WARREN, Ohio - For over three decades, the City of Warren has not reconfigured its wards. It caught the attention of the League of Women voters, who have said legal action could be taken.

The lines separating the seven wards in Warren have been the same since 1991. The result has left the population sizes in these districts uneven.

The League of Women Voters of Ohio say the difference in the average population between districts should not be more than 10%. Warren is at or near 41%.

“Folks need to take a look at our local districts as well, because representation matters one person, one vote and cities naturally fall out of compliance due to population shifts over the years,” said Trevor Martin, program coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Ohio.

Ohio law says  “The legislative authority of a city shall subdivide the city into wards, equal in number to the members of the legislative authority to be elected from wards, within 90-days after The first day of October of the year following the decennial census year.”

This means districts need to be looked at, and in some cases, adjusted, every decade.

Martin said it also breaks the 14th amendment Equal Protection Clause.

2020 Census numbers were last sent out in September of 2021. Ordinances need to be passed at least 150-days before the next municipal primary election.

As for other cities, Youngstown reconfigured in 2022. According to Martin, Campbell, Struthers, Ravenna and Alliance are behind of redistricting.

“It's not something that's right on their plate when they step into office. And so it appears that it's, you know, kind of gone under radar,” said Martin.

21 News sent a crew to the meeting where the League of Woman Voters of Ohio representative presented their findings to council.