Bill > HB1936

This bill amends Arkansas election laws concerning municipal elections by modifying several key provisions. The bill allows municipal governing bodies to choose whether to conduct partisan or nonpartisan elections, with a resolution to conduct nonpartisan elections remaining in effect for two years unless revoked. For cities with a city manager or city administrator form of government, the bill removes explicit language requiring nonpartisan elections while maintaining that candidates for director and mayor positions are elected by city-wide or ward-specific voters. The bill clarifies that mayors and directors are not prohibited from holding successive terms of office and maintains residency requirements for elected officials, stipulating that directors must continue to reside in the ward or city from which they were elected. If an elected official ceases to reside in their original election area, they become disqualified and a vacancy is created. These changes provide more flexibility for municipal governments in structuring their electoral processes while preserving core principles of local representation.