House Bill 25-400

SENATE:

• Miriam Steinbeck

• Ryan Wells

• Sarah Forbes

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

• Ashley Arnold

• Gina Richards

• Henrietta Malone

• Charlie Walker

Article XIV of the Constitution of the State of San Andreas is hereby amended by adding a new section to be numbered Section 3, which shall read as follows: 

Article XIV – General Provisions 

 Section 3. Vacancies in Elected Office. 

(a) Applicability. This section shall govern all vacancies in elected offices throughout the State, including state, county, municipal, and other local offices, regardless of the manner of election. 

(b) A vacancy shall be deemed to occur in any elected office upon the resignation, impeachment and removal, conviction resulting in incarceration, or other permanent incapacity of the officeholder. 

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, any vacancy shall be filled at the next regularly scheduled election held in November. Candidates seeking to fill a vacancy shall file a letter of intent with the Secretary of State, or, in the case of a local office, with the appropriate local election authority. The office shall remain vacant until such election, unless otherwise provided by this section. 

(d) In the event of a vacancy in either house of the State Legislature, the chamber may temporarily designate a sitting member of the same chamber to represent the affected district until a successor is elected at the next general election pursuant to subsection (c). 

(e) Special Elections. If the deadline for inclusion on the ballot of the next general election has already passed at the time a vacancy occurs, a special election shall be held no later than January 6 following the vacancy. 

(f) Commencement of Terms. All elected officials statewide, whether filling an unexpired term or beginning a new full term, shall be sworn into office on the third Tuesday of January, at which time their official duties shall commence. 

Bill Text