SIX MILE — A change in the town’s election rules could allow the town to avoid costly runoffs in the future.

Council members unanimously backed first reading of an election ordinance that would allow those who receive the most votes to win open seats.

Currently, the town is on a majority method, which means candidates must win a majority of votes over the next candidate in order to win a seat.

A close race caused a runoff for town council between Brenda Rippy and V. Aaron Smith, with Smith ultimately winning the seat.

Elections can be expensive, especially for towns as small as Six Mile, said Six Mile Mayor John Wade.

“Sometimes the runoff system is the way to go,” he said. “It’s very expensive to carry on an election.”

The election and runoff election cost the town $1,650.”

“That we had to pay?” asked Councilman Roy Stoddard, who won the Nov. 3 election.

“That the town of Six Mile had to pay,” Wade replied, adding the runoff was less expensive, as it didn’t require as many poll workers.

“A lot of us, including myself, thought we used the plurality system in Six Mile,” Wade said. “Now’s the time to be thinking about it.”

The plurality system could still result in a runoff, if, for example the lowest two candidates received the same number of votes, but that’s “highly, highly, highly” unlikely, said Councilman Jeff Dennis.

Council will hold second reading during their January meeting.