Bill > S4443

Introduced Session

This bill makes changes to the process for filling vacancies in the nominations of political parties for candidates for public office. The bill allows qualified persons to submit their names for consideration to fill the vacancy, and ensures that all qualified persons who have notified the appropriate political committee or committees of their interest in being selected as a candidate for the nomination for which there is a vacancy will be permitted to seek and retain legal representation throughout the selection process. The bill also extends the timeframe for municipal clerks to certify to their respective county clerks an official list of the duly elected county committee members and an official list of the municipal committee chairs from 20 days after the meeting of each county committee that is held on the first Tuesday following the primary election at which committee members are elected. Under the bill, the municipal clerks will have 45 days following the meeting to certify the official list to the county clerk. This list is considered a government record accessible to the public, and this bill would require that the list include accurate email addresses and phone numbers for all committee members. The bill further requires that the list will be posted on the committee's Internet website and that it be provided to any person who has notified the committee of their interest in being selected as a candidate for a vacancy in a nomination for public office upon the committee's receipt of such notification. The bill also requires that a final and complete list of qualified members be provided to each person who has notified the committee of their interest in being selected as a candidate not later than seven days prior to the committee's vote to fill a vacancy. Any person being considered for selection as a candidate may object to the qualifications of any member appearing on the final list, to the extent permissible and in accordance with the applicable procedures, as established by the committee's bylaws. The bill provides that the meeting held to select a candidate to fill a vacancy in a nomination for public office will be held in accordance with rules for conducting such a meeting as established by the committee's bylaws, and requires that such rules be provided to any person who has notified the committee of their interest in being selected to fill the vacancy not later than 24 hours prior to the vote. Under current law, the rules for conducting such vote to fill a vacancy may be proposed by the chair of the meeting, at the meeting to fill the vacancy. Finally, the bill provides that the conduct of all contested votes to select a candidate for nomination will be held in accordance with ethical standards that ensure the integrity of the nomination process, as provided by the committee bylaws.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Angela Mcknight (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 05/19/2025)

Official Document