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1. What is the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA)?

In 2001, the state legislature approved the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), modifying burden of proof requirements contained in the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 to make it easier for plaintiffs to challenge at-large voting systems. Federal protected classes include members of the same race, color, national origin, religion, sex/gender, age (over 40), and disability. The CVRA prohibits an agency from using at-large elections if it impairs the ability of a protected class to elect candidates of its choice or otherwise influence the outcome of an election. The CVRA includes the imposition of district-based elections by a court as a remedy to violations of the Act, and requires the government agency to pay all legal and court fees of a plaintiff that prevails in the courts.

2. What is racially polarized voting?

A violation of the CVRA is established if it is shown that racially polarized voting occurred in City Council elections or in the election of candidates for other offices by the voters. Racially polarized voting occurs when there is a difference in the choice of candidates that are preferred by voters in a protected class versus the choice of candidates preferred by voters in the rest of the electorate.

3. What are district-based elections?

Since incorporation in 1989, the City has used an “at-large” election system in which voters elect each of the five City Council Members to provide city-wide representation. A district-based election system is one in which the city is divided into geographic districts where voters in each district select one Council Member who resides in that district to represent them.

4. Will the change to a district-based election system affect my vote?

Yes.  Instead of voting for all five members of the City Council, voters will vote for the one member only.

5. Why is the city moving to district-based elections?

In a letter received January 13, 2022, Mr. Kevin Shenkman, counsel representing the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP), alleged that the City’s at-large elections system violates the CVRA because it results in racially polarized voting that dilutes the impact of Latino voters. The letter demands that Diamond Bar voluntarily change its at-large system for electing City Council members to a district-based system to avoid litigation.

To succeed in the courts, a plaintiff must only show that racially polarized voting has occurred. To date, there is no established CVRA case law in which a public agency defendant has successfully prevailed on the merits. Thus, the majority of cities facing the threat of CVRA litigation have voluntarily transitioned to district-based elections citing the cost of legal defense and potential liability for significant attorney’s fees and settlement costs that have reached into the millions of dollars if the City’s legal defense is unsuccessful.

On February 17, 2022, the Diamond Bar City Council adopted a resolution stating its intent to voluntarily transition to district-based elections.

6. What is the timeline to move to district-based elections?

In 2016, the legislature amended Elections Code section 10010 to create a limited “safe harbor” timeline for agencies to transition from at-large to district elections. The amendment prevents a CVRA lawsuit from being filed if the agency adopts a Resolution of Intent to transition to district-based elections within 45 days of receiving a letter from a potential plaintiff. The agency then has 90 days to complete legal proceedings to make the transition. If all required actions are completed within the timeline, the agency’s potential liability for plaintiff’s attorney’s fees is capped at $30,000.

To transition to a district-based system, the City Council must adopt an ordinance requiring City Council members to be elected by district or by district with an elected mayor pursuant to Government Code section 34886. Per Government Code section 34886, the ordinance does not need to be submitted to the voters for approval, but must include a declaration that the change in election procedures is being made to further the purposes of the CVRA. Prior to the adoption of the ordinance, the City Council must establish district boundaries and determine which of the new districts will be subject to the first district elections. To do so, a minimum of five public hearings must be scheduled, as follows:

• A minimum of two public hearings at which the public can provide input on district boundaries before draft district maps are prepared. These public hearings are currently scheduled for March 1, 2022 and March 15, 2022.
• A minimum of two public hearings to consider draft district maps.  The public hearings are currently scheduled for April 5, 2022 and April 19, 2022.
• A public hearing to adopt the district map and establish the sequence of elections. In addition to the preferences expressed by residents of the districts, the maps must include consideration of natural geographic boundaries, communities of interest, and the “one person, one vote” standard, which requires all districts to be as nearly equal in population as possible. Federal case law prohibits districts from being drawn with race as a predominate factor. This public hearing is currently scheduled for May 3, 2022.

7. Why is this happening so fast? Can we slow down the process?

The “safe harbor” provisions of the Elections Code set strict, defined timelines. The City cannot deviate from the 90-day safe harbor timeline explained in the previous question without exposure to litigation and potentially significant costs.