A federal judge's order last week that Irving immediately start using a system of single-member districts and at-large seats will affect almost every aspect of City Council elections this year.

The sweeping changes dictate new rules for everything from who gets to run and vote in which precincts to how many signatures are needed to get on the ballot.

U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis ruled that Irving's at-large system violated the Voting Rights Act because it effectively suppressed Hispanic votes. The judgment ended a years-long court battle that had divided the City Council.

Under the new system, six council members will be elected by voters in individual districts. The mayor and two other council members will be elected by voters throughout the city.

The three races on the May 8 ballot are the at-large Place 2 seat and the single-member District 1 and 7 seats. A candidate running in a single-member district now has to get only 25 signatures from voters who live in the district to get a spot on the ballot. Those running for at-large seats must continue to get 49 signatures from residents anywhere in the city.

City officials have spent weeks working with the city attorney's office and experts to develop maps and a database to let candidates and voters know which districts they now reside in.

The candidate filing period set by the state begins Monday. Until the ruling last week, officials were not sure what system to use for the May 8 election.

"We were getting real close to being in a big quagmire," said City Secretary Janice Carroll, whose office conducts city elections.

Carroll said candidates' filing packets include maps so they are aware which voters' signatures will qualify.

She said her staff is prepared for phone calls and visits from residents trying to adapt to the new system. Her staff is trying to make sure there are no surprises when voters get to the polls or when candidates have signatures on their filings verified, she said. Inquiries from folks living near the edge of the new districts may require extra scrutiny.

"We're all learning right now, so they may have to be patient with us," she said.

There will be no incumbent in the new single-member District 1. Council member Tom Spink's home is not within its boundaries. Its eligible voters are believed to be mostly Hispanic. Latino leaders have said they are working to find a viable candidate for the seat.

In Place 2, Beth Van Duyne's seat will remain at-large, but she is not seeking a third term. She said she is stepping down so Spink, her colleague and ally, can run for the seat. Spink has yet to say whether he intends to do so. Businessman Roy Santoscoy has said he will seek the seat.

Sam Smith's Place 7 seat will become a single-member one. He said he plans to run again and has already begun gathering the required 25 signatures from voters.

Dallas County Elections Administrator Bruce Sherbet said his office was still developing its own mapping database. He said voters trying to figure out which single-member district they live in should call Carroll's office. He said detailed lists would be ready by the time voters start casting ballots.

"When a person goes in to vote, be it early voting or on election day, it will show in what district you reside," he said.

Several of Irving's voting precincts are split between single-member districts. But Sherbet said that has long been the case in other city council and school board elections and won't be a problem. He said Irving poll workers will know which ballot to give residents.

"The only thing unique about this is we're doing this in a fast order because of when filing begins," he said.