3 Compton Residents Sue City Over Voting Rights

Three Compton residents are suing the city under the California Voting Rights Act, contending that the city’s elections are stacked against Latino candidates.

The complaint filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleges that the at-large elections for City Council seats have the effect of diluting the Latino vote. {snip}

{snip}

The mayor and the four members of Compton’s City Council are African American. Compton was long seen as a primarily black community, but Latino residents now make up about two-thirds of the city’s population. The suit alleges that although Latino candidates have run for council seats in a number of elections, no Latino candidate has been elected since at least 1999.

Compton council members represent specific geographic districts within the city, but voting for each seat is not restricted to residents of the district. {snip}

{snip}