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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd. 20732~ COUNCIL ORDINANCE NO. 20732 AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING ELECTIONS AND AMENDING SECTIONS 2.961, 2.964, 2.974, 2.975, 2.979, AND 2.984 OF THE EUGENE CODE, 1971. ADOPTED: January 26, 2026 SIGNED: January 28, 2026 PASSED: 7:0 REJECTED: OPPOSED: ABSENT: Groves , EFFECTIVE: February 28, 2026 • ORDINANCE NO. 20732 AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING ELECTIONS AND AMENDING SECTIONS 2.961, 2.964, 2.974, 2.975, 2.979, AND 2.984 OF THE EUGENE CODE, 1971. THE CITY OF EUGENE DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Section 2.961 of the Eugene Code, 1971, is amended by amending the definition of "special election" to provide as follows: 2.961 Elections -Definitions. As used in sections 2.960 to 2.1005 of this code, the following words and phrases mean: *** Special election. An election other than a primary or general election, held on one of the dates described in ORS 221.230(1) (the second Tuesday in March, the third Tuesday in May, the fourth Tuesday in August or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November). Section 2. Section 2.964 of the Eugene Code, 1971, is amended by amending subsection (4), adding new subsections (5) and (6), and amending subsection (5) and renumbering it to (7) to provide as follows: 2.964 Elections -Nomination. *** (4) Except as provided in subsections (5) and (6) of this section, 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. (5) The nominating petition for an incumbent city official who intends to seek reelection to the same office shall be submitted to the city recorder at least 83 days before the first election for filling the office and it shall be signed by 25 electors who reside in the area to be represented by the office. (6) The nominating petition for a candidate who is not an incumbent shall be submitted to the city recorder at least 76 days before the first election for filling the office and it shall be signed by 25 electors who reside in the area to be represented by the office. (7) 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 subsections (5) or (6) of this section. Ordinance -Page 1 of 3 Section 3. Section 2.974 of the Eugene Code, 1971, is amended to provide as follows: 2.974 Elections -Initiative and Referendum, Petition Requirements. No completed initiative or referendum petition may be submitted to the city recorder unless: (a) Prior to its circulation a prospective petition was submitted to the city recorder. The prospective petition must contain a copy of the legislation sought to be submitted to the electors and a signed statement on the face of the petition of the names and city and state of residence of not more than three chief petitioners. If one or more of the chief petitioners is an organization, the prospective petition shall disclose the name and address of the organization, the name and city and state of residence of each of the principal officers of the organization and the signature of the chief officer of the organization; (b) As circulated, the prospective petition complies with the city recorder's specifications and the requirements of this code, contains the caption or ordinance title required by section 2.975 of this code, and contains the names and cities and states of residence of each of the chief petitioners; (c) The date of the first signature on the petition is no later than 90 days after the issuance of the ballot title on the measure; and (d) The completed petition is submitted to the city recorder for signature verification no later than 100 days after the date of the first signature on the petition. A completed referendum petition shall be submitted to the city recorder by that time or by the effective date of the legislation sought to be referred, whichever is earlier. Section 4. Subsection (2)(a) of Section 2.975 of the Eugene Code, 1971, is amended to provide as follows: 2.975 Elections -Form of Petition and Signature Requirements. (1) Signature sheets for an initiative or referendum petition shall be double-sided. (2) The front side of each signature sheet shall contain: (a) The names and cities and states of residence of all chief petitioners; *** Ordinance -Page 2 of 3 Section 5. Subsection (1) of Section 2.979 of the Eugene Code, 1971, is amended to provide as follows: 2.979 Elections -Initiative and Referendum, Verification of Signatures, Completed Petition. (1) A completed initiative or referendum petition shall be submitted to the city recorder for signature verification. The city recorder may not accept for signature verification any petition sheets that do not comply with the requirements contained in state statute and this code for signature sheets. Within 30 days of submission of a completed initiative or referendum petition for signature verification, the city recorder or the recorder's designee shall, by reference to the records in the Lane County Elections office, verify the number and genuineness of the signatures and the voting qualifications of the signers ; and, if electors in a number sufficient under section 2.972 of this code have signed the petition, the city recorder shall so certify the petition. If the city recorder determines that the petition contains an insufficient number of elector signatures, the petition shall be returned to the chief petitioners . *** Section 6. Section 2.984 of the Eugene Code, 1971, is amended to provide as follows : 2.984 Elections -Notice. The city recorder shall give not less than 10 days' notice of an election by one publication of the notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the city. The notice need not set forth in full any measure to be submitted to the electors at the election, but the notice shall state the ballot title of each measure. Section 7. The City Recorder, at the request of, or with the consent of the City Attorney, is authorized to administratively correct any reference errors contained herein, or in other provisions of the Eugene Code, 1971, to the provisions added, amended or repealed herein. Passed by the City Council this 26 th day of January, 2026 ~ Ordinance -Page 3 of 3 Approved by the Mayor this 2,-b day of January, 2026 Mayor