The transition from five to six wards is the result of state legislation (Assembly Bill 36) signed into law during the 2017 Session of the Nevada Legislature. The Reno City Charter Committee, a citizen committee appointed by members of the Reno City Council and Nevada Legislature, recommended the change. In their recommendation, the committee said, "The Charter Committee recommends converting the current At-Large Councilmember to a member representing a 6th ward. This conversion will strengthen the ward system by proportionally reducing each Council Member's constituency, and support responsive representation on the city council. The committee believes that smaller wards will encourage an increase in personal interactions between constituents and their representative."

The Reno City Council seats for wards 1, 3, 5, and 6 will be up for election during the 2024 election cycle.

The home of record/residence of current Council members with existing terms that extend beyond the 2024 general election were required to be retained within their ward during redistricting. This applied to the Council members that represent Ward 2 and Ward 4. Voters elected these two Council members in 2022 for four year terms, with terms expiring in 2026.

Read this memo about redistricting for related information.

During the redistricting process, the community played a major role in providing feedback and ideas to draft various map options with six wards. During the first two phases, you told us about your neighborhoods and communities of interest, commented on six draft scenarios, and proposed your own ward boundaries using the Districtr mapping tool. Using your input and the redistricting requirements adopted by Council, we revised the draft scenarios and created a series of final map options. Council discussed the options publicly in August 2023 and selected Final Map Option E.

Read more about the redistricting process and the final map options (see item E.2).

Redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundaries of the wards that make up the City of Reno. Per our Reno City Charter, Reno will move from five to six wards starting in 2024.

Redistricting determines which neighborhoods and communities are grouped together into a ward for purposes of electing a council member. This process is important in ensuring that each council member represents about the same number of constituents. 

Federal and state laws, including the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act, provide legal requirements for redistricting. Additionally, the Reno City Charter requires updates to ward boundaries following the national census when the population of a ward exceeds the population of another ward by more than five percent. The boundaries can only be changed through adoption of an ordinance, which must be passed by a five-sevenths vote of the Reno City Council.

The Council also adopted a series of principles that will be used to guide the redistricting process:

• State and federal regulations – The redistricting process will abide by applicable state and federal laws, including the Federal Voting Rights Act and the Equal Protection Clause.
• Equal in population – The Reno City Charter states that wards must be as nearly equal in population as can be conveniently provided. Because it is impossible to have wards with the same number of people, the Charter allows for up to a five percent variance from ward to ward.
• Contiguous – Wards must be geographically contiguous except for non-contiguous areas that may be placed based on Charter requirements.
• Neighborhood integrity – Wards should allow for representation of general areas of the City having similar or common interests or affinities. Geographic neighborhood and natural boundaries will be accounted for in establishing ward boundaries and being used as divisions when practicable and legal.
• Community input – Input on the redistricting process will be solicited from the public throughout the evaluation and development phases.
• Implementation date – For all purposes necessary and appropriate to conduct, administer, and effectuate the 2024 general election, the revised ward boundaries will take effect January 1, 2024 as required by the Charter. For all other purposes, the revised ward map will take effect upon the canvass of returns and declaration of result for the 2024 general election.
• Residence related to Council seats with terms expiring in 2024 – The home of record/residence of current councilmembers with existing terms that extend beyond the 2024 general election will be retained within their ward during redistricting. No deference will be provided to any potential candidate for office.
• Data source – The 2020 Census counts (PL 94-171) provided by the U.S. Bureau of the Census will be the official source of population counts for redistricting. The City may use updated demographic information from the American Community Survey for informational purposes.

Will Ward 6 have a NAB? 

Can I continue to serve on a NAB if my residence is drawn into a different ward? 

If my residence is drawn into a different ward, how can I join the NAB for my new ward?