City Releases New Ward Map

For 2012, some voters in Kent may be voting in different races for and other local issues and races.

Per charter mandate, the city following some population changes counted by the .

The change , which calls for examining the population of the city's six wards every 10 years, based on Census data. The charter calls for apportioning each ward equally, and redrawing boundaries if necessary, "so that there is no disparity in resident population of more than 10 percent between wards," according to the charter.

So, based on the latest Census, changes were needed to balance the populations. The reapportionment mostly affected Ward 3, Ward 4, Ward 5 and Ward 6. And the biggest changes came in Ward 3 and Ward 4.

Ward 3 gained the most residents by going from 4,271 in 2010 to having 4,722 based on the new map — a gain of 451. Ward 4 lost the most residents by going from 5,391 in 2010 to having 4,988 residents based on the new map — a loss of 403.

The new map highlights each ward with a different color and shows the new lines, which divide some neighborhoods and move certain residents into different wards.

To find out if your polling place has changed, contact the Portage County Board of Elections.