(a) Candidates for the office of director shall be nominated and elected as follows:
(1)
(A)
(i) A special election to elect the initial membership of the board shall be called by the mayor as provided in § 14-47-106.
(ii) The mayor's proclamation shall be in accordance with § 7-11-101 et seq.
(B)
(i) A special election to fill any vacancy under § 14-47-113 shall be called through a resolution of the board of directors.
(ii) A proclamation announcing the holding of the election shall be signed by the mayor and published in accordance with § 7-11-101 et seq.;
(2) The petition mentioned in subdivision (a)(3) of this section supporting the candidacy of each candidate to be voted upon at any general or special election shall be filed with the city clerk or recorder not more than one hundred two (102) days nor fewer than eighty-one (81) days before the election by 12:00 noon;
(3)
(A)
(i) In respect to both special and general elections, the name of each candidate shall be supported by a petition, signed by at least fifty (50) qualified electors of the municipality, requesting the candidacy of the candidate.
(ii) The petition shall show the residence address of each signer and shall carry an affidavit signed by one (1) or more persons, in which the affiant or affiants shall vouch for the eligibility of each signer of the petition.
(B) Each petition shall be substantially in the following form:
(C) A petition for nomination shall not show the name of more than one (1) candidate.
(D)
(i) The name of the candidate mentioned in each petition, together with a copy of the election proclamation if the election is a special election, shall be certified by the city clerk or recorder to the county board of election commissioners not less than seventy-five (75) days before the election unless the clerk or recorder finds that the petition fails to meet the requirements of this chapter.
(ii)
(a) Whether the names of the candidates so certified to the county board of election commissioners are to be submitted at a biennial general election or at a special election held on a different date, the election board shall have general supervision over the holding of each municipal election.
(b) In this connection, the board shall post the nominations, print the ballots, establish the voting precincts, appoint the election judges and clerks, determine and certify the result of the election, and determine the election expense chargeable to the city, all in the manner prescribed by law in respect to general elections. It is the intention of this chapter that the general election machinery of this state shall be utilized in the holding of all general and special elections authorized under this chapter.
(c) The result of the election shall be certified by the election board to the city clerk or recorder; and
(4) The candidate for any designated position on the board of directors who, in any general or special election, shall receive votes greater in number than those cast in favor of any other candidate for the position shall be deemed to be elected.
(b) Each director, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take the oath of office required by Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, § 20.
“The undersigned, duly qualified electors of the City of …, Arkansas, each signer hereof residing at the address set opposite his or her signature, hereby request that the name… be placed on the ballot as a candidate for election to Position No. … on the Board of Directors of said City of … at the election to be held in such City on the … day of …, 20…. We further state that we know said person to be a qualified elector of said City and a person of good moral character and qualified in our judgment for the duties of such office.”