Iowa City does not have a direct election for mayor. The City Council
chooses the mayor from among the council members in January of even numbered
years.
Iowa City has seven council members. All terms are four years. Four members are elected at large and
may live anywhere in the city. Two at large members are elected every two
years.
The other three members are elected by
districts. Candidates for district seats must live in the district. In 2007, the District
A and C seats were up for election. The District B seat was on the 2009
ballot.
- Council District A: Precincts 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14
- Council District B: Precincts 6, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25
- Council District C: Precincts 4, 5, 10, 11, 19, 20, 21, 22
Council District Map (City of Iowa City web site; .pdf)
If the at large seats require a primary election (if five or more
candidates run) all voters in the city may vote in both the primary and
general elections.
If a district seat requires a primary election (if three or more candidates
run), only voters within the district may vote in the primary. All city voters
may vote in a district seat race in a city general election.
In 2009 a primary was required in the at large race, but not in the
District B race.
The city primary is not a partisan primary, and voters do not need to be
affiliated with a particular political party in order to vote.
Note: In the 2001 reprecincting, old precinct
6 in District C (Iowa Memorial Union) was eliminated, and a new Precinct 6
(Mercer Park Recreation Center) was created in District B. Precinct 10
was moved from District A to District C.
