Bill > HB1319

This bill establishes a new process for filling vacancies in the office of county commissioner for counties with at least 50,000 active voters. Under the new law, if a county commissioner vacancy occurs between July 31 of an even-numbered year and July 31 of the next odd-numbered year for a commissioner affiliated with a major political party, the vacancy will be filled through a special "County Commissioner Vacancy Election" during the next odd-year November coordinated election. Only candidates from the same political party and district as the vacating commissioner can run, and they must be registered with the same major political party by the first business day in January of the election year. Candidates can get on the ballot by either receiving signatures from 30% of the vacancy committee members or by collecting signatures from 200 eligible electors. The election will only be open to voters affiliated with the same political party as the vacating commissioner or unaffiliated voters. The state will reimburse counties for 45% of the election costs. Additionally, political parties can opt out of this new election process by a three-fourths vote of their state central committee. The bill also makes related changes to election reporting and campaign contribution rules to accommodate these new vacancy elections and includes an appropriation of $314,920 to the Department of State to implement the new system.