Voters in this mid-term election may not just worry about who they should vote for, they may not even know which congressional district they are in.

Last year, all state congressional district lines were changed in the highly debated and controversial redistricting process.

"I think what happened last year was pretty obvious. Our state legislature behaved in a remarkably partisan way," said Democratic Congressional incumbent Jim Matheson.

For five months, a 20-member committee, compromised of 13 Republicans and seven Democrats, weeded through dozens of proposals submitted by parties, politicians and committee members to find an acceptable plan to re-draw the lines.

Redistricting is a process that takes place every 10 years. Each state is constitutionally bound to complete the process of re-apportionment. States can either elect a committee from their state legislature to redefine boundary lines, such as Utah and 43 other states opt to do, or the political party in power designates a commission to complete the duties.

The process of re-apportionment begins with information from a population census. Numbers are totaled in each district, showing which areas need to be altered. This creates change, which often tends to re-draw partisan lines and create tension for many involved.

After the 2000 Census was released Fall 2001, the new lines in Utah were drawn. The new district map adopted by a majority vote in the Utah State House of Representatives and Senate caused politicians from around the country to cry foul play.

In the Deseret News, Senator Bob Bennett R-UT called it the worst case of gerrymandering he'd ever seen. The Wall Street Journal said it was a Republican scam on Jim Matheson, the only Democrat representing Utah in Congress.

Some people believe the members of the committee were trying to push out democratic incumbent Jim Matheson and pull a Republican candidate in his place.

"They tried to get rid of Jim, but they got the wrong Jim," said Meg Holbrook, chair of the Utah Democratic Party.

The other Jim would be Congressman Jim Hansen, a well-known name in Utah politics. He has represented Utah's 1st Congressional District for several years, but this year he decided not to run for re-election.

Among those claiming things weren't handled fairly are those who feel the process was simply the outcome of a task that had to be done.

"People need to understand it's a political process that happens every ten years, and that in Utah, just like in Washington, majority rules," said Republican candidate John Swallow.

"Redistricting here was certainly not out of line with what is going on in the rest of the country," said Tom Davis, president of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Swallow and Davis believe the new lines drawn will now give Salt Lake County residents three voices in Congress, and Swallow thinks in ten years most Utahns will be grateful for the changes.

Davis also claimed it is not uncommon for the controlling party in a state legislature to use their party agenda in redistricting.

With elections less than a week away, Matheson is worried that people may be confused with which district they're now in.

"We're doing our best to get the word out, but I think there is going to be a lot of confusion right up to election day," Matheson said.

Both Matheson and Swallow don't feel that adding a large portion of rural Utah will greatly influence their chances to compete. They both have roots in Southern Utah and have gone to great lengths to bring those ties out in their television ads.

Matheson even proposed his own redistricting plan to the committee last year, but it wasn't accepted. He asked the legislature to not disrupt boundaries and was ready to take the state to court when the new plan was approved.

"People are disengaged enough as it is when it comes to politics," Matheson said.

"Our legislature just made the situation that more confusing," he said.

Republican representative Gerry Adair said that everyone was given a chance to be heard and the committee followed a very strict parliamentary procedure.

Adiar said it's impossible to please everyone.

And among those who aren't pleased are some democrat representatives in the Utah State Legislature.

A new bill is being drafted to present in the 2003 General Session of the Utah State Legislature. The bill proposes the state of Utah acquire an independent commission to redraw the lines to dispel any questions about a political party trying to push its agenda through.

Copyright Brigham Young University 30 Oct 2002