Victory: Utah’s Supreme Court Leaves in Place Lower Court Decision Striking Down a Gerrymandered Congressional Map

SALT LAKE CITY, U.T. — Today, Utah’s Supreme Court rejected a stay request from the Utah state legislature to pause the drawing of a fair congressional map. 

Campaign Legal Center (CLC), on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Utah (LWV Utah), Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) and individual Utah voters, challenged the Utah state legislature’s repeal of Proposition 4, or Prop 4 — a ballot initiative passed by Utah voters that aimed to prohibit partisan gerrymandering by establishing the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission and creating fair, neutral criteria and procedures for adopting district maps. 

The Utah state trial court ruled that not only was the repeal of Prop 4 unconstitutional, but the current gerrymandered congressional map passed by the legislature may not be used in future elections. A new map that complies with Prop 4’s neutral criteria must now be drawn and used for the 2026 election. 

Mark Gaber, senior redistricting director for CLC, issued the following statement in response to the Utah Supreme Court’s decision: 

“Fair voting maps are essential for ensuring that every voter has an equal opportunity to participate in the political process. Today’s decision affirms that in America, voters should choose their politicians — not the other way around. 

“The plaintiffs that we represented in this case have been working for nearly a decade to have an independent redistricting process. 

“It was Utahns across the political spectrum who initially formed a citizen initiative, known as Proposition 4, working to ensure that they have the right to choose their elected representatives. Despite challenges from their own state legislature, the Utah Supreme Court has affirmed that Utahns have the right to vote under fair maps.

“Campaign Legal Center will keep fighting in Utah and nationwide to ensure that all voters can participate equally in the political processes directly impacting their lives.”

Follow the latest updates on this lawsuit through our case page. 

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The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center advances democracy through law. We safeguard the freedom to vote, defend voters’ right to know who is spending money to influence elections, and work to ensure public trust in our elected officials. 

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