City Group Planned To Study Elections

Creation of a citizens commission tó study Ann Arbor election practices has been given endorsement of the City Council. The issue was not discussed by council this week and the general agreement carne in phe form of no opposition to the proposal introduced by Mayor Robert J. Harris. The commission is a direct result of efforts by individuals here to run third party candidates on local election ballots. They had requested a City Charter change to permit this, but city officials are not certain whether local action in this regard could override state law on the subject. As matters stand now, a third party has to file petitions with some 40,000 signatures in Lansing to be recognized for the ballot. Harris is asking that the special citizens' committee go beyond this question and investígate the feasibility of having non-partisan elections here or revamping the present ward election system. The mayor said he would meet in the near future with Fourth Ward Republican James Stephenson to work out ground rules for the commission and select persons to sit on that body. Harris said he is in hopes the commission can submit its recommendations so that i any action necessary can be taken by the February, 1972, primary election.