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South Coast City Changes Electoral Process Under Threat Of Legal Action

Carpinteria city leaders have decided to avoid legal action and change the city's election process.

Currently, councilmembers are chosen by an at-large citywide process.

The threatened legal action says the current system violates the voting rights act, and is an abridgement of Latino voting rights.

The change to the electoral system will take place in 2022, after the next census.

The city will have to decide on district boundaries, and either have 4 districts with a separate mayoral race or 5 districts with the council choosing the mayor.

A similar lawsuit lead to changes in Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria.

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