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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 3008 Calling for the 2021 General ElectionCity of West University Place Harris County, Texas Ordinance No. 3008 AN ORDINANCE CALLING AN ELECTION WITHIN THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, TEXAS FOR THE FIRST (1St) DAY OF MAY, 2021, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A MAYOR AND FOUR (4) COUNCIL MEMBERS; DESIGNATING PRECINCTS AND POLLING PLACES; APPOINTING ELECTION OFFICIALS; AND CONTAINING FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATING TO SAID ELECTION. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, TEXAS: SECTION 1. A general election is hereby ordered and shall be held in the City of West University Place, Texas ("City") on May 1, 2021 ("Election Day"), for the purpose of electing a Mayor and four (4) Council Members of the City, in conjunction with elections to be administered by Harris County, Texas ("County") for the City and other local entities. SECTION 2. (a) The Hart InterCivic (Verity 2.4) voting equipment (approved by the State of Texas and the United States Election Assistance Commission) shall be used for early voting by personal appearance and for regular voting on Election Day. (b) Paper ballots shall be used for voting by mail and such ballots shall be manually counted. All ballots shall be prepared in accordance with the applicable provisions of the TEXAS ELECTION CODE and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and any amendments thereto so that the voters may cast their ballots for the candidates of their choice. SECTION 3. (a) The City consists of five (5) voting precincts and polling places (i.e., #15, #87, #133, #183, #906), the polling places of which are those designated by the County. (b) The Presiding Judge, Manager, and Tabulation Supervisor shall be those special officials appointed by the County for the purposes of this election. (c) Each of the referenced five (5) voting precincts is a regular County election precinct and, therefore, the City hereby appoints the County election officials as its special officials for the purpose of this election. (d) On Election Day, the polls shall be open from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. (e) Early voting by personal appearance shall be conducted by the Harris County Elections Administrator's Office at the County Attorney Conference Center, 1019 Congress Avenue, Houston, Texas 77002, or any of the other early voting polling locations designated by the County on weekdays during the early voting period (April 19, 2021 through April 27, 2021), during the hours designated by the County, on each day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or official state or federal holiday, in accordance with the provisions of the TEXAS ELECTION CODE. Early voting by mail for the election shall be conducted by making application for an early voting ballot with Isabel Longoria, Harris County Elections Administrator, Attention: Elections Division, P. O. Box 1148, Houston, Texas 77251-1148. If by common or contract carrier, send the application to 1001 Preston, 4th Floor, Room 440, Houston, Texas, 77002. Voters qualified to 100201372.docx ) vote early by mail may begin applying for a ballot by mail on January 1, 2021. Applications for ballots by mail must be received by the Harris County Clerk's Office in person no later than the close of business on April 16, 2021 and by mail no later than the close of business on April 20, 2021. SECTION 4. All qualified electors of the City shall be permitted to vote at said election. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in this ordinance, the election shall be held and conducted in accordance with the TEXAS ELECTION CODE and the VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965, as amended, and, as may be required by law. All election materials and proceedings shall be printed in English and Spanish. In addition, standard voting information shall be provided in English and Spanish and the County shall make arrangements with the election officials for the use of a Spanish interpreter. It is found and determined that these measures will adequately serve any Spanish speakers eligible to vote in the election. In addition, per the preclearance of the United States Department of Justice and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the County shall utilize a targeting system for Vietnamese and Mandarin Chinese speakers, as necessary, so that such language minority group members who need minority language materials and assistance receive them. SECTION 5. The form of the notice prescribed by the Texas Secretary of State's Office shall serve as proper notice of said election. Said notice, including a Spanish translation thereof, shall be given by publishing it and posting it in accordance with Section 4.003, of the TEXAS ELECTION CODE. In addition, per the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the County will make the Notice available in both Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese languages, as may be necessary pursuant to the targeting system. SECTION 6. The Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tem, the City Manager, the City Secretary and the Assistant City Secretary, or any one of them, are authorized on behalf of the City Council to evidence adoption of this Ordinance and to do any and all other things legal and necessary in connection with the holding and consummation of such election and to give effect to the intent of this Ordinance. Appointments of election officials in this Ordinance are made for this election only. SECTION 7. If any word, phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, section or other part of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall ever be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, neither the remainder of this ordinance, nor the application of such word, phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, section or other part of this ordinance to any other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby. SECTION 8. All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of the conflict only. SECTION 9. The City Council officially finds, determines and declares that a sufficient written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of each meeting at which this ordinance was discussed, considered or acted upon was given in the manner required by the Texas Open Meetings Act, as amended, and that each such meeting has been open to the public as required by law at all times during such discussion, consideration and action. The City Council ratifies, approves and confirms such notices and the contents and posting thereof. f00201372.docx ) PASSED AND APPROVED ON THE FIRST AND FINAL READING, this the 81' day of February, 2021. � 11MIli \ SIGNED: r I c� 4Bobgley \ Mayor Thelma A. Gilliam City Secretary RECOMMENDED: David J. Beach City Manager 100201372.docx 1 REVIEWED: Alan P. Petrov City Attorney