DOWNEY — The decision to transition the Downey election system from a mixed system to a five-district election system was unanimously affirmed by the city council Tuesday night.

Under the current mixed system, the city is split into four districts and one at-large district. Each council candidate must live in the district they represent, and only voters within that district can vote for that district’s council member.

The at-large district comprises the entire city, meaning the council candidate can live anywhere in Downey.

The mayor in Downey is not directly elected; instead, council members select the position yearly.

Under a five-district electoral system, a fifth district would be drawn in Downey, replacing the at-large district. Creating the fifth district would shift the borders of the existing four districts, according to city attorney John Funk.

Transitioning to a four-plus-one electoral system would keep the four districts in Downey and one at-large district. However, the at-large district council seat would change to a permanent mayoral seat.

“The five district system is procedurally a little more complex, because the new district is being created by taking space from the existing four districts,” said Funk. “The city will retain a demographer to assist in the preparation of new electoral maps that will be published before the third public hearing for consideration by the public.”

Funk said the change to a five-district election system would take place in November 2026. He reassured the council that no current council member’s term would be abbreviated, and all incumbents would serve the full duration of their term.

When drawing the new district, the demographers will create options for the city council based on state-law criteria. They must consider that each district maintains equality of populations and communities of interest.

District four council member Claudia Frometa proposed an idea for the demographers when drawing the district.

“From a practical standpoint, it would seem that shaving five percent from each district to create that center district would be most appropriate,” said Frometa. “So that (the district) is in the middle of the city, by taking from each one of the surrounding districts.”

The demographers will present potential new electoral maps to the city council, which will be published before the next public hearing on Feb. 11.

The change in the city election system is in response to a challenge under the California Voting Rights Act. The city received a letter from Sarega Law, an APC law firm, on Oct 3, 2024, alleging Downey’s election system violates the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) because it contains an at-large voting district.

The city council had already voted unanimously to implement a five-district system during a public hearing on Jan. 14. However, two of the hearings are required per the California Voting Rights Act.