2025 8 11 Work Session Packet website

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ARTICLE IV Elections
Section 1. Be it further enacted, That elections of Councilpersons under this charter shall be held under
the same provisions of the State law under which elections are prescribed to be held for such officials
as Sheriff or Trustee of McMinn County, in all things except as to the time and date thereof, upon legal
notice of the same, published in one or more of the newspapers of general circulation in the city.
Section 2. Be it further enacted , That all candidates shall be eligible to have their names placed on
ballots only on the same conditions and in the same manner prescribed for the placing on the ballot of
the names of candidates for such offices as Trustee and Sheriff of McMinn County.
Section 3. Be it further enacted , That all city elections, including all elections respecting bond issues,
shall be held under the supervision of the County Board of Election Commissioners, and in accordance
with the law governing all State and County elections, as hereinbefore set out.
This section may be enforced by appropriate ordinance.
All persons living within the limits of such corporation who shall be qualified to vote for members of the
Legislature of this state, and who shall have been a resident of the city for thirty (30) days preceding
such elections, or any qualified voter living in McMinn County who owns fifty percent (50%) interest in
developable land in the city shall be entitled to vote in the precinct where such person resides or owns
land and to have their vote counted in such election. The Council may authorize the ballots for these
non-resident property owners to be cast by mail only, pursuant to procedures approved by the State
Coordinator of Elections. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1992, ch. 215, § 1; Priv. Acts 2000, ch. 83, § 1;
and Priv. Acts 2002, ch. 114, § 1]
Section 4. Be it further enacted , That the terms of all City councilpersons shall begin on the third
Tuesday in November following the date of their election. [As replaced by Priv. Acts 1998, ch. 164, § 1;
and as amended by Priv. Acts 2024, ch. 60, § 3]
Section 5. Be it further enacted , That a non-partisan municipal election shall be held in the City on the
first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year. The incumbent
councilpersons whose terms expire in July of 1999 shall have their terms extended to the third Tuesday
in November of 2000. The incumbent councilpersons whose terms expire in July 2001 shall have their
terms extended to the third Tuesday in November of 2002. Ties will be resolved by a flip of the coin.
The councilpersons shall be elected to terms of four (4) years or until their successors are elected and
qualified. [As replaced by Priv. Acts 1998, ch. 164, § 1; and as amended by Priv. Acts 2024, ch. 60, § 3]
Section 6. Be it further enacted, That no informalities in conducting any election held under this charter
shall invalidate it if such election is conducted fairly and in substantial conformity with the requirements
of this article.
Section 7. Be it further enacted , That any person holding an elective office of the City, whether by
election, succession, or appointment to fill a vacancy, shall be subject to removal from office at a recall
election in the manner provided herein.
(1) A recall of an incumbent of an elective office shall be initiated upon petition signed by the
registered voters of the City of Athens. All councilpersons currently in office or hereafter elected
shall be subject to recall and the petition shall contain signatures equal in number to at least
twenty percent (20%) of the registered voters for the City of Athens on the date of the city
election preceding the filing of the petition. Every recall petition shall name the officer against
whom it is directed.
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