The proposed ordinance orders a special election to be held on January 25, 2022, to fill a vacancy in the office of Council Member, District G, resulting from the automatic resignation of Council Member Greg Travis on October 27, 2021, pursuant to Article XVI, section 65 of the Texas Constitution.
Article XI, section 11(c) of the Texas Constitution requires the City to hold a special election to fill the existing vacancy within 120 days after the date the vacancy occurred. Texas Election Code section 3.005(a) requires that an election ordered by an authority of a political subdivision be ordered no later than the 62nd day before the election day. To accommodate the Harris County Elections Administrator’s ability to conduct a special election on short notice and comply with all applicable law, the most reasonable date for the City to hold a special election to fill the vacancy is Tuesday, January 25, 2022. The deadline for a governmental body to pass an ordinance calling a special election for a January 25, 2022 election date is Wednesday, November 24, 2021.
The City will conduct the election under election services contracts with Harris County.
Candidates may only file applications for a place on the ballot after City Council orders the election to fill the vacancy. Tex. Elec. Code § 201.054(d). The deadline for a candidate to file an application for a place on the ballot is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 16, 2021.
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Pat Jefferson-Daniel
City Secretary