Any other provision of this chapter notwithstanding, the governing body of a municipality shall, in even-numbered years, hold the general municipal election in conjunction with the regular June primary election or the regular November general election. The expenses and governmental responsibilities of a combined election must be shared in a manner agreed upon by the governing body of the municipality and the board of county commissioners involved. A nominating petition may not be circulated for signatures before January first, for an election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June, or June first, for an election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. A nominating petition must be filed under the provisions of § 9-13-7 before five p.m. local time on:

1. (1) The third Tuesday of March, for an election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June; or
2. (2) The third Tuesday of August, for an election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The finance officer shall certify to the appropriate county auditor the name of each candidate who has qualified to be on the ballot and each ballot question to be submitted to the voters, on or before the first Friday after the deadline for filing the nominating petitions.

Source: SL 1996, ch 60 , § 1; SL 2007, ch 81 , § 1; SL 2025, ch 40 , § 11, eff. Jan. 1, 2026; SL 2026, ch 35 , § 3.