On the other hand, multi-member wards are used in some American cities specifically as a way of increasing the chances of electing minority candidates to council. Both opponents and proponents of wards agree that creating wards can be a difficult business, both technically and politically. The boundaries would be easily recognizable, preferably multi-lane streets or other barriers to neighbourhoods. The lines would also have been in existence for some considerable time so that residents would be familiar with them and feel a sense of allegiance to their wards. The municipality would also be static so that population growth will not upset this perfectly balanced arrangement.
Ideal wards are impossible.
Again, the main source of these controversies is the need to increase the representation of minority groups. In response to a request for information in our survey, a number of municipalities sent some very helpful documentation. One of the most in-depth was a 1995 report from San Francisco called A Report of the Elections Task Force to the Board of Supervisors, City and County of San Francisco . The report discusses a number of options for reforming San Francisco's electoral system and voting methods with a view to increasing representation and accountability.