HB 640: Alpharetta, City of; election of city offices by majority vote; provide

Alpharetta's city charter, first set in 1981, previously governed how city office elections were decided. This bill amends Section 5.16 of that charter to spell out a majority-vote election system for city offices. Under the revised language, a candidate must receive a majority of votes cast to win a city office outright. If no candidate reaches a majority, the two candidates with the most votes advance to a runoff election, and whoever wins a majority of votes in that runoff is elected. The bill also repeals any existing laws that conflict with this new rule, meaning older provisions inconsistent with the majority-vote and runoff process would no longer apply in Alpharetta.

• Rewrites Section 5.16 of Alpharetta's city charter to require a majority of votes cast to win any city office.
• Creates a runoff election between the top two vote-getters when no candidate wins a majority in the first round.
• Requires the runoff winner to also receive a majority of votes cast in that runoff election.
• Repeals any existing laws or parts of laws that conflict with this new majority-vote requirement.

Residents of the City of Alpharetta who vote in city elections, candidates running for Alpharetta city offices, and local election officials who administer city elections and any runoffs.

City elections in Alpharetta would now require a true majority winner rather than just the most votes, meaning close multi-candidate races could trigger a runoff, adding an extra election and step before officials take office.

• Section 1 revises Section 5.16 of Alpharetta's 1981 charter Act to require a majority vote to win any city office.
• Section 1 establishes that if no candidate wins a majority, a runoff is held between the two highest vote-getters.
• Section 1 requires the runoff winner to receive a majority of votes cast in that runoff to be elected.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws, removing prior provisions inconsistent with this majority-vote and runoff system.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date 2025-05-13
2. 2025-05-13Act 159
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2025-03-18Senate Passed/Adopted (Senado)
6. 2025-03-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)
7. 2025-03-06Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
8. 2025-03-04House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)

• Charles Martin (R, HD-049)Patrocinador principal
• Jan Jones (R, HD-047)
• Todd Jones (R, HD-025)
• Michelle Au (D, HD-050)
• Scott Hilton (R, HD-048)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes4 de marzo de 2025

   172 a favor, 0 en contra (6 sin votar, 2 ausentes)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #148

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado18 de marzo de 2025

   51 a favor, 0 en contra (2 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #235

• local elections
• city government
• Alpharetta
• election rules
• runoff elections