The U.S. Department of Justice has given approval to new city ward lines to be used for the first time in the May 3 municipal party primary election.

The Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen received notice from the federal officials Thursday of the approval.

Under the new map, which splits the city into halves, about 1,500 South Ward residents, most of them in the Marcus Bottom neighborhood off Halls Ferry Road, are reassigned to the North Ward.

The new dividing line between the North and South wards runs along Dabney Street, Mission 66, Melborn Place and Clay Street. Notices are expected to be sent out soon to voters who will also be assigned to new polling places as a result.

The change was based on the 2000 census. Under federal law, the halves must contain nearly equal numbers of residents and not dilute minority voting strength. With the shift, the North Ward continues to have a larger proportion of black residents and the South Ward continues to have a larger proportion of white residents. Federal approval of voting-related changes is required under the Voting Rights Act because of the state’s history of racial discrimination.

City officials said they also plan to make that information available on the city’s Web site at www.vicksburg.org.

Today is the last day for candidates to sign up for public office and so far 13 people are running for the three elected positions.

Voters will get their say beginning with primary elections when they will choose between Eric Rawlings, 42; Charles Selmon, 44, and John Shorter, 38, for the Democratic nomination for mayor. On that same ballot, North Ward residents will pick among incumbent Gertrude Young, 49; Warren County District 2 Supervisor Michael Mayfield, 47, and Rodney Dillamar, 45, for the nomination.

Primary winners advance to the June 7 general election. The Democratic nominee for mayor will face incumbent Laurence Leyens, 40, and former Mayor Joe Loviza, 65, who both qualified as independents.

The position pays $73,500.

The primary winner in the North Ward will face independents Vickie Bailey, 36, and Tommie Rawlings, 41, and Carl Yelverton, 58, who is alone in filing as a Republican.

In the South Ward, only two candidates have filed, and if no others do, Pam Johnson, 39, a Democrat, and Sid Beauman, 57, a Republican, will face off in the general election.

The aldermen’s posts pay $58,000.