(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3), general city elections shall be held at the same times and places as general state elections, in accordance with applicable state election laws. The election offices and precincts for such elections shall be the same as for regular state elections; elections shall be nonpartisan.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (3), beginning in calendar year 2000 and continuing every two years thereafter, for the positions of mayor and municipal judge, the general election shall be held the third Tuesday in May. Except as provided in subsection (3), beginning in calendar year 2002 and continuing every four years thereafter, for the position of wards pecific councilperson, the general election shall be held the third Tuesday in May.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), if three (3) or more candidates file nominating petitions or declarations of candidacy for mayor, wardsspecific councilperson or municipal judge, then a nonpartisan primary election shall be had for such position on the third Tuesday in May. The two candidates who receive the highest number of votes in a primary election for a certain position shall be the nominees whose name shall appear on the ballot at the general election to be held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November following the primary election. When any candidate receives a majority of all votes cast for the office for which that person is a candidate at a primary election, the name of that candidate shall be printed separately on the ballot at the general election under a designation equivalent to “Vote for One” and no other name shall be printed on the ballot in opposition to such candidate. One space, however, shall be left following such name in which the voter may insert the name of any person for whom the voter wishes to cast a ballot. The names of the nominees elected at the primary election shall be printed on the Official Ballot for the regular general election without any political party designation. (Section 23, as amended by an election held May 18, 1999)