295. The secretary-treasurer of a municipality acts as presiding officer at all elections held under this Code, and in the application of the various articles referring to said elections, the words “presiding officer” or “officer presiding at the election” mean the secretary-treasurer of the municipality or any other person who acts in that capacity.
The council, however, may appoint, by a resolution adopted at least 30 days before nomination day, a competent person to act as presiding officer at the election instead of the secretary-treasurer of the municipality, if the latter has made known his intention of not acting as such.
Whenever the secretary-treasurer or the person appointed under the preceding paragraph refuses to act or is incapable of acting as presiding officer before the appointment of an election clerk under article 297, the mayor must under his signature appoint a competent person to preside at such election.
The first election in a newly organized municipality is presided over by a person appointed therefor by the Minister of Municipal Affairs. If, when the election is about to take place, the person who is to preside is absent or unable to act, the majority of the electors present choose a presiding officer.
M.C. 1916, a. 250; 1917-18, c. 20, s. 28; 1935, c. 108, s. 2.