Note: please note that this page should (a) link back to the issue overview on this topic, (b) be focused either the local, state, national, or global level, and (c) be neutrally presented, based on facts, and include footnotes for each of the items.  See the Research Guide and Information Sources to assist you. 

• Link here to the overview page:  Minority Voting Rights

Scope of the Problem  factual statements on the extent of the problem in the past, current, or future

• Latinos are dramatically underrepresented at the local level in Washington State. In Washington State's ten most Latino counties (Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Okanogan, Skagit, Walla Walla, and Yakima), only 78 Latinos hold office out of 1891 local-level offices, constituting just 4.1% of local elected officials. This low level of representation exists despite Latino populations above 10% in each of the counties.^[1]
• This underrepresentation extends to all of Washington State's local offices.^[2] This lack of local political representation is likely to be especially significant in Washington State, which has the sixth highest number of special districts in the United States and thus local offices with increased relevance and political power.^[3]
• At-large and mixed electoral systems are employed by the vast majority of Washington State's local offices.^[4] Such systems have been shown to decrease minority representation.^[5]  Single-member district systems, which are known to encourage more proportional representation of minority groups, are employed in only 9 of the 1891 offices.^[6]
• Most statutes in the Revised Code of Washington governing the electoral systems of Washington State's local offices provide no avenues for district based elections without amendment by the Washington State Legislature.^[7] District-based electoral systems, then, cannot currently be used as remedies for Latino underrepresentation in many communities.
• Latinos in four of the counties (Douglas County, Franklin County, Skagit County, and Yakima County) are disproportionately young, poor, linguistically isolated and unable to speak English well, foreign-born, non-citizens, and poorly educated.^[8] Possession of these sociodemographic characteristics significantly depresses the political participation and electoral turnout of minority groups and Latinos.
•  Latinos face unique obstacles to political participation
•       o      Latinos have considerably lower voter turnout in local and national elections. (Citation: Pedro’s                   report/Hispanic Pew Trust****) 

• o      Incidents of intimidation have been reported in the past but have become less visible recently (Citation: Minor and Serrurier 2009)

  o      Bilingual voting materials provided by the Voting Rights Act are only mandated in three counties in Washington State (DOJ Website?)

  o      Local police and education institutions with an Anglo majority repeatedly neglect or ignore the needs of the Latino community (Minor and Serrurier)

  o      Latino communities have had trouble organizing sustained participation efforts (Citation: Minor and Serrurier 2009)

Past Policy  key legislation and milestones including significant policy and funding shifts, major studies, etc.

·      The Voting Rights Act: enacted in 1965 to ensure citizens’ right to vote

o      Section 203 (1975) ensures bilingual election material and outreach for language minorities

§       Only certain counties are covered by Section 203: with language-minority population greater than 10,000 or 5% of the overall eligible voter population

o      Section 208 (1975) allows citizens to enlist the help of a trusted individual inside the polling booth

·      In Washington State four Counties are covered by Section 203: Franklin, Yakima, Adams (Spanish) and King County (Chinese)

·      In 2002 The US Department of Justice sued Yakima County for not providing adequate bilingual resources for its Spanish speaking population.  In 2004 they signed a consent decree, acknowledging their responsibility to comply with section 203. 

Current Policy  summary of current policies in the form of legislation, programs, and funding

• Due to the increasing Latino population, especially in central and eastern Washington, the results of the 2010 census may require more counties to comply with Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act given.

   

Key Organizations/Individuals   contacts for public and private organizations and key individuals

• Government
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• Non-Profit - Service Providing
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• Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network
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• Foundation
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• Other
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Bibliography   web sites, reports, articles, and other reference material 

Footnotes

1. Duffy, Zachary. Unequal Opportunity: Latinos and Local Political Representation in Washington State. December 18th, 2009, www.walatinos.org ▲
2. Duffy, Zachary. Unequal Opportunity: Latinos and Local Political Representation in Washington State. December 18th, 2009, www.walatinos.org ▲
3. Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC). 2003. Special Purpose Districts in Washington State. Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington Publication. ▲
4. Duffy, Zachary. Unequal Opportunity: Latinos and Local Political Representation in Washington State. December 18th, 2009, www.walatinos.org ▲
5. Brischetto, Robert, David R. Richards, Chandler Davidson, and Bernard Grofman. 1994. “Texas.” In Quiet Revolution in the South: The Impact of the Voting Rights Act, 1965-1990. Ed. Chandler Davidson and Bernard Grofman. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 233-270. ▲
6. Duffy, Zachary. Unequal Opportunity: Latinos and Local Political Representation in Washington State. December 18th, 2009, www.walatinos.org ▲
7. Duffy, Zachary. Unequal Opportunity: Latinos and Local Political Representation in Washington State. December 18th, 2009, www.walatinos.org ▲
8. Duffy, Zachary. Unequal Opportunity: Latinos and Local Political Representation in Washington State. December 18th, 2009, www.walatinos.org ▲