The regular election for the choice of members of the Council and for the office of Mayor of the City of Brownfield as provided in Section 14 of Article III of this Charter, shall be held each year on the first Saturday in May, unless a different date is required by state law. The Council may order a special election, under conditions specified elsewhere in this charter for bond issues, Charter Amendments, recall or other purposes deemed appropriate by the City Council. The Council will fix the time and place for holding such special election and provide all means for holding same in accordance with state law.
(Amended by Charter election called 5/6/00)
The Council shall make all regulations which it considers needful or desirable, not inconsistent with this Charter or the laws of the State of Texas, for the conduct of municipal elections, for the prevention of fraud in such elections and for recount of ballots in case of doubt or fraud. Municipal elections shall be conducted by the appointed election authority, who shall also have power to make such regulations not inconsistent with this Charter, with any regulations made by the Council or the laws of the State of Texas.
Any person qualified under Section 15 may have his or her name placed on the official ballot as a candidate for Councilmember or for the office of Mayor of this City at any election held for the purpose of electing Councilmember or Mayor by filing with the Mayor or City Secretary at least forty-five (45) days prior to the date of election a written sworn application in substantially the following form:
"I __________, do hereby declare that I am a candidate for the office of (Councilmember-Mayor) and request that my name be printed upon the official ballot for that particular office in the next City election, I am _____ years of age, a U.S. citizen, a qualified voter of the State of Texas, and am and have been a bona fide resident of the State of Texas for one year immediately next preceding said election, have been a bona fide resident of the City of Brownfield within its present corporate limits for at least twelve (12) months immediately next preceding said election, nor am I otherwise disqualified or ineligible to serve (on the City Council)--(Mayor) if elected. I reside at __________ address Brownfield, Texas. I am aware of the nepotism law of the State of Texas as stated in Chapter 573, Government Code."
_________________________
(Signature of Candidate)
(Amended by Charter election called 5/6/00)
The full names of all candidates for the office of Mayor or the Council as hereinbefore provided, except such as may have withdrawn, died or become ineligible, shall be printed on the official ballots without party designations. If two candidates with the same surnames, or with names so similar as to be likely to cause confusion are nominated, the addresses of their places of residence shall be placed with their names on the ballot. The order of the names on the ballot shall be determined by lot. The official ballots shall be printed not less than twenty (20) days before the date of the election.
At the regular municipal election (or any special election held to fill vacancies on the City Council or vacancy in the office of Mayor) the candidates for the office of Councilmembers, to the number to be elected, who shall have received the highest number of votes cast in such election for each office to be filled shall be declared elected. And the candidate for the office of Mayor who shall have received the highest number of votes cast in such election shall be declared elected.
In case of a tie vote the elected officer shall be determined by lot under the rules, regulations, and under supervision and in the presence of the City Council.
All City elections shall be governed, except as otherwise provided by the Charter, by the laws of the State of Texas governing general and municipal elections, so far as same may be applicable thereto; and in event there should be any failure of the general laws or this Charter to provide for some feature of the City elections, then the City council shall have the power to provide for such deficiency, and no informalities in conducting a City election shall invalidate the same, if it be conducted fairly and in substantial compliance with the general laws, where applicable, and the Charter and ordinances of the City.
Returns of elections, general and special, shall be made by the election officers to the City Council at the time and date provided by state law. At such time the Council shall meet, canvass the returns and declare the results of such elections.
(Amended by Charter election called 5/6/00)