Registered voters in Laguna Niguel could elect their council members by geographic districts starting with the general election in November 2024.
After receiving a letter threatening litigation over the voting model council elections have used for 34 years, the City Council recently decided to change how representatives are chosen in town. The challenge argues the city’s at-large election process violates the state’s Voting Rights Act.
Laguna Niguel is intending to transition to a by-district system, which is becoming more common in California after cities, school districts and special districts up and down the state started receiving similar letters arguing at-large elections dilute the voting power of minority groups.
“A review of Laguna Niguel’s voting results appears to illustrate that they are racially polarized resulting in minority dilution,” says a letter sent in May by Michelle Jackson, an attorney with offices in Dana Point, on behalf of her clients. Jackson adds that in 20 years, not a “single Latino has been elected to the City Council” though Latinos makes up about 17% of the city’s population.
In the latest U.S. Census report, in a population of nearly 65,000, the city includes 65.2% White residents, 15.5% Hispanic residents and 11.3% Asian residents, the third largest group demographic group, and various other groups.
Presently, registered voters in Laguna Niguel vote for all council seats on a ballot and the top votegetters win the election. In by-district elections, a voter may only vote for a representative from their district when that district is up for election.
Though the council unanimously approved declaring its intention to start the process to change to district elections, there were reservations.
“These at-large elections have resulted in a diverse group of City Council members through the years who have worked together to make Laguna Niguel one of the safest cities in the nation, a financially strong city with…
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