Wards must:

• Be compact
• Be contiguous
• Have no more than 10% difference (deviation) between most and least populous districts

Most populous: Ward E -  69,524

Least populous ward, Ward D - 40,733

This is a deviation of 59% -  over the maximum 10% allowed by State law.

The ideal ward map has the least number of changes both geographically and demographically and lowers the deviation to the lowest possible percentage. The spike in the City’s population since 2010 and the way that the population is distributed throughout the City affect the creation of the map.

The timeline to evaluate the population distribution between the wards and potentially re-draw the ward boundaries is set by State law: In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:44-13, within three (3) months after the Governor approves the census results, the Ward Commission must meet in order to begin their evaluation of the wards’ population and to make such adjustments in ward boundaries as are necessary to ensure conformity with the Municipal Ward Law.

The Governor approved the census results on September 16, 2021. The Ward Commission convened for the first time on December 15, 2021 and determined that the current distribution of the City’s population across its six wards required that the ward boundaries be re-drawn.

According to N.J.S.A. 40:44-15, the Commission has thirty (30) days from their initial meeting to finalize a new map. That would mean that the map should have been approved by January 16, 2022, but the Commission was granted a one (1) week extension due to the technical difficulties encountered at its January 14th meeting.

Staff from the Board of Elections start with the existing ward map featuring the various census tracts provided by the Federal government and begin the process of moving census tracts from one ward to the other in an effort to re-distribute the population. Proprietary mapping software allows the user to track, in real time, both the change in population between the wards and the change in demographics as these census tracts are moved.

The map option which represents the least amount of changes both geographically and demographically while lowering the deviation to the lowest possible percentage is selected for presentation to the public.

According to N.J.S.A. 40:44-16, the new ward map will become effective upon the publication of the approved map in at least one newspaper generally circulating in the municipality.

Yes, your ward council representative will change. But remember: Every resident is represented by four Councilmembers: three at-large councilmembers and one ward councilmember.

None of the three at-large councilmembers will change and only some will find themselves represented by a different ward councilmember.

No. There will not be a special election because pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:44-17, whenever the boundaries of existing wards are changed, all council members elected shall continue in office until their term expires. However, that council member could not run for re-election to that position without first having moved within the new ward boundaries.