HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-05-11 09-164 ORDERCOUNCIL ACTION
Item No. 09 164
Date: May 11, 2009
Item/Subject: ORDER, Scheduling Public Hearing on Proposed Amendment to the Bangor City
Charter, Article IV, Section 8, Contents and Form of Ballot — Order of Candidate
Names on Ballot
Responsible Department: Legal
Commentary:
Article IV, Section 8 of the Bangor City Charter provides that the names of City Council
candidates shall be placed on the ballot in alphabetical order. Studies have suggested that the
candidate listed first on a ballot may have an advantage over other candidates. If the order of
names on the ballot were determined by drawing by lot, all candidates would have an equal
chance of having their name placed first on the ballot. A change to the order that the
candidate's names are listed on the ballot requires an amendment to the Bangor City Charter.
At its May 27, 2009 meeting, the City Council will consider placing a proposed amendment to the
City Charter on the November 2009 ballot to change the way the names of City Council
candidates are listed on the ballot. Rather than being listed in alphabetical order, the names will
be in the order drawn by lot by the City Clerk. The amendment sets the time and place for the
drawing as 5:00 p.m. on the next business day after the last date that nomination papers can be
filed and requires that candidates be given the opportunity to be present for the drawing.
A public hearing is required before Council action can be taken to place the matter on the ballot.
This Order will direct the City Clerk to provide for published notice of a public hearing to be held
on May 27, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers for the purpose of considering this
proposed amendment to the Bangor City Charter.
Manager's Comments:
Associated Information:
Budget Approval:
Legal Approval:
Introduced for
X Passage
First Reading
Referral
Department Head
City Manager
Finance Director
- z -;// n
City Solicitor
Page _ of _
9 1-64
_ Assigned to Councilor WHEELER MAY 11 2009
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'z CITY OF BANGOR
1 FU;,.f, N�
(TITLE.) ORDER, Scheduling Public Hearing on Proposed Amendment to the Bangor City
Charter, Article N, Section 8, Contents and Form of Ballot - Order of Candidate
Names on Ballot
BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR, BE IT ORDERED
THAT an amendment to the Bangor City Charter to change the way that the order of names of
City Council candidates on the ballot is determined should be considered.
THAT the City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed, pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A §2104, to
provide for published notice of a public hearing to be held on May 27, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in the
City Council Chambers for the purpose of considering a proposed amendment to the Bangor
City Charter, the text of said proposed amendment and an explanation thereof being as follows:
ARTICLE IV
CONTENTS AND FORM OF BALLOT
Sec. 8. Contents and form of ballot. [Amended 11-7-1989]
The names of Superintending School Committee candidates nominated as provided in the
preceding section shall be arranged on the ballot in alphabetical order according to surnames.
The names of City Council candidates nominated a rovided in the precedingion shall be
arranged in the order by which they are drawn by lot by the City Clerk The Clerk shall draw
names at .m. on the ngA business a after the last date that nQmination papgrs caLi be
filed with f The QWClerk. Th r win shall be ggnductedin 12ublic andall
candidateshall be notified f the place, da!g, andtime t the drawingtt take Qlace.
The ballots shall be without party mark or designation. The full name and residence of each
candidate shall be given. At the right of each name shall be a square within which the voter
shall place a cross or check mark to designate his choice. Blank spaces shall be left at the end
of the list of the candidates for each office, in which the voter may insert the name of any
person not printed on the ballot, for whom he desires to vote.
IN CITY COUNCIL
May 11, 2009
Motion Made and Seconded
for assage
P ed
CITY CLERK
# 09-164
ORDER
(TrrLE SCHEDULING PUBLIC HEARING ON
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE BANGOR CITY
_ CHARTER, ARTICLE IV, SECTION 8, CONTENTS
AND FORM OF BALLOT - ORDER OF CANDIDATE
NAMES ON BALLOT
Assigned to Councilor.
The ballot shall be printed substantially as follows:
To vote for a candidate make a cross (x) or check mark In the square at the right of name and
residence.
For City Council (3 Years)
Name of candidate
Name of candidate
Vote for One
Residence ( )
Residence ( )
For Warden for Ward Clerk (2 years)
Name of Candidate
Back of Ballot
Official Ballot
Bangor
Ward
Monday,
19
Residence ( )
Facsimile of Signature -City Clerk
Vote for
Explanation: The proposed amendment to Article IV, Section 8, of the City Charter would
change the way the names of City Council candidates are listed on the ballot. Rather than
being listed on the ballot in alphabetical order, the order of names on the ballot for City Council
candidates will be in the order drawn by lot by the City Clerk with candidates having the
opportunity to be present for the drawing. Deletions to the existing Charter provisions are
sme-kF-thfough. Additions are underlined.