El Monte, CA – The City of El Monte has launched an educational campaign to educate El Monte residents and voters ahead of the November General Election, which will mark the first time that voters will elect one (1) member representing their district to the City Council. The educational campaign will focus on informing the El Monte community on the positive impact of district-based elections, what to expect on the November ballot regarding local City races, why the City made the transition from at-large elections to district-based elections, and more.
“The City underwent the transition to district-based elections with the intention of ensuring that all El Monte residents are represented equally and fairly,” shared El Monte City Manager, Alma Martinez. “We are kicking off our educational campaign to inform our residents of the benefits district-based elections, as they have the opportunity to elect a member from their district to focus on hyper local issues, and the expansion of the City Council. This has been a top priority as we want all our residents to be aware of the changes of local races on the November ballot.”
The City will conduct robust outreach to over 105,000 residents through social media, sending mailer to all households, hosting in-district workshops, and attending City sponsored community events that draw residents from all areas of El Monte.
In November, El Monte voters will elect four (4) City Councilmembers, each representing one (1) of the four (4) City Council Districts. Districts 2, 3, and 6 will all be four (4) year terms, while District 5 will be a two (2) year term. Elections for the Mayor, City Clerk, and the City Treasure will remain at-large.
On April 5, the El Monte City Council established the implementation of district-based elections of the City Council, approving Map 117 which created six (6) districts, expanding the City Council seats from five (5) members to seven (7) members. Through this historic transition, El Monte has aligned with the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) requirements which discourage cities from using at-large voting systems that impair the ability of legally recognized protected classes of voters from electing candidates of their choice or otherwise influencing the outcome of an election. Protected classes include members of the same race, color, national origin, religion, sex/gender, age (over 40), and disability.
The City of El Monte, located in Southern California, is committed to improving the quality of life for its citizens and strives to provide its community personalized service, uncompromising commitment, and individualized accountability. For information on the City of El Monte, please call 626-580-2059 or visit www.elmonteca.gov.