Pennsylvania § 1504 - Schedule for election of commissioners in townships first divided into wards.

§ 1504. Schedule for election of commissioners in townships first divided into wards.

(a) General rule.--When a township is first divided into wards, the township commissioners then in office shall continue in office until the expiration of the commissioners' respective terms.

(b) Election of commissioners.--At the first municipal election occurring at least 90 days after the division into wards, the registered electors of each ward of the township shall elect one township commissioner who shall reside in the ward for which the commissioner is elected.

(c) Terms of office.--At the election under subsection (b), the township commissioners elected in even-numbered wards shall be elected for terms of two years each. Commissioners elected in odd-numbered wards shall be elected for terms of four years each. The terms of office for even-numbered and odd-numbered wards may be vice versa so that the expiration of the terms will harmonize with the expiration of terms of township commissioners elected for the even-numbered or odd-numbered wards under the provisions of this part. For subsequent elections, commissioners shall be elected for terms of four years each at the municipal election immediately preceding the expiration of the terms of ward commissioners.

(d) Township divided into less than five wards.--For a township divided into less than five wards that will have less than five township commissioners upon the expiration of terms, at the municipal election preceding the expiration of the terms of any commissioner or commissioners elected at large, there shall be elected at large a sufficient number of township commissioners so that the total number of commissioners elected by wards and at large in the township shall be five. The following shall apply:

(1) If one township commissioner is elected at large, the commissioner shall be elected for a term of four years.

(2) If two township commissioners are elected at large, one shall be elected for a term of two years and one for a term of four years.

(3) If three township commissioners are elected at large, two shall be elected for terms of four years each and one for a term of two years.

(4) Successors to the township commissioners elected at large shall be elected for terms of four years each.

(e) Commencement of terms.--All terms of office of township commissioners, elected at large or by wards, shall commence on the first Monday of January next following their election.

Cross References. Section 1504 is referred to in section 109 of this title.