SUBPART F. ELECTION OF CANDIDATES
§511. Election of candidates in a primary election
A. Majority vote. A candidate who receives a majority of the votes cast for an office in a primary election is elected. If there are two or more offices of the same character to be filled, the number of votes necessary to constitute a majority shall be greater than the result obtained by dividing the total votes cast for all of the candidates by the number of offices to be filled and dividing the result so obtained by two. If more candidates receive a majority than there are offices to be filled, those of such candidates receiving the highest total of votes shall be elected, to the number required to fill all of the offices. Any votes received by a withdrawn candidate or a deceased candidate shall be void and shall not be counted for any purpose whatsoever.
NOTE: Subsection B eff. until Jan. 1, 2026. See Acts 2024, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1.
B. Election of unopposed candidates for public office. If, after the close of the qualifying period for candidates in a primary election, the number of candidates for a public office does not exceed the number of persons to be elected to the office, the candidates for that office, or those remaining after the withdrawal of one or more candidates, are declared elected by the people, and their names shall not appear on the ballot in either the primary or the general election.
NOTE: Subsection B as amended by Acts 2024, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2026.
B. Election of unopposed candidates for public office. If, after the close of the qualifying period for candidates in a primary election other than a party primary election, the number of candidates for a public office does not exceed the number of persons to be elected to the office, the candidates for that office, or those remaining after the withdrawal of one or more candidates, are declared elected by the people, and their names shall not appear on the ballot in either the primary or the general election.
C. Election of unopposed candidates for membership on party committees. If, after the close of the qualifying period for candidates in a primary election, the number of candidates for membership on a political party committee does not exceed the number of members to be elected to the committee, the candidates for membership on that political party committee, or those remaining after the death or withdrawal of one or more candidates, are declared elected by the people, and their names shall not appear on the ballot in either the primary or the general election.
D. Effect of a tie vote. If, as a result of a tie vote in a primary election, the number of candidates who would be elected to an office exceeds the number of persons to be elected to the office, the candidates who received the same majority of the votes cast in the primary election are not elected, but they are qualified as candidates in the general election.
Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 523, §eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 2005, No. 282, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 560, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2024, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2026.