HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 2025-01 ORDINANCE NO. 2025-01
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD,
TEXAS, ORDERING THE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE 3RD DAY
OF MAY,2025,FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING TWO COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
POSITIONS FOUR(4)AND SIX(6); MAKING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED TO
SUCH ELECTION;AND PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF.
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WHEREAS,the Friendswood City Council deems that, in accordance with the laws of the State of
Texas, a general election should occur on May 3, 2025, for the purpose of electing a Councilmember to
Position No. Four(4)and a Councilmember to Position No. Six(6); and
WHEREAS, the Friendswood City Council wishes to proceed with the ordering of such election,
and the City Council has determined 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 the Code,an ordinance should
be passed establishing the procedures to be followed for the general election to be held on May 3, 2025;
NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD, 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 election is hereby ordered to be held in and throughout
the City of Friendswood on May 3, 2025, 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:
Councilmember,Position No.Four(4);and
Councilmember,Position No. Six(6).
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 Councilmember
by filing a sworn application with the City Secretary of the City of Friendswood no later than 5:00 p.m.,
February 14,2025. 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:
Office Qualifications
➢ 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
Councilmember the corporate limits of the City of Friendswood,including territory annexed prior
to the filing deadline;
➢ shall be at least 21 years of age;
D. shall meet the requirements for sponsors stipulated in the Charter; and
> shall meet such other requirements as set forth in Chapter 141 of the Texas
Election Code and in the Charter of the City of Friendswood,Texas.
Section 4. Ballot for General Election. That the form of the ballot for said general election
shall be substantially as follows:
OFFICIAL BALLOT
Vote for the candidate of your choice in each race by placing an'X'or filling
in the shape beside the candidate's name.
COUNCILMEMBER POSITION NO.4
COUNCILMEMBER POSITION NO. 6
Section 5. Placement on/Removal from Ballot. That any person eligible for the office of City
Councilmember 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 21,2025,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. The candidates receiving a
majority of votes for the position to be filled at such election shall be declared elected.
Section 7. Election Services. That the general election called in Section 1 hereof shall be held
pursuant to an election services agreement to be entered into with Galveston County and a joint election
agreement to be entered into with Harris County.
Section 8. Polling Locations. That the City shall use the polling places along with election
officials for the general election ordered in Section 1 hereof as designated by Galveston and Harris Counties
as further described in Sections 10 and 11 hereinbelow.
Section 9. Voting Equipment. Hart InterCivic 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 who 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
Galveston and Harris Counties. The location of the main early voting polling places for each county is as
follows:
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Gah eston County Harris County
Galveston County Courthouse
Dwight D. Sullivan Teneshia Hudspeth
Galveston County Clerk Harris County Clerk's Office
Elections Division Elections Department
10000 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway 1001 Preston,4th Floor,Room 440
Suite 1152 Houston,TX 77002
Texas City, TX 77591
Hart InterCivic Verity equipment shall be used for early voting by personal appearance. Early
voting by personal appearance shall commence on April 22,2025,and end on April 29,2025,in accordance
with the schedules established by Galveston and Harris Counties: Hart InterCivic Verity equipment shall
be used for early voting by mail in both Galveston and Harris Counties.Applications for ballots to be voted
by mail should be mailed as follows:
(a) For Galveston County:
By Regular Mail By Fax" By Common or Contract Carrier
Galveston County Courthouse
ATTN: Ballots by Mail Dwight D. Sullivan
do Dwight Sullivan Galveston County Clerk
Galveston County Clerk (409)765-3249 Elections Division
P.O.Box 17253 10000 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway
Galveston, TX 77552-7253 Suite 1152
Texas City,TX 77591
By email(' : absL co.galveston.tx.us
Phone No.:409-770-5108 Website: http otes.org
tr)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 later than the 4th business day after
receiving the emailed or faxed ABBM or faxed FPCA,to the address shown above for Regular
Mail.
(b) For Harris County:
By Regular \lail By Faxes" ( onunon or ( ontract ('arricr
1 eneshia Hudspeth Teneshia Hudspeth
Harris County Clerk's Office (713)755-4983 Harris County Clerk's Office
Elections Department or Elections Department
P.O.Box 1148 (713)437-8683 1001 Preston,4th Floor,Room 440
Houston,TX 77251-1148 Houston, TX 77002
By email'): bctx.net
Phone No.: (713)755-6935 Website:blw://harrisvotes.org
(1)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 later than the 4th 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 voted
by mail is April 22,2025 (received,not postmarked).
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The location of the branch early voting polling places for the City's general election shall be
selected by Galveston and Harris Counties, and may include the following locations within the City of
Friendswood:
Branch Early Voting Polling
Locations within the City of Friendswood
First Baptist Church Friendswood
Club 56 Room,Family Life Center
202 Heritage Dr.
Friendswood,TX 77546
Village on the Park
Town Hall Room
400 E.Parkwood
Friendswood,TX 77546
Section 11. Election Day Voting. The election day voting by personal appearance will take
place on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the polling places selected by Galveston
and Harris Counties,which may include the following polling places within the City of Friendswood:
Election Day Polling
Locations within the City of Friendswood
First Baptist Friendswood
Club 56 Room,Family Life Center
202 Heritage Dr.
Friendswood,TX 77546
Village on the Park
Town Hall Room
400 E.Parkwood
Friendswood,TX 77546
Wedgewood Elementary
Great Hall
4000 Friendswood Link Road
Friendswood,TX 77546
Clear Brook High School
Gym 3
4607 FM 2351
Friendswood,TX 77546
Voters may choose to vote at any designated voting center in Galveston or Harris County,as applicable.
Section 12. Central Counting Stations. The Central Counting Stations to receive and tabulate
voted ballots shall be at the locations designated by Galveston and Harris Counties.
Section 13. 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 not later
than the 21 s1 day prior to the date set for the election; and a substantial copy of this election ordinance also
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shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City,the date of the
publication to be not more than 30 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date set for the general
election.Notice of the general election shall also be provided to the Galveston County Clerk and the Harris
County Clerk not later than the 60'day before the date of the election ordered herein.
Section 14. 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 15. 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 16. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after its
passage by the City Council of the City of Friendswood,Texas.
INTRODUCED, READ AND PASSED on first and final reading by the affirmative vote
of the City Council of the City of Friendswood on this the 6th day of January, 2025.
MIKE F M ,Mayor
ATT T:
IENDS7/
p O
LETICIA BRYSCH,City Sec 04
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ST-1 rE 00�{-
tIttknt0t
KAREN L.HORNER,City Attorney
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