Section 3.7 Approval of Petitions:

   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)

Section 3.8 Public Inspection of Petitions:

   All nomination petitions shall be open to public inspection in the office of the Clerk beginning five (5) days after the final filing date for such petitions.

Section 3.9 Election Commission:

   An election commission is hereby created, consisting of the clerk and two members of the Commission who are not candidates for office. The Clerk shall be chairman. The commission shall have charge of all activities and duties required of election commissions in cities by state law and this charter, relating to the conduct of electors in the city. The compensation of election personnel shall be determined in advance by the Commission. In any case where election procedure is in doubt, the election commission shall prescribe the procedure to be followed.

Section 3.10 Election Inspectors:

   The election commission shall before each election appoint for each precinct of the City a board of inspectors of election consisting of not less than three qualified electors, and shall fix their compensation. Election inspectors shall have qualifications which comply with the state law.

Section 3.11 Notice of Election:

   Notice of the time and place of holding any City election and of the officers to be elected and the questions and propositions to be voted upon shall be given by the Clerk by publishing such notice not less than ten days prior to such election.

Section 3.12 Voting Hours:

   The polls of all elections shall be opened and closed at the time prescribed by statute for the opening and closing of polls at state elections.

Section 3.13 Form of Ballot:

   The form, printing and numbering of ballots in all city elections shall conform as nearly as may be to that prescribed by statute, except that no party designation or emblem shall appear. In all elections, the names of qualified candidates shall be rotated systematically in the manner prescribed by statute for rotation of names.