§ 3.1. Regular municipal elections; conduct; staggered terms.

(a)

Regular municipal elections shall be held in the town every two years in odd-numbered years, and shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina.

(b)

At the regular municipal election to be held in 1977, and every four years thereafter, the mayor of the town shall be elected for a four-year term.

(c)

At the regular municipal election to be held in 1977, five members of the board of commissioners shall be elected. The two candidates who receive the highest number of votes shall be elected for four-year terms, while the three candidates who receive the next highest number of votes shall be elected for two-year terms. If two or more of the candidates who are elected receive an equal number of votes, so that the candidate or candidates who will serve four-year terms cannot be determined, the county board of elections shall determine by lot the lengths of the terms of such candidates.

(d)

Beginning at the regular municipal election to be held in 1979, and every four years thereafter, three members of the board of commissioners shall be elected to serve for four-year terms. Beginning at the regular municipal election to be held in 1981, and every four years thereafter, two members of the board of commissioners shall be elected for four-year terms.