Tucson’s method of electing council members will continue, despite Republican interests to void the City’s nominating system.
For years, the Public Integrity Alliance has called the procedure of nominating council members by ward unconstitutional and argued that it gave some voters more power than others.
But, the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in Monday morning as the last authority on the issue.
“No,” it ruled, and sided with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ earlier decision, which said, “Tucson’s hybrid system for electing members of its city council imposes no constitutionally significant burden on voters.”
Republicans hold a voter registration edge in one of the wards. But all six council members are Democrats.
If the system had been voided and council members were elected by ward at the general election, Republicans could have a better chance of getting one or more members on the council.
