandering in Michigan: What the GOP doesn't understand

►More: Michigan high court hears challenge to redistricting measure

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Michigan's August primary election: Be there, or be square Voting in Michigan's August primary election is critical says Mike Thompson in this animated political cartoon.

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►More: How Michigan is an extreme example of gerrymandering