The Clerk shall accept only nomination petitions which conform with the form provided and maintained by him or her and which, considered together, contain the required number of valid signatures for candidates having those qualifications required for elective office by this charter. When a petition is filed by persons other than the person whose name appears thereon as candidate, it may be accepted only when accompanied by the written consent of the candidate. The Clerk shall, forthwith after the filing of a petition, notify in writing any candidate whose petition is then known not to meet the requirements of this charter, but the failure to so notify any candidate shall in no way prevent a final determination that the petition does not meet such requirements.
Within three days after the last day for filling petitions, the Clerk shall make his final determination as to the validity and sufficiency of each nomination petition and whether or not the candidate has the qualifications required for office by this charter and shall write his determinations thereof on the face of the petition. The Clerk shall immediately notify in writing the candidate whose name appears thereon of his or her determination. Such notice to any candidate whose petition is found invalid or insufficient shall be delivered by personal messenger if possible.
The names of the candidates who file valid and sufficient nomination petitions shall be certified by the Clerk to the Election Commission to be placed upon the ballot for the next subsequent regular city election or the next special election for the filling of vacancies in office, as the case may be.
Any candidate may withdraw by filing a signed statement to such effect with the city clerk not later than 4:00 P.M. on the third day following the deadline for filing the original petition.
(Amended 11-5-20)