Posted on Dec 19, 2022
Federal lawsuit says a Kansas city's election system keeps Latino candidates out of office
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About 65% of Dodge City’s residents are Latino. But a coalition of voting rights groups argues that an "at-large" election system allows the city’s white voting bloc to prevent the Latino population from electing candidates. No Latino candidate has been elected to the commission this century.
A coalition of voting rights groups says Dodge City’s election system is designed to prevent the community’s Latino population from holding office on the city commission.
In a complaint filed late Thursday in federal court, the coalition argues the “at-large” election system is unconstitutional and a violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The lawsuit was filed by the UCLA Voting Rights Project, American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, the national ACLU, and New York City-based law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton. The city uses an at-large election system, in which all city residents can vote for each of the five seats on the city commission.
A coalition of voting rights groups says Dodge City’s election system is designed to prevent the community’s Latino population from holding office on the city commission.
In a complaint filed late Thursday in federal court, the coalition argues the “at-large” election system is unconstitutional and a violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The lawsuit was filed by the UCLA Voting Rights Project, American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, the national ACLU, and New York City-based law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton. The city uses an at-large election system, in which all city residents can vote for each of the five seats on the city commission.
Federal lawsuit says a Kansas city's election system keeps Latino candidates out of office
Posted from kcur.org
Voting
Elections
Dodge City
Lawsuit
Rights
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The latest lawsuit points to a dramatic rise in the Latino population in Dodge City over the past 20 years, influenced largely by the meatpacking industry. The lawsuit says the lack of success by “Latine-preferred” candidates in Dodge City reflects the larger trend in Ford County, where no Latino residents hold any elected office.
“Dodge City’s at-large scheme intentionally and effectively dilutes the political voices of Latine Kansans in Dodge City,” said Sharon Brett, legal director for the ACLU of Kansas. “This system is reflective of a broader problem in Kansas, where those in power systematically seek to diminish minority voters and exclude them from the governing process. The Latine population in Dodge City deserves equal voice in shaping their local government, and federal law demands it.”
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits attempts to dilute voting power based on race or color. The lawsuit also cites the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as well as the 15th Amendment, which prohibits intentional racial discrimination."
..."The latest lawsuit points to a dramatic rise in the Latino population in Dodge City over the past 20 years, influenced largely by the meatpacking industry. The lawsuit says the lack of success by “Latine-preferred” candidates in Dodge City reflects the larger trend in Ford County, where no Latino residents hold any elected office.
“Dodge City’s at-large scheme intentionally and effectively dilutes the political voices of Latine Kansans in Dodge City,” said Sharon Brett, legal director for the ACLU of Kansas. “This system is reflective of a broader problem in Kansas, where those in power systematically seek to diminish minority voters and exclude them from the governing process. The Latine population in Dodge City deserves equal voice in shaping their local government, and federal law demands it.”
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits attempts to dilute voting power based on race or color. The lawsuit also cites the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as well as the 15th Amendment, which prohibits intentional racial discrimination."
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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