§ 14-40-1203 - Election results. - Arkansas Statutes

14-40-1203. Election results.

(a) At any election held under this subchapter, all qualified electors who are residents of either municipality shall be allowed to vote on the adoption or rejection of the proposed annexation or consolidation and the name of the proposed consolidated municipality.

(b) (1) (A) (i) If a majority of the votes cast in each of the respective municipalities, considered as a separate and distinct unit and without reference to the vote cast in the other, shall be in favor of the consolidation or annexation, then the county court shall declare, by an appropriate order, the annexation or consolidation consummated unless the petition has requested a delayed date for implementation of the consolidation.

(ii) If the petition calls for a delay in the implementation of the consolidation and if a majority of the votes cast in each of the respective municipalities is in favor of the consolidation, then the county court shall order the annexation or consolidation consummated on the date specified in the petition, except that the date shall not be more than eighteen (18) months after the date election results are declared by the court.

(B) (i) If a majority of the votes cast in each of the respective municipalities, considered as a separate and distinct unit and without reference to the vote cast in the other, shall be in favor of the same name of the municipality, then the county court shall declare, by appropriate order, the name of the consolidated municipality.

(ii) If a majority of the votes cast in each of the respective municipalities, considered as a separate and distinct unit and without reference to the vote cast in the other, shall not be in favor of the same name of the municipality, then the county court shall declare, by appropriate order, the name of the consolidated municipality to be the name of the larger municipality.

(C) (i) Upon the making of the order, the smaller municipal corporation and the territory comprising it shall, in law, be deemed and be taken to be included and shall be a part of the larger municipal corporation.

(ii) The inhabitants thereof shall in all respects be citizens of the larger municipal corporation.

(2) If a majority of the votes of either municipal corporation shall be against annexation, then the city or incorporated town shall not be again permitted to attempt the consolidation for two (2) years.