The U.S. Justice Department is asking a judge to declare that a Pennsylvania city’s method of electing council members citywide instead of by districts has illegally diluted the political power of its growing Hispanic population. The case filed Tuesday in Scranton federal court argues that Hazleton is violating the federal Voting Rights Act. The Justice Department says Hazleton’s “at-large” system “results in Hispanic citizens not having an equal opportunity to participate in the political process and to elect candidates of their choice.” City officials say they’re reviewing the complaint. A pending lawsuit filed a year ago by two Hispanic parents makes similar claims about elections for the Hazleton Area School Board.
