By now Michigan voters should be sick of party leaders arguing about how the state's delegates should be seated at the Democratic National Convention in August. Though the DNC initially promised that none of the state's delegates would be seated, it has now decided to include them but give each delegate only half a vote. This decision might seem like an honest peace offering, but it still fails because Michigan's delegates aren't being apportioned according to the results of a fair election.

When Michigan moved its primary up to January 15, the DNC promised not to seat Michigan's delegates at the convention, instantly ending any hopes of a valid election. There was nothing fair about this decision - Michigan's delegates are just as deserving of a role in the convention as any other state's. Thankfully, the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee decided on May 31 to seat them anyway. This is commendable because it recognizes Michigan's right to be a part of the convention, but merely seating the state's delegates is by no means an adequate solution when they have been given only half a vote.

And even these half-votes still won't truly reflect the citizen's intentions. The DNC's flawed solution allowed backroom bargaining to become the final arbiter. Barack Obama, who did not appear on the ballot at all, is receiving 59 delegates due to the large percentage of votes for the "uncommitted" choice, while Hillary Clinton is receiving 69 delegates. Deciding how to split these delegates was solely a committee decision. This compromise was reached in order to certify Clinton's Michigan win without damaging Obama's national lead. It is unacceptable for Michigan's delegates at the convention to be chosen in this manner-the selection process should directly represent the will of primary voters, rather than the outcome of a committee's deliberations.

All and all, it's too little too late. The DNC already dealt the validity of Michigan's primary a fatal blow back in January. Threatening to take away the delegates clouded the election in doubt and confusion, skewing the results. The pre-election chaos, coupled with the undemocratic manner in which post-election delegate decisions have been reached, rendered any result unfair.

It is a shame that Michigan's issues with the DNC are receiving the national attention that should go to the state's unfortunate economic situation. The delegates were doomed from the moment the DNC told them that they would not be seated. The DNC has failed to represent the wishes of Michigan's primary voters, regardless of whether the delegates get a full vote, half a vote or no vote at all.