The statewide redistricting process brought about following the 2010 Census made significant changes to boundaries for U. S. Congressional districts as well as state legislative and school board districts. Many Utahns find themselves in newly redrawn districts and will likely be voting for candidates they may be unfamiliar with from prior elections. Online and county clerk resources can help determine which legislative and school board districts you reside in.
Redistricting is a process that occurs at least every 10 years when the constitutionally required census tracks changes in population. Utah is required to insure legislative districts whether local, state, or federal be nearly identical in population size. The task falls to the Utah legislature to adjust U. S. Congressional, state legislative, and state school board boundaries in order to meet the requirement.
The process is complex and contentious. Politics enters into the process as parties seek to insure advantages for incumbent members of the legislative bodies and the majority party’s ability to win future elections. The 2011 redistricting effort in Utah was no exception with the state Democratic party threatening lawsuits to force changes in at least the U. S. Congressional Districts maps. But if and until the courts see fit to order changes, the maps drawn by the Utah legislature in 2011 will be the ones elections are decided by.
Online and county clerk resources can help determine which legislative and school board districts you reside in. It’s quite possible that legislative elected officials you voted for in 2010 or earlier will not appear on your 2012 ballot.
Click for a list of County Clerks in Utah: http://vote.utah.gov/county-clerk/
See official maps showing legislative and state school board boundaries: http://elections.utah.gov/map/district-maps
