TN Code § 6-20-101 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 6 - Cities and Towns|Chapter 20 - Commissioners and Mayor Under City Manager-Commission Charter|Part 1 - Election of Commissioners|§ 6-20-101. Number and Terms of Commissioners — Election by Districts

  In all cities that adopt Chapters 18 22 of this title, commissioners as provided for in this charter shall be elected in the manner prescribed in this chapter.   If such city or territory has a population of five thousand (5,000) or more according to the last federal census, there shall be elected at the first election five (5) commissioners, the three (3) receiving the highest number of votes to hold office for four (4) years, and the other two (2) for two (2) years. If such city or territory has a population of less than five thousand (5,000) according to the last federal census, there shall be elected at the first election three (3) commissioners, the two (2) receiving the highest number of votes to hold office for four (4) years and the third for two (2) years. The term of all commissioners thereafter elected shall be for four (4) years, or until their successors are elected and qualified. Any such city that has a population of not less than two thousand nine hundred twenty (2,920) nor more than two thousand nine hundred twenty-two (2,922), according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census, five (5) commissioners shall be elected as provided for cities of more than five thousand (5,000) population. The deadline for filing nominating petitions for the first commissioners is thirty-five (35) days before the incorporation election.   Any city having a population of less than five thousand (5,000) shall have the option of increasing the number of commissioners to five (5) by ordinance. In the next regular city election after the adoption of such an ordinance, voters shall be entitled to vote for three (3) commissioners, or four (4) commissioners, as the case may be, and at the same election the approval of the ordinance shall also be submitted to the voters. If a majority of those voting on the ordinance shall be for approval and the number of commissioners to be elected is three (3), the two (2) receiving the highest number of votes shall hold office for four (4) years, and the third for two (2) years. If the number of commissioners to be elected is four (4), the two (2) receiving the highest number of votes shall hold office for four (4) years, and the other two (2) for two (2) years. The terms of all commissioners thereafter elected shall be for four (4) years, or until their successors are elected and qualified. If a majority of those voting on the ordinance shall not be for approval, the ordinance shall be null and void, and the results of the election shall be certified as though the election were for one (1) commissioner, or two (2) commissioners, as the case may be, and as though no ordinance had been adopted. Any city that has previously adopted an ordinance approved by the voters pursuant to this subsection (c) increasing the number of commissioners from three (3) to five (5), may, after six (6) years, adopt an ordinance to decrease the number of commissioners from five (5) to three (3) following the same procedure. If a majority of those persons voting on the ordinance shall be for approval, then the number of commissioners shall be reduced to three (3). Any such ordinance providing for a decrease in the number of commissioners shall not operate to abbreviate the term of office of any elected commissioner.   An ordinance increasing the number of commissioners to five (5) may also be submitted to the voters in an election on the question that the board of commissioners directs the county election commission to hold. At such election, voters shall be entitled to vote for two (2) commissioners to serve until the next regular city election. If a majority of those voting on the ordinance shall be for approval, the two (2) candidates for commissioner receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected. At the next regular city election if the number of commissioners to be elected is four (4), the three (3) receiving the highest number of votes shall hold office for four (4) years, and the fourth for two (2) years; if the number of commissioners to be elected is three (3), they shall hold office for four (4) years. The terms of all commissioners thereafter elected shall be for four (4) years, or until their successors are elected and qualified. If a majority of those voting on the ordinance in the special election shall not be for approval, the ordinance and the election of the two (2) commissioners shall be null and void.   Notwithstanding subsections (a)-(d), a city with a population of not less than six hundred (600) nor more than six hundred twenty-five (625) persons, according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, located in a county with a population in excess of seven hundred thousand (700,000) persons, also according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall elect all commissioners at one  time for a four-year term so that the city may be spared the expense of conducting elections every two (2) years. In order to effectuate this provision, all commissioners to be elected at the 1983 election shall be elected to a two-year term only, to serve until the 1985 election at which time, and every four (4) years thereafter, all commissioners shall be elected to four-year terms. Subsection (e) shall have no effect unless approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the governing body of any municipality to which it may apply.   Cities that have adopted § 6-20-201(a)(3) to provide for popular election of the mayor shall have two (2) or four (4) commissioners as the case may be under subsection (b) or (c).   Notwithstanding subsections (a)-(f), any city incorporated under or adopting this charter may, by ordinance, choose to elect the members of the board of commissioners by district. If the board chooses to elect commissioners by district, the board shall by ordinance create contiguous single-member districts equal to the number of commissioners. The districts shall be equitably apportioned according to population. The establishment of the districts and the fixing of their boundaries shall be accomplished not less than twelve (12) months prior to the regular city election at which commissioners are to be elected, and any change in district boundaries shall also be accomplished within this time limitation. The board shall, within ten (10) years from the initial establishment of districts and at least once in every ten (10) years thereafter, reapportion the districts so that the apportionment shall comply with the requirements of this section. One (1) commissioner shall be elected from each district of the city. The ordinance providing that the commissioners will be chosen by districts may provide that each district commissioner will be elected by the voters of the city at-large or by only the voters of the district. A person must reside in a district to run for or hold the office of commissioner from that district. The ordinance providing that commissioners will be chosen by district may also provide for transition provisions, including increasing the terms of the number of commissioners necessary so that the initial election from all districts shall take place at the same time. The ordinance may provide that all commissioners initially elected serve four-year terms or that some serve four (4) years and some serve two (2) years. If some are elected for two (2) years, their successors shall be elected for four (4) years, so that the commissioners have staggered terms. After the initial election, all commissioners shall be elected for four-year terms.   Any city having a population of more than twenty thousand (20,000), according to the last federal census, shall have the option of increasing the number of commissioners to seven (7) by ordinance. Upon adoption of such an ordinance, it shall be filed with the county election commission, which shall submit approval of the ordinance to the voters of the city at the next general election or regular city election that follows the filing period required pursuant to § 2-3-204(b). If a majority of those voting on the ordinance are not for approval, the ordinance shall be null and void. If a majority of those voting on the ordinance are for approval, then at the next regular city election, voters shall be entitled to vote for four (4) commissioners, or five (5) commissioners, as the case may be, in order to provide for a total of seven (7) commissioners. If the number of commissioners to be elected is four (4), each shall hold office for four (4) years. If the number of commissioners to be elected is five (5), the three (3) receiving the highest number of votes shall hold office for four (4) years, and the other two (2) for two (2) years. The terms of all commissioners thereafter elected shall be for four (4) years, or until their successors are elected and qualified. An ordinance approved by the voters pursuant to this section may not be repealed or amended.    In elections of commissioners in a city having a population of not less than five thousand seven hundred sixty (5,760) nor more than five thousand eight hundred eighty (5,880) which is located inside a county having a population of not less than eighty-nine thousand eight hundred (89,800) nor more than eighty-nine thousand nine hundred (89,900), according to the 2010 federal census or any subsequent federal census, commission positions shall be designated as Seat A, Seat B, Seat C, Seat D, or Seat E. Any candidate for the commission shall designate, upon qualifying for election, the particular designated seat that the candidate seeks. In each regular city election, all voters in the city may vote for one (1) candidate for each designated seat that is open by reason of the expiration of a commissioner's term.   Subdivision (i)(1) shall have no effect unless it is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the legislative body of any municipality to which it may apply.     In any city having a population of not less than seven thousand five hundred fifty (7,550) nor more than seven thousand eight hundred (7,800) that is located inside a county having a population of not less than one hundred eighty-three thousand one hundred (183,100) nor more than one hundred eighty-three thousand two hundred (183,200), according to the 2010 federal census or any subsequent federal census, the board of commissioners shall be elected as follows:  In the 2020 election, the two (2) candidates receiving the highest number of votes are elected to four-year terms, and the candidate receiving the third highest number of votes is elected to a two-year term;   In the 2022 election, the two (2) candidates receiving the highest number of votes are elected to four-year terms, and the candidate for mayor receiving the highest number of votes is elected to a four-year term; and   In subsequent elections, all members of the board of commissioners shall be elected to four-year terms.