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ORD 2026-02 SECTION 10-2 Amendment General Election Date AdoptedORDINANCE NO. 2026-02 TO AMEND SECTION 10-2 OF THE CURRENT CODE OF LAWS FOR THE CITY OF NORTH AUGUSTA SPECIFICALLY, THE AMENDMENT WILL ADD NOMINATION AND ELECTION SCHEDULE WHEREAS, Section 10-2 of the current City Code for the City of North Augusta provides for the general election for the City to be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in even numbered years, or at such times as further set by Ordinance; and WHEREAS, under the South Carolina Code of Laws Section 5-15-70, the governing body of a municipality has the ability to enact ordinances relating to time requirements for nominations, primaries and the like; and WHEREAS, Council has determined that it would be in the best interest of the citizens of North Augusta that this change be made. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and City Council of the City of North Augusta, South Carolina, in a meeting duly assembled and by the authority thereof, that: 1. The existing Section 10-2 entitled Election Dates as contained in the Code of Ordinances for the City of North Augusta is hereby amended and shall read as follows: Sec. 10-2. – Election dates; nomination and election schedule. (a) All general elections for the election of Mayor and members of the City Council shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in even numbered years, or at such times as further set by Ordinance. Special elections shall be conducted in accordance with State Law. Any runoff elections necessary in regard to General or Special Elections shall be held two (2) weeks following the date of the original election. Subsequent runoff elections will be held at two (2) week intervals. (b) Nomination and election schedule. The beginning and ending dates for nomination and election events held in each municipal general election year shall be in accord with the following schedule: (1) Beginning date for filing statements of intention of candidacy with political parties for nominations by convention or primary: 12:00 noon, March 16. (2) Closing date for filing statements of intention of candidacy with political parties for nominations by convention or primary: 12:00 noon, March 30. (3) Party conventions, if party nomination by convention: Any day in the second full week of June. (4) Party nomination by primary: Second Tuesday in June. (5) Primary runoffs, if necessary: Each two weeks successively thereafter. (6) Published notice by city of general election: 60 days before election day. (7) Closing date for petition candidates to file petitions with the Aiken County Registration & Elections Office: 12:00 noon, July 15. (8) Last date to validate petitions of petition candidates with the Aiken County Registration & Elections Office: 12:00 noon, August 15. (9) Closing date for parties to file certification of party nominees: 12:00 noon, 60 days before election day. (10) Election day: First Tuesday after first Monday in November. When any date prescribed in this subsection falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the determination of whether an alternate date is required or permitted shall be made in accord with the general law of the state; but the selection of an alternate date shall not change the time of day requirements otherwise provided. (c) Publication of notice. No later than March 2 of each municipal general election year, the city clerk shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the city a schedule identifying the specific date for that year for the events contained in subsection (b) of this section. Such notice shall also include the following language: NOTICE TO CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS: State statutes regulating campaign practices apply to municipal elections. Failure to file statements of economic interest at the time of filing for nomination will result in a civil penalty pursuant to S.C. Code Sec. 8-13- 1510 as required by Sec. 8-13-1356. (d) Special elections. This section shall not apply to a special election which may be required to fill the unexpired term of the mayor or any member of the council because of resignation, death, disqualification or any other cause requiring a special election to fill a vacant office of the mayor or any member of the city council. Such elections shall be conducted in accordance with state law.