UCLA Voting Rights Project Secures Victory in Port of Pasco Voting Rights Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Alberto Lammers; alammers@luskin.ucla.edu

UCLA Voting Rights Project Secures Victory in Port of Pasco Voting Rights Case

Pasco, Wash. (September 29, 2025) — The UCLA Voting Rights Project (VRP) announced today that a Franklin County Superior Court approved a settlement agreement between Latino voters and the Port of Pasco. This agreement will transform how local elections are conducted and expand fair representation for Latino voters in Franklin County. 

As part of the agreement, the Port will transition to district-based elections for both the primary and general elections. The Port will also adjust its election schedule to occur in even-numbered years, aligning its local elections with state and federal elections to increase voter participation.

The settlement resolves a voting rights challenge by VPR and Morfin Law Firm under the Washington Voting Rights Act of 2018 (WVRA), which prohibits election systems that dilute the votes of protected communities. Latino residents make up about 40% of the Franklin County area where the Port of Pasco’s eligible voters live, yet no Latino has ever been elected to the Port Commission.

“This is a step toward a more inclusive democracy in the Tri-Cities,” said Sonni Waknin, senior staff attorney at VRP. “Our mission is to ensure that all voters—regardless of race, ethnicity, or language—have an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. This settlement fulfills that promise and creates a fairer electoral process.”

The Port of Pasco’s prior use of at-large elections had long been criticized for disenfranchising Latino voters, especially those in East Pasco. The VRP’s March 2025 notice letter outlined evidence of racially polarized voting, procedural redistricting irregularities, and a long history of underrepresentation. The changes agreed upon in the settlement directly address those systemic barriers.

Gabriel Portugal, plaintiff and LULAC National Vice President for the Northwest, said, “The League of United Latin American Citizens is proud of the settlement today. We advocate for all voters in the Port of Pasco to be able to elect a candidate of their choice in their respective districts and believe this settlement to be an essential part of our efforts. This resolution empowers every voting member of our community to have a seat at the table.”

“This is another victory for fair representation, but we still have a long way to go. I hope other municipalities, boards, and districts will take notice and will engage with members of their communities to give their constituents a voice and fair representation,” said Edwardo Morfin, founder of Morfin Law Firm. 

The shift to district-based elections will allow communities to elect commissioners who more accurately reflect their neighborhoods and lived experiences. Meanwhile, consolidating elections to even-numbered years is expected to increase voter turnout and lower costs, benefiting the Port and the electorate alike.

This marks the third successful resolution of a WVRA case involving jurisdictions in Franklin County, where Latino voters have faced structural barriers to representation for decades.

ABOUT THE UCLA VOTING RIGHTS PROJECT

The UCLA Voting Rights Project was established to protect equal voting rights for all Americans through strategic litigation, social science research and policy advocacy. The VRP seeks to ensure that all individuals are afforded equal access to the electoral process and representation in governance. For more information about the UCLA Voting Rights Project, please visit vrp.ucla.edu.