SB608

Senate Bill 608 modifies the criteria for when runoff elections are required for municipal offices in Arkansas. Currently, a runoff is triggered if no candidate receives a majority (over 50%) of the votes. The bill introduces an alternative threshold for municipal offices where a candidate may avoid a runoff by achieving at least 40% of the vote and exceeding the second-place candidate's vote total by at least 20%. The bill maintains the majority requirement for county offices. It also specifies that if one of the top two candidates withdraws before certification, the remaining candidate is declared the winner, eliminating the need for a runoff election.