§ 5.01. Elections.

(a)

Electors. Any person who is a resident of the City, has qualified as an elector of the State and registers to vote in the manner prescribed by law shall be an elector of the City.

(b)

Nonpartisan elections. All elections for the offices of Councilmember and Mayor shall be conducted on a nonpartisan basis.

(c)

Election dates. An election shall be held in November of each even-numbered year, on the same day U.S. congressional elections are held, or if none are held in any year, on the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November of that year. A runoff election, if necessary, shall be held on the on the second Tuesday in December. The Council shall hold no meetings between the general election and the swearing in of newly elected or re-elected Members of the Council, except in case of an emergency affecting life, health, property, or the public peace.

(d)

General election. The ballot for the general election shall contain the names of all qualified candidates for Mayor if the Mayor's term is expiring and for each of the two Council Seats which are to be filled as a result of two Councilmembers' terms expiring, and shall instruct electors to cast one vote for Mayor, if applicable, and one vote for each Seat. If any candidate for Mayor receives a number of votes greater than 50% of the total number of ballots cast, such candidate shall be the duly elected Mayor, and no run-off election for Mayor shall be required. If any candidate(s) for a Seat receive(s) a number of votes greater than 50% of the total number of ballots cast for that Seat, such candidate(s) shall be duly elected to the Council and no run-off election for that Seat(s) shall be required.

(e)

Run-off election. As applicable, the ballot for the run-off election shall contain the names of the two candidates for Mayor and the names of the two candidates for each Seat who received the most votes in the general election. The ballot shall instruct electors to cast one vote for Mayor and to cast one vote for each Seat. The candidate for Mayor receiving the most votes shall be the duly elected Mayor. The candidate for each Seat receiving the most votes shall be duly elected to that Seat. If a tie vote occurs in the run-off elections between candidates for the office of Mayor or any Seat, the tie shall be decided by lot under the direction of the Clerk.

(f)

Special elections. Special elections, when required, shall be scheduled by the Council at such times and in such manner as shall be consistent with this Charter.

(g)

Single candidates. No election for Mayor or any Seat shall be required in any election if there is only one duly qualified candidate for Mayor or for that Seat. The duly qualified candidate shall be deemed elected.

(h)

Absentee votes. Absentee voting will be permitted as provided by the laws of the State and under such conditions as may be prescribed by ordinance from time to time; provided, however, that no ordinance shall limit the right to vote by absentee ballot available under State law.

(i)

Commencement of terms. The Mayor and Councilmembers who are elected in elections held in November of any year, shall assume office on the first regular or special City Council meeting following certification of their election results. Once all newly elected officials have taken office the Council shall organize in accordance with the provisions of this Charter, and shall then proceed to select the Vice Mayor as designated in this Charter.

(Ord. No. 2009-17 , § 4(Exh. 1), 1-6-2010/3-9-2010; Ord. No. 2014-18 , § 2, 5-28-2014/8-26-2014; Res. No. 14-99 , § 4(Exh. A), 8-4-2014/11-4-2014)