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Home My WebLink AboutOrdinance 26006-02-2023 ORDINANCE NO. 26006-02-2023 AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A GENERAL ELECTION BY THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS, ON MAY 6, 2023, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE CITY OF FORT WORTH AND ORDERING A RUNOFF ELECTION, IF NEEDED. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH,TEXAS THAT: SECTION 1. ELECTION ORDERED In compliance with the Charter of the City of Fort Worth and in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas,the City Council hereby orders that an election be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023, as authorized by section 41.001 of the Texas Election Code, at which all qualified voters may vote for the purpose of electing a Mayor at large and ten (10) Council Members of Council Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, respectively. SECTION 2. CANDIDATES Candidates may file an application for a place on the election ballot commencing January 18, 2023, in the City Secretary's Office, located in the Fort Worth City Hall, 200 Texas Street, Fort Worth, Texas. The filing deadline is 5:00 p.m. on February 17, 2023. SECTION 3. BALLOT The City Secretary of the City of Fort Worth shall ensure that ballots are prepared to be used in said election, on which ballots shall be printed the names of the candidates for the at-large position of Mayor and the names of the candidates from the respective single member districts for the position of Council Member. The places of the different candidates shall be designated on the official ballot as Mayor and Member of Council Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, respectively. The ballots shall be printed in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese for use in said general election. Page l of 8 SECTION 4. DRAWING FOR PLACES ON THE BALLOT In the event there are two (2) or more candidates for office of Mayor or two (2) or more candidates from the same single member district for membership on the City Council, the order in which the names of such candidates are to be printed on the ballot shall be determined by a drawing to be conducted by the City Secretary. Three (3) days prior to the date on which the drawing is to be held, the City Secretary shall post notice as required by state law of the time and place of the drawing and shall also give personal notice to any candidate who makes written request therefor and furnishes to the City Secretary a self-addressed stamped envelope. Each candidate involved in the drawing, or a representative designated by him or her, shall have a right to be present and observe the drawing. SECTION 5. EARLY VOTING CLERKS (a) Heider Garcia, Tarrant County Elections Administrator, or his successor, shall serve as the early voting clerk for the Tarrant County portion of the election. (b) Applications for early voting ballots to be voted by mail by Tarrant County voters should be forwarded as follows: Mailing address: Early Voting Clerk Tarrant County Elections P.O. Box 961011 Fort Worth, Texas 76161-0011 Express Courier Delivery: Early Voting Clerk Tarrant County Elections 2700 Premier Street Fort Worth, Texas 76111-3011 Fax: (817) 850-2394 Email: voteb mail ,tarrantcounty.com Page 2 of 8 (c) Frank Phillips, Denton County Elections Administrator, or his successor, shall serve as the early voting clerk for the Denton County portion of the election. (d) Applications for early voting ballots to be voted by mail by Denton County voters should be forwarded as follows: Mailing Address: Frank Phillips, Early Voting Clerk 701 Kimberly, Suite A 100 Denton, Texas, 76208 Or P.O. Box 1720 Denton, Texas, 76202 Express Courier Delivery: Early Voting Clerk 701 Kimberly, Suite A100 Denton, Texas, 76208 Fax: 940-349-3201 Email: electionskdentoncounty.com (e) Jenise "Crickett" Miller, Parker County Elections Administrator, or her successor, shall serve as the early voting clerk for the Parker County portion of the election. (f) Applications for early voting ballots to be voted by mail by Parker County voters should be forwarded as follows: Mailing Address: Early Voting Clerk PO Box 639 Weatherford, Texas, 76086 Express Courier Delivery: Early Voting Clerk 1112 Santa Fe Drive Weatherford, Texas, 76086 Fax: 817-598-6183 Email: electionskparkercount x.com (g) Applications for early voting ballots by mail must be received no later than the close of business on April 25, 2023. Page 3 of 8 SECTION 6. EARLY VOTING (a) Early Voting by personal appearance for Fort Worth residents shall be conducted beginning April 24, 2023, and continue through May 2, 2023. (b) The main Early Voting locations and times for Fort Worth residents are: (1) Voters residing in Tarrant County: Location: Tarrant County Elections Center 2700 Premier Street Fort Worth, Texas 76111 Times: April 24—28 Monday—Friday 8:00 a.m. —5:00 p.m. April 29 Saturday 7:00 a.m. —7:00 p.m. April 30 Sunday 10:00 a.m. —4:00 p.m. May 1-2 Monday—Tuesday 7:00 a.m. —7:00 p.m. (2) Voters residing in Denton County: Location: Denton County Elections Administration 701 Kimberly Drive, Ste. A111 Denton, Texas 76208 Times: April 24—29 Monday— Saturday 8:00 a.m. —5:00 p.m. April 30 Sunday 11:00 a.m. —5:00 p.m. May 1-2 Monday—Tuesday 7:00 a.m. —7:00 p.m. (3) Voters residing in Parker County Location: Parker County Courthouse Annex—Annex Kitchen 1112 Santa Fe Drive Weatherford, Texas 76086 Times: April 24-28 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. —5:00 p.m. April 29-30 Saturday-Sunday Closed May 1-2 Monday—Tuesday 7:00 a.m. —7:00 p.m. The locations, dates, and times listed above are subject to revision by each respective County Elections Administrator. The City Secretary is charged with advising the public via internet posting or other appropriate means regarding changes to any location, date, or time. Page 4 of 8 SECTION 7. VOTING SYSTEM AND JOINT ELECTION An electronic voting system, as defined in Chapter 121 of the Texas Election Code, shall be used for voting at the regular polling places for said election and for counting the ballots and the tabulation of the results. The conduct of the election and the use of the electronic voting system shall be in accordance with the Texas Election Code. The election shall be held as a Joint Election pursuant to a Joint Election Agreement and Contract For Election Services by and between the City of Fort Worth and the Tarrant County Elections Administrator; the City of Fort Worth and the Denton County Elections Administrator; the City of Fort Worth and the Parker County Elections Administrator; and other political subdivisions located in those counties. Pursuant to the above mentioned Joint Election Agreements,the Tarrant County Elections Administrator shall serve as the Elections Administrator for the election held in Tarrant County, the Denton County Elections Administrator shall serve as the Elections Administrator for the election held in Denton County, and the Parker County Elections Administrator shall serve as the Elections Administrator for the election held in Parker County. Presiding Election Judges and Alternate Presiding Election Judges appointed to serve at said polling places listed in the Joint Election Agreements shall be those election officials furnished by the Elections Administrators selected pursuant to the terms of the Joint Election Agreements. An Early Voting Ballot Board is hereby created pursuant to Section 87.001 of the Texas Election Code. The Early Voting Ballot Board shall be made up of members appointed in the manner stated in the Joint Election Agreements, and the Presiding Judges and the Alternate Presiding Judges of the Early Voting Ballot Boards shall be the elections officials listed in the Joint Election Agreements. SECTION 8. RUNOFF Any candidate receiving a majority of all the votes cast for the office for which he or she is a candidate shall be elected to such office. In the event of a tie or in the event that no candidate receives a majority of all votes cast for the office sought, a run-off election shall be held on the 101h day of June 2023, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 pm. At such second election, the names of the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes for such office or offices, as the case may be, in the first election at which no one was elected by receiving a majority of all votes cast for such office or offices, shall be printed on the ballot and shall again be voted on. The Page 5 of 8 order in which the names of such candidates are to be printed on the ballot shall be determined by a drawing to be conducted by the City Secretary. One (1) day prior to the date on which the drawing is to be held, the City Secretary shall post notice as required by state law of the time and place of the drawing and shall also give personal notice to any candidate who makes written request therefor and furnishes to the City Secretary a self-addressed stamped envelope. Each candidate involved in the drawing, or a representative designated by him or her, shall have a right to be present and observe the drawing. SECTION 9. EARLY VOTING RUN-OFF ELECTION (a) Early Voting by personal appearance for the run-off election, if a run-off election is necessary, shall be conducted beginning May 29, 2023, and continue through June 6, 2023. (b) The main Early Voting locations and times for Fort Worth residents are: (1) Voters residing in Tarrant County: Location: Tarrant County Elections Center 2700 Premier Street Fort Worth, Texas 76111 Times: May 29 Monday—closed for Memorial Day May 30—June 2 Tuesday—Friday 8:00 a.m. —5:00 p.m. June 3 Saturday 7:00 a.m. —7:00 p.m. June 4 Sunday 10:00 a.m. —4:00 p.m. June 5-6 Monday - Tuesday 7:00 a.m. —7:00 p.m. (2) Voters residing in Denton County: Location: Denton County Elections 701 Kimberly Drive Denton, Texas 76208 Times: May 29 Monday—closed for Memorial Day May 30—June 3 Tuesday - Saturday 8:00 a.m. —5:00 p.m. June 4 Sunday 11:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. June 5-6 Monday - Tuesday 7:00 a.m. —7:00 p.m. Page 6 of 8 (3) Voters residing in Parker County Location: Parker County Courthouse Annex—Annex Kitchen 1112 Santa Fe Drive Weatherford, Texas 76086 Times: May 29 Monday—closed for Memorial Day May 30—June 2 Tuesday—Friday 8:00 a.m. —5:00 p.m. June 3 Saturday Closed June 4 Sunday Closed June 5-6 Monday - Tuesday 7:00 a.m. —7:00 p.m. The locations, dates, and times listed above are subject to revision by each respective County Elections Administrator. The City Secretary is charged with advising the public via internet posting or other appropriate means regarding changes to any location, date, or time. SECTION 10. PROCLAMATION This ordinance shall constitute the proclamation, call, notice, and ordinance calling and ordering said general election and run-off election if needed. SECTION 11. PUBLICATION Notice of said election shall be given by publishing a Notice of Election, in English, Spanish,and Vietnamese,at least once,not earlier than the 3 01h day or later than the 101h day before election day in a newspaper published in said City. A copy of the Notice of Election, in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese shall be posted on the City's board used for posting notices of the meeting of the Fort Worth City Council not later than the 2Is'day before election day. SECTION 12. NOTICE The way and manner of holding said election, the notice to be given therefor, the polling places, the personnel and the officers who are to hold same, and all details connected with the holding of the election shall be provided for and arranged by the City Secretary. The proper notice and publication of this notice, proclamation, call and ordinance shall be only cumulative of and in addition to the statutory notice of said election as herein provided. Any omission or irregularity Page 7 of 8 in this notice or in the publication or posting of this notice,proclamation, call and ordinance, or in the signing of same, shall not in any way affect or invalidate such election. SECTION 13. CONTROLLING LAW In all respects, said election shall be conducted in accordance with the Texas Election Code and the Charter of the City of Fort Worth, Texas. SECTION 14. OPEN MEETING COMPLIANCE It is hereby officially found and determined that the meeting at which this Ordinance was adopted and said election was called was open to the public and public notice of the time, place, and purpose of said meeting was given, all as required by Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code. SECTION 15. EFFECTIVE DATE That this Ordinance, election order, proclamation, call and notice shall take effect upon adoption. j4ul I'-- Matti Parker Mayor of the City of Fort Worth ATTEST: �F FORT City S retary * •2 APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: XAS.. t ' Civy,kttomey ADOPTED and EFFECTIVE: February 14, 2023 Page 8 of 8