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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - Miscellaneous Infornation for City Election w MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION FOR THE REGULAR CITY ELECTION TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 3, 1987 (INFORMATION PRESENTED BY THE AMES CITY CLERK'S OFFICE-NOVEMBER, 1986) CLERK'S NOTE : Please be aware that this is dated material . Check before the election to determine if any of this information has been changed. . . . What number of signatures am I required to obtain on my nomination petitions? " ..must be signed by eligible electors equal in number to at least 2% of those who voted to fill the same office at the last regular city election, but not less than ten persons.") (IA CODE REF. 376.4 - 1984) AT LARGE (Georgene Shank) 1,964 last time need 39 signatures this time. SECOND WARD (John Parks) 2,340 last time need 47 signatures this time FOURTH WARD (Pat Brown) 1,792 last time need 36 signatures this time HOSPITAL TRUSTEE need 50 signatures this time . . . When do I have to file the petitions? "The petition must be filed not more than seventy-two days nor less than forty-seven days before the date of the election. . . .Nomination petitions shall be filed not later than five o' clock p.m. on the last day for filing." (IA CODE REF. 376.4 - 1984) NOTE: The election is held " . .on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each odd-numbered year." Therefore, the election in 1987 will be held on NOVEMBER 3. Nomination papers can be filed: No sooner than: August 24, 1987 (August 23 is 72 days prior to the election. This date, however, falls on a Sunday and City offices are not open. ) No later than 5:00 p.m. : September 17, 1987. . . . Where do I have to file my nomination papers? Iowa Code requires that "An eligible elector of a city may become a candidate for an elective city office by filing with the city clerk a valid petition requesting that his or her name be placed on the ballot for that office." (IA CODE REF. 376.4 - 1984) 2 " w (AMES CITY CLERK'S NOTE: It would be extremely helpful to me if you would give my office a call before you come in to file your petitions. You need to fill out an "Affidavit of Candidate" before me. By calling before you come to the office, you will assure that I will be here and your trip will not be wasted. Our phone number is 239-5105. ) . . . I want to pick up papers, but do not want my name (or the name of the person actually running) released at this time. The Ames City Clerk ' s office has held the policy over the years that, since anyone can pick up papers for another individual or can decide after picking up papers that he or she does not actually wish to run for office, we will not release any names to the press until the petitions are formally filed in our office. . . . I have not made a decision about the Council position I want to try to win. Are there any special requirements which I need to consider? The City of Ames is divided into four "wards" and one Council Member is elected from each of those wards. Only eligible electors who are residents of those wards are able to run for those offices and only residents of those wards are eligible to vote for the individuals running for those offices. In addition, two Council Members and the Mayor are elected "at large" . Any eligible elector in Ames can run or vote for these positions. (IA CODE REF. 376.4 - 1984) . . . What happens to my petition after I file it with the City Clerk? "The City Clerk shall deliver all nomination petitions to the County Commissioner of Elections not later than five o' clock p.m. on the day following the last day on which nomination petitions can be filed. " (IA CODE REF. 376.4 - 1984) . . . What if I decide to run, file my petitions and then decide I do not wish to run for office after all ? "Any person on whose behalf nomination petitions have been filed under this section may withdraw as a candidate by filing a signed statement to that effect as prescribed in Section 44.9." (IA CODE REF. 376.4 - 1984) SECTION 44.9: "Withdrawals. Any candidate named under this chapter may withdraw his or her nomination by a written request, signed and acknowledged by that person before any officer empowered to take acknowledgement of deeds. Such withdrawal must be filed as follows:" SECTION 44.9(3) : "In the office of the proper school board secretary or city clerk, at least thirty-five days before the day of a regularly scheduled school or city election." Last day to withdraw in writing in the City Clerk' s office: September 29, 1987 3 . . . Who can sign my nomination papers? Anyone eligible to vote for you can sign your papers. i .e. - if you are running for an "at large" position, any eligible elector in the City can sign your papers but if you are running for a "ward" position, only those eligible electors in the ward can sign your petition. . . . There is a place on the back of the petitions which requires the "signature of Eligible Elector". Who signs here? "The petition must include the signature of the petitioners, a statement of their place of residence and the date on which they signed the petition." (NOTE: this is the front of the petition. ) "The petition must include the affidavit of at least one eligible elector other than the petitioners, stating the affiant's knowledge, information, and belief as to the residence of the petitioners. The candidate for whom the petition is filed may sign the affidavit only if he or she personally circulated the petition. If the affiant also signed the nomination petition, that signature shall not be counted toward the total required by this section." (IA CODE REF. 376.4 - 1984) . . . I feel that the incumbents will have an unfair advantage over me during the campaign in that they will be aware of issues and may have information not available to me. What can I do? t has been In the past, i s b the practice of the Council to order the City o p a Clerk t provide packet of the same information that each of the Council Members receive before a meeting to each of the individuals Clerk assumes that this pa st practice running for office. The City Cle a P will be continued for this election. If the Council so directs me, the packets will be provided beginning with the first possible meeting after the filing of your nomination papers. . . . Who "runs" the elections? The Story County Commissioner of Elections (Alvina McHone - Story County Auditor) runs all elections within Story County. . . . Election night - where do I obtain results? Check with the Commissioner of Elections or the City Clerk just prior to the election to find out the procedure. . . . When are "run-off" elections held? Run-off elections are held when a sufficient number of candidates necessary to fill the positions do not receive "a majority vote in the regular city election." (IA CODE REF. 376.9) The run-off is then held "four weeks after the date of the regular city election and shall be conducted in the same manner as regular city elections." (IA CODE REF. 376.9) RA-OFF uATLI: December 1, i987 4 "Candidates in the run-off election who receive the highest number of votes cast for each office on the ballot are elected to the extent necessary to fill the positions open." (IA CODE REF. 376.9) . . . When are the election results "official "? The election results are "official " once the "county board of supervisors. . .publicly canvass the tally lists of the vote cast in the regular city election, following the procedures prescribed in section 50.24, at a meeting to be held beginning at one o' clock in the afternoon on the second day following the regular city election." (IA CODE REF. 376.9) . . . Is there anything else I should know? Campaign Finance Disclosure Kits: Obtain from the Story County Auditor's office, Courthouse, Nevada, Iowa 50201 (233-4579) Ward/Precinct maps: Can be obtained from the Ames City Clerk' s office. (We have blank City maps and have drawn out the wards and precincts for our own use. You are welcome to come in and use one of our maps to draw in your wards and precincts. We have attempted to photocopy our maps in the past and will be glad to do so for you. The quality on the photocopied maps is extremely poor, however, and there is a nominal charge for the copies. ) Placement of campaign signs: Check with the City Clerk' s office or the City Attorney. As other questions arise, please do not hesitate to contact the City Clerk's office. If we do not know the answer to your question, we will either find the answer or direct you to someone who can answer your question.