LEWISTON — City voters Tuesday increased the requirements for write-in City Council candidates, made it easier to fill vacant seats and increased the length of time a mayor can serve.

City voters approved 10 of 11 ballot questions representing 10 amendments to the City Charter.

Question 4 on the city ballot, which would have extended term limits for Planning Board and Board of Appeals members, failed.

Changes ranged from the simple — modernizing some archaic language in the charter — to the complex.

One major change creates new standards for write-in candidates for School committee, City Council and mayor. Before, write-in candidates could win with a single vote. The new rule requires write-in candidates to get at least as many votes as the number of nominating signatures traditional candidates need to qualify for the ballot.

Traditional candidates for the mayor’s chair have to get at least 100 signatures to get on the ballot. Candidates for City Council and School Committee need 50 signatures to get on the ballot.

Charter change results were:

— Question 1, relating to the City Council: 9,211 Yes, 3,924 No
These amendments let the council president make appointments when acting as mayor, let councilors appoint a presiding officer when both the mayor and president are absent, let city staff send out meeting notifications electronically and determine how councilors can act.

— Question 2, relating to ordinances: 6,959 Yes, 5,901 No
These amendments get rid of the $1,000 penalty for violations, make it easier to adopt and amend them and require a five-vote City Council super-majority to pass emergency ordinances.

— Question 3, relating to the city administrator: 6,930 Yes, 5,898 No
These amendments let the city administrator hire department heads without City Council approval. Councilors must still approve hiring the finance director, however. The amendments also let administrators name a temporary replacement.

— Question 4, relating to term limits: 6,095 Yes, 6,746 No
These amendments would have let Planning Board and Board of Appeals members serve two consecutive five-year terms.

— Question 5, relating to the School Committee: 8,822 Yes, 4,101 No
There are several changes in these amendments. They require the School Committee to act within the financial limits set by the City Council, relax the school’s compliance with city ordinances and require the superintendent to be a Lewiston resident and to be hired solely on executive and administrative experience. The amendments also give the City Council final approval over all school contracts and set School Committee meeting rules.

— Question 6, relating to financial procedures: 6,880 Yes, 5,740 No
These amendments let the City Council set the fiscal year by ordinance, post capital plans and budgets to the city’s website; they also change how councilors approve bond votes and how long they can appoint an auditing firm, and clarify Finance Committee rules.

— Question 7, relating to the elections and vacancies: 7,247 Yes, 5,368 No
These amendments let appointed officials, such as Planning Board members, run for elected office without first resigning. They would still be required to resign if elected. The amendments also let councilors appoint other councilors and School Committee members if the seat is left vacant after an election, and changes rules for write-in candidates.

— Question 8, general provisions: 9,204 Yes, 3,352 No
These amendments specify new terms for elected officials begin on the first Tuesday in January if the first Monday is a holiday. They also require the mayor to create a charter review committee every 10 years.

— Question 9, relating to pay and forfeiting office: 8,325 Yes, 4,201 No
These amendments let councilors set pay for elected and appointed boards by ordinance, let councilors take compensation for boards they sit on as councilors and specify how elected or appointed officials can forfeit offices.

— Question 10, relating to the mayor: 6,709 Yes, 6,040 No
These amendments let the mayor vote when a councilor is absent or recused, let the mayor serve three consecutive terms and let the council president act as mayor for up to one year.

— Question 11, technical changes: 8,504 Yes, 4,004 No
These amendments are mostly housekeeping, changing language in various parts of the charter. They also try to make all language in the charter gender-neutral.

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