ACLU Supporter –
Our democracy works best when all eligible voters can participate and have their voices heard.
As voters across the nation prepare to participate in the 2024 general election, we’re looking back at a historic case that helped advance voting rights in Washington.
Ten years ago, the ACLU of Washington won a landmark victory in Montes v. Yakima, a voting rights case that reformed the City of Yakima’s voting system and ensured that all voters in Yakima had a voice in the city’s elections.
We sued the City of Yakima under the federal Voting Rights Act on behalf of two Yakima voters, arguing its election system unlawfully diluted the Latine vote, effectively preventing the Latine community from meaningful participation in City Council elections.
A federal court ruled the city’s election system violated the Federal Voting Rights Act.
As a result, Yakima changed its at-large election system to a by-district voting system, giving Latine residents a fairer chance to elect candidates of their choice, and in the first election under the new district-based system Yakima elected three Latinas to the City Council. This victory started a decade of change around Washington: lawsuits resulted in fairer election systems in several jurisdictions and the state Legislature passed the Washington Voting Rights Act in 2018 to make it easier for jurisdictions to change their electoral systems without costly litigation.
Join us in celebrating the legacy of this case and check out our voting and election resources.
As we get closer to the November election, we’re just as committed to ensuring that everyone’s vote counts, and that communities’ interests are represented.
Thank you,
ACLU of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004, USA