ARTICLE VII

ELECTIONS

(a) Regular Elections. The regular city election shall be held at the time established by state law and as provided for in §2.02(c).

(b) Registered Voter Defined. All citizens legally registered under the constitution and laws of the state of Michigan to vote in the city shall be registered voters of the city within the meaning of this charter.

(c) Conduct of Elections. The provisions of the general election laws of the state of Michigan shall apply to elections held under this charter. All elections provided for by the charter shall be conducted by the election authorities established by law. The election of all city officials shall be on a non-partisan basis.

(d) Special Elections. Special city election shall be held when called by resolution of the council at least forty five (45) days in advance of such election, or when required by this charter or the general laws of this state. Said resolution shall set forth the purpose of such election. No more special city elections shall be called in any one year than the number permitted by statute.

(e) Method of Nomination. Candidates for elective offices shall be nominated by petition. Such petition for each candidate shall be signed by not less than 25 nor more than 50 qualified electors of the city and shall be filed with the clerk not later than the Tuesday prior to the State Primary in each even number year. Each petition shall contain the name of one candidate and no more. No elector shall sign more than one petition for each elective office to be voted upon. In case a qualified elector shall sign petitions for candidates in excess of the number that are to be elected to the several offices, his name shall be counted only on the petition or petitions first filed and shall be stricken by the Board of Election Commissioners from all other petitions for that office. The form of petition shall be substantially as that designated by the Secretary of State for the nomination of non-partisan judicial officers. A supply of official petition forms shall be provided and maintained by the clerk.

(f) Approval of petitions. The Clerk shall accept only nomination petitions which conform with the forms provided and maintained by said clerk, and which, considered together, contain the required number of valid signatures for candidates having those qualifications which are required for the respective elective city offices by this charter. All petitions shall be accompanied by the affidavit of identity provided for by law. When a petition is filed by persons other than the person whose name appears thereon as a candidate, it may be accepted only when accompanied by the written consent of the candidate. Within three days after the last date for filing petitions the clerk shall determine the validity and sufficiency of each nomination petition and whether or not the candidate has the qualifications required for his respective elective city office by this charter and shall write his determinations thereof on the face of the petition. No petition shall be determined to be valid unless the affidavit of identity as provided by law shall be filed with such petition.

Section 7.02 Voting Wards/Precincts.

There shall be one ward in the city with the boundaries of said ward to be the same as the boundaries of the corporate city. The division of the ward into precincts shall be determined by the election commission.

An Election Commission is hereby created consisting of the City Manager, the City Attorney, and the City Clerk. The Election Commission shall appoint a Board of Election Inspectors for each election and shall perform such duties relative to the preparation of voting equipment and or the printing and distribution of official ballots, to be used at special and general city elections and shall have charge of all activities and duties required of it by statute and this charter relating to the conduct of elections in the city.