Tucson Wins Appeal & Tucson's Election System to be Reviewed by Panel

In a 2 to 1 decision a three judge panel ruled that Tucson’s election system was unconstitutional because it violated the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution known as the Equal Protection Clause.

The City of Tucson appealed that ruling and has recently prevailed in asking for a full panel of all 11 judges of the 9th Circuit Court to review that decision.

The case will be heard the week of June 20th. A ruling in that case could dramatically impact the decision by the Mayor and Council to give city voters the option to move to a ward-only election system in which voters vote only in their wards for the primary and general elections. Currently voters vote in their wards in the primary election, and citywide in the general election.

This ruling and the decisions made at City Hall on this issue could have a profound impact on who serves on the City Council but could also impact people’s decisions about annexing into the City of Tucson.