1. Lowell City Population 2015 Census estimate
Slides prepared by Nonprofit VOTE

2. Lowell School Population 2016-2017

3. Diversity of Council and School Comm over last 5 elections
The City Council has 9 members. In the last 10 years only 2 minority candidates have won seats. Both for only one term.
The School Committee has had no minorities in 60 years.

4. Residential Address City Council and School Comm election winners last 3 election
color gradation = % minority population
Most Lowell neighborhoods go with little or no direct representation

5. It’s How We Vote not just voter turnout
60% of Voters Decide All 9 Seats (City Council)
40% of voters
60% of voters
winners 9
winners

6. Voting Methods of Mass Largest Cities MA
Districts and At Large
At Large Only
Boston
Fall River
Brockton
Lowell
Lawrence
Lynn
New Bedford
Newton
Quincy
Somerville
Springfield
Waltham
Worcester
Cambridge*
*uses proportional voting

7. Advantages of Districts vs. At-Large for voters and candidates
Neighborhood-based
Citywide Perspective
More access to your elected official
Harder to serve all neighborhoods
More opportunity for candidates to run
Difficult to campaign in every neighborhood
Easier to meet voters and to mount a campaign
More expensive to run citywide
Slides prepared by Nonprofit VOTE

8. Springfield City Council 2005 vs. 2017