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Understanding Maps & Elections

District boundaries determine who you vote for to represent you in government. These boundaries range from neighborhoods, all the way up to the city, state and federal level. Following the laws about redistricting, boundaries are drawn on a map. When boundaries change, the elected officials who represent you can also change.

From city offices, school board, county, state, and federal levels, elected officials make decisions that impact your life. That’s why it’s important to know who they are so that you can make an informed decision on Election Day.

 

You can find out who represents you at all levels of government on our Where Do I Vote site. 

You can view maps for election districts in the City of Milwaukee here.

 

How are local district boundaries determined?

Local redistricting is a three-step process that begins at the county level:

  1. County Level: The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors determines the supervisory district boundaries.
  2. City Level (Wards): Once the County finishes its maps, the City establishes Wards. These are small voting districts that determine your specific polling place. Wards are designed to follow "census blocks"—areas bounded by visible features (like roads) or property lines.
  3. City Level (Aldermanic): Using wards as building blocks, the City creates Aldermanic Districts. These districts must contain, as nearly as possible, an equal number of residents.

The three-step process for local redistricting begins at the county level. The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors is responsible for determining supervisory boundaries. Once the County is completed with their maps, the process moves to the City. The City is responsible for establishing the aldermanic districts and wards.

Wards are smaller voting districts that determine your polling place for Election Day. Where possible, Wards should match census blocks as closely as possible. Census blocks are statistical areas bounded by visible features, like roads and nonvisible features like property lines. They are the building blocks for the data that the U.S. Census tabulates.

After the voting Wards are determined, Aldermanic districts are created. Aldermanic districts must contain, as nearly as possible, an equal number of residents.

 

When are district boundaries changed?

  • The U.S. Census: A review of boundaries occurs after every census, which happens every 10 years. The Census is the official count of all people in the United States. The Census is defined in the U.S. Constitution.
  • Legislation: Any changes to district boundaries requires state and local government to pass legislation. This happens after the Census. New legislation impacting boundaries can also occur between census cycles. The rules about changing boundaries outside of the census cycle is different for every state.
  • Litigation: Boundaries can also change between census cycles if a court issues a decision following litigation at the federal or state level.

Once a legal change or new legislation is finalized, the redistricting process begins again at the county level.

Note: The City of Milwaukee Election Commission provides access to local boundary maps but is not responsible for drawing them.

 

What boundaries does the City, County, and State maintain?

  • The City of Milwaukee Common Council's City Clerk office maintains current ward and aldermanic district boundaries.
    • 15 aldermanic districts
    • 356 wards
  • The Milwaukee Public Schools’ Board of School Directors maintain the MPS School Board Districts.
    • 7 school board districts (+ 1 citywide seat known as the Member-At-Large, for a total of 8 school board members)
  • The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors maintains the Board of County Supervisors district boundaries.
    • 18 supervisory districts
  • The State Legislature maintains the following:
    • 33 state senate districts
    • 99 state assembly districts
    • 8 congressional districts

 

Which elected positions represent the City of Milwaukee vs. the County or the State?

At every level of government, there is an elected official that represents you and makes decisions that impact your life - like your finances,    roads, garbage pick-up, privacy and safety standards, taxes, and many other regulations. Click here for a breakdown of elected officials by State, County, and City, along with the cycle of their anticipated elections.

 

Interested in learning more?

Determining boundaries is a complicated and intentional process. This summary provides only a high-level overview of the key components to determining boundaries.  Check out the links below for more information on the redistricting process.