Voters can now elect a neighbor to the City Council
Voting for Healdsburg City Council seats is undergoing a change with the transition from an at-large election system to district-based elections. The change, required by a state law and approved under threat of legal action in 2025, affects how residents vote for council members and how representation is structured throughout the community.
Under the district election system, Healdsburg is divided into districts, and each district elects one council member who lives in and represents that area. The five districts—of nearly equal population—are designed to provide fair and equitable representation for all residents.
Previously, Healdsburg used an at-large election system, where all voters in the city could vote for every City Council seat on the ballot. With district elections, voters will only vote for the council member representing the district where they live.
The transition to district elections followed a challenge received by the city in October 2024 from a law firm alleging that the at-large election system violated the California Voting Rights Act. The challenge threatened litigation if the city did not voluntarily move to district-based elections. In response, the City Council conducted a public districting process that included multiple public hearings before adopting a final district map on April 21, 2025.
https://www.healdsburgtribune.com/voters-can-now-elect-a-neighbor-to-the-city-council/