The council or governing body of the city shall by resolution or ordinance divide the respective wards in the city into voting precincts, as many as may be necessary, and such elector shall vote in the precinct of his residence, and the boundary lines of such voting precinct shall be arranged and rearranged from time to time so that, as nearly as practicable, no more than 300 electors reside in any voting precinct, except where voting machines are used.