Citywide Election, Saturday 5/4, early voting 4/22 – 4/30

The following text comes from the City of Garland website:

https://www.garlandtx.gov/4135/May-4-2024-General-Election

The City of Garland will hold a General and Special Election on Saturday, May 4, to elect City Council members for Districts 1, 2, 4 and 5, and to consider several proposed amendments to the City Charter.

Early voting by personal appearance will be:

· 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday, April 22, through Friday, April 26

· 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 27

· Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 28

· 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, April 29, and Tuesday, April 30

In Garland, polling places will be:

· Dallas College-Garland Center, 675 W. Walnut St.

· North Garland Library, 3845 N. Garland Ave.

· South Garland Library, 4845 Broadway Blvd.

· Vietnamese Community Center, 3221 Belt Line Road

·

Last fall, the City Council appointed a Charter Review Commission of nine residents. The charge of this task force was to review portions of the City Charter that were identified as potentially being in conflict with current state and federal laws or otherwise outdated. 

After a series of meetings, the Charter Review Commission forwarded proposed amendments to the City Council for consideration. 

The proposed amendments will be listed on the ballot as Propositions A-Q. Voters will have the option to vote “for” or “against” each of the 17 propositions. State law specifies each amendment contain only one subject and, therefore, does not allow the amendments to be consolidated into fewer propositions. 

The City Charter establishes the City’s general powers, duties and administrative structure. The Charter cannot be changed by the City Council, but only by a majority vote of qualified residents. The Garland City Charter was last amended in 2018. The current City Charter can be reviewed here: Garland City Charter.

If you would like to learn more about the upcoming Charter Amendment propositions and election, please review the materials and video from the Feb. 6 City Council meeting.

The proposals are as follows:

Proposition A: An amendment to redefine “term” to mean in excess of annual consecutive statutory election dates

Proposition B: An amendment to mirror state redistricting law of 10-year intervals

Proposition C: An amendment to add protections against gerrymandering

Proposition D: An amendment to the qualifications of Council members

Proposition E: An amendment to increase the compensation for Mayor and Council members

Proposition F: An amendment to add gender-neutral language consistent with the rest of the charter

Proposition G: An amendment to add a reference to the Deputy Mayor Pro Tem position on Council

Proposition H: An amendment to add a 30-day deadline for the Governor to respond to an election petition from the City before the City Council can fulfill the vacancy by appointment

Proposition I: An amendment to clarify the Council-appointed positions to which the removal procedure applies

Proposition J: An amendment to change the enforcement procedure of improper

communication with appointments to be pursuant to the City’s Code of Ethics

Propositions K-M: Amendments to change the allowed contract of the City Auditor, City Manager and City Attorney to not exceed five years

Proposition N: An amendment to clarify the circumstances of the Mayor’s appointment to a vacancy on the Plan Commission

Proposition O: An amendment to simplify and clarify the zoning powers of the City to be consistent with City ordinances and state law

Proposition P: An amendment to add the allowance of delegation of certain plat approval pursuant to recent changes in state law

Proposition Q: An amendment to remove the specific reference to May and be consistent with any statutorily designated uniform election date