High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The city of New Orleans, Louisiana is divided into 17 wards. Politically, the wards are used in voting in elections, subdivided into precincts. Under various previous city charters of the 19th century, aldermen and later city council members were elected by ward. The city has not had officials elected to represent wards since 1912, but the ward designations remain a part of New Orleans` fabric. Socially, it is not uncommon for New Orleanians to identify where they are from by their ward number.