SALT LAKE CITY—The Constitution requires the Legislature to redraw district boundaries every 10 years based on population data gathered by the U. S. Census Bureau.This year, due to COVID, that information has been delayed. However, the Legislative Redistricting Committee is preparing to hit the ground running once that data is available.

“We look forward to the process,” said Committee co-chair Sen. Scott Sandall. “We’ll have to work quicker to stay on time. We need to complete the process by Thanksgiving.”

The 20-member nonpartisan committee will hold several public hearings throughout the state to take input on the boundaries. “We have to condense what usually takes six to eight months in six to eight weeks,” said Rep. Paul Ray, Committee co-chair. “We’ll be holding 21 meetings total and 13 of those will be in the rural areas of the state.”

Utah voters approved a ballot initiative, Proposition 4 in 2018 in favor of creating an independent redistricting commission. The legislature subsequently passed S.B. 200 Redistricting Amendments that allowed for political boundary recommendations by an independent redistricting commission, according to material provided.

“The commission will help filter information to us,” Ray said. “We’ll review that along with public input and determine what will be the best for the state and best for the citizens.”

There will be a tool where the public can draw a map and give that to us, he said. “We’ll discuss those in our meetings. I hope they give us good maps. If the public gives us good maps it will help make our job easier.”

“The only map you’re going to like is the one you draw,” said Sandall. “We’ll try to be as fair and balanced as we can. We’ll feel more confident when we get the data.”

After all of the maps are submitted the committee will make a final determination, Ray said. “The Constitution requires that the Legislative Redistricting Committee draws up the maps.”

The new boundaries will then be presented to the full legislature to consider during a special session. Once the legislature approves the maps, they will be sent to the governor who will either approve or veto the adopted maps.

“Transparency is key as we go through this process,” said Ray. “We’re not going to do some wholesale changes. We’ll look at what makes sense for the population growth and movement.”

The Legislative Redistricting Committee’s public hearing schedule is as follows:

• Wednesday, Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. at the State Capitol

• Thursday, Sept. 2 at 10 a.m. at the State Capitol

• Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. in Clearfield

• Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. at the State Capitol

• Monday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. at the State Capitol

• Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 9 a.m. at the State Capitol

• Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 9 a.m. at the State Capitol

Dates and times are subject to change. For updated information go to: le.utah.gov/calendar.html. Visit redistricting.utah.gov to learn more about the redistricting process.