CS for CS for SB 1262 Summary

• Municipalities must choose election dates for municipal office from: the general election date, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd-numbered years, or the third Tuesday in March in odd or even-numbered years.

• For municipalities requiring runoff elections, three options are established: initial election 10 weeks before the general election with runoff on general election day; initial election 10 weeks before November election with runoff in November; or initial election 7 weeks before March election with runoff in March.

• Counties with special acts establishing non-standard municipal election dates must conduct all municipal elections on the third Tuesday in March, with runoff elections following the prescribed format.

• State law is preempted as the sole authority for establishing municipal election dates, superseding conflicting provisions in general law, special law, local law, municipal charters, or ordinances.

• Terms of incumbent elected municipal officers are extended until the next municipal election held under this act; the bill takes effect July 1, 2020.