2019 EDITION VALID THROUGH NOVEMBER 3, 2020 ELECTION MUNICIPAL ELECTION MANUAL Prepared by TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................ 2 SCOPE OF MANUAL .............................................................................................................................. 2 CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY AUTHORITY GOVERNING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS 2 APPLICATION OF STATE ELECTION LAWS TO CHARTER CITIES .............................................. 2 ELECTION CONSOLIDATION .............................................................................................................. 3 Regular Candidate Elections ......................................................................................................... 3 All Other Elections ....................................................................................................................... 3 FILLING COUNCIL VACANCY ............................................................................................................. 3 ELECTION PROCEDURE OPTIONS ..................................................................................................... 4 Election of Councilmembers ........................................................................................................ 4 The District System ...................................................................................................................... 4 Four-Year Overlapping Terms ..................................................................................................... 4 Direct Election of Mayor .............................................................................................................. 4 Elections Without Political Parties and Election at Primary ........................................................ 4 CHAPTER I - VOTERS...................................................................................................................................... 6 VOTERS .................................................................................................................................................... 7 QUALIFICATIONS .................................................................................................................................. 7 Residence - Military Personnel ..................................................................................................... 8 Special Purpose Elections ............................................................................................................. 8 Disqualifications ........................................................................................................................... 8 REGISTRATION ..................................................................................................................................... 9 County Registration List ............................................................................................................... 9 Confidential Voter Registration Information and Misuse of Precinct Registers ........................ 10 Irregularities ................................................................................................................................ 11 VOTER RIGHTS ..................................................................................................................................... 11 Voting Rights Act ....................................................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER II - CANDIDATES ........................................................................................................................ 13 QUALIFICATIONS .......................................................................................................................................... 13 Members of the Legislature ........................................................................................................ 13 Federal Civilian Employees ........................................................................................................ 14 State and County Officers and Employees ................................................................................. 14 Incumbents .................................................................................................................................. 14 Summation .................................................................................................................................. 14 WRITE-IN CANDIDATES ..................................................................................................................... 15 NOMINATION BY PETITION .............................................................................................................. 16 Nomination Paper ....................................................................................................................... 16 Nomination Petitions .................................................................................................................. 17 Number of Signatures Required ................................................................................................. 18 NOMINATION PETITIONS IN CITIES ................................................................................................ 18 NOMINATION PETITIONS IN TOWNS .............................................................................................. 19 FILLING VACANCY AFTER PRIMARY ............................................................................................ 20 CAMPAIGN EXPENSES ....................................................................................................................... 20 Candidate Committees ................................................................................................................ 20 Registration of Political Action Committees .............................................................................. 21 Standing Political Committee ..................................................................................................... 23 Exemption for Religious Assembly or Institution ...................................................................... 23 Campaign Finance Reports ......................................................................................................... 23 Independent Expenditure/Ballot Measure Expenditure .............................................................. 26 Termination of Political Action Committees .............................................................................. 26 Campaign Contributions Limits ................................................................................................. 27 False Reports and Failure to File Statements; Notice by Clerk .................................................. 28 Enforcement Authority ............................................................................................................... 29 Campaign Advertising and Fund-Raising Disclosure Statements .............................................. 30 Committees or Agents ................................................................................................................ 31 Private Corporations and Labor Organizations .......................................................................... 31 Website Posting .......................................................................................................................... 32 FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE LAW ........................................................................................................ 33 Fillable Forms and Documents Referenced in this Chapter Candidate Packet CHAPTER III – ELECTION PROCEDURES ............................................................................................... 34 PREPARATORY STEPS ........................................................................................................................ 34 Call and/or Notice of Election .................................................................................................... 34 Political Signs ............................................................................................................................. 34 Polling Places ............................................................................................................................ 35 Registration Lists ........................................................................................................................ 36 Chain of Custody Records .......................................................................................................... 37 Inactive Voter Lists..................................................................................................................... 37 Election Boards and Tally Boards .............................................................................................. 37 Financial Statement .................................................................................................................... 38 Sample Ballots ............................................................................................................................ 38 Paper Ballots 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