Utah’s Proposition Four, which sets up a Commission of Neutral Experts to Draw U.S. House and State Legislative Districts, appears to have Passed. A few days ago it was at 50.1%, but as more Votes have been Counted, it is at 50.32%.

Proposition 4 was designed to Create a Seven-Member Independent Redistricting Commission to Draft Maps for Congressional and State Legislative Districts. Members are Appointed by the Governor and State Legislative Leaders.

Commission Members

- One Appointed by the Governor, to Serve as the Chair of the Commission

- One Appointed by the President of the Utah Senate

- One Appointed by the Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives

- One Appointed by the Leader of the Largest Minority Political Party in the Utah Senate

- One Appointed by the Leader of the Largest Minority Political Party in the Utah House of Representatives

- One Appointed Jointly by the Leadership of the Majority Political Party in the Utah Senate, President of the Utah Senate, and the Leadership of the same Political Party in the Utah House of Representatives

- One Appointed Jointly by the Leadership of the Largest Minority Political Party in the Utah Senate, and the Leadership of the same Political Party in the Utah House of Representatives, including the Speaker of the House, if the Speaker is a Member of the same Political Party

A Person is Not Eligible to Serve as a Commissioner if, during the Four years before Appointment they were: a Lobbyist; a Candidate for or Holder of any Political or Elected Office; or Received Compensation from a Political Party, Political Party Committee, or Political Action Committee Associated with a Political Party.

In addition, the Qualifications for Two Commissioners, the Ones Appointed Jointly by the Leadership of the Two Largest Political Parties in the Legislature, Exclude the following: Anyone who was Affiliated with Any Political Party; Anyone who Voted in any Political Party's Regular Primary Election or Municipal Primary Election; or
Anyone who Served as a Delegate to a Political Party Convention.

Process and Standards for Designing New Maps

Those with the Authority to Appoint Members to the Commission are required to Appoint Members at least 30 days after the State Legislature receives the Decennial U.S. Census Report. The Commission are required to Select between One and Three Plans, with the Vote of at least Five Members, to Submit to the Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court. The Chief Justice is responsible for determining if the Commission's Plans meet Redistricting Standards. The Commission will then Forward the Plans to the Utah State Legislature, which may decide whether to Accept, Amend, or Reject the Plans.

Proposition 4 was Designed to establish Standards for the Redistricting Process in the following Order of Priority:

(a) Adhering to Federal Law and achieving Equal Population between Districts

(b) Minimizing Divisions of Municipalities and Counties across Multiple Districts

(c) Making Districts Geographically Compact

(d) Making Districts that are Contiguous and Allow for Ease of Transport throughout the District

(e) Preserving Traditional Neighborhoods and Local Communities of Interest

(f) Following Natural and Geographic Boundaries, Barriers, and Features

(g) Maximizing the Agreement of Boundaries between Different Types of Districts

The Redistricting Commission was Designed to Prohibited from Dividing Districts to Favor an Incumbent Elected Official, a Candidate, or a Political Party. The Commission was Designed to be required to use "judicial standards and the best available data and scientific and statistical methods" to Draft Maps.

Public Hearings and Involvement

The Commission was Designed to be Required to Establish and Maintain a Website or Electronic Platform to Communicate with the Public and make Public all of the Plans submitted to the Commission, and also to Allow the Public to Submit Redistricting Plans and Comments to the Commission. The Commission was Designed to be Required to hold Public Hearings and make Available Recordings of Commission Meetings and Hearings.

Legislative Rejection

Although the Legislature can Reject Maps Submitted by the Commission, the Legislature would then need to Submit its Own Proposed Map which would need to Meet the same Standards of a Map Drawn by the Independent Redistricting Commission.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker