Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 1
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All Commission Districts
Resolution In Support of the City of Chamblee’s Request that the General Assembly Amend the City of Chamblee’s Charter to Provide for the Election of City Council Members by Single District and to Urge the Review of Other Similar Charters.
Body
Information Contact: Commissioner Robert Patrick
Phone Number: 404-371-3052
PURPOSE:
To Support of the City of Chamblee’s Request that the General Assembly Amend the City of Chamblee’s Charter to Provide for the Election of City Council Members by Single District and to Urge the Review of Other Similar Charters.
NEED/IMPACT:
Under the City of Chamblee’s current Charter, while the City is divided into districts, the Mayor and all five Council members are elected at large by all voters of the municipality in city-wide elections. The City of Chamblee adopted a resolution on November 21, 2023 initiating the legislative process of transitioning from at-large election of council members to single district election of council members. Other municipalities located within the bounds of DeKalb County, Georgia may elect one or more of their city council representatives through a similar at-large voting method. Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, numerous at-large election systems have been struck down under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, because such at-large systems, in combination with racially polarized voting, in some cases have been found to prevent voters of color from electing their candidates of choice where they are not the majority in the jurisdiction. Restructuring of the City of Chamblee’s current election system for City Council members from at large city-wide elections to single district elections, where a majority of members are elected by and from only the district they have qualified to represent, will reduce the expense of running for City Council for all candidates, and may facilitate the candidacy of persons of color for City Council seats.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To Approve the Attached Resolution In Support of the City of Chamblee’s Request that the General Assembly Amend the City of Chamblee’s Charter to Provide for the Election of City Council Members by Single District and to Urge the Review of Other Similar Charters.