MA H840

Eliminates standalone special elections for vacancies in elected offices, requiring instead that vacancies be filled at the next regularly scheduled municipal or state election, whichever comes first

Applies to vacancies in U.S. Senate and House seats, state representatives, district attorneys, clerks of courts, registers of probate, sheriffs, county treasurers, registers of deeds, and county commissioners

Establishes a 60-day cutoff: if a vacancy occurs within 60 days of the next scheduled election, the office remains open until the following election

Preserves temporary appointment authority for certain positions, including gubernatorial appointments for U.S. Senate vacancies and judicial appointments for court clerk vacancies, to serve until the elected replacement qualifies

Creates new Section 63A governing municipal office vacancies under the same framework of consolidating elections with regular election cycles