Voting rights lawyers offered a passionate rebuke of Dodge City’s at-large election system, arguing that the city’s current system deprives Latino voters of sufficient representation on the city commission. … Attorneys for the city counter that a lack of Latino representation on the commission is the result of factors beyond local government’s control. In December 2022, ACLU Kansas and other voting rights groups filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming that Latinos would overwhelmingly back other Latinos for seats on the City Commission but are restrained by an at-large system that favors white voters. … The five-day trial went into recess before noon Friday, March 1. Plaintiffs and defendants have until March 22 to file their final briefs to the Court. Then, [Judge] Melgren will review and issue his decision. It could be months before he issues a ruling.
Source: KLC Journal
