Source: https://www.justice.gov/crt/united-states-district-court-northern-district-texas-lubbock-division-3
Timestamp: 2018-01-22 16:44:16
Document Index: 308131620

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1973', '§ 3', '§ 1973', '§ 55', '§ 1973', '§ 1973']

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Case No.: 5:07-cv-00144
CITY OF EARTH, TEXAS; and YVONNE COMPLAINT
LAYMAN, CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER, in
her official capacity, Defendants.
The Attorney General of the United States hereby files this action to enforce the provisions of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 1973b(f)(4), with respect to the conduct of elections in the CITY OF EARTH (the "CITY").
Venue is proper in this court as the events relevant to this action occurred in the County of Lamb, which is located in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
Defendant City is an independent political unit within the County of Lamb, and the State of Texas.
Defendant City is responsible for the ordering and administration of elections pursuant to V. T. C. A., Election Code §§ 3.004(a)(3) and 4.002.
Defendant YVONNE LAYMAN is the City's Chief Election Officer and responsible for administration of elections within the City.
According to the 2000 Census, the City had a total population of 1,109 of whom 587 (52.9%) were Hispanic. The Census reported that Earth had a total voting age population of 765, of whom 366 (47.8%) were Hispanic.
The Director of the Census has designated the County of Lamb as subject to the requirements of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act for Spanish. See 42 U.S.C. § 1973aa-1a(b)(2); see also 67 Fed. Reg. 48,871 (July 26, 2002). As a political unit within the County of Lamb, Earth is also subject to the requirements of Section 203 for Spanish. See 28 C.F.R. § 55.9. The Census coverage determination is final and non-reviewable. See 42 U.S.C. § 1973aa-1a(b)(4).
Because Earth is subject to the requirements of Section 203, "any registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots" that Defendants provide in English must also be furnished in Spanish. 42 U.S.C. § 1973aa-1a(c).
Defendants have failed to provide complete and accurate Spanish translations of all election related materials produced in English.
Unless enjoined by this Court, Defendants will continue to violate Section 203 by failing to provide limited-English proficient citizens of Earth accurate and reliable Spanish language election information necessary for their effective political participation.
Plaintiff further prays that this Court order such additional relief as the interests of justice may require, together with the costs and disbursements in maintaining this action. Dated: __July 16___ , 2007. ALBERTO R. GONZALEZ