The bill amends the Code of West Virginia to establish a structured process for filling vacancies in various elected federal, state, and county offices, including key positions such as Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General, and judges. It mandates that appointments must be made from candidates affiliated with the same political party as the previous officeholder and requires that appointees have been members of that party for at least one year prior to the vacancy. The Governor is also empowered to appoint a temporary acting official to fulfill the duties of a constitutional officer until the vacancy is officially filled.

Additionally, the bill outlines the procedures for filling vacancies in the state Senate, House of Delegates, and county offices, ensuring that appointees are from the same political party and have met the one-year membership requirement. It includes provisions for restoring quorum when necessary and allows for temporary successors to be appointed for a maximum of 30 days. The bill also clarifies the nomination process for elections to fill these vacancies, particularly when they occur near election deadlines, ensuring that candidates are nominated by the county executive committee and placed on the ballot for the next general election.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-10-3, 3-10-4, 3-10-5, 3-10-6, 3-10-7, 3-10-8
Committee Substitute: 3-10-3, 3-10-4, 3-10-5, 3-10-6, 3-10-7, 3-10-8
Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute: 3-10-3, 3-10-4, 3-10-5, 3-10-6, 3-10-7, 3-10-8