Could SLO be forced to elect council members by district? A new fight is brewing
After claims that San Luis Obispo's current election system violates the California Voting Rights Act, the city must figure out whether it wants to...
After claims that San Luis Obispo's current election system violates the California Voting Rights Act, the city must figure out whether it wants to start the arduous process of switching to a new system — or face potential legal action. In February, attorney Kevin I. Shenkman served the city with a demand letter on behalf of his client, the nonprofit Southwest Voter Registration Education Project. The letter claimed that San Luis Obispo's current at-large election system for the choosing City Council members and the mayor violates the California Voting Rights Act because it dilutes the influence of Latino voters in elections.