Ward (electoral subdivision)
A ward is a local authority area, typically used for electoral purposes. Wards are usually named after neighbourhoods, thoroughfares, parishes, landmarks, geographical features and in some cases historical figures connected to the area (e.g. William Morris Ward in the London Borough of Waltham Forest). It is common in the United States for wards to simply be numbered.
In Swahili/Kiswahili Local Ward is called Kata.
In Australia, Canada, Monaco, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, they are an electoral district within a district or municipality, used in local government elections. In the United States, wards are usually subdivided into precincts for polling purposes.
In the Republic of Ireland, urban Wards and rural District Electoral Divisions were renamed Electoral Divisions in 1994.[1] The electoral districts for local authorities are often popularly called "wards". These consist of multiple electoral divisions, and are officially called "local electoral areas".[2]
In the case of a municipal amalgamation, the former cities and towns that make up the new metropolis may be referred to as wards.
- In certain cities of India, such as Mumbai and Delhi, a ward is an administrative unit of the city region; a city area is divided into Zones, which in turn contains numerous wards. The smallest administrative unit of Gram Panchayats in India is also known as a ward.[3][4]
- In Japan, a ward (ku or 区 in Japanese) is an administrative unit of one of the larger cities, closely equivalent to a London Borough or a New York Borough.
- In Vietnam, a ward (phường) is an administrative subunit of an inner city district (quận).
- Wards and electoral divisions of Nepal are political divisions which are grouped into Gaunpalika (Rural council) and Municipality. A rural municipality or municipality has minimum 5 wards and maximum 33 wards.
- In parts of northern England, a ward was a sub-entity of a county, equivalent to a hundred.
See also
- Wards of Canada
- Wards of Japan
- Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom
- Wards of Tanzania
- Ward (United States)
- For more controversial/negative practices often associated with ward politics, also see political machine.
- Wards of Zimbabwe