(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3), general city elections shall be held at the same times and places as general state elections, in accordance with applicable state election laws. The election offices and precincts for such elections shall be the same as for regular state elections; elections shall be nonpartisan.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (3), beginning in calendar year 2000 and continuing every two years thereafter, for the positions of mayor and municipal judge, the general election shall be held the third Tuesday in May. Except as provided in subsection (3), beginning in calendar year 2002 and continuing every four years thereafter, for the position of wards pecific councilperson, the general election shall be held the third Tuesday in May.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), if three (3) or more candidates file nominating petitions or declarations of candidacy for mayor, wardsspecific councilperson or municipal judge, then a nonpartisan primary election shall be had for such position on the third Tuesday in May. The two candidates who receive the highest number of votes in a primary election for a certain position shall be the nominees whose name shall appear on the ballot at the general election to be held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November following the primary election. When any candidate receives a majority of all votes cast for the office for which that person is a candidate at a primary election, the name of that candidate shall be printed separately on the ballot at the general election under a designation equivalent to “Vote for One” and no other name shall be printed on the ballot in opposition to such candidate. One space, however, shall be left following such name in which the voter may insert the name of any person for whom the voter wishes to cast a ballot. The names of the nominees elected at the primary election shall be printed on the Official Ballot for the regular general election without any political party designation. (Section 23, as amended by an election held May 18, 1999)
The recorder, pursuant to directions from the council shall give at least ten days notice of each regular election by posting notice thereof at a conspicuous place in the city hall and in one public place in each voting precinct of the city. The notice shall state the officers to be elected at, the ballot title of each measure to be voted upon, and the time and place of the election.
The council shall provide the times, manner, means and place or places for holding any special elections. The recorder shall give at least ten days notice of each special election in the manner provided by the action of the council ordering the election.
Except as this charter provides otherwise and as the Council provides otherwise by ordinances relating to elections the general laws of the state shall apply to the conduct of all city elections, recounts of the returns therefrom and contests thereof.
In all elections held in conjunction with state and county elections the state laws governing the filing of returns by the county clerk and the canvassing of those returns shall apply. The poll books as furnished by the county clerk at such elections shall be deemed the poll books of the city. On or before noon of the day following each special city election returns shall be filed with the recorder and not later than five days after the election the council shall meet and canvass the returns. The results of all elections shall be made a matter of record in the journal of the proceedings of the Council which shall contain a statement of the total number of votes cast at each election, the votes cast for each person or proposition. The name of each person elected to office, the office to which he was elected and a reference to each measure enacted or approved. Immediately after the completion of the canvass the recorder shall make and sign a certificate of election of each person elected, and deliver the certificate to him within one day after the canvass. A certificate so made and delivered shall be prima facie evidence of the facts which it states; but the council shall be the final judge of the qualifications and election of its own members subject, however, to review by any court of competent jurisdiction.
The term of office of a person elected to an office at a regular city election shall commence the first of the year immediately following the election. However, in the case of an appointment to fill an existing vacancy in office, the person appointed shall enter upon his office immediately.
Before entering upon the duties of his office each officer shall take an oath that he will support the constitution and laws of the United States and the state of Oregon and that he will faithfully perform the duties of his office.
Candidates for elective offices shall be nominated in accordance with ORS 221 190, as the same may be amended, except that petitions or certificates of nomination provided for in such law must be filed with the city recorder, not later than 20 days before the election. Such mode of nomination shall remain effective until such time as the council by ordinance provides other lawful methods of nomination. The council is hereby expressly authorized to provide such other lawful methods of nominations.