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You are here: News Politics Public meeting to be held on new voting districts

Public meeting to be held on new voting districts

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Impacts San Juan County

Staff Reports

On Nov. 6, the Utah Federal District Court held a status conference in Navajo Nation v. San Juan County. After the conference a minute entry was entered scheduling two public meetings in San Juan County on Nov. 16. One meeting will be held at the Hide Out Community Center in Monticello, UT from 10:30 am -12:30 pm. The second meeting will be held at Bluff Community Center in Bluff, UT from 3:30 - 5:30 pm.

These meeting will provide San Juan County community members an opportunity to comment on the proposed School Board and County Commission election districts. Each site will have tables for the public to submit comments and a court staff employee to take feedback from the public.

The proposed maps were developed by the Court-appointed Special Master, Dr. Bernard Grofman, in response to the Court’s previous rulings that the County’s current School Board and County Commission election districts violate the Equal Protection clause of the Constitution, in part because the districts were drawn based on race. The Court appointed a Special Master to assist in creating lawful remedial election districts for the Commission and the School Board. The Court anticipates implementing the new election districts for the 2018 election cycle.

“The Nation is pleased the Court is seeking input from Navajo members of the County.” stated Attorney General Ethel Branch. “This has been a long process and it is important that all Navajos in San Juan County are allowed an opportunity to participate in the redrawing of their election districts. Our hope is that the Court will hear the concerns of our people and adopt voting districts that address their concerns and give them a much needed voice in County politics.”