Today, Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG), League of Women Voters of Utah (LWVUT), and individual voters filed a lawsuit to block Utah from implementing a congressional redistricting map that constitutes an extreme partisan gerrymander and to reinstate the citizen-led initiative that established an independent redistricting commission and binding anti-gerrymandering requirements.
Laura Lewis reading MWEG’s statement at the press conference
The following statement was read by MWEG Utah chapter communications specialist, Laura Lewis, at a joint press conference:
MWEG is an organization dedicated to peacemaking. Peacemaking can sometimes be counterintuitive, because peace isn’t just an absence of conflict — it can be messy, requiring hard and complicated work to create resilient and cooperative societies where citizens solve problems without resorting to coercion.
Today MWEG is joining litigation against the Utah State Legislature because we believe they have created a set of congressional maps that violate the Utah State Constitution both in process and outcome. Their actions move our state further away from our ideals. They make our political systems less resilient. They fracture the peace for many of our citizens. As an organization, we felt strongly that when we were offered a pathway to respond to this injustice we should walk it.
The work of creating congressional districts typically happens in the background and can feel too complicated to follow. Better Boundaries and the Independent Redistricting Commission did exceptional work over the last few years, bringing this process to the front of voters’ minds. They encouraged us to engage in good faith with the effort to create maps that reflected a commitment to democratic values and equal representation for voters.
Equal representation matters. Choices made in Congress can have far-reaching effects on our health and welfare here at home. They determine how values become manifest as policy, and they ultimately decide to protect or destroy our peace. It matters deeply that we each have the ability to cast meaningful votes so that every voice is heard. We don’t believe this privilege should only be offered as a perk of party membership.
Fair districting provides a critical protection for the political power of the people.
Fair districts give citizens the opportunity to advocate effectively for the candidates and policies they prefer.
Fair districts allow us to work together with our neighbors to solve common problems.
Perhaps most importantly, fair districts allow citizens to determine when elected representatives or government systems are no longer working to preserve and defend the public welfare. Governments aligned with democratic principles will vigorously protect the ability of individual voters to act on those determinations. The Utah State Constitution is clear and direct; it gives the people the right to alter their government, and we hope that through this suit we can see that right restored.
MWEG is here today because our principles encourage us to hold elected representatives accountable and to protect constitutional government. As women inspired by our faith to defend ethical government, we have advocated for greater transparency and accountability before legislators and executives at all levels of government. Today we proudly join the League of Women Voters and seven courageous Utah citizens to continue that work in the courts.
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