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CITY ELECTIONS 2012

CITY ELECTIONS 2012 . Mary Mosiman Deputy of Elections Iowa Secretary of State’s Office mary.mosiman@sos.iowa.gov (515) 281-5866. RESOURCES. Secretary of State web page Auditor Calendar for City Elections City Clerks Guide Candidate Guide for City Election Filing Officer’s Guide

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CITY ELECTIONS 2012

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  1. CITY ELECTIONS 2012 Mary Mosiman Deputy of Elections Iowa Secretary of State’s Office mary.mosiman@sos.iowa.gov (515) 281-5866

  2. RESOURCES • Secretary of State web page • Auditor Calendar for City Elections • City Clerks Guide • Candidate Guide for City Election • Filing Officer’s Guide • County Auditor • City Attorney

  3. BASICS • City Election held in odd-numbered years • 1st Tuesday after 1st Monday in November • Election process: • Primary election and regular city election • Regular city election • Regular city election and runoff election

  4. NOMINATION PROCESSES Clerk must certify method of nomination adopted by city ordinance • 90 days before regular city election Methods of Nomination • Primary Election • Nomination by Petition, Chapter 45 • Nomination by Convention, Chapter 44 • Runoff Election

  5. PRIMARY ELECTION (§376.6) • If no ordinance is filed naming the nomination process • Nomination by petition • Only held if more than 2 candidates filed nomination papers to run for an office • Occurs 4 weeks before Regular City Election • Only offices with more than 2 candidates are included on the ballot • 2 candidates who receive the most votes are nominated and will go on the ballot for the Regular City Election

  6. NOMINATION BY PETITION (CH. 45) • By city ordinance • Regular city election is the only election held • Candidates collect signatures on petitions to get name on ballot

  7. NOMINATION BY CONVENTION (CH. 44) • By city ordinance • Regular city election is the only election held • Candidates are nominated by nonparty political organization (NPPO) conventions to get name on ballot

  8. RUNOFF ELECTION (§376.9) • By city ordinance • No candidate for an office receives a majority of votes cast OR • Write-in candidate receives a majority of votes cast and declines office • Held 4 weeks after Regular City Election (Candidates cannot withdraw)

  9. PUBLIC MEASURES (§376.4) • Determine if city council plans to include any public measures on the ballot at the Regular City Election • Public measures must be filed with county auditor no later than 5 p.m. on: • For cities with primary election provisions: 39 days before the primary election (early September) • For cities with any other nomination method: 46 days before the regular city election (late September)

  10. NOMINATION PAPERS • Nomination papers available: • City clerk’s office • County auditor’s office and website • Secretary of State’s office and website • Nomination papers include: • Affidavit of Candidacy • Nomination Petitions OR • Certificate of Nomination by Convention (NPPO)

  11. NOMINATION PAPERS • No “first day” for collecting signatures • Signers must be still qualified at time the nomination papers are filed • Instruct candidate to complete top of every petition page • Inform candidate of nomination process and number of signatures needed • Provide candidate guides, calendars, and office list

  12. SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS • Nomination by Petition (Ch. 45) • Based on population • 3,500 or greater = 25 signatures • 100 – 3,499 = 10 signatures • Less than 100 = 5 signatures • Nominations by Convention (Ch. 44) • Nomination petition signatures not required. • Convention certificate must show attendance by at least 10 eligible electors • Includes one person from each of at least ½ of precincts in the city (ex: city has 6 precincts, need a person from at least 3 different precincts)

  13. SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS • Primary or Runoff • At least 2 % of votes cast for the office the last time it was on the ballot (not fewer than 10 signatures) • At-large seats = (Total number of votes cast ÷ Number of seats on ballot at election 2 years ago) × 0.02 • Always round up fractions to the next whole number

  14. FILING DEADLINES • Primary Election • First day: Monday, August 12, 2013 • Last day: Thursday, August 29, 2013 – 5 p.m. • Regular City Election • First day: Monday, August 26, 2013 • Last day: Thursday, September 19, 2013 – 5 p.m. • No early or late filing

  15. RECEIVING NOMINATION PAPERS • Must be filed with city clerk or clerk’s designee • City clerk’s offices must be open until 5 p.m. on the last day of filing • Someone else may deliver completed nomination papers for the candidate to the city clerk • Nomination papers must be filed together • Affidavit of candidacy and nomination petitions OR • Affidavit of candidacy and certificate of nomination by convention

  16. RECEIVING NOMINATION PAPERS • Review affidavit of candidacy for: • Name of office and district or ward (if any) • Vacancy candidates: “to fill vacancy” marked • Name of candidate • Candidate’s address (street address, city, zip, and county) • Signature of candidate and notarization • Nothing can be added to a notarized document

  17. RECEIVING NOMINATION PAPERS • Review nomination petitions: • Pages must be fastened together • Information on top of each page is completed and is the same as is on affidavit • Minimum number of signatures is met • Do not count signature lines: • Without a signature • Without a signer’s home address (street name and house number) • That are outside the applicable district

  18. RECEIVING NOMINATION PAPERS • Return unacceptable papers to be corrected and resubmitted if time permits • File stamp affidavit and nomination papers with date and time • Issue receipt for nomination papers

  19. NOMINATION PAPERS • Keep photocopy of each affidavit • Keep list of candidates’ names and offices for which they have filed • Deliver all nomination papers to county auditor by 5 p.m. on: • Primary Election: Friday, 39 days before the primary election (early September) • Regular City Election:Friday, 46 days before the regular city election (late September)

  20. WRITTEN OBJECTIONS (§376.4 & 44.4) • Questions about candidate qualifications or objections to nomination papers must be made in writing • Filed with city clerk • For cities with primary election provisions: 63 days before Regular City Election • For cities with any other nomination method: 42 days before Regular City Election

  21. CANVASS OF VOTES • Primary Election • Second day after Primary no earlier than 1:00. • Regular City Election • For cities without runoff provisions • Monday or Tuesday at regular Board of Supervisors meeting following election • For cities with runoff provisions • Second day after Regular City Election no earlier than 1:00. • Runoff Election • Monday or Tuesday at regular Board of Supervisors meeting following election

  22. WRITE-IN VOTES • Regular City Election in cities with primary elections or elections conducted under Ch. 44 or Ch. 45 • If a write-in candidate is elected: • Candidate doesn’t have to file an affidavit of candidacy • Person is declared elected

  23. WRITE-IN VOTES • If a write-in candidate is elected and declines the office: • Winning write-in candidate must submit letter of resignation to city clerk by 5 p.m. the 10thday after the canvass • City clerk notifies the person who received the next highest number of votes • If there is more than one person who received the next highest number of votes, lots are drawn • If accept, that person is duly elected UNLESS • They decline in writing within 10 days after notice from city clerk, then the office is vacant OR • A petition is filed requesting a special election. The petition must be signed by eligible electors of the city equal in number to 25% of the people who voted for the office in question.

  24. WRITE-IN VOTES • City Primary Elections • Any person who received write-in votes and who wants to appear on Regular City Election ballot must file an affidavit of candidacy • Must be filed by 5 p.m. on the day following the canvass • Can be filed with city clerk or county auditor

  25. WRITE-IN VOTES • Cities with Runoff Provisions • If a write-in candidate is elected and declines the office: • Write-in winner must file letter of resignation with city clerk or county auditor by 5 p.m. on the day following the canvass • All remaining write-in persons who wish to be considered candidates for runoff election must file affidavits of candidacy with city clerk or county auditor by 5 p.m. on the 4th day following the canvass

  26. WRITE-IN VOTES • Cities with Runoff Provisions • If a runoff is necessary and write-in votes were cast: • Everyone who received write-in votes must file an affidavit of candidacy • Runoff election held even if one of remaining candidates has a majority after write-in votes were disregarded

  27. VACANCIES • City Council may fill by appointment or Special Election • Appointment • Made within 40 days after vacancy occurs • City council must publish notice of intention to appoint and the right of the people to call a special election by petition • Cities with runoff provisions or Ch. 44 or 45 provisions • Vacancies occurring on or before 52 days before the regular city election must be filled at the regular city election (unless filled by an earlier election) • Offices with vacancies filled by appointment must be on the ballot

  28. VACANCIES • By special election by petition • Petition must be filed with city clerk within (whichever is later): • 14 days of publication of intent to appointment OR • 14 days after the appointment is made • Signature Requirements = • Total votes cast for that office at last regular election in which office was on ballot Population of CitySignatures (whichever is less) 10,000 or less 15% or 200 10,001 – 50,000 15% or 1,000 50,001 or more 10% or 2,000

  29. VACANCIES • Nominations • Candidate signature formulas and petition forms are the same • Filing periods: • Cities with Primary Election provisions • First day: as soon as notice is given to the auditor • Last day: Friday, 53 days before election, noon • All other nomination methods • First day: as soon as the notice is given to the auditor • Last day: Friday, 25 days before election, noon

  30. SPECIAL ELECTIONS (§39.2) • Special City Elections may be called on the first Tuesday in the following months: • March • May • August • November (in combination with the regular city election or the federal general election) • Special elections to fill vacancies may be held on any available Tuesday provided sufficient notice is given to county auditor

  31. ELECTION COSTS (§47.3) The county auditors conduct the city elections The cost of conducting city elections paid by the city Costs included but are not limited to: • Ballots • Election register & eligibility documents • Newspaper publication • Precinct election officials • Canvass materials • Preparation & installation of voting equipment • Other costs

  32. RESOURCES • County Auditor’s Office • City Attorney • Secretary of State’s Office • www.sos.iowa.gov • 515-281-0145 • Mary Mosiman – Deputy of Elections mary.mosiman@sos.iowa.gov 515-281-5866

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