FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alberto Lammers; alammers@luskin.ucla.edu
UCLA Voting Rights Project Issues Notice Letter to Port of Pasco for Violating the Washington Voting Rights Act
Pasco, Wash. (March 10, 2025) – The UCLA Voting Rights Project (UCLA VRP) has issued a formal notice letter to the Port of Pasco, alleging violations of the Washington Voting Rights Act of 2018 (WVRA). The letter, sent on behalf of Gabriel Portugal and Jose Trinidad-Corral, two Latino voters in the region, challenges the Port’s at-large voting system, which has historically prevented Latino communities from electing candidates of choice.
The notice states that the Port of Pasco’s electoral structure has consistently diluted Latino voting power, despite the fact that Latinos comprise 41.8% of the county’s eligible voting population. No Latino has been elected to the Port Commission in over two decades. Under the WVRA, political subdivisions must ensure that electoral methods do not impair the ability of protected classes to have an equal opportunity to elect representatives of their choice.
“The Port of Pasco’s current election system denies Latino voters a fair chance to participate in the democratic process,” said Sonni Waknin, Senior Voting Rights Counsel for the UCLA VRP. “The Washington Voting Rights Act was passed to prevent this kind of systemic disenfranchisement, and we are calling on the Port to take immediate corrective action.”
The letter cites evidence of racially polarized voting, historical discrimination, and procedural irregularities in the Port’s redistricting process—factors that exacerbate Latino voter suppression. Federal courts have previously ruled that Franklin County, which largely overlaps with the Port of Pasco, exhibits a high degree of racial polarization in voting. In 2023, Franklin County settled a WVRA lawsuit after conceding that its electoral system violated state law.
The UCLA VRP has proposed a district-based election system as a remedy, ensuring that Latino voters have a fair opportunity to elect candidates of choice. Under the WVRA, the Port of Pasco has 90 days to respond before legal action may be pursued.
“The Latino community has long been shut out of decision-making at the Port of Pasco, despite making up a significant share of the electorate,” said Edwardo Morfin, an attorney representing the plaintiffs. “This notice letter is a critical step in ensuring fair representation and compliance with state law.”
If the Port fails to address the violations, the UCLA VRP is prepared to take further legal action to protect the voting rights of Latino residents in the region.
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
To learn more about the UCLA VRP, please visit vrp.ucla.edu
