The bill introduces changes to the process for filling a vacancy in the office of a county commissioner. Key points of the bill include:
Vacancy Election Process:
The bill eliminates the current vacancy committee process and replaces it with a vacancy election. This means that instead of a committee selecting a new commissioner, voters will elect a new county commissioner to fill the vacancy.
Timeline for Vacancy Elections:
If the vacancy occurs within 180 days of a regularly scheduled primary, coordinated, or general election, the vacancy election will be held as part of that election.
If the vacancy occurs more than 180 days before a regularly scheduled election, or if the ballots for that election have already been certified, the vacancy election will be held within 30 to 60 days after the vacancy occurs, with the date set by the designated election official.
Candidate Requirements:
A candidate for a vacancy election must submit a notarized statement of intent and pay a nonrefundable filing fee of $500 to the secretary of state.
The candidate must meet statutory and constitutional requirements to serve as a county commissioner, and they must be registered with the vacating county commissioner’s political party (if applicable) by January 1 of the year the vacancy election occurs.
Voter Eligibility:
Only registered electors residing within the district served by the vacating county commissioner are eligible to vote in the vacancy election. Voters must also be registered with the same political party as the vacating county commissioner or be unaffiliated.
These changes ensure that vacancies in county commissioner offices are filled by an election, increasing public involvement in the selection of officials.
Summary
Currently, a vacancy in the office of a county commissioner
(vacancy) is filled by a vacancy committee selected by the county central committee. The bill eliminates the vacancy committee process for vacancies and requires that vacancies be filled by a vacancy election.
An individual elected in a vacancy election serves for the remainder of the vacating county commissioner's original term. If the vacancy occurs within 180 days of a regularly scheduled primary, coordinated, or general election for which the ballots have not yet been certified, the vacancy election is held as part of the primary, coordinated, or general election. If the vacancy occurs more than 180 days before a regularly scheduled election or the ballots for the regularly scheduled election have already been certified, the vacancy election occurs on a date set by the designated election official, which must not be less than 30 days or more than 60 days after the vacancy occurs. A legislative vacancy election is administered according to the state election code, as applicable.
An individual who desires to be a candidate at a vacancy election
shall submit to the secretary of state a notarized candidate's statement of intent together with a nonrefundable filing fee of $500. A candidate must meet the current statutory and constitutional requirements for serving as a county commissioner and be registered with the vacating county commissioner's political party, if any, by January 1 of the calendar year in which the vacancy election occurs. Only registered electors who reside within the district served by the vacating county commissioner and who are registered with the same political party as the vacating county commissioner or who are unaffiliated are eligible to vote in a vacancy election.
