Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/voting-rights-act/)
After decades of low turnout, Latinos nationwide may be poised — thanks in large part to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s anti-immigration stance — to at last have an impact on Election Day that matches their population gains.
Whether someone thinks voter fraud is a widespread problem, often depends on their party registration. Meanwhile, voter suppression remains an issue in certain corners of the country, and Orange County has a checkered past.
They are the fastest-growing racial group in the U.S., have the highest income and are the best educated. But they have the lowest voter participation of any demographic group due largely to language, cultural barriers and discrimination.
City Council members decided to stick with a voting district map backed by business leaders instead of one supported by a coalition of local residents.
Tuesday’s hearing was ordered by a Superior Court judge who ruled that the council’s selection of a map in June violated the terms of a settlement agreement on Voting Rights Act lawsuits.
In choosing a map favored by the Fullerton business community, council members did not abide by the settlement agreement in state Voting Rights Act lawsuits, ruled Superior Court Judge James Crandall.
Despite an eleventh-hour revelation that the council districts map no longer has a Latino majority district, council members stood by their decision to adopt the map and put the most Latino district up for election this year.
Latinos and many other city residents hailed the map as perfectly balancing the diverse interests of Anaheim’s various communities. But city officials now say the map has no Latino majority districts.
The Anaheim city councilman, who was among four candidates vying for the seat being vacated by Loretta Sanchez, exits the race after being condemned by the Democratic party and shouted down by Latino residents.
Protesters say over 300 people will show up at Anaheim City Hall Tuesday night to oppose last week’s City Council decision to push back the city’s transition to district elections and scrap a districts map that had broad support.
