Candidates for any and all elective offices provided for in this Charter and to be voted for at any regular Municipal election pursuant to the provisions of this Charter, shall be nominated at a nonpartisan primary election to be held on the second (2nd) Tuesday in September prior to such Municipal election. The name of any elector of the Municipality shall be printed upon the ballot to be used at the primary election when it is filed with the election authorities prescribed by general law a petition in behalf of the nominee, along with a written acceptance from such nominee which conforms with the following requirements to-wit:
(a) Petitions for nominees for offices to be elected at large, shall be signed by electors equal in number to one (1) percent of the total number of votes cast at the last preceding general election.
(b) Such petitions shall state the name and place of residence of such person whose name is presented for a place upon the ballot, and the name of the office for which he or she is a nominee.
(c) Petitions for nominees for candidates for Council shall be signed by electors equal in number to one (1) percent of the qualified voters of the district for which he or she seeks to be a nominee, provided, however, that the petitions shall be signed by not less than twenty-five (25) qualified electors.
(d) Each elector signing the petition shall add to his or her signature his place of residence, with street and number, and the district in which he or she votes. All signatures shall be made with ink or indelible pencil.
(e) All nominees for candidates for public office in the City of Maple Heights shall file their petitions with the Board of Elections not less than ninety (90) days prior to the forthcoming primary election.
Only two (2) nominees receiving the highest number of votes for each office voted for on the primary election ballot shall qualify as candidates for such office at any regular Municipal election. In case there shall not be for any office more than two (2) persons who shall have filed petitions as provided for in this Charter, the said persons shall be the candidates at the regular Municipal election and the primary election for that particular office shall not be held. The names of no candidates other than those who have been nominated in compliance with this Charter shall be printed on the official ballot for such regular Municipal election.
(Adopted November 8, 1960; Amended November 4, 2008; Amended November 6, 2012)