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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA018 - Candidate's Guide (* CHESTER CANDIDATE'S GUIDE J. CUL VER City Election Secretary of State November 6, 2001 State of Iowa For Candidates Seeking Nomination By Petition (Cities with Runoff Ordinances) WHERE TO GET NOMINATION PAPERS - Call,write or visit: City Clerk or County Auditor's Office QUALIFICATIONS - Candidates for election to city offices must be eligible electors of the city. An eligible elector is a person who meets all of the qualifications to register to vote whether or not the person is registered.Candidates who are seeking election from wards must be residents of the ward at the time the nomination petition is filed and at the time of the election. NOMINATIONS - There are three methods of getting one's name on the ballot for city elections.Ask your City Clerk or County Auditor which of the following applies to your city: (1) For cities with Primary Elections or Runoff Provisions(by petition) Candidates are nominated by petition. Each petition must include a number of signatures equal to at least 2%of the number of people who voted to fill the same office at the last regular election, but not less than 10 signatures. No city will have both a primary and a runoff election. (2) For cities with nominations under Chapter 45 (by petition) Candidates are nominated by petition.The minimum number of signatures is based on the population of the city: Population of the CitX Signatures Rewired Less than 100 5 100 or more, but less than 3,500 10 3,500 or more 25 NOTE: In Chapter 45 cities there is no primary or runoff election. (3) For cities with nominations under Chapter 44(by convention) Nominations are made by a convention attended by at least ten (10)eligible electors, including at least one eligible elector from one-half of the voting precincts in the city. NOTE: In Chapter 44 cities there is no primary or runoff election. NOTE: A separate guide is available for candidates who will be nominated by convention and for candidates in cities with primary elections. WHERE TO FILE - In the Office of the City Clerk WHEN TO FILE - FIRST DAY-Monday,August 27,2001 LAST DAY-Thursday, September 20, 2001 no later than 5 p.m. Thorn nrn -- fil;__ f--- CHECKLIST FOR NOMINATION PETITIONS 1. Getting ready to circulate the nomination petitions: ❑ FILL IN THE TOP.At the top of each page fill in all information requested, including the name of the candidate, the office sought, and the ward or district number, if any. Do this before anyone signs the petition. ❑ INDICATE IF TO FILL VACANCY. If you are seeking election to fill a vacancy in a city office, be sure to indicate that fact on your nomination papers. For example, FOR THE OFFICE OF: Mayor,To Fill Vacancy. ❑ CHECK WARD OR DISTRICT NUMBER. Be sure that the correct district number is on each page of the nomination petitions, if it is needed. ❑ CANDIDATE'S NAME. Be sure that the candidate's name is plainly printed or typed exactly as the candidate wishes it to appear on the ballot, and in exactly the same form on each page of the petition and on the Affidavit by Candidate. Only the candidate's name may be used; no parentheses, quotation marks or titles may be included. 2. Circulating the petitions: ❑ SIGNERS MUST BE QUALIFIED. Each signer must: 1. Be an eligible elector of Iowa(meets the qualifications to register, but is not necessarily registered to vote). 2. Bea resident of the city. Signers of petitions for candidates forward seats must be residents of the ward when they sign. 3. The candidate may not sign the petition. [45.3] ❑ INCLUDE ADDRESSES AND DATES.All signers of nomination petitions must include their residences(number, street or rural route,and city)and the date of signing. 3. Filing out the affidavit by each candidate: ❑ NOMINATION PAPERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT AN AFFIDAVIT BY CANDIDATE. ❑ INCLUDE OFFICE NAME AND WARD OR DISTRICT NUMBER.Be sure that the affidavit includes the name of the same office and ward or district number that appear on the nomination petition. ❑ CANDIDATE'S NAME.The candidate's name must appear on the affidavit in exactly the same form as it appears on the nomination petition. This must be plainly printed or typed exactly as the candidate wishes the name to appear on the ballot. Only the candidate's name may be used; no parentheses, quotation marks, or titles may be included. ❑ NOTARY REQUIRED.A notary public must be present when the candidate signs the affidavit.The notary must also sign the Affidavit by Candidate and include the official title- Notary Public. Other officers who may legally witness oaths may substitute for a notary. ❑ CANDIDATE'S SIGNATURE.The spelling of the name,including initials, should be exactly the same as the spelling of the name on the nomination petitions and as printed on the affidavit.The candidate must sign the affidavit in front of a notary public, or other officer who is empowered to witness oaths. • 4. Getting ready to file: ❑ COUNT THE SIGNATURES. It is wise to file more than the required minimum number of signatures. ❑ BE SURE YOU ARE READY.Once the nomination papers have been accepted for filing nothing can be added to them and they cannot be returned to the candidate. ❑ STAPLE ALL PETITIONS TOGETHER AT THE TOP. DO NOT USE paper clips,rubber bands,or metal clamps. 5. Filing with the City Clerk: ❑ AFFIDAVIT AND PETITIONS MUST BE FILED TOGETHER.No papers will be accepted without both an Affidavit by Candidate and the nomination petitions.The affidavit may be submitted by facsimile machine if the original is mailed to the County Auditor no later than the filing deadline. ❑ FILE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. Your nomination papers will be inspected for completeness before they are accepted for filing. If the papers do not meet minimum filing requirements,they will not be accepted for filing and will be returned. If you file early,you may have time to correct your error and to resubmit your papers. ❑ IF YOU MAIL YOUR PAPERS. Remember that your papers must be received by the city clerk before 5 p.m. on September 20. Postmark dates don't count. ❑ THE DEADLINE IS FIVE O'CLOCK.Papers presented after 5 p.m.on September 20 will be rejected. 2001 CITY ELECTION CALENDAR (Runoff Calendar) DAY AND DATE EVENT Monday, CANDIDATE FILING BEGINS August 27 First day to file with the City Clerk. Thursday, CANDIDATE FILING DEADLINE September 20 Last day to file nomination papers in the Office of the City Clerk. Deadline is 5 p.m. City Clerk's Offices are required by law to be open until 5 p.m. Tuesday, WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE September 25 Last day for candidates to withdraw by filing a written request with the City Clerk. Tuesday, OBJECTION DEADLINE September 25 Last day to file written objections to nomination papers or eligibility of candidate with the City Clerk. Monday, WORRY FREE POSTMARK DATE October 22 Correctly completed voter registration forms postmarked by today are considered timely even if received after October 26. Friday, VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE October 26 Registration closes at 5 p.m.for Regular City Election. Forms postmarked by Monday, October 22 are considered on time even if received after today. Tuesday, REGULAR CFTY ELECTION DAY November 6 Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Exception: under some conditions, the polls may be opened at noon. Thursday, CANVASS OF VOTES FOR RUNOFF CITIES November 8 Board of Supervisors meets at 1:00 p.m.to canvass the election for all cities with run off ordinances. Friday, RECOUNT REQUEST DEADLINE November9 Written request for a recount must be filed in the Office of the County Auditor by 5 p.m.. Sunday, November 11 VETERAN'S DAY-HOLIDAY- Monday, State Office's closed in observance of Veteran's Day November 12 Friday, CONTEST NOTICE DEADLINE November 16 Statement of intent to contest election must be filed with the City Clerk no later than ten days after the election. Monday, WORRY FREE POSTMARK DATE November 19 Correctly completed voter registration forms postmarked by today are considered timely even if received after November 23. Thursday, THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY: State Offices closed 22,and 23. November 22 Friday, VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Deadline does not change because of Holiday. November23 Registration closed at 5 p.m.for Runoff Election. Forms postmarked by Monday, November 19, are considered on time even if received after today. Tuesday, RUNOFF ELECTION DAY, if necessary in cities where the council has chosen the runoff option, December 4 runoffs are held only for seats for which no one received a majority of the votes cast for the office. Monday/Tuesday CANVAS OF VOTES December 10 or 11 Thursday/Friday RECOUNT REQUEST DEADLINE: December 13 or 14 Not more than 3 days after the canvass recount requests must be filed with the County Auditor Friday, December 14 CONTEST NOTICE DEADLINE: Statemnet of intent to contest runoff must be filed with the City Clerk no later than 10 days after the election. For more information please contact: The County Auditor in your County or The City Clerks Office or The Elections Division Office of the Secretary of State Hoover Building, 2nd Floor 1305 East Walnut Des Moines, Iowa 50319 Note: 5151281-0145(voice)or 515/281-5865(TDD) The information furnished in this pamphlet has been compiled in the Office of the Iowa Secretary of State to assist candidates and the public in meeting the requirements of Iowa's election laws. If any errors in compilation or computation have occurred, or if there have been amendments to the Iowa Code, the provisions of the Iowa Code and the Session Laws shall prevail.