Tell Utah Lawmakers: Respect Voter‑Approved Fair Maps

Wasatch County Democratic Party
3 days ago
3 min read

Utah is at a crossroads. On August 25, 2025, Third District Court Judge Dianna Gibson ruled the state’s current congressional maps unconstitutional. The court found that the 2021 maps violated Proposition 4—the Better Boundaries ballot initiative passed by voters in 2018—which created standards meant to curb partisan gerrymandering (Schott, 2025). The maps, drawn by the Republican-controlled Legislature, split Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County into four GOP-heavy congressional districts.

The ruling requires Utah’s Legislature to redraw the maps in compliance with the law. However, in a recent update, Utah’s Supreme Court granted an emergency request by lawmakers to expedite their appeal of the ruling (Dailey-Provost, 2025). If the Court proceeds with the appeal, the timeline may change. But if it declines to intervene, the redistricting process moves forward quickly.

What Happens Next?

According to Rep. Jen Dailey-Provost (D-Salt Lake City), who spoke on behalf of the Utah House Democratic Caucus, the following timeline will apply if the Court does not stop the process (Dailey-Provost, 2025):

September 25: At least one proposed map must be published by the Legislature.
September 26 – October 5: Public comment period on proposed maps.
Around October 6: The Legislature will convene a special session to vote on a final map.
Post-October 6: The approved map goes back to the court for review.
Meanwhile, the plaintiffs challenging the 2021 maps will submit their own alternative proposals.
Both sides will provide supporting materials, and more court hearings may be scheduled if needed.
November 10: Final deadline for maps to be in place, in time for the 2026 election cycle, as set by the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.

Why This Matters

Utahns voted for fair redistricting in 2018, demanding maps that reflect the state—not partisan interests. The judge’s ruling reaffirms that gerrymandering has no place in our democracy. But it’s now up to the public to hold lawmakers accountable to the will of the voters and the rule of law.

With the Legislature in charge of creating new maps—and a history of ignoring advisory input from the independent redistricting commission—public pressure is absolutely essential.

What You Can Do Right Now

✅ Contact your legislators before September 25 and demand:

Compliance with Prop 4’s nonpartisan standards
A transparent redistricting process
A fair map that reflects Utah’s communities—not political power
Email templates and call scripts are available below for your convenience. Find your representatives here.

🗣️ Use your voice during the public comment period from Sept. 26–Oct. 5🧭 Share this blog post with friends and neighbors so they understand the stakes.

Fair maps are not a partisan issue—they are a foundation of representative democracy. Utah’s future is being drawn, quite literally, right now. Speak up and make sure it’s fair.

References

Dailey-Provost, J. (2025, September 10). Utah redistricting update [Video]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/DOZbGQaAdEL/

Schott, B. (2025, August 25). Judge orders Utah Legislature to draw new congressional map. Utah News Dispatch. https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/08/25/judge-orders-utah-legislature-to-draw-new-congressional-map

Stack, M. (2025, September 10). Utah joins national redistricting wave, moves to fix gerrymandered map. The Salt Lake Tribune. https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2025/09/10/utah-joins-national-redistricting

Woodruff, D. (2025, August 25). Utah lawmakers have until Sept. 25 to publish new congressional map proposals. KSL.com. https://www.ksl.com/article/51370849/utah-lawmakers-have-until-sept-25-to-publish-new-congressional-map-proposals

📧 Constituent Email Template

Subject: Demand Fair Redistricting Maps That Reflect Utah Voters

Body:

Dear [Representative/Senator Last Name],

As your constituent, I’m urging you to publicly commit to a fair, transparent redistricting process that complies with Proposition 4 and the recent court ruling.

If the Utah Supreme Court does not intervene, the Legislature must release a proposed map by September 25, allow public input through October 5, and vote on a final map during a special session around October 6.

I ask that you:

Support maps that reflect communities—not partisan interests
Ensure genuine public engagement during the comment period
Uphold the intent of Prop 4, as passed by voters

Fair maps are foundational to fair representation. This is not about party politics—it's about respecting voters and the law.

Thank you, [Your Name] [Your City or ZIP Code] [Contact Info (optional)]

☎️ Call Script

Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City or Zip Code]. I’m calling about the court ruling that struck down Utah’s congressional maps as unconstitutional. If the Utah Supreme Court doesn’t intervene, the Legislature must publish a new proposed map by September 25, with a public comment period through October 5 and a special session around October 6.

I'm asking [Representative/Senator Last Name] to:

Support maps that follow the voter-approved standards of Proposition 4
Ensure a transparent and fair process
Respect the public’s input and the court’s ruling

Fair representation matters to me—and to many voters across the state. Can I count on [him/her/them] to support redistricting that puts Utah voters first?

Thank you for your time.