[Amended 11-3-1981; 11-5-2002; 11-2-2004; 11-2-2010; 11-4-2014]
a. 
Regular City Elections. Regular City elections shall be held annually on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
b. 
Qualified Voters. All citizens qualified by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Maine to vote in the City and who satisfied requirements for registration prescribed by the law shall be qualified voters of the City within the meaning of the Charter.
c. 
Conduct of Elections. Except as otherwise provided by this Charter, the provisions of the general election laws of the State of Maine shall apply to elections held under this Charter. All elections provided for by the Charter shall be conducted by election authorities as established by law.
a. 
Elective Offices. The following officers shall be elected for the City:
1. 
A Mayor.
2. 
Seven Ward Councilors.
3. 
Seven Wardens.
4. 
Seven Ward Clerks.
5. 
Seven Ward members of the Saco School Board.
b. 
Nomination by Petition. The nomination of candidates for Mayor shall be made by nomination petition. A candidate for Mayor shall become qualified by filing a nomination petition signed by 200 qualified voters in the City. The nomination of candidates for the elective offices of councilor, School Board member, warden, and ward clerk shall be made by nomination petition. A candidate for nomination to the elective office of councilor, warden, ward clerk and School Board member shall become qualified by filing a nomination petition signed by 35 qualified voters from the respective ward. Signatures of City residents living outside the applicable ward of the candidate shall not be counted towards the required total of 35. Nomination petition shall be filed in the office of the City Clerk at least 60 days prior to the date of the municipal election. The nomination and election of these offices shall be nonpartisan.
[Amended 11-6-2018[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This Charter amendment has an effective date of 7-9-2019.
c. 
The City Clerk shall cause specimen ballots to be posted in public places in each ward and at City Hall. These ballots shall contain the names of certified candidates with residence of each and office for which they are a candidate. Such ballots shall be without party mark or designation.
d. 
Wardens and Ward Clerks. The Wardens and Ward Clerks shall serve for two-year terms.
[Amended 8-5-2019[2]]
[2]
Editor's Note: This Charter amendment has an effective date of 1-1-2020
e. 
Saco School Board. The seven members of the Saco School Board shall serve three-year terms and the election for this office shall be non-partisan. One person from each Ward of the City shall be elected by ballot, but no name may be placed upon the ballot until a nomination petition is completed as provided in Subsection b above.
f. 
For the sole purpose of creating a staggered composition to the School Board, the first municipal election to be held hereafter shall be for all seven wards, but the even numbered wards shall elect candidates for terms of only two years notwithstanding any other provisions of this Charter, and the odd numbered wards shall elect candidates for terms of three years. At the expiration of all such terms, including those of the even numbered wards, each election for office of School Board member thereafter shall be for a term of three years.
a. 
Plurality. The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes shall be deemed elected provided the Charter required qualifications are met.
[Amended 11-6-2018[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This Charter amendment has an effective date of 7-9-2019.
b. 
Certified by City Council as required by law, the City Council shall certify the results of the City election.
c. 
Appeals. Appeals from the action of the City Council in certifying City elections may be made to the courts in the manner provided by law.
The City Council may provide for the use of mechanical or other devices for voting or counting the votes not inconsistent with the law.