Mandated after each national census every ten years, the city council must determine whether population changes require it to redraw its ward boundaries. Results of the 2020 Census showed significant enough changes in Aurora's population to make it necessary to redistrict the city's ten wards so that they are all more equal in population. Consequently, some city wards must increase in population, and others must decrease in population.

In adopting new ward maps, the city council must comply with constitutional requirements that protect minority voting rights and call for wards that are compact, contiguous, and nearly equal in population. 

Two proposed new ward maps (1A & 1B) were presented at the regular meeting of the Rules, Administration and Procedures (RAP) Committee at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 2,and again during a special meeting of the RAP Committee at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 4. 

After public input and further discussion with members of the Aurora City Council, an additional map (2A) was scheduled to be presented at the regularly scheduled RAP meeting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16.  

In addition to Proposal 2A, the Committee considered three other maps, including a proposal submitted by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). 

The additional three maps which were generated on August 15 were designed to show the Committee how the City Council could draw additional wards where Latinos represented more than half of the ward’s voting age population of United States’ citizens. 

After deliberating on the proposals, the RAP Committee forwarded all 4 concepts to the Committee of the Whole for its consideration later in the afternoon at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16. 

While Proposal 2A is a combination and refinement of Proposals 1A and 1B previously reviewed by the RAP Committee, the Committee did not send 1A or 1B to the City Council. For that reason, 1A and 1B are no longer being considered by the City Council.

 During its August 16th meeting, the Committee of the Whole considered all four map proposals advanced by the RAP Committee.  After significant deliberation, the Committee directed staff to prepare Proposals 2A and 2D for possible approval at the August 23 City Council meeting at 6 p.m. 

The Committee of the Whole deemed the two additional maps advanced by the RAP Committee, labeled 2B and 2C, as representing too great of a departure from the City’s traditional ward boundaries and declined to advance them to the City Council. For this reason, Proposals 2B and 2C are no longer under consideration.

The public is invited to continue to offer commentary on Proposals 2A and 2D. The Council asks that any commentary be submitted by the close of business on Friday, August 19.  

After receiving feedback from aldermen and MALDEF, three additional proposals were developed on August 22: 3A, 3B, and 3C. All of the “3-Series” Maps are based on Proposal 2D.  All will be discussed at the Aurora City Council Meeting a 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23.

All of these maps can be viewed at www.aurora-il.org/ProposedWardMaps or by clicking on the map icon under the 'View Proposed Maps' section on this page.   

FINAL APPROVED WARD MAP

On Monday, August 29 during a Special Meeting, the Aurora City Council adopted a new ward map (Map 2A)that and celebrates the City’s rich diversity.

• For the first time, persons of color will constitute at least 50% of the population in every ward in the City.  In 2013, this was true in only 6 wards.  Persons of color represent a majority of the voting age population in 7 wards.  

• Latinos are the largest ethnic group by total population and by voting age population in 6 wards.

• Latinos represent a majority of the voting age population in 4 wards.  In 2013, Latinos made up a majority of the voting age population in only 2 wards.

• Asians comprise 1/3 of the total population of Ward 10.

In approving this new map, the City Council reiterated its belief that the 2020 Census was deeply flawed and undercounted Aurorans — particularly Latinos who reside in Kane County, east of the Fox River.  To that end, Council specifically authorized the administration to make all efforts to conduct a citywide special census as soon as possible and to prepare for a subsequent redistricting following that special census.