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HomeMy WebLinkAbout033982 ORD - 08/11/2026Ordinance ordering a general election to be held on November 3, 2026, in the City of Corpus Christi for the election of Mayor and eight Council Members; providing for procedures for holding such election; providing for notice of election and publication thereof; providing for establishment of branch early voting polling places; designating polling place locations; authorizing a joint election with Nueces County, and a runoff election, if one is necessary, on December 12, 2026; authorizing execution of a Joint Election Agreement and Election Services Contract with Nueces County; and enacting provisions incident and relating to the subject and purpose of this ordinance. WHEREAS, the City Charter provides for the holding of a regular City election for Mayor and Council Members in the City of Corpus Christi, on the November Uniform Election Date in even - numbered years as authorized by State law, the same being November 3, 2026; with a runoff election, if one is necessary; and WHEREAS, it is provided in Section 3.004 of the Texas Election Code that the governing body shall order elections pertaining to municipal affairs, and other provisions of the Election Code provide for notice, appointment of election officers to hold the election; and other matters related to the holding of the election; and WHEREAS, Nueces County will also be conducting an election on November 3, 2026. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, THAT: SECTION 1. A regular City election (hereinafter the "Election") for a Mayor, District One Council Member, District Two Council Member, District Three Council Member, District Four Council Member, District Five Council Member, and three At -large Council Members shall be held in the City of Corpus Christi, Texas on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. A runoff election shall be held, if one is necessary, on December 12, 2026. SECTION 2. At the Election, all the qualified voters of the City of Corpus Christi shall be permitted to vote. SECTION 3. The names of candidates for the office of Mayor and the names of candidates for the office of the City Council members shall be placed on said ballot in manner and form prescribed by law. SECTION 4. Nueces County will select the voting equipment to be used in the Election in accordance with the Texas Election Code. The Election shall be held at the polling places in the regularly prescribed precincts of the City of Corpus Christi, as determined by the Nueces County Clerk (a list of which will be approved and attached hereto as Attachment A, and incorporated herein, when such polling places are determined by Nueces County). The Election shall be held in accordance with the Election Laws of the State of Texas. The polls shall be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the date of the Election. Nueces County will ensure that its voting equipment complies with State law. SECTION 5. The City Secretary, or her designee, in coordination with the Nueces County Clerk (the Election Official) or the designee thereof, as necessary or desirable, will identify and formally 1 033982 9, N approve the appointment of the Presiding Judges, Alternative Presiding Judges, Election Clerks, and all other election officials, together with any necessary changes to election practices and procedures and can correct, modify, or change the Attachments to this Ordinance based upon the final locations and times agreed upon by the Election Official and the City to the extent permitted by applicable law. SECTION 6. The City Secretary shall conduct the Election as directed by ordinance of the City Council and by law in accordance with the joint election agreement to be entered into with Nueces County. The City Secretary is directed to provide such demographic data and information as required by law. SECTION 7. Early voting in person at each of the temporary branch polling places shall be conducted as follows: Such early voting in person may be conducted at the main early voting polling place located in the first -floor lobby of the Nueces County Courthouse, 901 Leopard, and at the temporary branch polling places as determined by the Nueces County Clerk (a list of which will be approved and attached hereto as Attachment B, and incorporated herein, when such temporary branch polling places are determined by Nueces County). Each branch polling place and the main early voting polling place shall serve all Election precincts. SECTION 8. The City Secretary is directed to post and publish such election notices as are required by the election laws of the State of Texas. The City Secretary is further appointed as the authority and officer responsible for the conduct of said Election and is hereby authorized and directed to make all necessary arrangements for the holding of said Election in accordance with and subject to the laws of this State including but not limited to coordinating the election process, including use of tabulation equipment, supplies and printing of ballots, in accordance with the joint election agreement to be executed with Nueces County. SECTION 9. The Election is expected to be conducted in accordance with an agreement between Nueces County and the City of Corpus Christi to hold a joint election on November 3, 2026 (which shall be approved and attached hereto as Attachment C and incorporated herein). The City Manager or designee is authorized to execute a Joint Election Agreement with Nueces County for the conduct of the election in accordance with this ordinance. The terms of the Agreement will be consistent with the terms of the 2024 Joint Election Agreement. The City Secretary is authorized to approve all lawful changes and additions to the procedures provided herein in order to implement such agreement, including but not limited to provisions for substations. SECTION 10. The City Manager or designee is authorized to execute a Contract for Election Services with Nueces County for conduct of the Election in accordance with this ordinance and is attached hereto as Attachment D and incorporated herein. The terms of the contract will be consistent with the terms of the 2024 Contract for Election Services. SECTION 11. By approving and signing this ordinance, the Mayor officially confirms and orders as the Mayor's actions all matters recited in this ordinance which by law come within the Mayor's jurisdiction. 2 SECTION 12. If for any reason any section, paragraph, subdivision, clause, phrase, word, or provision of this ordinance or the ballot herein shall be held invalid or unconstitutional by final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall not affect any other section, paragraph, subdivision, clause, phrase, word, or provision of this ordinance, for it is the definite intent of this City Council that every section, paragraph, subdivision, clause, phrase, word or provision hereof be given full force and effect of its purpose. Introduced and voted on the 2 ay of TOtt , 2026. PASSED and APPROVED on the I It\ day of lulkSt , 2026. EST: Rebecca Huerta, City Secretary Kaylynn Paxson, Mayor Pro Tem 3 033982, ATTACHMENT A ELECTION PRECINCTS AND ELECTION DAY POLLING LOCATIONS Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 Election Day Polling Locations open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Nueces County participates in the Countywide Polling program under Section 43.007 as amended, Texas Election Code. Registered voters will be able to cast their Election Day ballots at any of the vote centers identified below. (Aransas County, Kleberg County, and San Patricio County also participate in Countywide Polling Place programs). [TO BE INSERTED — POLLING PLACES IN THE REGULARLY PRESCRIBED PRECINCTS OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI] [The remainder of this page intentionally left blank] 4 ATTACHMENT B MAIN AND TEMPORARY BRANCH POLLING PLACES, DATES, AND TIMES Early voting begins Monday, October 19, 2026 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2026 Early Voting Clerk: Early Voting Clerk's Street Address: Kara Sands, Nueces County Clerk 901 Leopard Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Presiding Judge of Early Voting Ballot Board: TBA Locations, Dates, and Hours of Main Early Voting Polling Location Nueces County Courthouse 901 Leopard Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Dates Times Monday, -Saturday, 8:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. Sunday, Noon — 6:00 p.m. Monday, — Friday, 7:00 a.m. — 7:00 p.m. Any voter who is entitled to vote an early ballot by personal appearance may do so at the Main Early Voting Site. [The remainder of this page intentionally left blank] 5 Location, Dates, and Hours of Temporary Branch Polling Places [TO BE INSERTED — TEMPORARY BRANCH POLLING PLACES AND DAYS AND HOURS FOR VOTING] EARLY VOTING BY MAIL Applications for Ballot by Mail for the General Election must be received (not postmarked) no later than the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Friday, October 23, 2026. Applications should be mailed to: Kara Sands, Nueces County Clerk Attn: Elections Department P.O. Box 2627 Corpus Christi, TX 78403 Applications may be emailed to: votebymail@nuecesco.com *Note: if emailing an application, the original must also be mailed to the County Clerk Nueces County Clerk Website: https://www.nuecesco.com/county-services/county-clerk/elections-department [The remainder of this page intentionally left blank] 6 Attachment C Joint Election Agreement [TO BE INSERTED] [The remainder of this page intentionally left blank] 7 Attachment D Contract for Election Services [To be inserted] [The remainder of this page intentionally left blank] 8