Why 17 Became 15, and What Voters Need to Know: Cleveland's New Ward Map
- Ronaldo Rodriguez Jr.
- Jul 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 24
Cleveland’s City Council approved a new ward map that reduces the number of wards from 17 to 15. Under the city charter, ward boundaries are reviewed every ten years after the census to ensure each council member represents roughly the same number of residents. As Cleveland’s population declined, the city was required to consolidate its representation to match.
The new map aims to equalize each ward’s population at around 24,000 residents. Beyond balancing population, the new ward boundaries also try to respect the integrity of neighborhoods and communities of interest.
Representación de la comunidad hispana
One of the biggest challenges in Cleveland’s ward map is fair representation for the city’s growing Hispanic community. Hispanic residents make up 13% of Cleveland’s population but are spread across multiple wards, diluting their voting power.
Ward 14 has the highest concentration of Hispanic residents, around 35%, yet no ward is majority Hispanic in voting-age population. If Cleveland City Council seats were distributed proportionally to the city’s demographics, Hispanic Clevelanders would likely hold at least 2 of the 15 seats.
Community advocates have argued that future maps should do more to create a ward where Hispanic voters could consistently elect a candidate of their choice.
Historically, Cleveland’s Hispanic community - largely centered in the Near West Side neighborhoods of Clark-Fulton, Ohio City, Stockyards, and Tremont, has faced decades of underrepresentation on City Council. Gentrification and the division of these neighborhoods into multiple wards made it difficult to build enough voting strength to elect Latino candidates consistently.
Nelson Cintrón Jr. became the first Hispanic member of Cleveland City Council in 1997. Jasmin Santana, first elected in 2017, currently serves as Ward 14’s council member and is the only Hispanic council member on City Council today, as well as the first Latina to serve in this role. She is seeking re-election this year unopposed as an incumbent.
At the county level, the Cuyahoga County Council has never had a Hispanic member since its creation in 2011, after voters approved a new county charter replacing the three-commissioner system.
In Ohio’s state government, there are currently no Hispanic members of the General Assembly from the northeast Ohio region, and no Hispanic or Latino person has ever been elected to a statewide executive office.
What’s new with Cleveland's ward boundaries?
Some wards now encompass more of downtown’s growth, while East Side wards were redrawn to balance shifting population trends and preserve Black voting strength.
Population loss in some East Side neighborhoods has made it harder to keep these wards intact without merging parts of other communities. As a result, some observers worry that the new boundaries could still dilute Black voting strength over time if demographic decline continues or if new development changes the voter base.
Though city officials said the new map respects neighborhood identities, many residents argue the boundaries still fracture cohesive communities and leave some incumbents politically exposed.
Notably, Ward 12 was split apart, leaving first-term Councilmember Rebecca Maurer representing only a portion of her previous constituents, while placing her residence inside the newly redrawn Ward 5.
That sets up a contest between Maurer, who is White, and fellow first-term Councilmember Richard Starr, who is Black and has strong ties to the Central neighborhood. The remap effectively pits two sitting councilmembers against each other and raises concerns about how neighborhood ties as well as racial representation will play out in the upcoming election.
The September Primary: Which wards vote?
Not every ward will have a primary election in September. Only wards 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 12 will vote in the primary because these districts had more than two candidates file to run for council. In these wards, a primary is needed to narrow the field to two candidates for November’s general election.
The other wards have only one or two candidates, so they skip the September primary altogether and will appear directly on the November ballot.
In short, if you live in Wards 2, 4, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, or 15, you will not vote for a council member in September.
What’s next for voters?
Cleveland residents should take a close look at their new ward boundaries before they head to the polls this fall. Many people will find themselves in a completely different ward or with a new council member than before. Because these boundaries changed, your polling location may also have changed.
It is vital to check your ward assignment, your voter registration status, and whether you are voting in the September primary.
The stakes are high, as these council members will make decisions on budgets, public safety, housing, and development for the next four years. As Council President Blaine Griffin put it:
“Every neighborhood deserves a seat at the table. These new boundaries aren’t perfect, but they are the best compromise to keep communities together while making sure every vote counts.”
Why this matters
Redistricting is one of the most consequential actions a city takes because it defines who gets heard at City Hall. Cleveland’s move from 17 to 15 wards is a response to a shrinking population, but also a chance to build more equitable representation.
For Hispanic residents in particular, the changes underscore the need to stay engaged and advocate for future maps that can better reflect Cleveland’s diversity. As the city heads toward its September primary and then the November general election, voters should be aware of where they stand in these new wards.
Board of Elections moves
Voters should also be aware that the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections recently relocated from its longtime headquarters at East 30th Street and Euclid Avenue to the former Plain Dealer Building at 1803 Superior Avenue in Cleveland.
The new location provides expanded parking, improved ADA accessibility, and enhanced security features to better serve voters and election workers. All in-person early voting, ballot drop-off, and election-related services are now being conducted at the new facility.
Voter Information Links
Check your registration & ward
Register to vote or update your voter registration address
Find your polling place
Have questions or need help?
Call the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections at 216-443-VOTE (8683)
Para español, marque 216-443-3233. Siga la página oficial en español de la Junta Electoral del Condado de Cuyahoga en Facebook.