Title
Resolution to Order Election, Approve Charter Amendment of the Ann Arbor City Charter Sections for Eliminating the Partisan Primary Process and Establishing Non-Partisan Nomination and Election for the Offices of Mayor and Council at City General Elections, Increasing the Term of Office for each Member of Council, Including the Mayor, from Two to Four Years and Determine the Ballot Language for these Amendment (7 Votes Required)
Memorandum
MCL 117.21 of the Home Rule City Act provides that amendment to an existing city charter may be proposed by the legislative body of a city on a 3/5 vote of the members-elect.
Each ballot question presented to the voter must, under Michigan election law, is limited to a single subject, and if the subject of a proposal includes more than one related proposition, each proposition shall be separately stated as a ballot proposal to afford an opportunity for a separate vote of the city voters for or against each proposition. To comply with this requirement, the ballot question relating to non-partisan nomination and election of Mayor and Council members and the ballot question relating to the increase in the term of office for the Mayor and Council members are tie-barred. No change will be implemented election process or the terms of office unless both ballot questions are approved by the voters.
The proposed amendments would collectively:
? eliminates the primary election for local offices,
? provides for nomination of candidates for the those offices by nominating petitions
? updates the filing date for those petitions to comply with current election law
? removes the provision requiring City Council Members canvas votes for all City primary elections [this provision has been superseded by MCL168.24a which abolished City boards of canvassers]
? eliminates any reference to party affiliation on the election ballot.
? Increases the term of office for Mayor and members of City Council from two to four...
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