The City Council shall make all necessary regulations concerning elections, the manner and method of holding same, by proper ordinances enacted for that purpose. Such regulations, however, shall be in keeping with the provisions of this Charter and shall be in keeping and consistent with the provisions of the state law applicable to elections in municipalities, insofar as the same may be practicable. The council shall provide for the examination and counting of the returns of elections, declare the result thereof and issue all proper certificates to the successful candidates; and it is hereby made the duty of the council to examine and count the returns at its first regular meeting after the election is held; and, if no regular meeting shall be held within one week after an election is held, it is hereby made the duty of the mayor to call a special meeting of the council for the purpose of counting the votes and determining the result of the election within one week after the election is held, and the officers declared to be elected at such election shall be entitled to qualify immediately after the declaration of the council of the result of the election and upon taking the oath of office prescribed by law.
Until changed or modified by the council elected after the adoption of this Charter, the election laws in force at the time this Charter becomes effective shall continue to operate and control in the matter of all elections held within the city.