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Charter Election Provisions

SECTION 7-1 CITY ELECTIONS: GENERAL, PRELIMINARY FOR OFFICE OF MAYOR.

The regular general city election shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in each odd-numbered year. A preliminary election for the purpose of nominating candidates for mayor shall be held on the third Tuesday in September in each odd-numbered year in which a mayor is to be elected; provided, however, that the city clerk may, with the approval of the city council, reschedule the preliminary election to the fourth Tuesday in September to avoid a conflict with any civil or religious holiday. If a special election to fill a vacancy in the office of mayor is to be held, a preliminary election shall be conducted, if necessary, 28 days before the date established for the special election.

SECTION 7-2 NON-PARTISAN ELECTIONS.

All elections for city offices shall be nonpartisan and election ballots shall be printed without any party mark, emblem or other designation.

SECTION 7-3 PRELIMINARY ELECTION, MAYOR.

(a) Ballot Position. The order in which names of candidates appear on the ballot shall be determined by a drawing by lot conducted by the city clerk and shall be open to the public.

(b) Determination of Candidates. The 2 persons receiving the highest number of votes for nomination for mayor at a preliminary election shall be the sole candidates for that office whose names shall be printed on the official ballots to be used at the regular general city election at which the office is to be voted upon and no acceptance of a nomination shall be necessary to its validity. If the preliminary election results in a tie vote among candidates for nomination receiving the lowest number of votes which, but for the tie vote, would entitle a person receiving the same to have the person's name printed on the official ballots for the election, all candidates participating in the tie vote shall have their names printed on the official ballots even though the ballots will have a number of candidates exceeding twice the number to be elected.

(c) Condition Making Preliminary Unnecessary. If at the expiration of time for filing statements the number of candidates for mayor to be voted upon at any preliminary election is not more than 2, then no preliminary election shall be held. The candidates whose statements have been filed with the city clerk shall have been nominated to the office, their names shall be voted upon for the office at the succeeding general election and the city clerk shall not print their names on the ballots to be used at the preliminary election.