(a) Any eligible person may file an application to have his or her name printed on the official ballot as a candidate for the office of Mayor or Council member. Such application must be filed in the office of the City Secretary no later than 5:00 p.m. of the forty-fifth (45th) day before the election. An application may not be filed earlier than the thirtieth (30th) day before the date of the filing deadline. The city shall use application forms prescribed by the Secretary of State.
(b) The City Secretary shall review each application to determine whether it complies with the requirements as to form, content and procedure for the candidate's name to be placed on the ballot. Such review shall be completed no later than the fifth (5th) day after the date the application is received. If an application does not comply, the City Secretary shall reject the application and immediately deliver to the candidate written notice of the reason for rejection.
(c) Any filed candidate for a city office may withdraw his or her candidacy by filing a written, acknowledged withdrawal request with the City Secretary. Such request must be acknowledged before a notary public. A withdrawal request must be received by the City Secretary not later than 5:00 p.m. of the thirty-sixth (36th) day before the election day. In a runoff election, the withdrawal deadline is 5:00 p.m. of the third (3rd) day after the main election.