The bill amends the Code of West Virginia to establish clearer procedures for filling vacancies in elected federal, state, and county offices, emphasizing party affiliation consistency. It mandates that individuals appointed to fill such vacancies must have been members of the same political party for at least one year prior to the vacancy. The Governor is granted the authority to appoint an acting official to perform the duties of a constitutional officer until the vacancy is filled. For magistrate positions with unexpired terms exceeding two years, the bill requires that vacancies be filled through a nonpartisan judicial election held concurrently with the next primary or general election.

Additionally, the bill outlines specific procedures for filling vacancies in the offices of state senators, members of the House of Delegates, and county commissioners or councilors, all of which must adhere to the one-year party affiliation requirement. It also stipulates that if a vacancy in a county commission or council prevents a quorum, the Governor must appoint someone from a list of three qualified individuals provided by the relevant party executive committee. The bill introduces provisions for appointing temporary successors for certain county offices and mandates that notices for elections to fill unexpired terms be published as legal advertisements, ensuring compliance with updated code provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-10-3
Committee Substitute: 3-10-3, 3-10-4, 3-10-5, 3-10-6, 3-10-7, 3-10-8, 50-1-6
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 3-10-3, 3-10-4, 3-10-5, 3-10-6, 3-10-7, 3-10-8, 50-1-6