220107 1516 Final PDFFrom:Arianna Barrios
To:Peter Grant
Subject:Final PDF
Date:Friday, January 7, 2022 3:16:22 PM
Attachments:Cypress CVRA Overview Preso_FINAL.pdf
Pete, here is the final graphic version with your edits and Fred’s.
Thank you,
Arianna Barrios
Mobile 714-878-4864
ELECTIONSYSTEMS
At-Large or District
Electoral Processes
Presentation
City of Cypress
5275 Orange Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630 • www.CypressCA.org
About this
Presentation
•Overview of Voting Rights protections
•Explain the City’s recent CVRA Challenge
•Present Cypress’ Election History
•Provide Overview of different Electoral Systems
•Solicit feedback from our Community
Welcome
Voting
Rights Act
(1965)
•Landmark federal legislation
•Born out of the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement
•Prohibits racial discrimination in voting
•Enforces 14th & 15th Amendments
National
California
Voting
Rights Act
(CVRA)
•Initially passed in 2001
•Revised in 2015
•Enhances federal protections
•Prohibits racially polarized voting
State
Two Decades
of Change
•216 school districts
•34 community college districts
•137 cities
•35 water and other special districts
•All counties are now by-district
State
The Cypress
CVRA
Challenge
•Cypress has received notice on behalf of a Plaintiff(s)
•Alleges that current election system is diluting Asian votes
•Not a formal legal action, typically precedes legal action
•Cypress must decide to defend or accept the challenge
Local
What Has
Happened to
Date?
•Challenge received on September 20, 2021
•City Council is assessing challenge
•Demographer engaged to provide initial study
•City Council must make a decision
Local
What Are
At-Large
Elections?
•City of Cypress currently utilizes this system
•All Voters may vote upon each available positions
•Similar to statewide office elections
•Candidates may live anywhere in the jurisdiction
State & Local
What Are
By-District
Elections?
•Cypress would be divided by population into Districts
•CVRA Challenges add additional considerations
•Candidates must live in the District
•District Voters elect one Candidate to represent them
Elections
Are There
Different
Types of
District
Elections?
•Yes –there are several different models
•School & Special Districts most likely to use alternatives
•Include: At-Large Voting By-District, Multi-Winner Contests,
Plurality, Ranked Choice and, Cumulative Voting.
•Not all meet the stated CVRA goals
Elections
What
Happens
Next?
•The deliberative process continues
•The City Council must decide to defend against
the challenge or voluntarily move to a By-District system
•There are two possible outcomes
Local
What have
Other Cities
Done?
•Cypress is not alone in this matter
•Cypress has not been formally sued
•Other cities have…and paid heavy settlements
Local
Where Does
Cypress
Stand?
•Demographer has made initial review
•Assessment was inconclusive
•Demographics do not clearly show IF the City
is racially polarized or if Asian votes are diluted
Local
By the Numbers Total Population:
50,151
50.6% White
35.2% Asian Pacific Islander
20.2% Latino
Source: U.S. Census, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/dashboard/cypresscitycalifornia/PST045221
Election
History
2020
•At-Large Voting in place
•Multiple Candidates
•Winners:
Hertz (1) & Marquez (2)
•Hertz
•Marquez
•Hertz &
General Election Results for 2020
City of Cypress City Council
Candidate Asian Voters Overall
Bhence 6 5
Thompson 4 8
Gersten 8 9
Hayashida 2 3
Hertz 3 1
Strong 7 6
Mauss 9 4
Marquez 1 2
Fuller 5 7
Election
History
2018
•At-Large Voting in place
•Multiple Candidates
•Winners:
Peat (1) & Berry (2)
Morales (3)
•Hertz
•Marquez
•Hertz &
General Election Results for 2018
City of Cypress City Council
Candidate Asian Voters Overall
Peat 2 1
Marquez 5 4
Morales 4 3
Bradley 1 5
Bryan 6 6
Berry 3 2
How are
Districts
Created?
•Include communities of interest
•Be compact
•Be contiguous
•Have visible (natural and man-made) boundaries
•Include respect for past voter selections
•Plan for future growth
Districts
Characteristics
of the At-Large
System
•All Voters vote on all available seats
•Candidates represent entire city
•Candidates answer to all voters
Characteristics
of the By-District
System
•Voters elect a single District representative
•Candidates represent a Single District
•Candidates answer to their District voters
Community
Feedback
•Provide feedback during meeting
•Submit a Question Online
•Send an email to City Council
•Take the Survey
Questions
ELECTIONSYSTEMS
At-Large or District
Electoral Processes
Presentation
City of Cypress
5275 Orange Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630 • www.CypressCA.org