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Not more than 90 nor fewer than 60 calendar days prior to the regular election, the Board shall notify the City Clerk and the General Manager of the Personnel Department of the fact of the election. Not more than 30 nor fewer than 20 calendar days prior to the regular election, the Board shall have prepared a Notice of Election specifying the election date, a sample ballot containing the name of each candidate who has qualified for a place on the election ballot, rules concerning eligibility to vote, and any additional information and instructions the City Clerk determines are appropriate. A copy of the notice and sample ballot shall be posted in the Office of City Clerk.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 178,442, Eff. 4-15-07.
Candidates whose names appear on the election ballot may each designate no more than two observers at the tally center to observe that ballots are properly cast and votes are properly counted. In addition to these designated observers, candidates may also observe. Names of all observers, including any candidates who desire to attend, shall be presented to the City Clerk no less than three calendar days prior to the election. Designated observers shall wear identification badges at all times and shall be subject to regulations the City Clerk shall prescribe.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 178,442, Eff. 4-15-07.
The City Clerk shall mail a ballot packet for the election to each eligible voter listed on the roster supplied by the System. The mailing shall be completed no less than ten calendar days prior to the date of election.
Employees who become members of the System within 30 calendar days prior to an election and who wish to vote in that election shall present themselves in the office of the City Clerk no earlier than seven calendar days prior to and no later than 5:00 p.m. of the day of the election with a certificate from the Personnel Department on a form approved by the City Clerk verifying the fact of their eligibility to vote. The City Clerk shall allow these members to vote.
Each ballot packet mailed or provided to voters shall consist of the following items:
1. A mailing envelope;
2. A return envelope;
3. The official ballot;
4. An identification envelope for the official ballot with space for the voter to affix the voter’s name, mailing address, last four digits of the social security number, signature, and date of signing;
5. A list of instructions to the voter; and
6. The candidates’ statements of qualifications, if any.
Upon voting the ballot, the voter shall enclose the ballot in the identification envelope. The voter shall then affix the voter’s name, mailing address, last four digits of the voter’s social security number, signature and date of signing on the identification envelope containing the ballot and shall enclose it in the return envelope. The voter shall return the voted ballot to the City Clerk by United States mail or personal deposit. During regular business hours in the seven calendar days preceding the election, but no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day, voters may personally deposit the return envelope containing their ballot in the ballot box in the Office of the City Clerk, Election Division. All ballots shall, in order to be counted, be received by the City Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the date of the election.
Upon receipt of the identification envelope and its contents, the City Clerk shall date stamp the envelope, verify the name and last four digits of the social security number appearing on the envelope with the roster of eligible voters and shall cause the roster to be marked showing that the member has voted. No identification envelope shall be opened prior to the commencement of the tally.
If a voter inadvertently spoils a ballot, the voter may return the spoiled ballot to the City Clerk, who shall furnish the voter with a replacement ballot. No more than two replacement ballots may be issued to the same voter. Spoiled ballots will be clearly marked “SPOILED” by the City Clerk.
If a voter on the roster claims not to have received a ballot, the voter may receive a replacement ballot from the City Clerk upon filing a signed affidavit claiming non- receipt. The identification envelope of the replacement ballot shall be prominently marked “REPLACEMENT BALLOT” and the original ballot issued to the voter shall be challenged, if received.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 178,442, Eff. 4-15-07.
The City Clerk may challenge a returned identification envelope on the following grounds:
1. The identification envelope is not properly completed according to the instructions and does not accurately identify the voter;
2. The voter did not include the correct last four digits of the social security number;
3. The voter did not properly sign the identification envelope;
4. The voter’s name does not appear on the roster;
5. The identification envelope was received after the last date and time provided in Section 23.39.4;
6. The voter has retired, resigned, or otherwise lost status as a member of the System within 30 days prior to the election based on information provided by the General Manager of the System;
7. The voter has already turned in an identification envelope.
An authorized observer or the City Clerk, prior to the time that the identification envelope is opened, may challenge the eligibility of any person to vote in the election. Challenges by observers may be made only on the following grounds:
1. The identification envelope was not signed by the person whose name appears on the roster; or
2. The person’s status as an eligible voter has changed since the person was certified by the General Manager of the System.
Each identification envelope that is challenged shall have written on the envelope the word “Challenge”, the reason for the challenge, and the signature of the person imposing the challenge.
The City Clerk shall, with substantiating evidence, sustain or overrule each challenge. Without substantiating evidence being produced within three business days of the election, the challenge shall be overruled and the ballot shall be tallied with the other ballots. Identification envelopes whose challenges have been sustained shall be retained unopened by the City Clerk for a minimum of 90 calendar days after the election results are certified.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 178,442, Eff. 4-15-07.
The City Clerk shall count ballots in accordance with procedures used by the City Clerk to count ballots for other similar elections. Only the City Clerk may handle ballots. All ballots counted and uncounted shall be kept in view of the observers at all times during the tally and until the Ballot Statement is finally signed.
The identification envelope containing the sealed ballot envelope shall not be opened until the tally is commenced in order to preserve the secrecy of the ballot. At the commencement of the tally, the City Clerk shall audibly announce the name of each voter and shall then open the identification envelope, removing the official ballot. After all identification envelopes have been opened and set aside from the tally area, the City Clerk shall then proceed to count and tally the ballots cast for each choice, laying the ballots face up so that observers may inspect the marks. The count shall continue in this manner until all the ballots are opened and counted. When all ballots have been counted, the total number of votes cast for each candidate shall be entered on the unofficial Tally Results.
If a ballot is torn, defaced, marked in an ambiguous fashion, or is otherwise defective, the City Clerk shall determine whether the intent of the voter can be reasonably determined and, if so, determine it. If intent cannot be reasonably determined or if the ballot directly or indirectly identifies the voter, the ballot shall be declared void by the City Clerk and shall be preserved for a period of 90 calendar days.
After preparing the official Tally Results, the City Clerk shall place under seal all ballots, identification envelopes, and tally sheets, and shall retain them in a sealed condition for no less than 90 calendar days.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 178,442, Eff. 4-15-07.
The candidate who receives at least 50% plus one of all votes cast shall be elected to the position of employee member.
Should no candidate receive a majority of all votes cast in the initial election, the City Clerk shall cause the names of the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes to be placed on a ballot to be voted on in a run-off election, subject to all rules, regulations, and procedures governing the initial election. The run-off election shall be conducted within 30 calendar days after the date of certification of the initial election.
In the event that two or more candidates at the initial election receive an equal number of votes cast, and the number of votes is sufficient to entitle each of them to appear on the ballot of the run-off election, or in the event that both candidates at the run-off election receive an equal number of votes, then the following procedures shall be used.
In the initial election, if two candidates are tied for the most votes, then both shall be in the run-off election. If more than two candidates are tied for the most votes, then the candidates receiving an equal number of votes shall appear before the City Clerk at the time and place designated by the Clerk and draw lots to determine the top two to be in the run-off election. The City Clerk shall determine the manner in which the lots shall be drawn and, in the event that any candidates involved do not appear, the City Clerk shall act for the absent person or persons in the drawing of the lot. If two or more candidates are tied for the second highest number of votes, then the City Clerk shall use the procedure set forth above to choose the second candidate for the run-off election. Should either or both of the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes at the initial election for any reason cease to be a member of the System prior to the printing of the ballots for a run-off election, the name or names of the candidate or candidates receiving the next highest number of votes shall be printed on the run-off election ballot.
In a run-off election, in the case of a tie, the City Clerk shall determine which person shall be declared elected from the tied candidates by using the procedure set forth above.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 178,442, Eff. 4-15-07.
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