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 such regulations not inconsistent with this charter, with any regulations made by the Council or the laws of the State of Texas.
Prior to any municipal election, the City Manager shall cause to be prepared an election calendar showing all pertinent dates affected by the forthcoming election. This Calendar shall be published in the official newspaper prior to any important date listed on the Calendar. All dates shall be in accordance with the legal election dates established by State Law.
Any qualified elector of the City who is otherwise qualified may have his name printed upon the official ballot for the particular office at any election by filing his sworn application with the Mayor or City Manager during the official filing period established by the election calendar.
The full names of all candidates for Mayor or the Council as hereinbefore provided, except such as may have withdrawn, died or become ineligible, shall be printed on the official ballots without party designations.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 place of residence shall be placed with their names on the ballot. The order of the names on the ballots shall be determined by lot.
In the regular municipal officer election for Mayor, the candidate receiving the most votes shall be declared elected. In the regular municipal officer election for Councilmen, the top three vote-getters will be declared elected.
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 of 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 the elections, general and special, shall be given by the election officers to the City Council no more than ten days immediately following said election, at which time the Council shall canvass and declare the results of such election.
Every officer of the City shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, take and subscribe to the following oath or affirmation to be filed and kept in the office of the City Manager:
“I, _______________do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of _______________, of the City of Denver City, State of Texas, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this city; and I furthermore solemnly swear (or affirm), that I have not directly or indirectly paid, offered, or promised to pay, contributed, nor promised to contribute any money or valuable thing, or promised any public office of employment, as a reward for the giving or withholding of a vote at the election at which I was elected, or if the office is one of appointment, to secure my appointment. So help me God.”
The newly-elected Mayor and/or Councilmembers shall begin their terms of office immediately after taking the official oath of office. The oath of office shall be administered immediately after the election is canvassed.
The council by Ordinance may call special elections, and may submit to the qualified voters of the City, at regular and special elections, questions and matters in accordance with this Charter and State law.