Section 13.1. Time of elections
A regular election for the choice of elective municipal officials shall be held
biennially on the first Tuesday in April in odd-numbered years following a non-partisan
primary election to be held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February.
A person shall become a candidate for such office upon filing a statement of
candidacy for the city council position and upon the city clerk's determining
that the person meets the qualifications for the position. A statement of candidacy
shall be filed with the city clerk not more than fifty (50) days prior to the
deadline for notification to the county election authority before the primary
election, and not later than seven (7) days prior to such deadline. For each
position of zone councilmember or mayor, in the event the mayor is to be directly
elected by the popular vote of the qualified voters, the city clerk shall certify
as eligible for the general election the two candidates who have received the
greatest number of votes. The city clerk shall certify a number of candidates
for general councilmembers equal to twice the number of positions and shall
certify as eligible for the general election those candidates who have received
the greatest number of votes. In the event candidates are tied then the clerk
shall certify both candidates. In the event there is a number of candidates
equal to or less than the number required to be certified by the city clerk
for the position of zone councilmember, general councilmember, or mayor, then
the City shall not be required to have a primary election for that position
or positions and the city clerk shall thereafter certify the names of candidates
filing as eligible for the municipal election to be held in April. The city
council may establish by ordinance provisions for holding municipal elections
as well as special elections consistent with the Charter and state law.
A regular election for the choice of elective municipal officials shall be held
biennially on the first Tuesday in April in odd-numbered years unless otherwise
provided for by law. The council may by resolution order special elections,
fix the time and provide for holding the same.
Approved by vote of the people April 3, 1984.
Section 13.2. Regulations of elections
The council shall provide by ordinance all regulations which it considers needful
or desirable, not inconsistent with this Charter or state laws, for the conduct
of municipal elections, including notice, 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 city clerk
unless otherwise provided by law.
Approved by vote of the people August 8, 1978.
Section 13.3. When magistrate may conduct election
If, at any time, by reason of nonacceptance, resignation, refusal to qualify,
or for any other cause, there shall be no officers of the city to order and
conduct an election, the senior judge of the Greene County Circuit Court having
jurisdiction in the City of Springfield is empowered to order and conduct an
election for city officers, declare the results thereof, and install the newly
elected officials.
Approved by vote of the people August 8, 1978.
Section 13.4. Vacancies created by recall - Election
A vacancy in the office of the mayor, general councilmember or zone councilmember
following the filing of a sufficient petition for recall of such office holder
as provided for in Sections 14.11 and 14.13 shall be filled for the unexpired
term of such officer by the qualified voters of the City at large for general
councilmember and the mayor or by the qualified voters of the zone for a zone
councilmember. When such vacancy occurs, the council shall immediately fix a
date for holding an election to fill such vacancy. The election to fill such
vacancy shall be held at the earliest possible date or on any other election
date established by state law provided such date falls within thirty (30) days
of the earliest possible date permitted by law. The nomination of a qualified
candidate to fill such vacancy shall be by petition for the unexpired term of
a specific office. The petition for a zone councilmember shall be signed by
not less than one hundred registered voters who are entitled to vote for the
candidate so nominated. The petition for an official elected by the entire City
shall be signed by not less than two hundred registered voters of the City.
The city council shall establish the form for the nominating petition, procedures
pertaining to the filing and verification of the same including the date for
the filing of nominating petitions, provided the city council shall allow at
least thirty (30) days for such nominations. A primary election shall not be
held. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for the office shall
be declared elected and inducted into office at that time.
Section 13.4.1. Nomination by petition
Nominations of candidates for all elective offices shall be by petition. Petitions
for zone councilmembers shall be signed by not less than one hundred (100) registered
voters who are entitled to vote for the candidate so nominated. Petitions for
officials elected by the entire city shall be signed by not less than two hundred
(200) registered voters of the city.
No voter shall sign more than one nominating petition for the same office, and
should a voter do so, his signature shall be void except as to the petition
first filed. This provision shall not be construed as preventing a voter from
signing both a petition for a councilmember from his own zone and also for as
many general councilmembers as are to be elected. Each signer of a petition
shall designate his residence by street and number, or by other description
sufficient to identify his place of residence.
The signatures on the nominating petition need not all be appended to one paper,
but each separate paper shall bear the statement setting forth the election
date, the office to be filled, and the name of the candidate on whose behalf
the petition is being filed. In addition there shall be attached to each such
paper a signed statement of the circulator thereof, stating the number of signers
of such paper, that each signature appended thereto was made in his presence
and is the genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be, and
that he believes each such signer to be a legal voter.
Nominating petitions shall be filed with the city clerk with the statement of
candidacy, and shall be in substantially the following form:
We, the undersigned registered voters of the City of Springfield, Missouri,
respectfully petition and request the name of __________________ residing at
___________________, be placed upon the ballot as a candidate for the office
of ______________________ to be voted for at the election to be held on the
______ day of __________, 19___, and we, individually, signify that our names
have appeared on the roll of registered voters within the last year, and that
we are qualified to vote for this candidate:
Name Street and Number Date of Signing
__________________ ____________________ _____________
__________________ ____________________ _____________
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATOR
The undersigned is the circulator of the foregoing paper containing ______ signatures.
Each signature appended thereto was made in my presence and is the genuine signature
of the person whose name it purports to be. I am a registered voter, qualified
to vote for this candidate, and I believe each signer is a registered voter
qualified to vote for this candidate.
(Signature of Circulator)
(Address)
ACCEPTANCE OF NOMINATION
AND STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY
I hereby accept the nomination for the office of ____________ and file this
statement of candidacy. I declare that I meet all requirements to hold said
office, and that I agree to serve if elected.
(Signature of Candidate)
Date and hour of filing:
This petition is filed by _____________ whose address is _____________. Received
by _____________.
(Signature of City Clerk)
Within five (5) days after the filing of a nominating petition the city clerk
shall notify the candidate and the person who filed the petition whether or
not it is found to be sufficient. If a petition is found insufficient, the city
clerk shall return it immediately to the person who filed it with a statement
certifying wherein the petition is found insufficient. Within the regular time
for filing petitions a new or supplemental petition may be filed for the same
candidate. The petition of each candidate nominated shall be preserved by the
city clerk until the expiration of the term of office for which he has been
nominated.
Approved by vote of the people April 3, 1984.
Section 13.5. Preparation of ballots
The names of candidates for elective offices shall be printed on the ballots
in rotation, without party designation as follows: The ballots shall be printed
and distributed among the various voting places in as many series as there are
candidates, so that the name of each candidate shall appear in each position
on the ballots as printed and distributed substantially an equal number of times;
except that such provision shall not apply to names of candidates when mechanical
or other devices for voting or counting votes are used not inconsistent with
state law. When mechanical or other devices for voting or counting votes are
used, the names of the candidates for each office shall be listed on the ballot
in the order in which they are filed and certified as sufficient by the city
clerk. The names of candidates in election notices shall be printed in alphabetical
order.
Approved by vote of the people April 5, 1977.
Section 13.6. Voting machines
The council shall have the power to provide for the use of mechanical or other
devices for voting or counting the votes not inconsistent with state law.
Section 13.7. Returns; Canvass
Unless otherwise provided for by law, the council shall canvass the election
returns and declare the results of any municipal election regular or special,
at a meeting to be held not later than one week following such election. The
candidate or candidates receiving the highest number of votes for each office
shall be declared elected and inducted into office at that time.
Section 13.8. Tie vote
If at any municipal election there shall be no choice between candidates by
reason of two or more having received an equal number of votes, the council
shall proceed to determine the election by lot in a meeting open to the public
and to which all candidates have been invited.
Section 13.9. Voting precincts
The wards of the city shall continue as now defined and may be divided into
precincts when necessary subject to change by the council unless otherwise provided
for by law.