1. ORD Nomination Petitions Charter Change Draft.docx

ORDINANCE NO. O2026-018

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YUMA, ARIZONA, ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 2026 GENERAL ELECTION; DESIGNATING THE PURPOSE, ELECTION DATE, VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICITY PAMPHLETS PROPOSING A CHANGE TO THE CITY OF YUMA CHARTER, ARTICLE IV, ELECTIONS			

WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 1 and Section 7 of the Yuma City Charter provides the City Council a mechanism, by ordinance, to call for special elections; and, 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes § 16-204, November 3, 2026, is hereby designated the date for holding a Special Election in conjunction with the General Election in the City of Yuma, Arizona; and,

WHEREAS the Call of the 2026 General Election was adopted through Resolution R2026-002 on January 7, 2026, for the purpose of electing candidates that were not declared elected through the Primary election; and,

WHEREAS, the City of Yuma desires to bring forward an amendment of Article IV, Section 6 of the City Charter, relating to the number of signatures required on nomination petitions for City of Yuma elected officials.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Yuma as follows:

SECTION 1: 	Yuma County registration and voting lists will be used for Special and General Elections.  To be qualified to vote in the election, voters must be registered by October 5, 2026.

SECTION 2:  A Special Election shall be held on November 3, 2026, to submit to the qualified electors of the City of Yuma the question set forth below to determine whether the City Charter of the City of Yuma should be amended as shown below (strikethrough text indicates proposed deletions and underlined bold text indicates proposed additions):

Proposition 437
SHALL ARTICLE IV – ELECTIONS, SECTION 6 – NOMINATION FOR PRIMARY ELECTION, BE AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

The City Council, by ordinance, shall direct the City Clerk to make available to all candidates for any City office a petition form for nomination at a primary election. The nomination form must contain the signatures of qualified electors of the City aggregating not less than three percent (3%) nor more than five percent (5%) of the total number of valid ballots cast at the last preceding primary general municipal election. The petitions shall be presented to the City Clerk in accordance with state law. The City Clerk shall certify the petition indicating that the required number of signatures of qualified electors has been obtained and such certification shall cause the candidate's name to be printed on the ballot.

A “YES” vote shall have the effect of adopting the proposed change.
A “NO” vote shall have the effect of not adopting the proposed change.

SHALL THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED AMENDMENT BE ADOPTED?

_____ YES         _____ NO

SECTION 3: The Special Election shall be held in conformity with the provisions of the Yuma City Charter and the general laws of the State of Arizona, and no person shall be entitled to vote unless that person is a registered voter of the City of Yuma.

SECTION 4:  The Special Election results shall be submitted to the City Council of the City of Yuma in the same manner and time provided for the return of the ballots for a General Election, whereupon the City Council shall canvass the votes cast in the election and immediately thereafter declare the results of the election.

SECTION 5:  If a majority of the qualified electors of the City voting at the election vote in favor of the amendment proposed, it shall be the duty of the City Council, immediately upon canvassing the votes cast in the election as above provided, to transmit a certified copy of the approved amendment to the Governor of the State of Arizona for approval, as provided by the Yuma City Charter and the Constitution of the State of Arizona. 

SECTION 6:  Pursuant to A.R.S § 19-141, the City Clerk shall cause a publicity pamphlet to be printed and mailed to every registered voter household, in accordance with law, before the earliest date that any requested early ballots can be received.

	Adopted this ___________ day of June 2026

											APPROVED:
									________________________
	Douglas J. Nicholls
	Mayor
			
	ATTESTED:

	________________________
	Janet L. Pierson
	City Clerk 


	APPROVED AS TO FORM:

	________________________
	Richard W. Files
	City Attorney