WORCESTER, Mass. - The city of Worcester will have to expand its number of voting precincts next year, due to information from the 2020 Census. 

The most recent census shows Worcester growing to a population of more than 206,000 residents.

City Clerk Niko Vangjeli says per state standard, each voting precinct cannot have more than 4,000 registered voters. The growth means the city will expand from 50 to 60 voting precincts. Vangjeli says the population grew all around since 2010, but the biggest increases were in city council districts 3 and 2.

"In 2010, some of our districts were about 36 to 37,000 residents. The district 3 area right now is up to 43,000. District 2 is about 48,200 and then I think 40,000 (for) district 4 and then 39,000 and some change in districts 5 and 1," Vangjeli said. "Based on the charter we have to provide a balance population in each district."

During the city's Board of Election Commissioners meeting Thursday night, Vangjeli said the city would like to keep the 60 precincts with 3,200 to 3,600 registered voters each.

Vangeli says the 60 voting precincts would go into effect for the 2022 election. Over the next few weeks, the Elections Commission will have meetings and public hearings and then take a vote on a redistricting plan to send to the state.