For Immediate Release
Contact: Alberto Lammers
alammers@luskin.ucla.edu
UCLA Voting Rights Project Challenges Franklin County PUD Election System
SEATTLE (June 7, 2024) — The UCLA Voting Rights Project has served a written notice letter under the Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA) to the Franklin County Pasco Utility District (PUD) alleging that the PUD’s method of election violates the WVRA. This action aims to address and reform the current hybrid election system, which utilizes at-large voting in general elections, disenfranchising Latino voters in the PUD.
The notice letter alleges that the PUD’s hybrid at-large electoral system, where the entire county votes in general elections for all three commissioner positions, violates the WVRA. This electoral system has consistently prevented Latino representation on the Pasco Utility District’s board despite the County’s large Latino population. In the letter, Latino voters, represented by the UCLA VRP and Morfin Law Firm, demand that the PUD change from utilizing the at-large method of election and implement a district map that provides Latinos with an equal opportunity to elect candidates of choice.
“Today marks a pivotal step towards rectifying the disparities in representation within Franklin County government structures. Latino participation in managing public resources and utilities is crucial. We advocate for an election system that genuinely reflects the diverse voices within Franklin County,” said Sonni Waknin, program manager and counsel at the UCLA Voting Rights Project.
This notice letter follows a similar WVRA lawsuit settled by Franklin County in 2022, which acknowledged the existence of polarized voting under the same electoral system and switched to district-based elections under the settlement. Recently, a federal court has recognized polarized voting within Franklin County, underscoring the need for electoral reform.
“It is disheartening to see that, even in 2024, Latina/os still lack fair representation, especially in a place where they make up such a large segment of the population,” said Edwardo Morfin, “But we continue to work hard to rectify that. It is not easy work, but certainly worthwhile.”
The Franklin County PUD, which manages crucial public utilities, has recently raised rates across the county, making fair representation in its governance more crucial than ever.
Once the notice is filed, the Franklin County PUD will have 90 days to respond. Should the response be unsatisfactory, the UCLA Voting Rights Project is prepared to take further legal action to ensure equitable representation for all residents of Franklin County.
Read the notice letter to the Franklin County Public Utility District.
ABOUT THE UCLA VOTING RIGHTS PROJECT
The UCLA Voting Rights Project is the marquee advocacy project of the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, and is focused on voting rights litigation, research, policy, and training. The UCLA Voting Rights Project addresses overlooked yet monumental gaps in the field of voting rights. The UCLA Voting Rights Project tackles questions of how to train young lawyers and researchers, support the development of new legal and methodological theories for voting rights cases, and advance policy work, to ensure that there will be a new generation of leaders who are pursuing efforts to guarantee all citizens have equal and fair access to our democracy. The project was founded by Chad W. Dunn, J.D., and Matt Barreto, Ph.D. The UCLA Voting Rights Project is located within the Luskin School of Public Affairs.
To learn more about the UCLA Voting Rights Project, please visit https://latino.ucla.edu/votingrights.
