OVERVIEW OF ELECTION PROCESS

Presented by Cathy Connolly

INTRODUCTION

ROLE OF CITY/TOWN CLERK

RESOURCES

WORKING WITH COUNTY

JANUARY 31Campaign finance reports due on January 31

MAY 2

Clerk must have ready for distribution: Nomination paper, affidavit of qualification and

campaign finance laws statement Nomination petitions Financial disclosure forms Political committee statement of organization

and $500 threshold exemption statement

MAY 13 [OPTIONAL]

Primary/General Election: First publication of call of election for weekly

paper 2 times for a weekly paper

MAY 17 [OPTIONAL]

Primary/General Election: First publication of call of election for daily

paper 4 times for a daily paper

MAY 20 [OPTIONAL]

Primary Election: Second publication of call of election for

a weekly paper Fourth time for a daily paper

JUNE 1Deadline for candidates to file: Nomination paper, affidavit of qualification and campaign

finance laws statement Nomination petitions Financial disclosure forms Political committee statement of organization or $500

threshold exemption statement

JUNE 30Primary/General Election: June 30 campaign finance report due

JULY 15Primary Election: Prepare and mail proof of sample ballot to

candidates

JULY 21Primary/General Election: Nomination papers from write-in candidates due

JULY 29Primary Election: Post notice sample ballots available

AUGUST 1Primary Election: County voter registration closes

AUGUST 19Primary Election: Publish city or town financial statement (Time

frame for figures)

AUGUST 26Primary Election: Pre-primary campaign finance report due

AUGUST 30Primary Election Day Calculation of who wins at primary Separate calculation for mayor if directly elected Existing ordinances Charter cities Districts

AUGUST 30 (Cont’d)By way of example 7 candidates are running for 3 council seats and their vote totals are as follows:             John Smith      100             Mary Smith     90             John Doe         90             Mary Doe        70             John Jones       50             Mary Jones      40             Qualified write-in      5             TOTAL 445

445 is then divided by three, the number of seats to be filled, which comes to 148.3 and that result is then divided by two and rounded up to a whole number which means that a candidate receiving 75 or more votes would win at the primary.  So John Smith, Mary Smith and John Doe would fill the 3 seats.  If more candidates than there are offices to be filled had received 75 votes or more, then the top three would be declared winners.

SEPTEMBER 23General Election: Mail proof of sample ballot to candidates

SEPTEMBER 29General Election: Nomination papers from write-in candidates due

Primary Election: Post-primary campaign finance report due

SEPTEMBER 19Primary Election: Council meets to canvass vote

OCTOBER 10General Election: County voter registration closes

OCTOBER 7General Election: Post notice sample ballots available

NOVEMBER 4General Election: Pre-general campaign finance report due

NOVEMBER 28General Election: Council meets to canvass vote

DECEMBER 8General Election: Post-general campaign finance report due

NOVEMBER 8General Election Day!

FEBRUARY 27, 2017

Primary/General: $500 threshold termination statement

due

CALCULATING NOMINATION PETITION SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT

FOR CITIES WITH DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYOR

For Mayor and Council elected at largeAt least 5% and not more than 10% of total vote cast in the City for MAYOR in the last preceding election

For Council district electionsAt least 5% and not more than 10% of total vote cast in the District for MAYOR in the last preceding election

Add the votes cast for the candidates for the office of mayor including qualified write-ins at the last election and calculate percentage.

If mayor was not elected at last preceding election, use next calculation.

CALCULATING NOMINATION PETITION SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT (CONT.)

FOR CITIES W/OUT A DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYORAt least 5% and not more than 10% of vote cast in the City for the COUNCILMEMBER receiving the highest vote at the last preceding election.

FOR TOWNS At least 5% and not more than 10% of vote cast in the Town for the COUNCILMEMBER receiving the highest vote at the last preceding election.

LOCAL ORDINANCE OPTION

CALCULATION OF SIGNATURES FOR INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL PETITIONS

INITIATIVES AND REFERENDUMS

Total number of VALID BALLOTS CAST at the last city or town election where a mayor or at large councilmember was elected

For initiatives, 15%; for referendum, 10%

Can pass local ordinance to use something other than valid ballots as the basis for the calculation for initiatives only

CALCULATION OF SIGNATURES FOR INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL PETITIONS (CONT.)

RECALL PETITIONS

FOR MAYOR OR DISTRICT COUNCILMEMBER

Add actual votes cast for all candidates including qualified write-ins for the office at the last general election and multiply by 25%

FOR AT LARGE COUNCILMEMBER

Add actual votes cast for all council candidates including qualified write-ins at the last general election. Divide by the number of offices filled at that election and then multiply the result by 25%.

QUESTIONS