Twenty years have passed since two African-American activists filed a federal lawsuit and changed the way Dallas elects its city officials. At issue was the election of some city council members to “at large” seats, in which all voters could cast their ballots.

The lawsuit contended that the cost of campaigning city-wide diluted minority voting strength. Federal Judge Jerry Buchmeyer agreed and ordered elections to be held under an all single-member district system.

KERA examines the impact of Roy Williams and Marvin Crenshaw v. The City of Dallas in the television special Sharing the Power: A Voter’s Voice Special.

Watch Sharing the Power ^[1] on PBS. See more from KERA Specials. ^[2]