Utah redistricting committee reviews five court-ordered congressional maps and a rival proposal amid partisan-data dispute

Chair Perucci opened the Redistricting Committee meeting, noting that the panel is acting under a court order and that the legislature plans to appeal the decision: “we do fully intend to appeal it to the Utah Supreme Court and if necessary the US Supreme Court,” she said, and added that the committee must follow the court-ordered timeline for selecting a new map.

The committee reviewed five maps labeled A through E that staff and the committee's mapping contractor produced to meet the statutory requirements of Proposition 4. Committee leaders repeatedly told the public that map-drawers were prohibited from using partisan information while creating the maps: “we can absolutely not use things like election results, voting records, party affiliation information, or consideration of incumbents or prospective candidates,” Chair Perucci said. The committee also emphasized that it would not vote on a final map at that meeting and that maps must be posted for a 10-day public comment period before the legislature may adopt one.

Members and outside presenters walked the committee through the five options. The staff presentation summarized each map—s municipal and county splits and other Prop 4-related metrics. For example, committee members noted that maps A, B and C each split three municipalities (examples noted during discussion included North Salt Lake in multiple maps) and three counties (Davis, Salt Lake and Utah), while map D split more counties (Davis, Salt Lake,…