Redistricting

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As the City works to update Loveland’s ward boundaries, some residents may find themselves in a different ward for the 2023 election season. This process is what’s known as redistricting, and these efforts are necessary for several reasons – but most importantly, it ensures that wards remain as equal in population as possible and allows the City to coordinate with Larimer County on local elections, making it easier for residents to vote. Redistricting is an as-needed process that usually happens after new population data is calculated through the U.S. Census Bureau.

A brief history

Loveland’s City Charter established four wards to divide the City in 1966, and nine other boundary adjustments have been made since then, with the last adjustment in 2017. In 2021, both the State of Colorado and Larimer County went through similar efforts and established new boundaries for state congressional and legislative districts as well as county precincts. As Loveland continues to grow and as boundaries expand, population data shows that Loveland’s current ward counts are off-balance - with several wards having a population difference of more than 10% – more than twice the allowed amount.

The redistricting process

The redistricting process is driven by the City Clerk’s Office with support from the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) team and is guided by the City Charter and the Municipal Code. When establishing new ward boundaries, the City needs to ensure that:

  1. Currently seated City Councilors remain in their same ward;
  2. There is no more than a 5% deviation in population between wards;
  3. Wards match County precincts with only one ward in each precinct;
  4. Wards be as compact as possible without splits;
  5. Wards align with natural breaks (such as roadways, neighborhoods, lakes/rivers and railroads) as much as possible.

City staff have taken necessary steps to create four possible options that meet the above criteria.

Share your voice in the process

Now through January 31, 2023, residents are invited to provide comments on the proposed options ahead of the 2023 election season. Additional information can be found in the sidebar to the right (or below on mobile devices).

As the City works to update Loveland’s ward boundaries, some residents may find themselves in a different ward for the 2023 election season. This process is what’s known as redistricting, and these efforts are necessary for several reasons – but most importantly, it ensures that wards remain as equal in population as possible and allows the City to coordinate with Larimer County on local elections, making it easier for residents to vote. Redistricting is an as-needed process that usually happens after new population data is calculated through the U.S. Census Bureau.

A brief history

Loveland’s City Charter established four wards to divide the City in 1966, and nine other boundary adjustments have been made since then, with the last adjustment in 2017. In 2021, both the State of Colorado and Larimer County went through similar efforts and established new boundaries for state congressional and legislative districts as well as county precincts. As Loveland continues to grow and as boundaries expand, population data shows that Loveland’s current ward counts are off-balance - with several wards having a population difference of more than 10% – more than twice the allowed amount.

The redistricting process

The redistricting process is driven by the City Clerk’s Office with support from the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) team and is guided by the City Charter and the Municipal Code. When establishing new ward boundaries, the City needs to ensure that:

  1. Currently seated City Councilors remain in their same ward;
  2. There is no more than a 5% deviation in population between wards;
  3. Wards match County precincts with only one ward in each precinct;
  4. Wards be as compact as possible without splits;
  5. Wards align with natural breaks (such as roadways, neighborhoods, lakes/rivers and railroads) as much as possible.

City staff have taken necessary steps to create four possible options that meet the above criteria.

Share your voice in the process

Now through January 31, 2023, residents are invited to provide comments on the proposed options ahead of the 2023 election season. Additional information can be found in the sidebar to the right (or below on mobile devices).

  • Redistricting 101

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    Curious to learn more about the Redistricting process and what it means for you? Read on for additional information.

    First things first. What is a ward?

    Great question! Current City Charter requires that the City be split in four, and each slice of the pie is what we call a "ward." Each ward is represented by two City Council members who vote on new laws, policy and other aspects of city life.

    How does a ward get its shape?

    The shape of each ward is mostly determined by Larimer County's voter precincts. We group precincts in close proximity to one another together to form a ward until all precincts have been assigned and all wards contain relatively the same number of Lovelanders.

    Cool, but why change?

    We need to redistrict for several reasons, but primarily because the populations between our wards are off-balance. Recently-revised Larimer county voter precincts also mean that we need to make changes to our ward boundaries in order to coordinate with the county on elections (this also helps them provide you with ward-specific voter data when requested!).

    What's being done to prevent gerrymandering?

    We hold a politically-neutral position in this process, and neither political nor voting data was used to develop the options. Additional criteria severely limit how ward boundaries can be drawn.

    Do I have a say in the process?

    You bet! You can review four options developed by staff online (link in bio!) or create your very own option. Map data and templates are available if you'd like to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

    Wait, I have more questions!!

    And we have answers. Visit our Q&A section to ask away.