1. As an alternative to conducting city elections as provided by sections 78.470 to 78.520, the city council may provide by ordinance for the elimination of the primary election and the conduct of city elections as provided in this section.
2. Any person desiring to become a candidate for councilman shall file with the city clerk a statement of such candidacy in substantially the following form:
3. The city clerk shall thereupon cause the official ballots to be printed, and upon the ballots the names of the candidates shall appear in the order that their statements of candidacy were filed with the city clerk, and above the names of the candidates shall appear the words "Vote for (number to be elected)".
4. The ballots shall be in substantially the following form: