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Home My WebLink AboutOrdinance No. 2026-04 ORDINANCE NO. 2026-04 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FRIENDS WOOD, TEXAS, ORDERING THE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE 2' DAY OF MAY, 2026, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING COUNCILMEMBERS TO POSITIONS TWO(2)AND FIVE(5);MAKING 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 2, 2026, for the purpose of electing a Councilmember to Position No. Two (2) and a Councilmember 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 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 2, 2026; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FRIENDS WOOD,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 2, 2026, 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.Two(2);and Councilmember,Position No. Five(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 Councilmember by filing a sworn application with the City Secretary of the City of Friendswood no later than 5:00 p.m., February 13,2026. 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 the corporate limits of the City of Friendswood, including territory annexed prior Councilmember to the filing deadline; > shall beat least 21 years of age; > 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.2 COUNCILMEMBER POSITION NO. 5 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 20,2026,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. 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 County 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 County. The location of the main early voting polling places is as follows: Galveston County Courthouse 10000 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway Suite 1152 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 20,2026,and end on April 28,2026,in accordance 2 with the schedules established by Galveston County. Hart InterCivic Verity equipment shall be used for early voting by mail in Galveston County.Applications for ballots to be voted by mail should be mailed as follows: By Regular Mail By Fax()) 13) ( „moron or Contract ( a(Tier Galveston County Courthouse ATTN: Ballots by Mail Dwight D. Sullivan c/o 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 emailt1t: absenteeballotaphlieations a:co. 'alveston.tx.us Phone No.: 409-770-5108 Website: http://galvestonvotes.orE2, (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 Early Voting Clerk to be voted by mail is April 20,2026(received, not postmarked). The location of the branch early voting polling places for the City's general election shall be selected by Galveston County and may include the following locations within the City of Friendswood: Branch Earl) Voting Polling Locations within the City of Friendswood First Baptist Church Friendswood 209 S Friendswood 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 2, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the polling places selected by Galveston County,which may include the following polling places within the City of Friendswood: Election Day Polling Locations within the City of Friendswood First Baptist Friendswood 209 S Friendswood Dr. Friendswood TX 77546 Village on the Park Town Hall Room 400 E.Parkwood Friendswood,TX 77546 Voters may choose to vote at any designated voting center in Galveston County. 3 Section 12. Central Counting Stations. The Central Counting Stations to receive and tabulate voted ballots shall be at the locations designated by Galveston County. 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 S`day 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 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 not later than the 60th 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 5tl day of January, 2026. 4. 1 JO 1 LLISOR, Mayor Pro Tem ATTEST: • CF 0 1EN4S RAQ EL TINEZ, City Secrets 1ALTI•04 �" O U ..H p i APPROVED AS TO FORM: "\•17- OF - KAREN L. HORNER,City Attorney H:\City Council\Ordinances\202610 I-05-2026\0rdinance-Calling the General Municipal Election for Positions 2 and 5.docx 4