The City of Bridgman shall consist of one ward and one election
precinct. The Council may establish by ordinance convenient election
precincts.
At the election upon the adoption of this Charter, the Council
shall consist of seven members, who shall serve until the expiration
of the term of office to which they were elected. Thereafter, each
Councilperson shall be elected for a four-year term pursuant to the
state election law.[1] Members of the Council may serve two consecutive four-year
terms but thereafter shall be ineligible to run for additional terms
until passing one term out of office. (Modified by separate ballot
proposal, adopted November 7, 2006.)
All powers of the City of Bridgman, except as otherwise provided
by statute or this Charter, shall be vested in the Council.
[1]
Editor's Note: See MCLA § 168.1 et seq.
Regular City elections shall be held on the first Tuesday after
the first Monday of November in odd years or as provided under the
laws of the State of Michigan.
The inhabitants of the City having the qualifications of electors
in the State of Michigan, and no others, shall be electors of the
City.
The general election laws of the state shall apply and control,
as near as may be, all procedures relating to the registration and
City elections, except as such general laws relate to political parties
or partisan procedure or require more than one publication of notice,
except as otherwise provided in this Charter. The election of all
City officers shall be on a nonpartisan basis.
Special City elections shall be held when called by resolution
of the Council at least 75 days in advance of such election, or when
required by this Charter or the general laws of the state. Any resolution
calling a special election shall set forth the purpose of such election.
No more than two special City elections shall be held in any one fiscal
year.
Notice of the time and place of holding any City election and
of the officers to be elected and the questions to be voted upon,
except as herein otherwise provided, shall be given by the Clerk in
the same manner and at the same time as provided in the state election
law for the giving of notice by the City Clerk.
The polls for all City elections shall be open at 7:00 a.m.
of election day and remain open until 8:00 p.m. of said day, except
as may be modified by the state election law.
The method of nomination of all officers provided for in this
Charter who are to be elected by the electors of the City shall be
by petition. Such petition shall be signed by not less than 20 nor
more than 50 qualified electors of the City. No person shall sign
his or her name to a greater number of petitions for any one office
than there are persons to be elected to said office at said election.
Where a qualified and registered voter signs nominating petitions
for a greater number of candidates for public office than the number
of persons to be elected thereto, his or her signature, if signed
on the same date, shall not be counted upon any petition and, if the
same bears different dates, shall be counted in the order of their
priority of date for only so many candidates as there are persons
to be elected. Nominating petitions shall be filed with the Clerk
as provided under the state election law. The Clerk shall publish
notice of the last day permitted for filing nomination petitions and
the number of persons to be elected to each office not less than 10
days preceding the filing deadline which is the 12th Tuesday preceding
the date of the election, or as required by the state election law.
The form of petition shall be substantially as designated by
the state election law. A supply of official petitions shall be provided
and maintained by the Clerk.
All nominating petitions shall be filed with the Clerk as provided
under the state election law. The Clerk shall examine the petition
or petitions filed for each candidate and if satisfied that the petition
or petitions is (are) valid and sufficient, the Clerk shall endorse
thereon the word "approved" with the date of filing the same. Should
the Clerk determine a petition or petitions for any candidate is (are)
invalid or insufficient, the Clerk shall notify the candidate no later
than three days after the last day for filing petitions of such fact,
by personal messenger if possible. Any candidate whose petition or
petitions is (are) invalid or insufficient shall be permitted to correct
the invalidity or insufficiency within two calendar days after said
notice is served; thereafter no further petitions may be filed.
All nominating petitions shall be open to public inspection
in the office of the Clerk.
The form, printing, and number of ballots or the preparation
of the voting machines used in any City election shall conform, as
nearly as may be to that prescribed by the general laws of this state,
except that no party designation or emblem shall appear. If a ballot
is used, the names of qualified nominees for each office shall be
listed under a separate heading and shall be rotated systematically
as provided by the state election law.
Immediately upon the closing of the polls, the Board of Election
inspectors shall count the ballots and ascertain the number of votes
cast for each of the candidates and upon each of the questions and
propositions voted upon, and shall make immediate returns thereof
to the City Clerk upon blanks to be furnished by the City Clerk. The
City Clerk shall deliver the sealed election envelopes to the County
Clerk on or before 11:00 a.m. of the day following the election.
Specific election procedures, processes and regulations applicable
to City elections are referenced through state election law, including
procedure on absentee ballots, canvas of votes, recount and recall,
currently Act 116 of PA 1954 (MCLA § 168.1 et seq.).
