Sec. 8.1. Redistricting advisory committee.

In any year in which redistricting of the city's wards is permitted under this Charter, or whenever redistricting is otherwise mandated by law, the mayor and council shall establish a Redistricting Advisory Committee, which shall make written recommendations regarding the redistricting of wards. The formation, term and activities of the Committee shall be regulated by ordinance.

No redistricting of the city's wards shall occur prior to the consideration by the mayor and council of the Redistricting Advisory Committee's written recommendations.

No redistricting plan shall be drawn for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring any political party or person, nor for the purpose of diluting the voting strength of any racial or ethnic minority group. To the extent reasonably practicable, wards shall be equal in population and shall be contiguous and compact.

(Ord. No. 8118, eff. 9-7-93)

Sec. 9. Mayor nominated and elected at large; councilmen nominated from wards, elected at large.

Beginning in the year 1930, and continuing thereafter, the mayor shall be nominated from and elected by the voters of the city at large, and the councilmen shall be nominated each from, and by the respective voters of, the ward in which he resides, and shall be elected by the voters of the city at large.

Sec. 10. Number of polling places; open hours.

There shall be at least one (1) polling place provided in each ward in the city for the casting of votes and such polling places shall be kept open on the day of election from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The mayor and council may increase the number of polling places from time to time as necessity may require.

(Ord. No. 2080, eff. 11-10-60)

Sec. 11. Qualifications for electors.

The qualifications of electors shall be as required by the constitution and laws of the state for city and county elections. They shall also be residents of the city at least ninety (90) days previous to any primary, special, or general election held therein, and shall have actually resided in the ward in which they claim to vote for thirty (30) days next preceding any such primary, special or general election.

   State Law References: Qualifications of electors generally, A.R.S. § 16-101.

Sec. 12. Ordinance to provide for absentee voting.

The mayor and council shall provide, by ordinance, prior to the primary election of 1930, for the voting at any primary, general or special election of electors absent, or to be absent, from the city on the day of any such election, and the sick and disabled who cannot attend the voting places in person at any such election.

Sec. 13. Voting machines required.

The mayor and council shall provide for voting machines to be used in all the wards of the city at any of the elections provided for by this Charter, and full power and authority is hereby granted the mayor and council to do and provide anything necessary to effectuate voting by machines.

Sec. 14. Filing and disposition of returns.

The election returns from each ward, immediately upon the completion of the count and certification of the election board, shall be filed with the clerk, who shall immediately place them in the safe or vault in the said clerk's office, until the same shall be canvassed by the mayor and council. After having been canvassed, said returns shall be sealed up and kept by the said clerk for two (2) years, and no person shall have access to them, except on the order of a court of general jurisdiction.