Changes to Downey's Election System

Current Election System

The City of Downey currently elects its five-member City Council through a mixed election system combining four individual districts and one at-large district.  For each of the individual districts (1 through 4), each council candidate must reside in the district they represent and only voters within that district may vote for that district’s councilmember.  District 5 is an at-large district comprised of the entire City.  This means that a council candidate for District 5 may reside anywhere in the City’s jurisdictional boundaries, and voters residing anywhere in the City may vote for that councilmember. 

The City’s Mayor is not directly elected.  The Mayor, as well as the Mayor Pro Tem, are selected annually by and among the members of the City Council to serve for a period of one year. 

You may view the City’s current council district map here City Council District Map.

Transition to Either a Five-District System or a Four District System with an Elected Mayor

On November 12, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution No 24-8277 declaring its intention to transition to either a five-district election system or a four-district election system with an at-large elected mayor (a “4+1” system) by the November 2028 General Municipal Election.  This process involves four or more public hearings, during which the City Council will discuss this subject and consider public input.  The options are twofold:

• Transition to a five-district electoral system that would change District 5 from its current Citywide geography into a discrete portion of the City like current Districts 1 through 4.

• Transition to a 4+1 electoral system that would retain Districts 1 through 4 with their current geography and change the District 5 Council seat into an at-large Mayoral seat.

This transition is being undertaken in furtherance of the California Voting Rights Act and pursuant to state law.   

Public Hearings and Input

Members of the public are invited to provide input on this item at or before each of the public hearings scheduled at the dates and times below.  Additionally, the public may provide input by e-mail to cityclerk@downeyca.org or by hand-delivery or U.S. Mail to the City Clerk’s office located at 11111 Brookshire Avenue. 

Public Hearing No. 1: January 14, 2025

At the first public hearing, the City Council considered and discussed the transition to an election system consisting of either five individual districts or four districts plus an at-large Mayoral office.  The City Council voted unanimously to implement a five-district system.  You may view the meeting documents here: Public Hearing No. 1 Meeting Documents and the actual proceedings on the City’s YouTube channel.

 Public Hearing No. 2: January 28, 2025

At the second public hearing, the City Council continued to discuss the transition to an election system consisting of either five individual districts or four districts plus an at-large Mayoral office.  The City Council unanimously affirmed its prior decision to implement a five-district system You may view the meeting documents here: Public Hearing No. 2 Meeting Documents and the actual proceedings on the City’s YouTube channel.

Public Hearing No. 3: February 25, 2025 

At the third public hearing, the City Council considered and discussed draft electoral district maps for adoption prepared with the assistance of a professional demographer.  Copies of the maps were published and made available to the public seven days in advance of the hearing through this website.  You may view the meeting documents here: Public Hearing No. 3 Meeting Documents and the actual proceedings on the City’s YouTube channel.

Members of the public could also submit draft maps for consideration, prepared either by hand or using the online tool and other materials available below.  The deadline for all map submissions by the public was Friday, February 14 at 5:30 p.m.  Maps submitted after this time were to be held and considered at the public hearing scheduled for March 11.  The City received public map submissions that will be made available within seven days in advance of this hearing and considered then. 

• Public Online Mapping Tool
• Online Mapping Tool Written Instructions
• Short Video Introduction to Online Mapping Tool
• In-Depth Video Tutorial on Online Mapping Tool
• Public Participation Kit: English (use this to hand-draw a map)
• Public Participation Kit: Spanish (use this to hand-draw a map)
• Neighborhood Mapping Form: English (use this to tell us about your neighborhood or community)
• Neighborhood Mapping Form: Spanish (use this to tell us about your neighborhood or community)

The draft district maps that were considered at Public Hearing No. 3 may be viewed individually here and on the interactive review map.  Additionally, the proposed sequencing of elections may be viewed here, and the disclosures required under California Elections Code 21130(b) may be viewed here. 

A majority of the City Council voted to move forward with Map No. 104 for adoption.  This decision, or another, will be finalized at the March 11 public hearing. 

Public Hearing No. 4: March 11, 2025

At this public hearing, the City Council further considered and discussed draft electoral district maps, including additional maps submitted by members of the public.  Copies of the meeting documents for Public Hearing No. 4 (including the maps) may be viewed here.  In total, there were 13 maps, 4 as prepared by the City’s demographic consultant and 9 as prepared by members of the public.  The City Council provided input to the City’s demographic consultant with respect to certain maps and voted to continue the matter to another public hearing, which is currently planned for April 8, 2025. 

Public Hearing No. 5: April 8, 2025

At this public hearing, the City Council further considered and discussed draft electoral district maps.  In total, there were 22 maps for consideration, 12 as prepared by the City’s demographic consultant and 10 by members of the public.  Copies of the meeting documents for Public Hearing No. 5 (including the maps) are available here.  The City Council identified 8 maps as focus maps for further discussion at the next public hearing.  The focus maps are map nos. 101, 102, 105, 106, 110, 113, Lam1, and Lam9. 

Public Hearing No. 6: April 22, 2025

At this public hearing, the City Council continued to consider and discuss draft electoral maps and selected Map. No. 105 for adoption.  Based on that map, an ordinance  establishing a five-district election system was introduced.  In total, 22 maps were reviewed for consideration, as available for viewing here.   The ordinance is scheduled for a second reading at the City Council meeting on May 13, 2025.  Under the ordinance, the change to five districts will take effect for the November 2026 municipal elections.  The ordinance may be viewed here. 

Public Hearing No. 7: May 13, 2025

At the May 13 public hearing, the City Council adopted the ordinance establishing a five-district election system.  The final adopted ordinance includes the new district map and may be viewed here.  Under the ordinance, the new district map will first be applicable at the November 2026 municipal elections and going forward.  As depicted on the new map, District 5 has been changed from its current City-wide geography into a discrete portion of the City like Districts 1 through 4.  The disclosure report required by California Elections Code Section 21130(f) may be viewed here. 

The process of making changes to the City’s election system is now complete. 

For any further questions about the changes to the City’s election system, please contact the City Clerk at cityclerk@downeyca.org or 562-904-7280.