For the purpose of electing a mayor, vice-mayor, five (5) councilmembers-at-large
and thirty-five (35) district councilmembers, there shall be held on the first Thursday
in April, 1966, and on the first Thursday in August of 1971, and each four (4) years
thereafter, a general metropolitan election. At such general election each voter shall
be entitled to vote for one (1) candidate for mayor, one (1) candidate for vice-mayor,
five (5) candidates for councilmembers-at-large, and one (1) candidate for district
councilmember from the district wherein the voter resides; and the names of all qualified
candidates shall be so placed on the ballot or voting machine as to accord the voter
such right. All persons who are lawfully registered and who are qualified to vote
for members of the general assembly of the State of Tennessee shall be qualified to
vote in the metropolitan elections. The name of any candidate shall be included on
the ballot or the voting machines when a written petition signed by at least twenty-five
(25) qualified voters shall so request and when said petition shall be filed with
the county commissioners of election at least within the number of days prior to the
election provided by general law for the filing of qualifying petitions of candidates
for election to county offices.
(Amended by Res. No. 65-670, § 1, 7-6-65; Res. No. 66-1053, § 1, 8-16-66; amended
by referendum election of November 6, 2018, Amdt. 6)
Note—
See Tenn. Const. ART. VII, SECT. 5:
Sec. 5. Civil officers—Election—Vacancies.
Elections for Judicial and other civil officers shall be held on the first Thursday
in August, one thousand eight hundred and seventy, and forever thereafter on the first
Thursday in August next preceding the expiration of their respective terms of service.
The term of each officer so elected shall be computed from the first day of September
next succeeding his or her election. The term of office of the Governor and of other
executive officers shall be computed from the fifteenth of January next after the
election of the Governor. No appointment or election to fill a vacancy shall be made
for a period extending beyond the unexpired term. Every officer shall hold his or
her office until his or her successor is elected or appointed, and qualified. No special
election shall be held to fill a vacancy in the office of Judge or District Attorney,
but at the time herein fixed for the biennial election of civil officers; and such
vacancy shall be filled at the next Biennial election recurring more than thirty days
after the vacancy occurs.
