07 SB31/AP
Senate
Bill 31
By:
Senator Thomas of the 2nd
AS PASSED
AS PASSED
AN
ACT
To
provide for an advisory referendum election to be held in the City of Port
Wentworth for the purpose of determining whether the members of the city council
should be elected by district; to determine whether the electors approve the
shortening of terms of elected councilmembers; to provide for a declaration of
public purpose; to provide for the submission of this Act to the United States
Department of Justice for preclearance; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Unless
prohibited by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, the election
superintendent of the City of Port Wentworth shall call and conduct an election
as provided in this section for the purpose of submitting an advisory question
to the voters of the City of Port Wentworth. The election superintendent shall
conduct that election on the Tuesday next following the first Monday in
November, 2007, and shall issue the call and conduct that election as provided
by general law. The election superintendent shall cause the date and purpose of
the election to be published once a week for two weeks immediately preceding the
date thereof in the official organ of the City of Port Wentworth. The ballot
shall have written or printed thereon the words:
|
"( ) YES
( ) NO
|
Are
you in favor of the election of members of the city council of the City of Port
Wentworth by district instead of the present at-large method of election with
the first such election taking place at the municipal election in 2009, and to
cut short the terms of those members elected at the municipal election held in
2007?"
|
All
persons desiring to vote for election of the members of the city council by
district shall vote "Yes," and those persons desiring to vote for retaining the
present at-large method of election of the members of the city council shall
vote "No." The expense of such election shall be borne by the City of Port
Wentworth. It shall be the election superintendent´s duty to certify the
result thereof to the Secretary of State.
SECTION
2.
It
is found, determined, and declared that the holding of the advisory referendum
election provided for in this Act is in all respects for the benefit of the
people of the City of Port Wentworth and is for a public purpose and is an
essential governmental function for which public funds may be
expended.
SECTION
3.
The
governing authority of the City of Port Wentworth shall through its legal
counsel cause this Act to be submitted for preclearance under the federal Voting
Rights Act of 1965, as amended; and such submission shall be made to the United
States Department of Justice or filed with the appropriate court no later than
45 days after the date on which this Act is approved by the Governor or
otherwise becomes law without such approval.
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.