the event of an absence of the mayor, the president of the Seattle City Council assumes the duties of the position as mayor pro tem until their return, but a notification is not necessary under the city charter. Elections and succession The mayor is elected in a citywide election held every four years, composed of two stages: a primary election in August and a general election between the top two candidates in November. Elections are officially non-partisan. If the office of mayor becomes vacant, the president of the city council becomes mayor for a five-day period to immediately fill the position. If the president of the city council declines to remain mayor, the city council is authorized to vote to appoint a councilmember to the role of mayor. The councilmember appointed to the position under both scenarios will forfeit their position on the city council until the next election. A mayor-elect can also take office earlier than the official inauguration date (January 1), upon certification of the election results and a decision by the city council to replace the appointed mayor. A two-thirds majority vote of the city council can remove the mayor from office for a willful violation of duty or an offense involving moral turpitude. List of mayors References External links Mayors of the City of Seattle, Seattle City Archives Timeline of Seattle's mayors, 1869–2013 from The Seattle Times Seattle History of Seattle