§ 46. Initial election of officers.

Not less than fifteen (15) days nor more than twenty (20) days after the certification of the approval of this Act to the Secretary of State by the Ordinary of Chatham County, as hereinbefore provided, the said P. B. Edwards shall open a book for the registration of voters of said city, and all qualified voters as hereinbefore provided, shall register with said temporary registrar and take the oath of registration to vote prescribed in Section 17 of this Act. Said temporary registrar shall keep the book of qualified voters open for a period of twenty (20) days, at which time he shall close registrations for the first or the initial election of mayor and councilmen of said city. Within fifteen (15) days after the closing of the voters registration book by the temporary registrar as aforesaid, said temporary registrar shall appoint two (2) managers to assist him in the holding of a special election for the election of the first or initial mayor and councilmen of said city. Said first or initial election shall be conducted by said temporary registrar with the assistance of his two (2) managers, and shall be held at the Cherokee Homes Community House within the incorporated limits of the City of Port Wentworth. The polls shall open at 7:00 a.m. and shall be closed at 7:00 p.m. on the Saturday next after the sixteenth day after the closing of the registration book of voters as aforesaid. The temporary registrar and his said managers shall count the ballots after the close of the polls, consolidate the returns and shall certify the results thereof to the Ordinary of Chatham County, Georgia. This initial election of a mayor and councilmen for the City of Port Wentworth shall be held under the general supervision of the Ordinary of Chatham County, Georgia. The temporary registration book of the temporary registrar shall be kept by him at his residence at 419 Turnberry Street, in Port Wentworth, Georgia. Candidates for the first or initial mayor and councilmen of said city shall give notice of their candidacy and specify the office which they seek, in writing at least fifteen (15) days before the date the initial election is to be held, such notice to be addressed to the temporary registrar by registered or certified mail at his residence at 419 Turnberry Street, in Port Wentworth, Georgia.

The persons elected as mayor and councilmen at the first or initial election of said city shall take office on the fifth day after their election, and shall serve in office until December 31, 1958.