Item C: City of Eugene Elections Code Revision

Home Browse Search

Referendum petition. A petition by one or more qualified electors to refer legislation adopted by the council to the electors for their approval or rejection at an election. [Comment: The proposed amendments to the elections code would move the definitions from section 2.970 to the beginning of the elections code. This reorganization makes for easier reading and ensures that the definitions section applies to the entire elections code and not just the provisions of the code governing initiative and referendum measures. The definitions for “candidate,” “certify,” “chief petitioner,” ”city official,” “general election,” “measure” and “primary election” are new. The definitions of “candidate” and “chief petitioner” are taken directly from state law.] 2.962 Elections - Wards. The city council shall by resolution divide the city into eight wards but neither this requirement nor any action pursuant to it disqualifies, or shortens the term of office of, a member of the council or the Eugene Water & Electric Board. 2.964 Elections - Nomination. (1) A candidate for a city council office representing a particular ward shall be nominated by the [individual] electors [from] residing in that ward. (2) A candidate for a Eugene Water & Electric Board office representing a pair of wards shall be nominated by [individual] the electors [from] residing in those wards. (3) A candidate for the office of mayor or an office on the Eugene Water & Electric Board representing the city at large shall be nominated by [individual] electors [from the entire] who reside in the city. (4) In a year for filling an office referred to in subsection (1), (2), or (3) of this section, a nomination of a candidate for the office shall be conducted in accordance with the state law governing popular elections, except that the nominating petition shall be [filed with] submitted to the city recorder at least [75] 76 days before the first election for filling the office and it shall be signed by 25 [legally qualified] electors who reside in the area to be represented by the office. [For purposes of calculating the filing deadline, the date of the election shall be included in the computation of time.] (5) The city recorder or designee shall verify the signatures on a nominating petition as provided in section 2.979(1) of this code. Any signature which is not the signature of an elector who resides in the area to be represented by the office for which the nominating petition was circulated shall not be counted toward the number of signatures required by subsection (4) of this section. [Comment: The sentence at the end of subsection (4) has been removed because it does not make sense to set a deadline a certain number of days before an election and then include the election date in the computation of time. The proposed amendment to subsection (4) would change the deadline Proposed Revisions to Election Code with Commentary - Page 3 of 27 2/1/08 07 Elections Code - Prop. Revisions w-comments + (00192309)