Chapter 4.16
ELECTION DATES AND ADMINISTRATION
Sections:
4.16.010 Time of election.
4.16.020 Notice of election.
4.16.030 Precinct election officials.
4.16.040 Ballots—Form.
4.16.050 Ballots—Distribution.
4.16.060 Election materials.
4.16.070 Reporting voting information to the state.
4.16.080 Expenses.
4.16.010 Time of election.
A. Regular elections shall be held at the times specified by Section 4.04.040. Special elections may be held in accordance with Section 4.04.050.
B. The polls in each voting precinct shall be open from seven a.m. until eight p.m. on all election days for the purpose of voting. (Prior code § 18.20.010)
4.16.020 Notice of election.
A. Notice of Voter Registration. The clerk shall publish a notice of voter registration not less than sixty (60) calendar days before each election that is not a run-off election. The notice shall include the qualifications required of voters, the deadline for registering to vote in the election, and places where voters may register.
B. Notice, Publication, and Posting. The clerk shall publish a notice of each election at least twice in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the city. The clerk shall also post the notice in City Hall. The first publication and the posting shall occur at least thirty (30) calendar days before a regular election, twenty (20) calendar days before a special election, and ten (10) calendar days before a run-off election. Each notice of election, shall include:
1. The type of election: regular, special, or run-off;
2. The date of election;
3. The location of the polling places and the hours the polling places shall be open;
4. The offices to which candidates are to be elected;
5. The subjects of propositions to be voted upon;
6. Instructions for absentee/early voting; and
7. Notification that anyone needing special assistance in casting their vote due to a disability or bilingual need shall contact the clerk for assistance at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of casting their ballot.
C. Notice of Bonded Indebtedness. Before a general obligation bond issue election, the clerk shall publish notice of the city’s total existing bonded indebtedness at least once a week for three consecutive weeks. The first notice shall be published at least twenty (20) calendar days before the date of the election. The notice shall state:
1. The current total general obligation bonded indebtedness, including authorized but unsold bonds of the city;
2. The cost of the debt service on the current indebtedness; and
3. The total assessed valuation of property within the city. (Ord. 02-22 § 11, 2002: Prior code § 18.20.020)
4.16.030 Precinct election officials.
A. Appointment, Number. Before each election, the clerk shall recommend to the council for approval at least three election officials for each polling place to constitute the election board for that polling place, and the number of election officials that the clerk considers necessary to conduct absentee voting and early voting. One election official at each polling place shall be designated chairperson and shall be primarily responsible for administering the election at that polling place. If no chairperson is appointed or the chairperson is unable to fulfill the chairperson’s duties, the other election officials shall perform the chairperson’s duties. After council approval, the clerk may adjust the assignments of election officials as required for the proper conduct of the election.
B. Qualifications. Each election official shall be a registered voter, unless no voter is willing to serve. Absentee and early voting officials shall be registered to vote in state elections. There shall be no inquiry into an election official’s political party as a prerequisite to service. A person who appears on the ballot as a candidate or a member of the candidate’s immediate family may not serve as an election official for that election. Unless excused by the clerk, all election officials shall attend training sessions offered by the clerk or borough clerk.
C. Oath. Before commencing to serve, each election official shall subscribe to the oath required of all public officers by the Alaska State Constitution, in the manner prescribed by the clerk.
D. Failure to Serve. If any election official fails or refuses to attend and serve, the clerk or borough clerk shall appoint a person eligible under this section to serve in place of the absent election official. (Ord. 04-24(SUB) §§ 3, 4, 2004; Ord. 02-22 § 12, 2002; Ord. 01-16(SUB) § 3, 2001; prior code § 18.20.030)
4.16.040 Ballots—Form.
A. The clerk shall prepare all official ballots to facilitate fairness, simplicity and clarity in the voting procedure, to reflect most accurately the intent of the voter, and to expedite the administration of elections.
B. The clerk shall determine the size of the ballot, the type of print, necessary additional instruction notes to voters, and other similar matters of form not provided by law. The ballots shall be numbered in series to ensure simplicity and secrecy and to prevent fraud.
C. The names of the candidates shall be printed as they appear upon the nominating petition filed with the clerk, except that any honorary or assumed title or prefix shall be omitted. However, the candidate’s name appearing on the ballot may include a nickname or familiar form of the proper name of the candidate. The names of candidates shall be arranged alphabetically.
D. Below the printed names of candidates appearing on the ballot, shall be blank lines equal in number to the seats to be filled for the office, upon which the voter may write the names of persons not listed on the ballot. (Prior code § 18.20.040)
4.16.050 Ballots—Distribution.
A. The clerk shall have ballots printed for each election. Early, absentee and sample ballots shall be in the clerk’s possession at least sixteen (16) calendar days before a regular or special election and nine calendar days before a run-off election. All other ballots shall be in the clerk’s possession at least seven calendar days before the election. Any candidate or the candidate’s authorized agent may inspect the ballots upon their receipt by the clerk, and any mistake discovered shall be immediately corrected.
B. Sufficient ballots and sample ballots shall be distributed to each election board prior to or on the date of the election before the opening of the polls. The ballots shall be distributed in containers, marked with the number and type of ballots enclosed. A receipt for the ballots, including the number and type of ballots, shall be signed and dated by an election official. The clerk shall keep the receipt as part of the election record.
C. No ballots shall be taken from the polling place before the closing of the polls, unless the clerk for good cause directs that the ballots be removed. A record shall be kept by the election officials of the ballots removed from a polling place. (Ord. 01-16(SUB) §4, 2001; prior code § 18.20.050)
4.16.060 Election materials.
A. The clerk shall equip each precinct polling place with sufficient materials and supplies needed for the election.
B. The clerk shall provide instructions to voters on how to obtain ballots, how to mark them, and how to obtain new ballots to replace those destroyed or spoiled.
C. The clerk shall have sample ballots available to voters which are identical in form to the ballots to be used in the election and which are printed on colored paper and marked “sample.”
D. The clerk shall provide booths and ballot boxes at each polling place, with appropriate supplies and conveniences to enable each voter to mark the ballot screened from observation. At least three sides of each booth shall be enclosed. Ballot boxes shall be placed outside of the voting booths within plain view of the election officials, voters and other persons at the polling places.
E. The clerk may make arrangements with the borough clerk or the state of Alaska for the use of voting machines and other equipment and supplies relating to voting. (Prior code § 18.20.060)
4.16.070 Reporting voting information to the state.
Within sixty (60) calendar days after each election held in the city, the clerk shall send to the Alaska State Division of Elections the official precinct registers, questioned voter registers, early voter registers, and absentee and special needs voting lists containing the names, residence addresses, and the voter identification of all persons who voted in that election. (Ord. 04-24(SUB) § 5, 2004: Ord. 01-16(SUB) § 5, 2001: prior code § 18.20.070)
4.16.080 Expenses.
The city shall pay all necessary election expenses, including those of securing places for polls and providing ballot boxes, ballots, voting booths, screens, national and state flags and other supplies, and any wages due election officials; however, all expenses of making a recount shall be apportioned pursuant to Chapter 4.32. (Prior code § 18.20.080)