§11-44E-3. Election of commission and mayor; term of office.

(a) The expense for all elections shall be paid by such city. The mayor and all commission candidates shall qualify as provided in Sections 11-44E-71 and 11-44E-72, respectively, and shall have the qualifications and eligibility set forth in this chapter. Under applicable laws for the election of commissioners to the commission, the mayor, within the scope of this chapter, shall provide for an election to be held on the second Tuesday in July, 1991, and every two years thereafter for the positions of associate commissioners in the manner herein provided.

Upon the adoption of such form of government and approval by the Justice Department, the mayor shall call an election, to be governed by this chapter, to be held no later than the second Tuesday in July, 1991, and every four years thereafter for the positions of associate commissioner for Districts 2, 4, and 6 for four-year terms. Associate commissioners for Districts 1 and 5 shall also be elected the second Tuesday in July 1991, for initial two-year terms. Any commissioner whose present term does not expire until 1993, shall continue to serve the remainder of his or her term, but shall represent the district in which he or she resides. Districts 1, 3, and 5 shall elect associate commissioners the second Tuesday in July, 1993, for four-year terms. After 1993, all associate commissioners shall serve four-year terms. The mayor shall continue to hold office until the first Monday in October, 1993, and shall continue to be elected at-large for a four-year term.

Each voter in the election may cast one vote for a candidate from his or her district and one vote for a candidate for mayor. Any district commissioner candidate receiving a majority of the total votes cast from the district in which he or she is a candidate shall be declared elected as a commissioner from his or her district. In the event that no candidate receives a majority, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes cast shall be eligible for a second or run-off election. Such election shall be held on the second Tuesday next thereafter following the first election. The candidate for the commissioner receiving a majority of votes cast in the second election shall be declared elected to such designated office. The commissioners so elected shall take office on the first Monday in October following the election. Each commissioner shall hold office for four years, but shall serve until his or her successor shall have been designated as prescribed elsewhere in this chapter. A commissioner may succeed himself or herself in office.

The candidate for mayor receiving the majority of votes cast at the first election shall be elected thereto. If at the first election no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared eligible for a second or run-off election. The second or run-off election shall be held on the second Tuesday next thereafter following the first election. The candidate receiving the majority of votes cast in the second or run-off election shall be declared elected to such office.

Notwithstanding any notice requirements of any other statute or statutes concerning municipal elections, a notice shall be published by the city clerk no earlier than the second Tuesday and no later than the third Tuesday in May preceding the election. The notice shall, in substance, state the month, day, and year of the election and the purpose for which it is called. The notice shall further recite that the city has been divided into districts as provided under this chapter and state where a copy of the district division is on file. The notice shall be published at least one time in a newspaper published in the city, and if no newspaper is published in the city, then by posting notices in three public places within the municipality. The election of the first commission shall be held and conducted in the same manner as provided by law unless otherwise provided for in this chapter. All municipal officials of the city shall have the same duties and responsibilities as they have with respect to municipal elections as provided by law. The call of the election by the mayor shall be sufficient to require any municipal officer or officers to comply with their duties and responsibilities with regard to all municipal elections, including the designation of places of voting, appointment of election officers, and other matters concerning the election. The officer or officers shall issue any orders necessary to cause all election requirements to be met.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), effective in 2011, and thereafter, the first election date for the mayor shall be on the first Tuesday in August and the second election or run-off election shall be held on the sixth Tuesday thereafter. Notice of the election shall be given no earlier than the first Tuesday and no later than the third Tuesday in June preceding the election.

(Acts 1988, No. 88-445, p. 660, §1.03; Acts 1988, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 88-831, p. 293, §1; Acts 1990, No. 90-287, p. 379, §1; Act 2006-348, p. 921, §1; Act 2009-362, p. 684, §1.)