A proposal to update the Washington state Voting Rights Act and make it easier to bring forward a voting rights claim passed through the Senate this month without the support of Yakima Valley lawmakers.
Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, D-Seattle, who sponsored the bill, said the legislation would expand access to fair representation for underrepresented communities in Washington, including in Yakima County where Latinos make up more than half of the population.
There have been two voting rights lawsuits filed against Yakima Valley governments in the past decade, alleging the election systems in the city of Yakima and Yakima County disenfranchised Latino voters. The lawsuits led to changes in the way representatives are elected, including getting rid of at-large elections.
“These updates to the Washington Voting Rights Act will help avoid costly lawsuits, empower local communities, and ensure our state continues to lead the way in safeguarding access to democracy,” Saldaña said in a Senate Democrats news release.
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