HomeMy Public PortalAboutResolution No. 527-20 08-10-2020RESOLUTION NO. 527-20
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHLAND
HILLS, TEXAS, CALLING A GENERAL ELECTION FOR MAYOR, CITY
COUNCIL PLACE 2 AND CITY COUNCIL PLACE 4 FOR THE CITY OF
RICHLAND HILLS, TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3, 2020;
ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR THAT ELECTION; AND PROVIDING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Richland Hills, Texas, is a home rule city acting under its
charter adopted by the electorate pursuant to Article XI, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution
and Chapter 9 of the Local Government Code; and
WHEREAS, on January 27, 2020, the City Council approved Resolution No. 520-20
ordering a General Election for the offices of Mayor, City Council Place 2 and City Council
Place 4 to be held on May 2, 2020: and
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2020 Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation
authorizing political subdivisions that would otherwise hold elections on May 2, 2020 to
move their general elections for 2020 to November 3, 2020 due to public health and safety
concerns related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19); and
WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, the City Council approved Resolution No. 522-20
postponing the General Election called for May 2, 2020, to November 3, 2020 in order to
protect the health and safety of the citizens of the City of Richland Hills; and
WHEREAS, the election will be held as a joint election, conducted under the
authority of Chapter 271 of the Texas Election Code; and
WHEREAS, by this Resolution, it is the intention of the City Council to call the 2020
General Election as required by the City Charter and by other law, designate a polling place
for the election, and to establish and set forth procedures for conducting the election.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1.
GENERAL ELECTION ORDER: An election is hereby called to elect the offices of Mayor,
City Council Place 2 and City Council Place 4 to serve from November of 2020 until May of
2022 or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The general election shall be
held on November 3, 2020 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. at polling
locations determined by the Tarrant County Elections Administrator in accordance with the
Joint Election Agreement and will be reflected in a future revision to the original election
order.
SECTION 2.
JOINT ELECTION AGREEMENT APPROVED: The City Secretary is hereby authorized to
execute the contract (the "Contract") with Tarrant County for joint election services. In the
event of a conflict between this Resolution and the Contract, the Contract shall control.
SECTION 3.
FILING DEADLINES: By postponing the election date, the City is preserving all candidate
filings and ballot order actions that have already taken place. This postponement does not
have the effect of reopening candidate filings.
SECTION 4.
EARLY VOTING BY PERSONAL APPEARANCE: The Tarrant County Elections
Administrator is hereby appointed as the Early Voting Clerk for the November 3, 2020
General Election, as so indicated in the Contract. Early voting by personal appearance
shall be held at Tarrant County Vote Centers. The main early voting location shall be
located at the Tarrant County Elections Center, 2700 Premier Street, Fort Worth, Texas
76111. Early voting by personal appearance begins on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 and
ends on Friday, October 30, 2020 during the hours listed below:
October 13-17
October 19 -23
October 24
October 25
October 26 -30
Tuesday -Saturday
Monday -Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday -Friday
SECTION 5.
8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
7:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m.
11 :00 a.m. -4:00 p.m.
7:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m.
APPLICATIONS FOR BALLOTS BY MAIL FOR THE MAY 2, 2020 ELECTION:
(a) All applications for ballots by mail that were filed for the May 2, 2020 Election that
are marked annual remain valid for the November 3, 2020 election.
(b) All single use applications for ballots by mail that were submitted for the May 2, 2020
Election for reasons of age or disability remain valid for the November 3, 2020 election.
(c) Single use applications for ballots by mail submitted for the May 2, 2020 Election
that indicated the reason for voting by mail was due to absence from the county will not
remain valid for the November 3, 2020 election.
SECTION 6.
APPLICATIONS FOR BALLOTS BY MAIL FOR THE NOVEMBER 3, 2020 ELECTION:
Applications for early voting by mail in Tarrant County may be delivered to the Early Voting
Clerk, 2700 Premier Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76111, FAX: 817-831-6118, email:
votebymail@tarrantcounty.com to be received not later than the close of business on
October 23, 2020. Early Voting ballots for Tarrant County shall be mailed to Early Voting
Clerk, P.O. Box 961011, Fort Worth, Texas, 76161-0011. On July 27, 2020 by proclamation
of the Governor suspended Section 86.006(a-1) of the Texas Election Code that for any
election ordered or authorized to occur on November 3, 2020, to the extent necessary to
allow a voter to deliver a marked mail ballot in person to the early voting clerk's office prior
to and including on election day.
SECTION 7.
EARLY VOTING BY BALLOT BOARD:. Early voting, both by personal appearance and by
mail shall be canvassed by the Early Voting Ballot Board, which is hereby created. The
Presiding Election Judge and Alternate Presiding Election Judge, appointed herein, shall
serve as the presiding officer and alternate presiding officer, respectively, of the Early
Voting Ballot Board. The other election officers serving at the election shall serve as the
other members of the Early Voting Ballot Board.
SECTION 8.
APPOINTMENT OF ELECTION JUDGE AND ALTERNATE ELECTION JUDGE: The
Presiding Election Judge and Alternate Presiding Judge shall be appointed by Tarrant
County as authorized by Chapter 271 of the Texas Election Code.
SECTION 9.
METHOD OF VOTING: Early voting by personal appearance and election day voting shall
be conducted using the Hart lnterCivic Verity Voting System, a hybrid system that provides
a paper trail for every voter, combined with the latest advancement in digital security. All
expenditures necessary for the conduct of the election, the purchase of materials therefore,
and the employment of all election officials are hereby authorized and shall be conducted in
accordance with the Agreement and the Code.
SECTION 10.
GOVERNING LAW AND QUALIFIED VOTERS: The election shall be held in accordance
with the Constitution of the State of Texas and the Code, and all resident qualified voters of
the City shall be eligible to vote at the election.
SECTION 11.
PUBLICATION AND POSTING OF NOTICE OF ELECTION: Notice of the election shall
be given as required by Chapter 4 of the Code.
SECTION 12.
NECESSARY ACTIONS: The Mayor and the City Secretary, in consultation with the City
Attorney, are hereby authorized and directed to take any and all actions necessary to
comply with the provisions of the Code in carrying out and conducting the election, whether
or not expressly authorized herein.
SECTION 13.
DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE: Any individual seeking to vote in the November 3,
2020 election must register to vote by October 5, 2020.
SECTION 14.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This resolution shall be effective upon its adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 10TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2020.
APPROVED:
PEZ,MAYOR
ATTEST:
CATHY BOU I CITY SEC