Cypress City Council Set to Vote on Switching to District Elections Amid Lawsuit Alleging Asian American Voter Disenfranchisement

CYPRESS, California – The city of Cypress is considering a switch to a district election system after facing a lawsuit alleging that the current at-large system disenfranchises Asian American voters. This move is part of a larger trend in California, where voting rights groups have been advocating for local governments to transition away from at-large systems that they argue disproportionately impact voters of color. While many cities have complied with legal threats and lawsuits, Cypress, along with the city of Brea, initially resisted the change. However, the Cypress City Council is expected to vote on … Read more

Federal Judge Orders New North Dakota Legislative District for Native American Tribes, Citing Voting Rights Violation

BISMARCK, N.D. — A federal judge has ordered a new joint legislative district in North Dakota for two Native American tribes. The tribes argued that the 2021 redistricting map violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting their voting strength. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Peter Welte made the decision to create a new map after ruling in November that the original map prevented Native American voters from having an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. The judge had given North Dakota Republican Secretary of State Michael Howe and the GOP-controlled Legislature until December … Read more