721—21.404 (81GA,HF2282) Special elections to fill vacancies in elective city offices for cities without primary election requirements. This rule applies to cities that have adopted by ordinance one of the following options: nominations under Iowa Code chapter 44 or chapter 45, or a runoff election requirement if no candidate in the special election receives a majority of the votes cast.
	 21.404(1) Notice to the commissioner. At least 32 days before the proposed date of the special election, the city council shall give written notice to the commissioner who will be responsible for conducting the special election. If the commissioner finds no conflict with other previously scheduled elections, or with other limitations on the dates of special elections, the commissioner shall immediately notify the council that the date has been approved.
	 21.404(2) Special elections to fill vacancies held in conjunction with the general election. If the proposed date of the special election coincides with the date of the general election, the council shall give notice of the proposed date of the special city election not later than 76 days before the date of the general election. Candidates shall file nomination papers with the city clerk not later than 5 p.m.	on the seventieth day before the general election. The city clerk shall deliver the nomination papers accepted by the clerk not later than 5 p.m.	on the sixty-ninth day before the general election. Objection and withdrawal deadlines shall be 64 days before the general election, the same as the deadlines for candidates who file their nomination papers with the commissioner. Hearings on objections shall be held as soon as possible in order to facilitate printing of the general election ballot.
	 21.404(3) Election calendar. If the special election date is not the same as the date of the general election, the election calendar shall be adjusted as follows:
	  a.   	 The deadline for candidates to file nomination papers with the city clerk shall be not later than 12 noon on the twenty-fifth day before the election.
	  b.   	 The city clerk shall deliver all nomination papers accepted by the clerk to the county commissioner of elections not later than 5 p.m.	on the twenty-fifth day before the election.
	  c.   	 A candidate who has filed nomination papers for the special election may withdraw not later than 5 p.m.	on the twenty-second day before the election.
	  d.   	 A person who would have the right to vote for the office in question may file a written objection to the legal sufficiency of a candidate’s nomination papers or to the qualifications of the candidate for this special election not later than 12 noon on the twenty-second day before the election.
	  e.   	 The hearing on the objection must be held within 24 hours of receipt of the objection.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 372.13(2) as amended by 2006 Iowa Acts, House File 2282, section 2.