Demand Use of Independent Commission's Maps for Utah Redistricting

I am writing to express my deep concern and disappointment regarding the Utah Legislature's recent decision to appoint a committee of lawmakers to redraw our state's congressional district boundaries. This action appears to be in direct violation of both the letter and spirit of Proposition 4, which Utah voters approved in 2018 and has recently been reinstated. Proposition 4 was designed to create an independent redistricting process, free from partisan influence. The fact that an independent commission has already drawn maps in accordance with this law makes the Legislature's current actions not only redundant but potentially illegal. The voter-approved initiative specifically called for an independent commission to handle redistricting to ensure fairness and transparency in the process. The court's decision to void the existing maps due to non-compliance with Proposition 4 should have resulted in the adoption of the independently drawn maps, not the creation of a new legislative committee. This committee, led by Rep. Candice Pierucci and Sen. Scott Sandall, along with other lawmakers, introduces the very partisan influence that Proposition 4 sought to eliminate from the redistricting process. While the committee claims it will adhere to Proposition 4's standards, including creating contiguous and compact districts and avoiding the splitting of cities and counties, the involvement of partisan legislators inherently compromises the independence of the process. The exclusion of partisan voting data in the redistricting process, as mandated by Proposition 4, is difficult to ensure when the mapmakers themselves are partisan actors. I urge you to take immediate action to halt this legislative committee's work and instead adopt the maps already created by the independent commission. This would not only respect the will of Utah voters who supported Proposition 4 but also ensure compliance with the law and the recent court ruling. The deadline of September 25 for draft maps and November 10 for final maps can still be met by using the existing independent commission's work. Failure to do so not only undermines our democratic processes but also risks further legal challenges that could delay the implementation of new districts for the 2026 midterm elections. Let's honor the intent of Proposition 4 and the recent court decision by using the independently drawn maps, thereby restoring faith in our redistricting process and respecting the will of Utah voters.