PASCO, Wash. – The UCLA Voting Rights Project has issued a notice to the Port of Pasco, claiming violations of the Washington Voting Rights Act of 2018.
The letter, on behalf of Latino voters Gabriel Portugal and Jose Trinidad-Corral, disputes the Port’s at-large voting system.
The notice alleges that the current electoral structure dilutes Latino voting power, despite Latinos making up 41.8% of the county’s eligible voters. No Latino has been elected to the Port Commission in over 20 years, said a release by the UCLA Voting Rights Project.
Sonni Waknin, Senior Voting Rights Counsel for UCLA VRP, emphasized the issue, saying, “The Port of Pasco’s current election system denies Latino voters a fair chance to participate in the democratic process.”
The letter points to evidence of racially polarized voting and historical discrimination, which intensify Latino voter suppression, according to the UCLA Voting Rights Project. In 2023, Franklin County, which overlaps with the Port of Pasco, settled a similar lawsuit after admitting its electoral system violated state law.
Edwardo Morfin, an attorney for the plaintiffs, stated, “The Latino community has long been shut out of decision-making at the Port of Pasco, despite making up a significant share of the electorate.”
Non-Stop Local reached out to the Port of Pasco for comment. Outgoing Executive Director Randy Hayden issued this response:
“The Port looks forward to engaging with the UCLA VRP to address their voting rights concerns. Our Commissioners are proud of the work they do on behalf of the entire Port district, including our large Latino population, and welcome further input on our election procedures.”
The Port of Pasco has 90 days to respond to the notice before potential legal action is taken.
