House Passes Measure To Expand Minority Voting Rights

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The House has passed a measure that aims to expand minority voting rights in local elections, but as in past years, the bill is likely to face resistance in the Senate.

On a mostly party line 52-46 vote Thursday, the Democratic-controlled chamber passed the Washington Voting Rights Act, which opens the possibility of court challenges to cities, counties and school districts to push them to switch from at-large to district elections in areas where large minority groups are present. Under the measure, before someone can file a legal action, the political subdivision must be notified of the challenge to their election system, at which point they'll have 180 days to remedy the complaint.

If a remedy is adopted, no legal action may be brought against the subdivision for four years.