In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town for administrative and representative purposes, especially for purposes of an election. Depending upon the state and local laws, the term ward can mean any of:

• an electoral district of a city council or town board, created for the purpose of providing more direct representation, from which a single councilman is elected; or
• a division used in political party leadership elections; or
• an administrative division, as in Wards of Newark, NJ or the six wards of Houston.