Source: https://www.ecode360.com/26793151
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 14:01:57+00:00

Document:
§ 22.1 Purpose of Article.
§ 22.3 Application of ordinance.
§ 22.4 Adoption of resolutions and guidelines.
§ 22.5 Determination of sufficiency of petition by chief election official.
§ 22.6 Computing time for performance of act.
§ 22.7 Requirements for signing petition; information required.
§ 22.8 Affidavit of circulator of petition; age of circulator.
§ 22.9 Procedure for filing petitions.
§ 22.10 Determinations of chief election official after filing of petition; declaration of deficiency of petition.
§ 22.11 Procedures for verifying and counting signatures on petition.
§ 22.12 Certification of petition.
§ 22.13 Judicial review of determinations regarding petition.
§ 22.14 Schedule of procedures regarding petition.
§ 22.16 Board of election procedures.
Section 22.1 Purpose of Article.
Section 22.3 Application of ordinance.
Section 22.4 Adoption of resolutions and guidelines.
Section 22.5 Determination of sufficiency of petition by chief election official.
Section 22.6 Computing time for performance of act.
Section 22.7 Requirements for signing petition; information required.
Section 22.8 Affidavit of circulator of petition; age of circulator.
Section 22.9 Procedure for filing petitions.
Section 22.10 Determinations of chief election official after filing of petition; declaration of deficiency of petition.
Section 22.11 Procedures for verifying and counting signatures on petition.
Section 22.12 Certification of petition.
Section 22.13 Judicial review of determinations regarding petition.
Section 22.14 Schedule of procedures regarding petition.
Section 22.16 Board of election procedures.
Any offenses that occur are prosecuted.
In general. In this ordinance the following words have the meanings indicated.
AFFIDAVIT — Affidavit means a statement executed under penalty of perjury.
The Chairman of the Board of Elections in the case of all other election matters.
CIRCULATOR — "Circulator" means an individual who attests to one or more signatures affixed to a petition.
The Forest Heights Board of Elections for normal and special elections implementation.
LEGAL AUTHORITY — "Legal authority" means: (1) the Town Attorney; or (2) if the Town Attorney has a conflict of interest or is otherwise unable to render an opinion, then some other attorney admitted to the bar in the state of Maryland.
PAGE — "Page" means a piece of paper comprising a part of a petition.
Placing a question on the ballot at any election.
SPONSOR — "Sponsor" means the person or organization who coordinates the collection of signatures for a petition and who, if the petition is filed, is named on the information page as required by this ordinance.
In general. Except as provided in Subsection (b) of this section, this ordinance applies to any petition authorized by law to place the name of an individual or a question on the ballot.
Ordinance construed consistent with Maryland Constitution or Article 23A of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This ordinance shall not be interpreted to conflict with any provision relating to petitions specified in the Maryland Constitution or Article 23A of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
The Town Council may adopt resolutions, consistent with this ordinance, to carry out the provisions of this ordinance.
Provide any other procedural or technical requirements that the Town Council considers appropriate.
Design and arrange to have printed sample forms conforming to this ordinance for each purpose for which a petition is authorized by law.
The guidelines, instructions, and forms shall be provided to the public, on request, without charge.
In the absence of guidelines, instructions and forms provided by the Town, the Chief Election Official shall accept any reasonable form submitted by petitioners.
In general. The format of the petition prepared by a sponsor shall be submitted to the chief election official not less than 20 days in advance of filing the petition, for a determination of its sufficiency.
The Council President shall determine the sufficiency of a petition related to Charter amendments, and the Chair of the Election Board shall determined sufficiency for all other petitions.
Public improvements. Petitions against public improvements shall be governed by Section 33-76 of the Forest Heights Town Charter.
Advice of legal authority. In making the determination, the chief election official may seek the advice of the legal authority.
Review by legislative body. Prior to submitting the determination to the sponsor of the petition, the chief election official shall submit the determination to the Town Council for final evaluation of the petition format. The Town Council may at that time, by a majority vote, override the election official's determination.
For Charter amendments, the election official's review for sufficiency shall be limited to ensuring that the proposed changes meet the requirements of form for charter amendments imposed by Article 23A of the Md. Ann. Code, and that the amendments will not conflict with other sections of the Charter not affected by amendments, the proposed amendments are consistent with one another, and that a charter conflict will not arise if the voters accept some but not all of the proposed amendments.
For all other election matters, the Chairman of the Board of Elections shall review the petition, and after consultation with the Town Attorney, assure that the change to a Town ordinance required by the petition is not in conflict with the Town Charter or the laws of Maryland. If the petition is to place a name on the ballot for election, the election official shall determine the person's qualifications for the elected office.
Except as provided in Subsection (b) of this section, in computing the time under this Article for performing an act, Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays shall be included.
In a computation of time under this Article, the day of performing an act and the day of registration or election shall be excluded.
Exception. If a computation of time would require an act to be performed on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the act shall be performed on the next regular business day following that Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.
Other information required by Resolutions adopted by the Town Council.
If applicable, the signature was affixed within the requisite period of time, as specified by law.
Prior to the filing of that signature, by the circulator who attested to that signature or by the sponsor of the petition, if it is concluded that the signature does not satisfy the requirements of this ordinance.
A signature removed pursuant to Subsection (c)(1)(ii) of this section may be included in the number of signatures stated on the information page included in the petition.
In general. Each signature page shall contain an affidavit made and executed by the individual in whose presence all of the signatures on that page were affixed and who observed each of those signatures being affixed.
Requirements. The affidavit shall contain the statements, required by Resolution, or in the absence thereof, as prescribed in State law, designed to assure the validity of the signatures and the fairness of the petition process.
Age of circulator. A circulator must be at least 18 years old and a registered voter in the Town of Forest Heights at the time any of the signatures covered by the affidavit are affixed.
Unless otherwise required by the Town Charter of Forest Heights or Article 23A of the Annotated Code of Maryland, a petition shall be filed, in person by or on behalf of the sponsor, at a regularly scheduled Town Meeting.
Resolutions. The Resolutions adopted by the Town Council may provide that the signature pages of a petition required to be filed be delivered by the sponsor, or an individual authorized by the sponsor, to the Board of Elections for verification and counting of signatures.
Acceptance of petition. A petition may not be accepted for filing unless the information page indicates that the petition satisfies any requirements established by law for the time of filing and for the number and Ward distribution of signatures.
Additional signatures. Subsequent to the filing of a petition under this ordinance, but prior to the deadline for filing the petition, additional signatures may be added to the petition by filing an amended information page and additional signature pages conforming to the requirements of this ordinance.
Review by chief election official. Promptly upon the filing of a petition, the chief election official of the election authority shall review the petition.
Defer a determination of sufficiency pending further review, but not more than 30 days after receipt of the petitions.
Consistency with advance determination. A determination under this section may not be inconsistent with an advance determination made under Section 22.5.
Notice. Notice of a determination under this section shall be provided in writing and in accordance with this ordinance.
In general. Upon the filing of a petition, and unless it has been declared deficient under Subsection 22.10, the Town Council shall proceed to verify the signatures and count the validated signatures contained in the petition.
Town Council to establish process. The Town Council, by Resolution, may establish the process to be followed by all election authorities for verifying and counting signatures on petitions.
Any and all petitions shall require the signatures of 20% of the qualified voters of the Town of Forest Heights as defined in the Forest Heights Town Charter. Petitions bearing less than the requisite 20% shall be deemed invalid, insufficient, or otherwise deficient.
If it has not done so previously, determine whether the petition has satisfied all other requirements established by law for that petition and immediately notify the sponsor of that determination, including any specific deficiencies found.
Certification. If the chief election official determines that a petition has satisfied all requirements established by law relating to that petition, the chief election official shall certify that the petition process has been completed and shall with respect to a petition seeking to place the name of an individual or a question on the ballot, certify that the name or question has qualified to be placed on the ballot.
Notice. Notice of a determination under this section shall be provided in writing in accordance with this ordinance.
Judicial review shall be expedited by each court that hears the cause to the extent necessary in consideration of the deadlines established by law.
A request for an advance determination under this ordinance shall be submitted at least 20 days, but not more than two years and one month, prior to filing or prior to the deadline for the filing of the petition. In the case of petitions for referendum on ordinances passed by the legislative body, the format of the petition shall be submitted to the chief election official not less than 20 days in advance of filing the petition.
Within 10 business days of receiving the request for an advance determination, the election authority shall make the determination.
Notice. Within two business days after an advance determination under of this Ordinance, or a determination of deficiency under this ordinance, the chief election official of the election authority shall notify the sponsor of the determination.
Verification and counting. The verification and counting of validated signatures on a petition shall be completed within 35 days after the filing of the petition.
Certification. Within three business days of the completion of the verification and counting processes, or, if judicial review is pending, within three business days after a final judicial decision, the appropriate election official shall make the certifications required by this ordinance.
Except as provided in Subsection (e)(2) of this section, any judicial review of a determination, as provided in this ordinance, shall be sought by the 10th day following the determination to which it relates.
If the petition seeks to place the name of an individual or a question on the ballot at any election, judicial review shall be sought by the day specified in Subsection (e)(1) of this section or the 45th day preceding that election, whichever day is earlier.
The chief election official shall report to the Council at its next legislative session, but within the time requirements of state law if the petition involves an amendment to the Town Charter, as to his findings regarding the sufficiency of a petition. If the petition is found sufficient, the Council shall pass the necessary enabling legislation at that session to place the question(s) on the ballot or enact the question by resolution or ordinance.
Within 10 days of the appointment of a Board of Elections, the Board shall meet and choose a chairperson from amongst themselves. The Town Clerk is to be notified of such selection within 48 hours of the selection.
If at any time during his or term, a member of the Board of Elections believes he or she can no longer perform the duties of that office, he or she is obligated to inform the Town Clerk of that fact. The Town Clerk shall then inform the Mayor so that a replacement can be selected and submitted to the Council for approval.
At least 10 days prior to any election or referendum, the Election Board is to file a plan for the conduct of the election or referendum with the Town Clerk and the President of the Council.
The Town Clerk shall assist the Board of Elections in obtaining lists of registered voters from the Prince George's County Board of Elections.
For regularly scheduled elections the Board of Elections shall obtain a list of registered voters From the Prince George's County Board of Elections as of the day that nominations must be filed for that election. Any voter not appearing on that list must obtain a temporary certificate of registration from the Prince George's County Board of Elections indicating residence and Ward in the Town of Forest Heights in order to be eligible to vote in the election.
For verification of petitions, the Board of Elections shall obtain a list of registered voters from the Prince George's County Board of Elections as of the day the petitions were submitted to the Town Council. This list shall be used by the chief election official in determining the validity of the signatures on the petition.
The Board of Elections shall appear at the election site at least 30 minutes prior to when any election or referendum is scheduled to begin.
The qualification of any voter appearing to take part in an election must be verified by at least two members of the Election Board. The Board shall require an identification document containing the voters photograph for identification purposes, or the written sworn testimony of two Forest Heights residents who are determined to be registered voters according to these procedures, and are present with the voter, attesting to the identity of the voter.
When the polls are closed, the Election Board shall begin the process of counting the votes. All three election board members are to individually count ballots or inspect the product of voting machines and prepare a total count of votes for each person or question on the ballot. Each member of the Board of Elections shall place his or her initials on each piece of paper inspected.
The public are to be allowed to observe the counting of the ballots, but may not handle the election documents, or in any way interfere with the counting of the ballots. The Board of Elections may set reasonable rules as to room arrangement and the number of people present during this phase of the election so it does not interfere with the counting of ballots.
After counting all the ballots the members of the Board of Elections shall compare their totals. If the totals are different, but the difference does not change the outcome of the election, the Board of Elections shall prepare a memorandum so stating for the record. If the difference in the count would affect the outcome of the election, the members of the Board of Elections shall recount the ballots for each candidate and question, and again compare their totals. If the totals again are not the same, the members of the Board of Elections shall vote on which are the correct totals, with at least two members having to agree on the outcome. If at least two members cannot agree on the outcome of the election, that part of the election shall be declared invalid, and the Town Council shall schedule another election.
When the members of the Board of Elections have agreed on the outcome of the election they shall declare the winner and report the results to the Town Clerk, including the total number of voters participating by Ward, and votes cast each candidate, including write-in votes and number absentee ballots.
All ballots and other material used in an election are public documents in the custody of the Board of Elections. Release of these materials is governed by the Town Charter, the Maryland Public Information Act and other applicable laws of the State of Maryland.
A list of voters participating in the election is to be transmitted to the Prince George's County Elections Board for entry into their data base on voter activity.
Election material shall be disposed of in accordance with Section 33-37 of the Town Charter and the Forest Heights Document Retention Schedule on file with the Maryland State Archivist as required by State law.

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