A federal voting rights lawsuit against the city of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, has been officially dismissed following a request by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The decision was approved by a U.S. District Court judge on Tuesday, one day after the department moved to withdraw the case. The lawsuit had alleged that Hazleton’s method of electing city council members through an “at-large” system diminished the political representation of its growing Hispanic population.
Originally filed in January, the suit argued that this system made it more difficult for Hispanic residents to elect candidates of their choice, potentially violating the federal Voting Rights Act. The Justice Department had sought a legal order that would require city officials, including the mayor and city council, to propose a new election structure more reflective of the community’s demographics.
No explanation for the withdrawal was provided in the court documents, and the department has not released a public statement on the matter. The dismissal marks one of several recent instances where voting rights cases initiated under previous administrations have been reconsidered or dropped.
Hazleton, located in northeastern Pennsylvania, has seen significant demographic shifts in recent years, with a growing Hispanic population that advocates say has not been adequately represented in local government.
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