To the editor:

A yes vote on Proposal 2 will fix a major problem for Michigan voters. Every 10 years, states are required by federal law to redraw voting districts to reflect population changes. Michigan’s boundaries are drawn by the very politicians who are elected from these districts. Once behind closed doors, politicians can manipulate the boundaries to make their seats more secure. If they have done something controversial, for example, they can put voters who oppose them into a different district or pull in supporters. They can cut boundaries with such precision that in some areas in lower Michigan, three next door neighbors vote in different voting districts.

This practice, known as gerrymandering, adversely affects voters of all political affiliations — independent, Republican or Democrat. Because districts are won by majority, gerrymandering allows politicians to put voters in a district where their vote — whether in favor or against a candidate — effectively will not count. This stifles not only candidates from another party but also new, energetic candidates within the same party. It is no wonder that so many people feel these days like their voices don’t count. The voting districts are rigged so that some voices don’t.

On Nov. 6, there will be a solution on the ballot for all registered voters to consider — Proposal 2, which will establish an independent citizens’ redistricting commission.

To ensure overall neutrality, the commission will be selected at random from a large pool of at-will applicants. We have hundreds of map experts in Michigan from consulting firms and universities who will apply for this opportunity. The commission will be just as qualified to draw maps as politicians, if not more so.

And unlike politicians, the commission will be required to draw fair, impartial districts and to publish all records of their work online. This is the gold standard for independent redistricting commissions, employed by several states, including Arizona, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.

There are hundreds of organizations that support Prop 2 including the ACLU of Michigan, United Auto Workers, United Steel Workers, League of Women Voters of Michigan, and several newspaper outlets, religious organizations, and local governments. Fewer than a dozen organizations oppose the proposal.

Regardless of our political orientations, most of us believe that voters should choose their politicians, not the other way around. A vote yes on Proposal 2 is a vote for your own voice and for the voices of all Michiganders.