HB258 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Juandalynn GivanRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Legislature, vacancy in office of House Representatives and Senate, Section 46 (Section 46, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended) am'd., const. amend.

Summary

A constitutional amendment to let the Governor appoint a replacement for a vacant legislative seat for the rest of the term, instead of requiring a special election.

What This Bill Does

If a vacancy occurs in the Alabama Legislature, the Governor would appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the term. If the Secretary of State determines there is a legally qualified unopposed candidate by the filing deadline, no election would be held and that candidate would receive a certificate of election. If an election is held, its costs would be paid from state funds, and the process would follow existing election laws.

Who It Affects

• Voters in a district where a vacancy occurs, as the seat may be filled by the Governor's appointment rather than a local special election.
• Governor and Secretary of State, who would handle the appointment process, the unopposed-candidate exception, and related certification and financial arrangements.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 46 of the Alabama Constitution to allow the Governor to fill a legislative vacancy by appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.
• When a vacancy occurs, the Governor would be responsible for appointing a replacement for the rest of the term, with an unopposed-candidate exception that can skip the election and allow the Secretary of State to issue a certificate of election.
• If an election is held, all associated costs would be paid from state funds not otherwise appropriated.
• The proposed amendment would be submitted and voted on under the state's standard election laws and procedures.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments