Voters Not Politicians has collected the 315,654 signatures to get a proposal on Michigan ballots in 2018.

Voters Not Politicians, a statewide independent anti-gerrymandering group, has reached its signature collection goal.

In an email sent out by Katie Fahey, president and treasurer of the group, it was announced Voters Not Politicians has collected the required 315,654 signatures so Michigan voters can decide if they want an independent citizens redistricting commission.

Volunteers have collected almost 450,000 signatures from every one of Michigan’s 83 counties and have verified and validated enough signatures to turn in to the Secretary of State before the end of the year, according to the email.

If signatures are approved by the Secretary of State as planned, the anti-gerrymandering proposal will appear on Michigan ballots in 2018.

“This unprecedented success proves that the people of Michigan are behind an independent and transparent redistricting process to make democracy more representative in our state,” Fahey said in the email. “It shows that Michiganders are ready for voters to be in charge of democracy, not politicians.”

The email said Voters Not Politicians is now preparing for its next phase of campaigning, including educating Michigan voters on gerrymandering issues and preparing for legal battles and attack advertisements.

Gerrymandering is the drawing of voting districts in a way that favors one political party over another. Michigan is one of 37 states that gives all of this power to the state legislature when districts are redrawn every 10 years.

In order for final maps to pass, a simple majority of each chamber of the state legislature must vote yes. The governor has the power to veto the redistricting plan.

However, when one party controls each of these areas, they effectively have full control over the redistricting process with zero input from other parties.

— Follow this reporter on Twitter @SentinelJake.