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e-Li: Electronic Library

Election of Successor by the People

Any person appointed by the county legislative body to fill a vacancy serves in that capacity until a successor is elected by the county voters at the next general election. If the vacancy occurs after the time for filing nominating petitions for the party primary election and more than 60 days before the party primary election, the political party nominees should be selected in the primary election, and a successor should be elected in the August general election. If the vacancy occurs less than 60 days before the party primary election, but 60 days or more before the August election, the political party nominees should be selected by party convention and a successor elected in the August election. If the vacancy occurs less than 60 days before the August election, but 60 days or more before the November election, the political party nominees should be selected by party convention and a successor elected in the November election. T.C.A. § 5-1-104.  All candidates for vacancies should qualify by filing nominating petitions no later than 12 noon on the 55th day before the election. T.C.A. § 5-1-104.