(A) (1) Except as provided in Neb. RS 77-3444, any issue to be submitted to the registered voters at a special election by the city shall be certified by the City Clerk to the Election Commissioner or County Clerk at least 50 days prior to the election. A special election may be held by mail as provided in Neb. RS 32-952 through 32-959. Any other special election shall be subject to division (B) of this section.
(2) In lieu of submitting the issue at a special election, the city may submit the issue at a statewide primary or general election or at any scheduled county election, except that no such issue shall be submitted at a statewide election or scheduled county election unless the issue to be submitted has been certified by the City Clerk to the Election Commissioner or County Clerk by March 1 for the primary election and by September 1 for the general election.
(3) After the Election Commissioner or County Clerk has received the certification of the issue to be submitted, he or she shall be responsible for all matters relating to the submission of the issue to the registered voters, except that the City Clerk shall be responsible for the publication or posting of any required special notice of the submission of the issue other than the notice required to be given of the statewide election issues. The Election Commissioner or County Clerk shall prepare the ballots and issue absentee ballots and shall also conduct the submission of the issue, including the receiving and counting of ballots on the issue. The election returns shall be made to the Election Commissioner or County Clerk. The ballots, including absentee ballots, shall be counted and canvassed at the same time an in the same manner as the other ballots. Upon completion of the canvass of the vote by the County Canvassing Board, the Election Commissioner or County Clerk shall certify the election results to the City Council. The canvass by the County Canvassing Board shall have the same force and effect as if made by the City Council.
(B) Any special election under the Election Act shall be held on the first Tuesday following the second Monday of the selected month unless otherwise specifically provided. No special election shall be held under the Election Act in April, May, June, October, November or December of an even-numbered year unless it is held in conjunction with the statewide primary or general election.
(Prior Code, § 1-706) (Ord. 1-04, passed 4-12-2004)
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see Neb. RS 32-405, 32-559