(a) Except as provided in this chapter, all special elections to fill vacancies in office and associated special primary elections shall be held on the second Tuesday of any month.

(b) A special election scheduled to occur in a month in which the second Tuesday of the month is a legal holiday shall be held on the third Tuesday of the month.

(c) (1) Special elections held in months in which a preferential primary election, general primary election, or general election is scheduled to occur shall be held on the date of the general primary election, preferential primary election, or general election.

(2) If a special election to fill a vacancy in office is held on the date of the preferential primary election or general primary election, the names of the candidates in the special election shall be included on the ballot of each political party, and the portion of the ballot on which the special election appears shall be labeled with a heading stating "SPECIAL ELECTION FOR ___________________________" with the name of the office set out in the heading.

(3) Separate ballots containing the names of the candidates to be voted on at the special election or nonpartisan election and any other measures or questions that may be presented for a vote shall be prepared and made available to voters requesting a separate ballot.

(4) (A) A voter shall not be required to vote in a political party's preferential primary election or general primary election in order to be able to vote in the special election.

(B) (i) If the special election is held at the same time as the general election, the names of the candidates in the special election shall be included on the general election ballot, and the portion of the ballot on which the special election appears shall be labeled with a heading stating "SPECIAL ELECTION FOR ___________________________" with the name of the office set out in the heading.

(ii) The county board may include the special election on a separate ballot if the special election is held at the same time as the general election and the commission determines that a separate ballot is necessary to avoid voter confusion.

(d)

(1) A special election to fill a vacancy in office shall be held not less than seventy (70) days following the date established in the proclamation, ordinance, resolution, order, or other authorized document for drawing for ballot position when the special election is to be held on the date of the preferential primary election, general primary election, or general election.

(2) If a special election to fill a vacancy in office is not held at the same time as a preferential primary election, general primary election, or general election, the special election shall be held not less than sixty (60) days following the date established in the proclamation, ordinance, resolution, order, or other authorized document for drawing for ballot position.