Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 3 - MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-37-101 — 14-62-115) › Chapter 43 - GOVERNMENT OF CITIES OF THE FIRST CLASS (§§ 14-43-201 — 14-43-611) › Subchapter 3 - ELECTION OF CITY OFFICIALS (§§ 14-43-301 — 14-43-319) › Section 14-43-303 - Officials in mayor-council cities of 50,000 or more

(a)
(1)
(A)
In the general election in the year 1960, and every four (4) years thereafter, cities of the first class that have a population of fifty thousand (50,000) persons or more, according to the latest federal decennial census or special federal census, and that also have the mayor-council form of government shall elect the following officials:
(i)
One (1) mayor;
(ii)
One (1) city clerk; and
(iii)
One (1) council member from each ward of the city.
(B)
All of these officials shall hold office for a term of four (4) years and until their successors are elected and qualified.
(2)
(A)
At the general election in the year 1962 and every four (4) years thereafter, the city shall elect:
(i)
One (1) city attorney;
(ii)
One (1) city treasurer; and
(iii)
One (1) council member from each ward of the city.
(B)
All of these officials shall hold office for a term of four (4) years and until their successors are elected and qualified.
(3)
The governing body of a city in transition to the mayor-council form of government may provide by ordinance that the mayor, city clerk, city attorney, and city treasurer shall be elected on the same date and every four (4) years thereafter.
(b)
In all primaries or general elections, the candidates for the office of council member shall reside in their respective wards. However, all qualified electors residing in these cities and entitled to vote in the elections may vote at their several voting precincts for each and every candidate so to be nominated or elected.
(c)
All odd-year elections for municipal officials in the cities of the first class that have a population of fifty thousand (50,000) or more persons, according to the latest federal census, and that also have the mayor-council form of government are abolished.
(d)
(1)
If a city first attains a population of fifty thousand (50,000) as shown in a federal decennial census or special federal census completed after January 1, 1997, and the mayor or other elected official of the city last elected before the census was elected to a four-year term and the term will expire two (2) years before the quadrennial general election year at which city officials are elected as provided in subsection (a) of this section, the terms of such officials shall be extended for a period of two (2) years in order that the terms will coincide with the next quadrennial general election year. At that quadrennial general election and at each quadrennial general election thereafter, the mayor and such other municipal officials shall be elected to terms of four (4) years as provided in this section.
(2)
The provisions of this subsection shall not affect in any way the provisions of this section that provide for staggering the terms of office of council members so that one (1) council member will be elected from each ward every two (2) years.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 1092,§ 1, eff. 7/30/2019.
Amended by Act 2017, No. 879,§ 15, eff. 8/1/2017.
Amended by Act 2015, No. 233,§ 1, eff. 7/22/2015.
Acts 1959, No. 176, §§ 1, 2; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 19-1002.2, 19-1002.3; Acts 1997, No. 707, §§ 2, 3; 2003, No. 1185, § 25.