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Article 2-3
COUNCIL ELECTIONSections:
2-3-1 Primary Election
2-3-2 Non-Partisan Ballot
2-3-3 General Election Nomination
2-3-4 Election to Office
2-3-5 Candidate Financial Disclosure
2-3-6 Initiative and Referendum
2-3-1 Primary Election
Any candidate who shall receive at the primary election a majority of all the votes cast for the entire election, and not just for any particular office, shall be declared to be elected to the office for which he is a candidate effective as of the date of the general election, and no further election shall be held as to said candidate. If more candidates receive a majority than there are offices to be filled then those equal in number to the offices to be filled receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected.
(98-44, Amended, 10/07/1998)
2-3-2 Non-Partisan Ballot
Elections shall be non-partisan and nothing on the ballot in any election shall be indicative of the support of a candidate.
2-3-3 General Election Nomination
The general election shall be held on the third Tuesday in May. If at any primary election held as above provided there be any office for which no candidate is elected, then as to such office, the primary election shall be considered to be a primary election for nomination of candidates for such office, and the general municipal election shall be held to vote for candidates to fill such office. Candidates to be placed on the ballot at the general municipal election shall be those not elected at the primary election and shall be equal in number to twice the number to be elected to any given office or less than that number if there be less than that number named on the primary election ballot. The persons who receive the highest number of votes for the respective offices at first election shall be the candidates at such second election, even if there were only two names on the primary ballot. Provided that if there be any person who, under the provisions of this article, would have been entitled to become a candidate for any office except for the fact that some other candidate received an equal number of votes therefor, then all such persons receiving an equal number of votes shall likewise become candidates for such office at the general election.
(98-44, Amended, 10/07/1998)
2-3-4 Election to Office
Unless stated elsewhere, the candidates equal in number to the persons to be elected who receive the highest number of votes at the general election shall be declared elected.
(98-44, Amended, 10/07/1998)
2-3-5 Candidate Financial Disclosure
Each candidate for the office of council member shall file a financial disclosure statement on a form prescribed by the clerk when such candidate files a nomination paper. The statement shall contain such information as required by resolution of the council.
2-3-6 Initiative and Referendum
A. Power Reserved; Time of Election
There is reserved to the qualified electors of the town the power of the initiative and the referendum as prescribed by the state constitution. Any initiative or referendum matter may be voted on at the next ensuing primary or general election, or at a special election called by the council.
B. Number of Signatures
1. The total number of registered voters qualified to vote at the last municipal election, whether regular or special, immediately preceding the date upon which any initiative petition is filed shall be the basis upon which the number of qualified electors of the town required to file an initiative petition shall be computed.
2. The basis upon which the number of qualified electors of the town required to file a referendum petition shall be as determined by state law.
C. Time of Filing
1. Initiative petitions shall be filed at least one hundred twenty days prior to the election at which they are to be voted upon.
2. Referendum petitions shall be filed within thirty days of the adoption of the ordinance or resolution to be referred. If the town clerk is unable to provide petitioners with a copy of the ordinance or resolution at the time of application for an official number or on the same business day of the application, the thirty date period shall be calculated from the date such ordinance or resolution is available.
D. Sample Ballots and Publicity Pamphlets The following procedures relating to sample ballots and publicity pamphlets are hereby adopted for conducting elections at which an initiative or referendum is to be voted upon:
1. A publicity pamphlet, containing the entire text of the official ballot, shall be mailed by the town clerk to each household within the town in which a registered voter resides, not less than ten days prior to the election to which the sample ballot pertains.
2. The pamphlet shall contain the proposition as it will appear on the ballot together with a summary of each proposition. Each summary shall be followed by any arguments supporting the proposition followed by any arguments opposing the proposition.
3. Arguments supporting and opposing propositions appearing on the ballot shall be filed with the office of the town clerk by 5:00 p.m. not less than sixty days prior to the election at which the propositions are to be voted upon. Arguments supporting or opposing propositions appearing on the ballot shall meet the following requirements:
a. Arguments must relate to the propositions proposed by initiative or referred by referendum which will appear on the ballot.
b. Arguments must identify the proposition to which they refer and indicate whether the argument is in support of or opposition to the proposition.
c. Arguments may not exceed three hundred words in length.
d. Arguments must be signed by the person submitting them. Arguments sponsored by an organization shall be signed on behalf of the organization by two executive officers of the organization authorized to take such action. All persons signing documents shall indicate their residence or post office address and give a telephone number.
e. No person or organization shall submit more than one argument for each proposition to be voted upon.
f. Each argument shall be accompanied by a deposit in the amount of $250.00 to offset a portion of the proportionate costs of the paper and printing of the argument. This requirement shall not be waived on any account.
(95-73, Amended, 09/06/1995)
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