Judge Orders Redrawing of Yakima Political Maps to Help Latinos

Ordering the state to redraw the legislative district boundaries in Yakima County--that's a ruling from a federal judge on Thursday. According to the website, Crosscut, the judge found the boundary makes it tough for Latinos to pick candidates from their area.

THE RULING COMES AFTER A BIG LEGAL MOVE BY LATINO VOTERS

The ruling follows legal action led by a group of Latino voters against the state last year. The group sued the Washington state bipartisan Redistricting Commission, saying that political maps in Yakima County continued to discourage and/or deprive specific voter groups in the county.

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DID THE COMMISSION EXCLUDE LATINO COMMUNITIES? THE JUDGE SAYS YES

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The judge says at the heart of the legal matter was the redistricting commission's move to exclude communities with heavy Latino populations who live next to the new 15th District map.

JUDGE SETS DEADLINE FOR REDRAWING POLITICAL MAPS

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In the ruling on Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Robert S. Lasnik contends that "the boundaries of LD 15...did result in inequalities in the electoral opportunities enjoyed by White and voters in the area."

Judge Lasnik set a deadline of February 7th to create and adopt new district maps for the area. Yakima County Commissioner LaDon Linde says despite these latest legal challenges, he doesn't believe the maps were initially drawn to disenfranchise Latino voters in the new legislative district.

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