Title
Consideration of and action on acceptance of Certificate of Unopposed Candidates and consider an ordinance declaring Unopposed Candidates in the May 2, 2026 General City Election be Elected to Office; Cancelling the Election.
Body
Summary:
Both the application for place on the ballot and the write-in deadlines have passed with no additional candidates signing up for Positions 4, 5 & 6. Therefore, the Certification of Unopposed Candidates is submitted to City Council along with the ordinance cancelling the May 2, 2026 General Election.
Certification - In order to begin the process of cancelling an election, the authority responsible for having the ballot prepared in an election must certify, in writing, that a candidate is unopposed in an election for office. That certification must be delivered to the governing body of the political subdivision as soon as possible after the filing deadlines for applications for a place on the ballot AND write-in candidate declarations.
Action Following Certification - Upon receiving the certification that candidates are unopposed, the governing body of the political subdivision must, by order or ordinance, declare the unopposed candidates elected. This must occur at a meeting of the governing body subject to the Texas Open Meetings Act. If the candidates are declared elected, the election is not held. The governing body must notify the public by posting a copy of the order or ordinance that declared the unopposed candidates elected at each polling place that would have been used in the election. It is also recommended posting the order or ordinance on the entity’s website.
NEW LAW: Senate Bill 1 amended Section 2.053 of the Code to provide that a governing body of a political subdivision must cancel an election if presented with proper certification of unopposed status by the filing authority.
After the Cancelled Election - Unopposed candidates who are declared elected are issued certificates of election in the same manner as candidates who are elected. Additionally, unopposed candidates who are declared elected MUST qualify for office in the same manner as candidates who are elected-meaning that unopposed candidates must take an oath of office. An unopposed candidate who is declared elected may not qualify for office until after the regular canvass takes place (or would have taken place). These actions will occur at the May 5, 2026 city council meeting.
Fiscal/Budgetary Impact:
N/A.
Recommended action
Accept the Certification of Unopposed Candidates and approve the ordinance cancelling the General Election for May 2, 2026.