The Aberdeen City Council has adopted an emergency law to update city election procedures.

For this year’s election, the city will facilitate sending and collecting absentee and mail-in ballots, rather than the Harford County Board of Elections. The county will continue to prepare the ballots.

The ordinance was adopted Monday on an emergency basis because the city is already in an election season. The city’s election is Nov. 4. On the ballot are two seats on the city council.

According to City Council member Adam Hiob, the Maryland State Board of Elections ruled last year local elections that do not fall during a midterm or presidential elections would have to be administered by local municipalities, rather than the county or state.

The ordinance went into effect on Tuesday.. Had the council not voted an emergency basis, the changes would not be set in stone until the end of September, which the council said would be too late.

The seats of council members Bill Montgomery and Timothy Lindecamp are up for election this fall.

Residents who wish to file for candidacy can do so Sept. 2-12 at the finance counter inside City Hall.

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