Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Arkansas Code Title 14. Local Government § 14-43-303. Officials in mayor-council cities of 50,000 or more

Current as of March 28, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(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.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Arkansas Code Title 14. Local Government § 14-43-303. Officials in mayor-council cities of 50,000 or more - last updated March 28, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ar/title-14-local-government/ar-code-sect-14-43-303/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard