Who should draw the congressional maps? Here's what voters and Constitution say

SALT LAKE CITY — Who should have the power to divide Utah into voting districts?

It’s a question Utah residents, judges, lawyers and state lawmakers have been grappling with for years. Republicans in the Legislature have argued they have sole constitutional authority to draw district boundaries.

Meanwhile, the Utah Supreme Court found lawmakers overreached when they changed Proposition 4, a 2018 ballot initiative that established nonpartisan guidelines for map-drawing and an independent commission to suggest new congressional maps to the Legislature.

The issue is far from settled, even after 3rd District Judge Dianna Gibson tossed a map drawn by the Legislature in favor of one submitted by plaintiffs who have accused GOP lawmakers of gerrymandering. That map would create a district base