The City of Santa Clarita has announced a timeline for the transition to district-based elections for the City Council. The announcement is the result of a legal settlement reached last year.
According to a news release, the city will implement the system for its City Council elections in 2024. There will be five districts and each voter within a district may cast one vote for a candidate who resides within its boundaries.
A comprehensive timeline of the process can be found here. There will be public hearings, and residents will have a chance to submit their own district maps. The deadline for submissions will be April 3.
Santa Clarita is Los Angeles County’s third-largest city, but it still elects its members at large. Critics say the system has contributed to a lack of representation on the Council. It has also contributed to the Republican stronghold on the dais, despite the city’s increasing racial and political diversity.
The city is adopting district-based elections reluctantly as a way to avoid legal calamity.
“It is unfortunate that our city was forced to make the transition to by-district elections, seeing how Santa Clarita has thrived under the current at-large process,” said Mayor Jason Gibbs. “However, we are committed to working with our residents to ensure the transition and map creation is a transparent and collaborative process.”
Read more at SCVNews.com.