The Justice Department announced Tuesday that it has filed a lawsuit against Hazleton, Pennsylvania, challenging the city council’s at-large election system.
The lawsuit claims the current system violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by limiting Hispanic citizens’ ability to participate fully in the political process and elect their preferred candidates.
Hispanic voting-age citizens make up over 40% of Hazleton’s electorate, yet Hispanic-preferred candidates consistently lose city council races despite the community’s significant population.
“The Hispanic population is a growing and important population in the City of Hazelton, and those citizens should have the ability to choose candidates that represent their interests,” said U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “This complaint demonstrates my office’s commitment to partner with the Justice Department to enforce civil rights statutes like the Voting Rights Act.”
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, alleges that changing the method of election can create opportunities for Hispanic voters to elect candidates of their choice to the Hazleton City Council.
For example, officials allege that by electing councilmembers from single-member districts, Hispanic voters would have an opportunity to elect at least two members of the five-member city council.
The lawsuit seeks a federal court order implementing a new method of electing the Hazleton City Council.
The Justice Department looks forward to continued discussions with the City of Hazleton toward resolution of this matter.