Each candidate for any elective city office at any general municipal or special election shall file in the office of the city clerk a written and signed declaration of his or her intention to become a candidate for such elective city office. The declaration of intention shall be filed, on a form to be supplied by the city clerk, not more than thirty nor less than twenty days prior to the first day on which such candidate’s nomination papers may be presented for filing. No person may be a candidate nor have his or her name printed upon any ballot as a candidate for elective city office unless he or she has filed such declaration of intention. The provisions of this section shall not, however, be deemed to prevent or prohibit the writing in on any ballot by any voter of the name of any candidate whose name is not printed thereon and for whom he or she may wish to vote, as provided in this Charter.
Editor’s note: This section was added by Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 72, which was approved by the voters of the city at a election held June 7, 1966. This section was further amended by the voters of the city on March 26, 1996 and further amended at a special municipal election held November 2, 2004. This section was further amended by Ordinance 4788, which was approved by the voters of the city at a special municipal election held November 2, 2021.