(A) From the passage and effective date of this section, any and all officials of the Town of Lakeside shall be elected by plurality vote.
(B) For the purpose of this section, the following definition shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
PLURALITY VOTE. The candidate who receives the highest number of votes is elected, even though it may be less than 50% of the total number of votes cast for that office. Where only one person is to be elected in a race, the candidate receiving the highest vote is the winner; where two are to be elected from the same slate, the two highest candidates are the winners; where three are to be elected the three highest are the winners; and so on.
(C) If two or more candidates are tied for high place, where only one is to be elected, the candidates may agree in writing upon a method for settling the tie, as for example by “casting lots” for the office. The Mayor is the “returning officer” who has the duty of calling the election if the tie is not resolved by agreement, and with whom the written agreement is filed if it is resolved in that manner. After the canvas, the Mayor shall notify the tying candidates that the tie has occurred and inform them of Tex. Election Code, Art. 4.008, and set a deadline on the candidates for an agreement resolving the tie. In the event of a three-way tie, any tying candidate may withdraw his or her name at any time prior to the deadline set by the Mayor. If one candidate withdraws in a three-way tie, the names of the other two candidates are placed on the ballot for the special election; if neither candidate withdraws, all three names are placed on the ballot.
(D) In the event a special election is held, the names of the tying candidates are the only ones which can be placed on the ballot. Write-in votes are not allowed, and any attempted write-in vote is void.
(Ord. 54-A, passed 3-14-1977)