By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News

Over the weekend, state lawmakers unveiled new congressional map options for the state following a court order that the state had to redraw its congressional boundaries. Members of the Legislative Redistricting Committee have provided five proposed options for the maps, carving the state into its four congressional districts.

Based on the court order, lawmakers have until Sept. 25 to adopt the committee’s draft of a new map. Following this, there will be a 10-day public comment period to garner feedback on the proposed map. After this, the legislature will vote in a special session, and if approved, it will be submitted to the judiciary for review.

Lawmakers met Monday morning for the first official meeting of the Redistricting Committee, where Republican members of the group made known their displeasure with the court ruling. “We are doing this under the court’s order and under protest,” said committee co-chair Sen. Scott Sandall (R-Tremonton).

Of the five proposed maps, only one separates Carbon and Emery County from each other, with the other four options keeping the Castle Country intact.

During the public comment period of the meeting, the primary concerns listed by citizens were the division of communities and the mixing of urban and rural areas. More public comment on the proposed maps will be heard by the redistricting committee on Wednesday, with a final map being selected on Thursday to begin the 10-day public comment process.

The maps can be viewed and commented on through the following link.