The general city election shall be held annually on a date set by ordinance which shall be a date authorized by Texas state law, at which time officers will be elected to fill those offices which become vacant that year. The city council shall fix the hours and place of holding such election. The city council may order a special election, fix the time and place for holding same and provide all means for holding such special election.
(Ordinance 910, sec. 1, adopted 5/11/99; Ordinance 2020-35, prop. S, adopted 11/10/20)
The city 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 the recount of ballots in case of doubt or fraud. Municipal elections shall be conducted by the appointed election authorities who shall also have power to make regulations not inconsistent with this charter or with any regulations made by the council or the laws of the State of Texas.
Any qualified person who desires to become a candidate for election to a place on the city council shall file, with the city secretary no sooner than and not later than the dates prescribed by law, an application signed by such candidate for the candidate’s name to appear on the ballot.
(Ordinance 910, sec. 1, adopted 5/11/99; Ordinance 1001, sec. 1, adopted 6/13/06)
The names of all candidates for office, except such as may have withdrawn, died or become ineligible, shall be printed on the official ballots without party designations in the order determined in accordance with Texas state law. All official ballots shall be printed at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of any general or special election, and absentee voting shall be governed by the general election laws of the State of Texas.
(Ordinance 2020-35, prop. T, adopted 11/10/20)
At any general or special municipal election, the candidates for the offices, up to the number to be elected to any one (1) office, who shall have received the greater number of votes cast in such election shall be declared elected. In the event a tie vote makes it impossible to determine the winning candidate, the council shall proceed in accordance with Texas state law.
(Ordinance 2020-35, prop. U, adopted 11/10/20)
The election judges and other necessary election officials for conducting all such elections shall be appointed by the city council, except for said times when the City Council chooses to contract with another governmental subdivision to conduct the election. The City shall conduct the elections and report the results as provided by the general election laws of the State of Texas. The returns of every municipal election shall be delivered forthwith to the City Secretary. The Council shall canvass the returns and declare the official results of the election as prescribed by state law.
(Ordinance 2018-12, prop. C, adopted 5/8/18)
Every officer of the city shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation of office as prescribed by Texas state law.
(Ordinance 2020-35, prop. V, adopted 11/10/20)