(a) The City Council shall appoint a special election committee consisting of three members of the City Council, preferably not on the ballot for reelection, for the purpose of canvassing the votes cast at each election.

(b) Within 24 hours of the closing of the polls, the special election committee, as appointed by the City Council, shall meet for the purpose of canvassing the votes cast at such election, such canvass to be made from the tallies certified by the election judges and adding to such the absentee and questioned ballots that may be allowed. After the canvass is made, the special election committee shall declare the results of such election and enter the results in the minutes of the proceedings.

(c) The person having the highest number of votes given for each office to be filled shall be declared duly elected, and the City Clerk shall immediately notify the person so elected, and it shall be the duty of the City Clerk to make out and deliver to any person so notified a certificate of election upon the request of the person elected.

(d) The City Council, at its next meeting, shall verify the results of the election and enter the findings of the special election committee into the minutes of the proceedings. [Code 1979 § 5.24.]