§ 7.12. Elections—How arranged for; creation of districts.

The city commission shall make all necessary arrangements for holding all city elections, and shall declare the result thereof. The city commission shall adopt a resolution calling any triennial primary election or special primary election, except as otherwise provided for, stating therein where the same shall be held, and naming the different offices to be filled or questions to be decided, and shall cause the notice of election to be published once each week for two (2) consecutive weeks preceding the day of election in a newspaper published in the city, the first publication or posting to be not less than ten (10) days prior to said election.

Not later than April 1, 1987 the city commission shall, by ordinance, adopt, create and establish four (4) separate and distinct geographical commission districts. Except as is provided herein for noncontiguous parcels, the four (4) districts to be created and established by the city commission shall be of contiguous territory and as approximately equal in population as is practicable. If there are parcels of land which are within the corporate limits of and which are part of the City of Fort Lauderdale, but which parcels are not contiguous to any other parcel or tract of land which is within the corporate limits of the City of Fort Lauderdale, then such noncontiguous parcel(s) shall either be made part of one (1) of the districts to be created as provided for herein or if such parcel(s) has a population approximately equal to the other commission districts to be created, then such parcel(s) may be a commission district. In creating and establishing the four (4) city commission districts, the city commission shall use the most recent United States Census data to determine population figures. After the receipt of the published information of each decennial census, the city commission shall reestablish the boundaries of the four (4) commission districts so that the districts shall be as approximately equal in population as is practicable.

Beginning in 1988 all electors of the City of Fort Lauderdale shall be entitled to vote for candidates for the office of mayor-commissioner; however, only the electors of each commission district shall be entitled to vote for candidates for city commissioner from that district.

(Ord. No. C-86-77, § 10, 9-16-86)