Persons desiring to qualify as candidates for any elective office under this charter shall file with the Clerk a petition therefor signed by not less than twenty-five (25) nor more than fifty (50) registered electors of the city not later than 12 o'clock noon on the fourth Saturday prior to the date of the biennial city election. Blank petitions in substantially the same form as required by state law for state and county officers, except for references to party, shall be prepared and furnished by the Clerk, At least one (1) week before, and not more than three (3) weeks before, the last day for filing nominating petitions, the Clerk shall publish notice to that effect. No person shall sign his name to a greater number of petitions of candidates for any one office than there are candidates to be elected to said office. Where any name appears on more petitions than there are candidates to be elected to said office, such name shall not be counted upon any petition for that office.