HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 2023-07ORDINANCE NO. 2023-7
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD,
TEXAS, ORDERING THE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE 6 TH DAY OF
MAY, 2023, FOR T14E PURPOSE OF ELECTING TWO COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
POSITIONS TWO (2) AND FIVE (5); MAIUNG OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED TO
SUCH ELECTION; AND PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE, THEREOF,
WHEREAS, the Friendswood City Council deems that, in accordance with the laws of the State of
Texas, a General Election should occur on May 6, 2023, for the purpose of electing a Cuuncilmember to
Position No. Two (2) and a Councilmeniber to Position No. Five (5); and
WHEREAS, the Friendswood City Council wishes to proceed with the ordering of such election
and the City Council has deter niined that holding such election is in the public interest-, and
WHEREAS, the laws of the State of Texas further provide that the Texas Election Code ("Code")
is applicable to all general municipal elections and in order to comply with said Code, an ordinance should
be passed establishing the procedures to be followed for the May 6, 2023, election; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FRTENDSWOOD, STATE OF
TEXAS:
Section 1. General Election. In accordance with the Charter of the City of Friendswood and
the laws and the Constitution of the State of Texas, a General Municipal Election is hereby ordered to beheld
in and throughout the City of Friendswood on May 6, 2023, between the hours of 7:00 o'clock a.m. and 7:00
o'clock p.m. at which General Election all qualified voters of the City of Friendswood, Texas (the "City") may
vote for the purpose of electing the following officials of the City:
Councilmernber, Position No. 2; and
Councilineniber, Position No. 5.
Section 2. Placement on Official Ballot. That any eligible and qualified person may have
his/her name printed upon the official ballot as an independent candidate for the office of Couricilineiriber
by filing a sworn application with the City Secretary of the City of Friendswood, no later than 5:00 p.m.,
February 17, 2023. The form of the sworn application for the candidates for the office of Councilmember
shall be as set forth by Section 141.031 of the Texas Election Code.
Section 3. Candidate Qualifications, That the qualifications of the Councilmembers are as
follows:
> shall be a citizen of the United States of America;
> shall be a qualified voter of the State of Texas and the City of Friendswood;
shall have resided for at least twelve (12) months preceding the election within
the corporate limits of the City of Friendswood, including territory annexed prior
Councilincinber to the filing deadline;
> shall be at least 21 years of age;
shall meet the requirements for sponsors stipulated in the Charter; and
shall DICCt Such other requirements as set forth in Chapter 141 of the Texas
Election Code and in the Charter of the Ci tv of Friendswood, Texas.
Section 4. Ballot. That the forin of the ballot for said general election shall be substantially
as follows:
Vote for the candidate of your choice in each race by placing anWor filling
in the shape beside the candidate's name.
Section 5. Placement on/Rernoval from Ballot. That any person eligible for the office of
City Councili-nember who has filed his/her own sworn application in accordance with the provisions of this
ordinance shall have his/her name printed on the official ballot. On or before February 24, 2023, any such
person may cause his/her name to be withdrawn by filing, in writing, with the City Secretary, a request to
that effect over his/her own signature, duly attested to by a Notary Public. No names so withdrawn shall
be printed on the ballot.
Section 6. Determination of Ballots for• General Election. Tile candidates receiving a
majority of votes for the position to be filled at such election shall be declared elected.
Section 7. Joint Election. That the general election called in Section I hereof shall be held
as ajoint election with Harris County and Galveston County pursuant to the joint election agreement to be
entered into with each county.
Section 8. Polling Locations. That the City shall use the polling places along with election
officials for the general election ordered in Section hereof as designated by Hari -is County and Galveston
County.
Section 9. Voting Equipmen , Hart lnterCivic Verity equipment shall be used for voting at
the designated election precincts, and electronic counting devices and equipment shall be used for counting
the ballots at the general election.
Section 10. Early Voting. Each qualified voter Nvlio desires to cast an early vote shall be
entitled to an official ballot and the right to cast such ballot in accordance with the provisions of the Texas
Election Code. Early voting will be conducted by the Early Voting Clerks at the places designated by Harris
County and Galveston County. The location of the main early voting polling place for each county is as
follows:
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Galveston County Courthouse
Dwight D. Sullivan Clifford Tatum
Galveston County Clerk Harris County Election Administrator
Election Division 1001 Preston, 4th Floor, Room 440
600 59"' St, 2"' Floor, Suite 2001 Houston, TX 77002
Galveston, TX 77551
Hart intercivic Verity equipment shall be used for early voting by personal appearance. Early voting
by personal appearance shall conimence on April 24, 2023, and end on May 2, 2023, in accordance with
the schedules adopted by Harris and Galveston Counties. Hart Intercivic Verity equipment shall be used
for early voting by mail in Harris County and Galveston County. Applications for ballots to be voted by
mail should be availed as follows:
(a) For Galveston County:
A"I"TN: Ballots by Mail
c/o Dwight Sullivan
Galveston County Clerk
P. 0. Box 17253
Galveston, TX 77552-7253
Galveston County Courthouse
Dwight D. Sullivan
(409) 7 5-3249 Galveston County Clerk
Election Division
600 59"' St., 2"' Floor, Suite 2001.
Galveston, TX 77551.
Phone No.: 409-770.5108 1 debsi(e. hm)://t alvcstorivotcs.ori I
(')If an application is sent to the early voting clerk by fax or entail, the original application niust
still be mailed, and received by the early voting clerk no later than the ", business day after
receiving the ennailed or faxed ABBM or faxed FPCA to the address shown above for Regular
Mail.
(b) For Harris County:
' MEMEEMMMMa 71001Prestoii,
w r
Cliford Tatum
Harris County Election (713) 755 4983ifford Tatum
Administrator or y Election Administrator
Attn: Election Division (713) 437-8683 4th Floor, Room 444
P;0, Box 1148 Houston, TX 77002
Houston, TX 77251-1148
By email('): vbinri)cco.hctx.net
Phone No.: (713) 755-6935 1 Website: lrttiaWharnsvotes.ora
(')If an application is sent to the early voting clerk by fax or email, the original application
must still be mailed, and received by the early voting clerk no latex- than the 411' :business day
after receiving the emailed or faxed ABBM or faxed FPCA, to the address shown above for
Regular Mail.
The last day to submit an application for a ballot to the respective Early Voting Clerk to be voter'
by mail is April 25, 2023 (received, not postmarked).
Section 11. Central Counting Stations. The Central Counting Stations to receive and tabulate
voted ballots shall be at the locations designated by Harris and Galveston Counties,
Section 12.. Election Notice. The general election shall be held in accordance with, and shall.
be governed by, the election laws of the State of Texas. In the general election, the Mayor and the City
Secretary of the City of Friendswood shall do and perform each act as required to be done and performed
respectively by the County Judge and the County Clerk of the Commissioners' Court. The notice of the
general election shall be given by posting a substantial copy of this election ordinance at City Hall and at
three other places in the City, not later than the 2111 clay prior to the date set for the election; and a substantial
copy of this election ordinance also shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation
published in the City„ the date of the first publication to be not more than 30 days and not less than 10 days
prior to the elate set for the general election. Notice of the general election shall also be provided to the
Harris County Clerk and Galveston County Clerk not later than (lie 60", clay before the date of the election
ordered herein.
Section 13. Further Action. The City Secretary is further authorized to give or cause to be
given notices required for the general election, and to take such other and further action as is required to
conduct such election in compliance with the Texas Election Code.
Section 14. Compliance with Law. In all matters relating to the ordering, giving notice, and
holding the general election, the City shall comply with the applicable parts of the Texas Election Code,
including Chapter 272 of the Texas Election Code pertaining to bilingual requirements, and the Federal
Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended.
Section 15. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after its
Passage by the City Counci I of the City of Fri endswood, Texas.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED by the affirmative vote of the City Council of the City of
Friendswood on this the 6"' day of February, 2023. —.--A
AT T:
LETICIA BRYSCH, City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
KAREN L. HORNER, City Attorney
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