[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5977634,"mediaKeyId","5821956-feb1170e7da1f9c92e8c84e9a4729b4b","parentId",5821956,"title","Outside analyst presents five draft maps and simulation testing; staff to post maps for comment","audioSeconds",1275,"startMs",3260000,"endMs",4535000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5821956-feb1170e7da1f9c92e8c84e9a4729b4b&start=3260&end=4535","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5821956-feb1170e7da1f9c92e8c84e9a4729b4b/thumbnail_3260000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5977634/Utah/Outside-analyst-presents-five-draft-maps-and-simulation-testing-staff-to-post-maps-for-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5977634-9706858aff929de7a8915b27047bbaf8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773644792&Signature=LM5lMOo29nvCtp7aGuVo~m1p2rJeJYaupUM9ywyOoFhgxFyX-6gBgtsxd1~5SHtU04W-RFfjMqYio7buCBPb95KFOhN9ir-1YtVxjtBamcykZBFPtzcjPac~YzB4npbsJEWyc34n4SKylNB81eYJ~iImfAck6rsVirzArZ40K~nCjtaprlHFO6Dv4w~5DzNd6GFdOM1FBcbbAXP3tNmEuPZbRAtbhzcqlF3LbbharDftZP68hyxVXJ7A~T80Xq9HL7ZFO78CGH6Z1Irz1hwvbry951RqxCNDURFfUq7M~IQZMobqDSQtgnvyt6tPcKs3Rs5ce-XD1xU~SevxnottYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-09-22T00:00:00Z","article","SALT LAKE CITY — The Legislative Redistricting Committee on Sept. 22 heard a technical presentation and demonstration of proposed maps from an outside analyst retained to test compliance with Proposition 4 and court guidance. Sean Trendy, an elections analyst and consultant, described how map simulations, compactness scores and measures of partisan symmetry were used to evaluate and compare options.

\"All of these maps are zeroed out, so they're equally populated,\" Trendy told the committee after walking members through five draft maps labeled A through E. He said the maps prioritize Proposition 4 requirements in order: federal constitutional and Voting Rights Act compliance and equal population; minimizing municipal splits (with municipal boundaries prioritized over counties where conflicts exist); compactness and contiguity; preservation of communities of interest; and consideration of natural geographic boundaries. Trendy said he used several neutral ensembles of simulated maps — including a large Harvard-generated ensemble and custom simulations that respect local natural barriers and reservations — as a baseline for intent testing.

Trendy summarized the practical constraints the state faces: Salt Lake County’s 2020 population exceeds the ideal congressional district population, meaning the county must be split in any map that meets federal population-equality requirements. He also illustrated how different map choices reflect trade-offs among compactness, municipal splits and the location of population centers along the Wasatch Front.

On partisan-symmetry testing, Trendy said the committee’s chosen statistical standard will be applied to actual past statewide vote data only after a proposed map is drawn (the committee will not be shown partisan metrics during map creation). \"This is not something that happens in the creation of a map. It is after a map is created to go back and analyze that map,\" he said. Trendy also noted common technical limits: for example, the efficiency-gap metric is considered unreliable in states with fewer than six congressional districts, while partisan-bias (symmetry) measures directly assess whether maps give symmetrical seat outcomes under reciprocal vote shares.

Trendy presented five alternate configurations, each equal in population and designed to limit municipal splits and maintain reasonable compactness and transportation connections. He said the proposed maps fall within simulation ranges that staff used to check for partisan intent and that the maps were ready to be posted for public review. Committee chairs said staff will publish the proposed maps and open the court-ordered public comment period; the committee will reconvene to review input and decide next steps.

Why this matters: Technical analysis and neutral simulations are central to the committee's effort to produce a map that meets Proposition 4’s ordered standards while minimizing litigation risk. The methods chosen to test maps for partisan advantage will influence which maps the committee and potentially the court find acceptable.

What was decided: The committee received the technical briefing and did not adopt any map at the Sept. 22 meeting. Staff will post the proposed maps and run the required analyses; public comment will follow the court-directed schedule.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Legislative Redistricting Committee - September 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","An outside expert presented five zero-population-deviation maps described as compliant with Proposition 4 standards and explained simulation and partisan-symmetry testing. The committee agreed to post proposed maps and accept public comment in the court-ordered window.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5977639,"Committee debate centers on defining 'partisan symmetry' test as sponsor seeks statutory standard",885,2437000,3322000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5821956-feb1170e7da1f9c92e8c84e9a4729b4b&start=2437&end=3322","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5821956-feb1170e7da1f9c92e8c84e9a4729b4b/thumbnail_2437000.jpg","/articles/5977639/Utah/Committee-debate-centers-on-defining-partisan-symmetry-test-as-sponsor-seeks-statutory-standard","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5977639-51d6440c0c3203e616a582c5ec4ed441/orig.mp4?Expires=1773644792&Signature=ZS5XOkJkE0EAmnynBCkUuH5nHtIjxCDvFqETD1GvKZHdX6KyFY2gCzq7V39ryjqTEiLC5cJRFFWBrx1P8tNqxPPoCNldqtdgv5~sv2T4nmmQMewni~XiBlqbuLyjYTVLDf~qug2c7Xc-sO0169p-qbKHAOJa9i7qedH0YN0Q3tBN1waTc23upzdrodWuw20UA0CLh8fSo3TeSZwVi7kjUkUm6of2ZWfjlNMUooiHlh7YmMHYvtqqV4PQ3QH6PKSW137nKqEmK7~OGulJ-6aUJA2Pp8un1QGr92wJcdbJlTe5t8BNj~aCcWVzDtyWOj-BYdHsRsZhaDin4Rp9z17ZuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SALT LAKE CITY — The Legislative Redistricting Committee devoted significant discussion on Sept. 22 to how the Legislature should satisfy Proposition 4's prohibition on maps that \"purposefully or unduly\" favor a political party or incumbent. Senator Brammer introduced a bill file intended to define which statistical and judicial standards the Legislature will use to assess partisan symmetry; the committee did not take action on the file.

\"We're trying to provide some clarity for the courts,\" Senator Brammer said as he described the statutory language he is proposing to guide the partisan-symmetry analysis. Michael Curtis, one of the committee attorneys, summarized the statutory requirement: partisan political data may not be considered in map creation except to run a post hoc analysis using \"measures of partisan symmetry\" and other scientific methods. \"Partisan information in any form can't be considered in compiling a plan,\" Curtis said, \"but after the map is complete, an analysis has to be run to ensure that we haven't purposefully or unduly favored or disfavored.\"

Several members urged the committee to consider multiple measures rather than codifying a single test. Senator Escamilla and Representative Doug Owens pressed the point that Proposition 4 mentions \"scientific and statistical methods, including measures of partisan symmetry,\" and that the statute's language was deliberately broad. \"Prop 4 was very clear that there is more than just partisan symmetry,\" Escamilla said. Representative Owens warned that starting with a single defined test could be perceived as narrowing the voters' initiative and might raise optics or legal questions.

Supporters of a focused statutory test argued that courts need a workable, administrable standard to evaluate compliance and to reduce litigation over methodology. Senator Brammer said a clear standard would prevent continual litigation where courts must resolve dueling expert analyses: \"If you don't have a standard, you're guaranteeing every single instance has to go to court,\" he said.

Committee counsel discussed several candidate statistical approaches and their strengths and limits in a four-district state. Counsel and outside experts noted that some widely discussed metrics — for example, the efficiency gap — perform poorly in states with only a few congressional seats. Staff said the partisan-bias (symmetry) measure is the direct formulation of partisan symmetry and that other tests (mean-median, declination) have distinct properties and trade-offs. Committee chairs said no vote would be taken in the Sept. 22 meeting and that members would return for further review.

Why this matters: Proposition 4 requires both an intent and an effect analysis for partisan fairness and instructs the Legislature to use the best available data and scientific methods. How the Legislature defines those methods — and whether it adopts one primary test or several — will influence which proposed maps pass the statutory standard and how much evidence a court will consider in any challenge.

What happened next: The committee held the discussion for information only and did not vote on the bill file. Staff and counsel said technical analyses of proposed maps will be run outside the committee's view to avoid exposing legislators to partisan data during map creation; the tests will be applied after a proposed map is drawn. \"You can't do that purposely,\" counsel said of partisan advantage, \"you also can't do that unduly — intent and results matter.\"","Senator Brammer presented a bill file to define how Proposition 4's partisan-prohibition should be measured. Committee members, legal staff and counsel debated partisan-bias versus other statistical tests and whether the Legislature should codify a single method now.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5977642,"Utah redistricting committee opens court-ordered mid-decade redraw, sets compressed schedule",473,970000,1443000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5821956-feb1170e7da1f9c92e8c84e9a4729b4b&start=970&end=1443","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5821956-feb1170e7da1f9c92e8c84e9a4729b4b/thumbnail_970000.jpg","/articles/5977642/Utah/Utah-redistricting-committee-opens-court-ordered-mid-decade-redraw-sets-compressed-schedule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5977642-c49b7e5ae34b71ad5701a2231479e66b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773644792&Signature=aw6gwAQEU29iG2CXswRGE3ctbuMsByHeqtnVDfoJ5QENiRgiCdLUS7rphRsav14Ny44Emm4mg4HCLBi0MC3RQF3STrg461cay0x68CC78SM8QjPMZPk3GP5N5xhxKyGX57dvgJQ6ztPDNf0NlIRjA8N7CPncpyF08hCDSErgF2EPbxRInfhOY~aZHi-oqtxMvb0Bal9L-2WP7Dz319HHOVelxcABn8nXhzKqT1ArvJWkw65q4mgx0f6YUzTEHsiLJg9upXJHvFZby6Z7enzPfnlJbboMEyB2ahtDGp-PRUyOkluWbft7U2F5uNp4x~WsomlmT5bCwPD16Uwqlq6RnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SALT LAKE CITY — The Legislative Redistricting Committee opened a court-ordered, mid-decade congressional redistricting process on Sept. 22, saying it will follow Proposition 4 standards after a court found the 2021 congressional map and the 2020 redistricting statute invalid. \"We are doing this in compliance with the court's orders and under protest,\" Senator Bridal, co-chair of the committee, told members and the public at the start of the meeting.

The committee heard staff legal and technical briefings and agreed to a compressed calendar set by the district court and the lieutenant governor's office. Alan Houston, associate general counsel with the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, summarized the litigation history and the court deadlines that structure the process: the committee must post proposed map(s) for public comment by Oct. 6; the public comment period will be open through Oct. 5; parties will file maps with the court on Oct. 6; expert materials and briefs are due Oct. 17; parties may present evidence at a court hearing if necessary; proposed findings are due Oct. 28; and the court is expected to issue a final decision by Nov. 10 so the lieutenant governor can prepare for the 2026 election cycle.

The committee's legal staff described the immediate reason for the special schedule. Houston said the Utah Supreme Court revived a challenge to SB 200 (2020 redistricting amendments), and the district court subsequently enjoined the statute and the enacted 2021 congressional map, stating that Proposition 4 governs the current process. John Cannon, director of legislative research and general counsel and staff to the committee, clarified technical constraints: the committee will use Census 2020 population and the geographic snapshot from Jan. 1, 2020, agreed to by the litigation parties, and will aim for minimal population deviation — ideally zero — among the four congressional districts.

Committee chairs signaled they would take staff presentations and then reconvene for further public input and map consideration. Senator Bridal said the committee will hold a second meeting on Wednesday and expects to return in special session by Oct. 6 to vote on a map. The committee approved routine minutes from prior meetings at the outset; Representative Candace Perucci moved approval and the motion carried by voice vote. The committee recessed for a short break at the end of the session.

Why this matters: The court rulings removed the statute and map enacted after the 2020 census and required the Legislature to redraw congressional lines under Proposition 4, which prioritizes equal population and other locality-based standards and includes a prohibition on maps that “purposefully or unduly” favor a political party or incumbent. Because Utah has four congressional seats, staff emphasized the state’s constrained options: Salt Lake County’s population exceeds the ideal district size and so must be split under any lawful plan. The timing set by the court compresses public outreach and planning into a two-week window before the Oct. 6 filing deadline.

What happens next: Staff and external experts will produce map options that the committee will review; the committee will publicly post proposed map(s) and accept public comment during the court-ordered time frame. The committee’s work is structured by the court timetable and the requirement to apply Proposition 4’s ordered standards, including federal constitutional limits, municipal and county division minimization, compactness, contiguity, and consideration of communities of interest. \"We will meet again on Wednesday,\" Senator Bridal said; \"by Oct. 6 we will come back in special session and vote on a map.\"","Under court direction after litigation over SB 200, a legislative redistricting committee began a mid-decade congressional redistricting process on Sept. 22, 2025, accepted staff briefings, and set deadlines for maps, public comment and filings to the court.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Outside analyst presents five draft maps and simulation testing; staff to post maps for comment

Committee debate centers on defining 'partisan symmetry' test as sponsor seeks statutory standard

Utah redistricting committee opens court-ordered mid-decade redraw, sets compressed schedule