The city of Lowell reached a settlement with the plaintiffs in the case of Huot v. City of Lowell in May 2019. As a result, Lowell's voters had a say in selecting the new electoral system through a non-binding ballot. They chose between three new voting options: a district-seat systems (voters select representation only from within their district), ranked-choice voting (voters rank their candidate choices), or a hybrid system (district and at-large representation). The city council affirmed the choice of the voters, deciding on the hybrid system. There will be three at-large city councilors and one from each of eight districts. There will be six school committee members — two at-large seats and four district seats. The new system will be in place for Lowell's 2021 municipal election.

Document F

An excerpt from “City Agrees to Change Election System” by Elizabeth Dobbins. Published in the Lowell Sun, May 29, 2019.

“LOWELL-

City Council and School Committee elections this fall will be the last under the current at-large system, according to a settlement agreement filed in federal court Wednesday. An agreement between the city and 11 Latino and Asian-American residents who brought the lawsuit does not determine a new electoral system. Instead it lays out four alternatives. The City Council will select one of these options following input from the public, according to the court document. Under the current system, which was adopted in 1957, the nine highest vote-getters city-wide win City Council seats. This system had been criticized for allowing white residents to vote as a bloc, ensuring white candidates are elected.… City Council and residents will have time to review the options and hear from experts before City Council selects two options to place on November’s ballot in a non-binding question, according to a press release from the city. City Council must decide between the final two options by Dec. 3, according to the agreement.”

Document G

A graphic depicting the differences between a plurality at-large voting system and a ranked choice voting system.