SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section fifty A of Chapter forty-three of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, if a vacancy occurs on the city council of the city of Springfield for any cause during the term of office of a city council member who was elected as a ward representative, the city clerk shall forthwith, within fifteen (15) days, notify the city council and the board of election commissioners and, if there are more than two hundred and ten (210) days prior to the expiration of a term of office, shall issue an order to said election commission to hold a special preliminary election, on a Tuesday, not less than sixty-two (62) and not more than seventy-six (76) days after the issuance of such an order, and a special election, on a Tuesday, not more than twenty-eight (28) days after said preliminary election. If there are less than two hundred and ten (210) days before the expiration of the term of the vacated office, the seat in question shall remain vacant until such time as it has been filled by general election.

SECTION 2. If the vacancy described in Section 1 above shall occur less than two hundred and ten (210) days prior to the expiration of the term of the seat, but at least ten (10) days before the regularly scheduled general election to fill that seat, the candidates in that general election from the effected ward shall be notified by the Election Commission of the vacancy.

SECTION 3. Special elections shall be conducted consistent with the Charter of the City of Springfield. If the number of of candidates, certified by the elections office, is less than double the number plus one of the vacant seats, then the Board of Election Commissioners shall cancel the preliminary election.

SECTION 4. The provisions of this act shall take effect immediately upon passage.