SECTION 9.01 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

   The regular municipal election for the choice of members of the Council shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in the odd numbered years. The Council may, by resolution, order a special election at any time, the purpose of which shall be set forth in the resolution.

SECTION 9.02 CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS.

   Both regular and special municipal elections shall be conducted by the Board of Elections of Butler County, Ohio, under the provisions of this Charter. Where the Charter is silent, the provisions of the state election law shall be followed.

SECTION 9.03 NOMINATIONS.

   No primary election shall be held for the nomination of candidates for the Council. Nominations for the office of Council member shall be made by petition signed by not less than 50 nor more than 100 electors of the City. Petitions shall be the standard forms for the nomination of individual nonpartisan candidates for such office. Group petitions shall not be used. Petitions shall be filed with the Board of Elections in accordance with the current laws of the State of Ohio. An elector may sign only as many petitions as there are Council members to be elected at the municipal election for which the nominations are made.

SECTION 9.04 ACCEPTANCE AND VERIFICATION.

   The signature of the candidate indicating acceptance of the nomination and willingness to serve if elected shall appear on each copy of the petition. The petition may be in a number of parts, but each part shall be verified under oath by the circulator, as required by law.

SECTION 9.05 BALLOTS.

   The full names of all candidates nominated shall be printed on the official ballot without party designation. If two candidates with the same surname, or with names so similar as to be likely to cause confusion are nominated, the addresses of their places of residence shall be placed below their names on the ballot. The names of all candidates shall be rotated on the ballot as provided by law.

SECTION 9.06 WRITE-INS.

   Only in the event that fewer candidates are nominated by petition than there are Council members to be elected at the ensuing election shall space be provided on the ballot for the writing in at the election of the names of additional persons.