[Ord. No. 2740, 2-22-2022[1]]
The regular municipal election shall be held annually on the
first (1st) Tuesday following the first (1st) Monday in April or at
such other time as may be required by Missouri law. The Council may
call for other elections at such times as are allowed by Missouri
law. All candidate filings, ballot certifications and elections shall
be scheduled and conducted as required by the St. Louis County Board
of Election Commissioners, except as may be provided herein. The City
Clerk shall be responsible for the publication of all required notices
and the administration of the municipal election process.
[Ord. No. 2740, 2-22-2022]
A.Â
Declarations
Of Candidacy. To qualify for election to the Olivette City Council,
each candidate shall file with the City Clerk a timely candidate packet,
which shall include but may not be limited to a notice of declaration
of candidacy, a nominating petition, and an acceptance of the nomination
signed by the candidate.
B.Â
Candidate
Packet. The City Clerk will assemble a candidate packet that includes
forms for a nominating petition and all State and local paperwork
necessary for filing as a City Council candidate. Candidate packets
may be picked up from City Hall by persons on behalf of a potential
candidate. The City Clerk shall review the packet contents with the
person who picks up the packet and shall record the candidate's name,
the name of person accepting the packet if different from candidate,
and the date and time of pick up.
C.Â
Election
Notice; Dates for Availability Of Candidate Packet, Opening And Closing
Of Filing, And Candidate Certification. The City Clerk shall notify
the public of the availability of candidate packets, the opening and
closing dates and times for filing same, and the date by which candidates
must be certified by the City Clerk to the St. Louis County Board
of Election Commissioners. Candidate packets will be made available
to the public fourteen (14) days prior to the opening of filing. The
dates and times for the opening of filing shall be the same date and
time established by Missouri law. The date for closing of filing shall
be fourteen (14) days prior to the closing of filing as established
by Missouri law. The date for the certification of Council candidates
by the Clerk to the Board of Election Commissioners shall be the close
of filing as established by Missouri law.
D.Â
Nominating
Petition. A candidate's nominating petition shall be signed by not
less than twenty-five (25) registered voters who are entitled to vote
for the candidate so nominated. Each signer shall indicate the address
of his or her residence for verification by the Board of Election
Commissioners.
E.Â
Filing,
Review, And Acceptance Of Candidate Packets.
1.Â
The City Clerk shall designate where candidates shall form a line
to effectuate and determine the order of filing candidate packets.
Candidates shall appear on the ballot in the order of filing a complete
candidate packet and a nominating petition, or a supplemental nominating
petition, the signatures of which have been verified by the Board
of Election Commissioners.
2.Â
Candidates may file candidate packets no sooner than the opening
of filing as prescribed above. The City Clerk will not accept incomplete
candidate packets or those with an insufficient number of signatures
on the candidate's nominating petition.
3.Â
Candidates may file candidate packets, including supplemental nominating
petitions, up to the closing of filing as prescribed above.
4.Â
On receipt of a complete candidate packet with a sufficient number
of nominating signatures, the City Clerk shall forward the nominating
petition to the Board of Election Commissioners for the verification
of such signatures. If a sufficient number of signatures are verified
by the Board, the City Clerk will inform the candidate of his or her
successful filing and the candidate's ballot order.
5.Â
If the number of signatures certified by the Board is found to be
insufficient, the Clerk shall immediately inform the candidate of
the deficiency. A candidate whose nominating signatures are deficient
may submit additional qualifying signatures by filing a supplemental
nominating petition, the form of which shall be provided by the City
Clerk, provided that the supplemental nominating petition is filed
with the City Clerk no later than the close of filing.
6.Â
The City Clerk shall immediately forward any supplemental nominating
petition to the Board of Election Commissioners to verify the additional
signatures. If the number of additional signatures verified by the
Board is sufficient, the City Clerk will inform the candidate of his
or her successful fling and the candidate's ballot order. The date
and time of verification of additional signatures candidate shall
determine the candidate's ballot order.
7.Â
If the number of additional signatures verified by the Board remains
insufficient, the candidate may submit additional signatures through
one (1) or more supplemental nominating petitions, provided that the
candidate can submit the supplemental petition prior to the close
of filing.
8.Â
If the number of additional signatures submitted by any supplemental
nominating petition and verified by the Board remains insufficient,
or if the Board is unable to verify any additional signatures prior
to the candidate certification deadline, the Clerk shall immediately
inform the candidate that he or she will not be certified as a City
Council candidate.
9.Â
The City Clerk shall timely certify to the Board of Election Commissioners
as City Council candidates all persons who file complete candidate
packets, with the required number of nominating signatures verified
as provided herein, with the City Clerk prior to the close of filing.
10.Â
The petition of each candidate nominated to be a member of the Council
shall be preserved until the expiration of the term of office for
which he or she has been nominated.
[Ord. No. 2740, 2-22-2022]
The City Clerk shall provide within the Candidate Packet a form
for voluntary candidate informational statements. Any candidate desiring
to utilize the City's candidate informational statement service shall
deliver his or her informational statement to the City Clerk not later
than the deadline established by the City Clerk. The City shall publish
candidate informational statements as time and other circumstances
may allow. The candidate informational statement is not required for
a declaration of candidacy.
[Ord. No. 2740, 2-22-2022]
A.Â
Returns—
Canvass. On certification of the election returns by the St. Louis
County Board of Election Commissioners, the results of any election,
whether regular or special, shall be declared by the City Clerk at
the next regular Council meeting following the certification. Those
candidates receiving the highest number of votes, for the number of
positions to be filled, shall be declared elected and shall be inducted
into office following such declaration.
B.Â
Tie
Vote. If two (2) or more candidates receive an equal number of votes
and a greater number than any other candidate, when a single position
on the Council is the subject of the election, then the winner shall
be determined by lot from among those having the same number of votes
in a meeting open to the public and to which all candidates have been
invited. At least five (5) days' written notice of the drawing of
lot shall be given to the said candidates.
[Ord. No. 2740, 2-22-2022]
Before entering upon the duties of office, every member, whether
elected or appointed, shall take and subscribe before and file with,
the City Clerk an oath or affirmation that the person possesses all
the qualifications for the office, that the person is not subject
to any of the disqualifications set forth in this Charter, that the
person will support the Constitution and laws of the United States
and of the State of Missouri and the Charter and ordinances of the
City of Olivette and that the person will faithfully discharge the
duties of the office.
