F.A.Q

Questions about City Elections:

1. How often are elections held?
General elections are held every two years. Special elections are held when necessary. More information about city elections is available under the Elections program. You may also wish to read about candidate requirements.

2. How many votes did my City Council member receive in the last election? Are precinct maps and/or precinct voting information available?
Phone Elections Manager Sonia Jones at (214) 670-5657 for information about district maps, votes cast or precinct information.

3. Are city council members required to file financial reports with the City?
Officeholders must file Financial Involvement Statements with the City Secretary. These statements are public records and are available for review in the City Secretary’s office.

4. How can I obtain election return information for each City Council candidate, including the percentage of the votes received?
This information is available in the election canvass report and is available in the City Secretary’s Office. Questions about the report or requests for copies may be directed to Elections Manager Sonia Jones at (214) 670-5657.

5. Where can I obtain information about absentee and/or regular voting locations for city elections?
You may contact Elections Manager Sonia Jones at (214) 670-5657. Additional information is provided concerning voting locations and early voting times prior to each election.

6. How do I get more information about elections?
You may contact Elections Manager Sonia Jones at (214) 670-5657.

Questions about City Council Meetings:

1. When are City Council meetings held?
Information about when City Council meetings are held is included in the City Council Rules of Procedures, available here.

2. How do I sign up to speak at the next Council meeting?
A person wishing to address the City Council must first register with the City Secretary and provide the following information: name, residence address, daytime telephone number, the subject matter to be presented, and whether the subject is on the current City Council meeting agenda. A person may register either in person or by telephone. The earliest a person may register for an upcoming City Council meeting is the beginning of the next regular business day following the previous City Council meeting. The deadline for registering to address the council is 9:00 a.m. of the day of the meeting. See also these revisions to City Secretary procedures for registering to speak.

3. Are there any guidelines or rules that I must follow if I want to speak at the next Council meeting?
Yes, these rules are included in the City Council approved Rules of Procedures. See also these revisions to City Secretary procedures for registering to speak.

4. Do I have to be a resident of the City of Dallas to speak at a City Council meeting?
No, you do not have to be a resident of the City of Dallas to speak at a City Council meeting; however, preference is given to residents. More information about this is available in the City Council Rules of Procedures.

Questions related to the history of the City of Dallas:

1. Where can I obtain information or research records related the history of the City of Dallas?
You may contact the City Archivist at (214) 670-5270 with questions related to the history of the City of Dallas. Go to our Archives page for a list of Guides to the Archives.

2. How many mayors have served the City of Dallas?
The Honorable Mayor Tom Leppert is the 57th mayor of the City.

3. How can I find out when a certain council member or mayor was elected?
We provide here a list of Mayors, City Managers, City Secretaries, City Attorneys and City Auditors. A great deal more information is online, and a set of Guides to the Archives are now online. You may contact the City Archivist at (214) 670-5270 for more information.

Questions about City Council appointed Boards and Commissions:

1. How many city council appointed boards and commissions exist and how can I find out what they are?
There are 56 city council appointed boards and commissions, listed here.

2. Who is appointed to what board and by which council member?
You may call the Boards & Commissions Division of the City Secretary’s Office at (214) 670-3067 to obtain information on specific board members or to obtain a list of all board members. This information can also be found on the city secretary’s home page.

3. What are the qualification requirements for City Council appointed board and commission members?
The qualifications are established in Chapter 8-1.4., the Dallas City Code. A copy of the code is available in the City Secretary’s Office or at the Dallas Public Library. Requests for copies of the qualifications may be directed the City Secretary’s Office at (214) 670-3738.

4. How do I get more information on boards and commissions?
You may contact the Boards & Commissions Division of the City Secretary’s Office at (214) 670-3067.

Questions about the City Code of Ethics:

1. How do I contact the Ethics Advisory Board?
Your primary contact should usually be the staff coordinator, Sandra DuBose, in the City Secretary’s Office, at (214) 670-3741. The public address information for all EAC members is available here.

2. How do I travel to City Hall to attend a meeting?
Detailed driving directions to City Hall are found on the City Secretary’s web site here. These provide directions from main arteries, and includes three maps of city hall’s location in the southern Central Business District.

3. Who must file an Annual Financial Disclosure Statement?
City Councilmembers and candidates, certain City employees, and members of certain specific boards and commissions on this list must file an Annual Financial Disclosure Statement.