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WEIRTON -- The City of Weirton continues to work on plans for its 2024 municipal election, which will see candidates vying for the offices of mayor and seven members of city council.
The schedule of the city's election was realigned through a charter change approved by voters in 2019, and will include only a general election in November as opposed to the previously held April primary and June general election.
Filing for the city election will be held Jan. 8 to Jan. 27, mirroring the one for all county and state offices going on the ballot next year.
"They'll fall in line with the counties," explained City Clerk Kimberly Long.
During Monday's Weirton Council meeting, the first reading of an ordinance was unanimously approved amending Article 109 of the city code in order to specify the duties of county and city election officials.
Under the ordinance, the city is rescinding sections of the election code including "109.01 regarding voter registration, 109.02 ballot position selection by lottery, 109.03 primary election date, 109.06 compensation for election officials, and 109.07 method of voting," and seceding control and enforcement of those election procedures to officials in Hancock and Brooke counties.
Ward 5 Councilwoman Flora Perrone asked if Weirton's city clerk will continue to have any role in the election.
"Everyone will still have to file with me," Long noted, explaining she will verify eligibility of all filed candidates, as well as handle any candidate withdrawals.
Once the slate of candidates is final, Long will send the applicable information to the county clerk offices in Hancock and Brooke counties.
City Manager Mike Adams explained he had prepared a memorandum of understanding between the city and the two counties to help finalize the arrangements.
"The basic memorandum is from the Secretary of State's Office," Adams said, noting an addendum includes the delineation of authorities between the city and counties.
The ordinance must be approved by a second reading before going into effect.
Council previously instituted a realignment of the city's seven wards to allow them to more closely follow aspects of the various county precincts as part of its election preparations.