Signatures are being gathered to support an amendment for inclusion on the November 2009 ballot to change the way Seattle City Council members are elected from nine at-large to five district-based positions and four at-large positions.

The "Districts Now" amendment to the Seattle City Charter is being proposed by Action Seattle, a recently formed organization that says it's non-partisan, "committed to promoting civic engagement by informing and engaging the residents and business owners of Seattle."

According to Action Seattle, a recent poll conducted by True Blue Innovation shows strong voter support for regional representation.

Seattle voters have rejected two previous charter amendments, one in 1995 and another in 2003, to change the council to nine district-based positions. The proposal on the table now is mixture of at-large and district representatives.

Action Seattle argues that the five district-based seats would require less "high stakes funding" and give Seattleites access to a "more accountable council."

"A hybrid system will allow more economic, ethnic and racial diversity on the city council," said Pat Murakami, executive director of Action Seattle. "We will be better served by a council that is more in touch with what the voters want rather than a council being pressured or influenced by special interest groups."

Murakami said that 86 percent of the 50 most populated cities in the U.S. either have an all district-based council or a hybrid council.

Action Seattle needs to collect at least 29,500 signatures by June 28 to qualify for a spot on the November ballot.

To view the legislation and learn more, visit the Action Seattle Web site or call 774-9146.