The case, filed by the and others in 2016, alleged that Santa Monica鈥檚 at-large voting system for city council violates the California Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting power of the Latino community, which at the time made up 14% of its voting-age population. Instead of council members being elected citywide, the plaintiffs want the city divided into districts, and voters in each one to pick their representative.
In February 2019, a trial court and ordered the city to switch to district-based voting. But in , a state appeals court reversed that decision.
On Thursday, California鈥檚 high court unanimously ruled that was a mistake 鈥� that the appeals court had 鈥渕isconstrued鈥� the California Voting Rights Act. Justice Kelli Evans, , said that plaintiffs only have to prove racially polarized voting in an at-large system 鈥� not that minority voters would make up a majority or near-majority of a hypothetical district.
- Pico Neighborhood Association, in a statement: 鈥淭he at-large election system in Santa Monica has marginalized the Pico Neighborhood and its diverse residents for far too long.鈥�
While U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla of California , the League of California Cities and the Special Districts Association filed briefs backing the city. So did a coalition including the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica and the Alliance of Santa Monica Latino and Black Voters, arguing that the city has 鈥渁chieved significant success in ensuring voting power for Latino and Black voters鈥� under the .
The case now goes back to the appeals court for further consideration. The it was 鈥渞eviewing the Supreme Court鈥檚 opinion and working to assess the path forward.鈥� The association urged city officials to 鈥渟ettle the case quickly鈥� and not spend taxpayer money on more litigation that 鈥渨ould be much better spent addressing the city鈥檚 many public safety and community services needs.鈥�
Under the 2001 state voting rights act, minority groups gained greater leverage to challenge at-large elections that might dilute their voting power. At least 185 cities and nearly 400 other California jurisdictions have switched to district-based elections, according to the .
- Kevin Shenkman, who represented the association and against cities regarding at-large elections: 鈥淭here are some places that were waiting to see what the California Supreme Court would do and what they would say in this Santa Monica case, and so now they will have those answers.鈥�
The affirmation of the state鈥檚 law is in contrast to court rulings on the federal Voting Rights Act 鈥� which have .
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