Los Alamitos Voting District Changes In Question

LOS ALAMITOS, CA — The city of Los Alamitos is moving from an "at large" election system to voting by districts within the city, according to a recent report.

Have you shared your "map" for the redistricting of Los Alamitos? The way you vote for council members is set to change by the 2020 election, but the creation of your city districts could very well be up to you.

Districting is an "unusual issue" a city spokesperson said, and the next step to drawing and submitting individual voting districts in Los Alamitos has been opened up to the community.

Instead of asking the council to vote 'yes' or 'no' on a give (voting district) map, the community has been asked to submit their own maps for the council to consider, according to city clerk Windmera Quintanar.

Want to try your hand at it? There are a few rules, Quintanar said. Maps must ensure districts of equal population, compliance with the Federal Voting Rights Act, and must not be drawn using race as a "predominate factor."

Why the change?

A letter received on March 29, sent by Malibu attorney Kevin Shenkman, of Shenkman and Hughes, stated that the city's "at large" election system violates the California Voting Rights Act of 2001.

The city wasted no time in seeking community input to help "draw the future" of Los Alamitos, by boundary.

"The results of the input process would be the creation of a number of voting districts," the city clerk said. Candidates living within different districts would run for election, and residents of those districts would vote for their representative.

"This would allow for each district to have representation on City Council," a city spokesperson explained. A website was established to track the process.

The city has 45 days to consider if it wishes to transition to by-district voting, and to adopt a resolution. Then, it would have an additional 90 days to implement that transition.

According to the site, the city o Los Alamitos plans to have the ordinance establishing district elections in place by Aug. 15.

For more information visit: cityoflosalamitos.org

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