Runoff Election in Reidsville to Be Canceled Due to 25-Year-Old Charter Flub

A memorandum provided to Reidsville officials Tuesday indicates a runoff election for one city council post will not be held in December as originally planned.

At issue is whether city council races are determined by a plurality or a majority. A plurality is achieved by a candidate who obtains the most votes, even if no one reaches 50%. A majority is achieved by a candidate who obtains 50% of the vote, plus one more. In instances of a majority, if a candidate does not received at least 50% of the vote on election day, the top two candidates go to a runoff election so that a majority can be achieved.

The city charter displayed on Municode and on file at city hall states that the mayor’s race is decided by a plurality and city council members are elected by majority. Similarly, under Georgia law, if it is not explicitly mentioned that an election is decided by a plurality, the default is state law which determines a prevailing candidate by the candidate who receives a majority of the votes.

During last Tuesday’s election, Ward 1, Post 2 was split by three candidates: Carolyn Blackshear (I), Beitha Griffin, and Nathaniel Joyce.


https://www.thegeorgiavirtue.com/local-government-south-georgia/runoff-election-in-reidsville-to-be-canceled-due-to-25-year-old-charter-flub/