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What
is the procedure for holding
a local option election in a
municipality?
The
local
option
process
begins
when
sponsors
submit
an
application
for
petition
to
the
municipal
clerk.
The
clerk
then
reviews
the
application
and,
if
appropriate,
prepares
the
petition,
determines
the
number
of
signatures
required,
and
returns
it
to
the
sponsor(s)
to
obtain
signatures.
After
the
petition
receives
the
required
number
of
signatures
and
is
signed
and
dated
by
the
sponsor,
the
city
clerk
reviews
the
petition
and
either
certifies
it
as
sufficient,
or,
if
it
is
insufficient,
returns
it
to
the
sponsor
to
correct.
After
the
petition
is
certified,
the
clerk
begins
preparation
for
an
election.
If
a
special
election
is
called,
pre-clearance
has
to
be
gotten
from
Department
of
Justice.
The
LOGON
chapter
on Electionsand
the
following
steps
detail
the
process
for
conducting
a
local
option
election:
1.
After
identifying
the
desired
option,
an
interested
party
submits
an application
for
petition to
the
municipal
clerk
with
the
following:
a.
language
substantially similar to the
language in the local option
statute (AS
04.11.491(c))
and AS
04.11.507(e)(2));
b.
the
name
and
address
of
a contact
person
and
alternate
(AS
29.26.110);
c.
signatures
of
10
sponsors,
who
are
registered
voters
of
the
municipality
(AS
29.26.110);
and
d.
deals
only
with
a single
subject
(AS
29.26.110).
2.
The
municipal
clerk
has
two
weeks
to
review
and
certify
the
application
and,
if
the
application
meets
the
requirements,
prepare
the
petition
(AS
29.26.120).
The
clerk
reviews
the
application
for
the
following:
a.
to
ensure
the
application
is
in
proper
form;
b.
individuals
who
signed
the
application
are
registered
voters;
c.
the
language is
substantially similar
to the
language spelled
out in
the statute.
3. Within
two
weeks
after
certification
of
the
application,
the
clerk
must
prepare
a petition with:
a.
the
same
question
stated
in
the
application,
which
must
be
at
least
substantially
similar
to
the
language
in
the
statute
and,
where
appropriate,
a
summary
explanation
of
what
effect
the
question
will
have
and
any
required "commonly
known
as" language
(AS
04.11.491 (c)&(d)).
Include
the
question
and
summary
on
each
page;
b.
the
date
the
clerk
issues
the
petition
(AS
29.26.120(3));
c.
notice
that
the
signatures
must
be
obtained
within
90
days
of
the
date
the
clerk
issues
the
petition
(AS
29.26.120(4));
d.
spaces
for
each
signature,
the
printed
name
of
each
signer,
the
date
each
signature
is
affixed,
and
the
residence
and
mailing
addresses
of
each
signer
(AS
29.26.120(5));
e.
a
statement,
with
space
for
the
sponsor's
sworn
signature,
that
the
sponsor
personally
circulated
the
petition,
that
all
signatures
were
affixed
in
the
presence
of
the
sponsor,
and
that
the
sponsor
believes
the
signatures
to
be
those
of
the
persons
whose
names
they
claim
to
be
(AS
29.26.120(6));
and
f.
a
space
for
showing
the
total
number
of
signatures
on
the
petition
(AS
29.26.120(7))
(35%
or
more
of
the
number
of
votes
cast
in
the
last
regular
municipal
election
(AS
04.11.507(b)).
Signatures
must
be
in
ink
and
must
be
legible.
After
the
petition
is
prepared,
the
clerk
must
notify
the
contact
person
in
writing.
The
contact
person
is
responsible
for
notifying
the
other
sponsors.
Copies
of
the
petition
must
be
available
for
each
sponsor
that
requests
one
(AS
29.26.120(c)).
4. After
the
petition
receives
the
required
number
of
good
signatures
(35%
or
more
of
the
number
of
votes
cast
in
the
last
regular
municipal
election),
it
must
be
assembled
and
submitted
as
a
single
document
to
the
municipal
clerk
and
signed
and
dated
by
the
sponsor
stating
that
the
signatures
are
true
and
correct
(AS
29.26.140).
Signatures
must
be
legible,
unless
accompanied
by
a
legible
printed
name;
must
be
accompanied
by
a
legible
address;
and
must
be
a
person
who
resides
in
the
affected
area,
or
they
are
to
be
rejected
by
the
clerk
(AS
29.26.130).
5.
The
clerk
has
10
days
to
certify
whether
the
petition
is
sufficient
and
if
the
petition
is
insufficient,
notify
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