Conduct of Elections; Residency Requirements; Qualifying Fee; Statement of Campaign Expenses and Contributions

(a) The initial elections provided for in this chapter, and all subsequent elections, shall be conducted, the vote canvassed, the results declared, and those elected assume the duties of their offices in the same manner as provided by the general law of the state pertaining to municipal elections for mayor-council forms of government, except as otherwise provided by state statute. (b)(1) The mayor shall be elected by the whole of the electors of the city and shall have been a resident of the city for at least 90 days prior to his or her election. (2) Council members shall be elected by the electors of the district that they represent and shall have been residents of the district that they represent for at least 90 days prior to their election. (c)(1) Any individual desiring to become a candidate for mayor, council member, or member of the municipal board of education, at the time of filing a statement of candidacy, shall pay to the city clerk the qualifying fee to be set by ordinance. Notwithstanding Section 11-46-2, the qualifying fee for mayoral candidates shall be five hundred dollars ($500), and the qualifying fee for council member and municipal board of education member candidates shall be two hundred fifty dollars ($250). (2) If any individual desiring to become a candidate for mayor, council member, or member of the municipal board of education is financially unable to pay the filing fee, then that individual shall be exempted from the fee upon attesting that the individual has a gross income that does not exceed 130 percent of the federal poverty level and filing with the city clerk a copy of the individual’s most recent federal tax return. (d) Within 30 days after the election, every candidate shall file with the city clerk a sworn statement of all election campaign expenses and of each individual, firm, or corporation that has contributed funds, itemized for all expenditures and contributions of one hundred dollars ($100) or more. (Acts 1985, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 85-926, p. 213, §4; Act 2026-586, §1.)