Yakima voting districts aim to boost Latinos’ voice

YAKIMA – A federal judge has adopted a plan by the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington for boosting the voice of Latinos in Yakima elections.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice ruled last summer that Yakima’s system for City Council elections “suffocates” the will of Latino voters. He asked the city and the ACLU chapter to come up with proposals for new systems.

In a ruling Tuesday, he adopted the ACLU’s version, the Yakima Herald reported. He said the city’s plan would not have ensured Latinos were adequately represented.

Under the order, the city will have seven voting districts, with council members elected from each. One of the districts is more than half made up of Latino citizens of voting age, and another is nearly half. All of the council seats will be up for election this year, even though not all of the incumbents’ terms have run out, and council candidates must all live in their own districts.

“Latino voters now will have a chance for their interests to be represented on the council and have more of a say in how city services are distributed,” said Kathleen Taylor, executive director of the ACLU chapter. “This will strengthen democracy in Yakima.”

Previously, council members have been elected citywide. No Latino has been elected to the council in the 37-year history of the current system, even though Yakima’s population is now more than 40 percent Latino.

The federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 invites court challenges to election systems that prevent protected minorities from meaningfully influencing election outcomes.

The city has 30 days to appeal.