LA City Council orders review of race consideration in district mapping

LA City Hall bosses are scrambling to figure out the fallout from a major U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could change how political boundaries are drawn in the city.

In April, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that limited how race can be used when drawing voting districts.

The decision of the court case found that Louisiana was not required to create an additional congressional district designed to increase the voting power of minority communities.

The decision is expected to make it easier for Louisiana lawmakers to redraw congressional districts and could affect how voting maps are challenged across the country.

The ruling is widely expected to benefit Republicans in Louisiana and other states by giving lawmakers greater flexibility when drawing political boundaries.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted to order a series of reports examining whether the city can continue considering race as one factor when drawing City Council district boundaries.

Los Angeles has long used race and demographics when creating council districts.

City leaders now want to know whether the Supreme Court’s ruling could affect those maps and make the city vulnerable for lawsuits.

The motion, introduced by Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, directs the City Attorney, Chief Legislative Analyst and City Administrative Officer to review the decision and report back to the council.

City officials will also examine whether changes to the City Charter, the city’s governing document, may be needed.

The review goes beyond redistricting.

Council members are also looking to see if voter ID requirements, proof-of-citizenship requirements, voter fraud prosecutions and whether election integrity measures affect voter turnout and access to the ballot.

The request comes as the City Council is expected to consider a separate proposal that could eventually allow noncitizens to vote in Los Angeles city elections through a future Charter amendment.

The motion also directs city officials to study how election policies affect voter participation, ballot access and election administration.

The motion also asks to look at developing a strategy for working with other cities and organizations, including the League of California Cities, on state and federal voting-rights issues.

With Tuesday’s vote, city officials will begin preparing the requested reports. No deadline was included in the motion, meaning the findings may not be returned to the City Council for several weeks or even months.