MAP ANALYSIS: LEGISLATIVE MAPS SPLIT COMMUNITIES AND GERRYMANDERS UTAHNS

On November 5, the Legislative Redistricting Committee released four proposed maps, one each for congress, state senate, state house, and state school board. In a side-by-side comparison of the Independent Redistricting Commission’s maps, the legislative maps fail to meet key criteria and do not offer any demonstrable improvements. In fact, two of the maps are politically gerrymandered, suppressing the representation of some Utahns. Better Boundaries supports the adoption of Independent Redistricting Commission maps.

An analysis by the MGGG Redistricting Lab’s Moon Duchin and BYU Professor of Mathematics Tyler Jarvis demonstrates that the Legislative Committee’s congressional and house maps are heavily gerrymandered to favor Republicans. Additionally, the Legislative Redistricting Committee’s maps – with the exception of their house map – split counties and cities unnecessarily and at a rate much higher than the Independent Redistricting Commission’s maps.

VIEW OUR QUANTITIVE MAP ANALYSIS HERE

VIEW THE LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE’S PROPOSED MAPS HERE

VIEW THE INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS MAPS AND REPORT HERE