SB 1147 Summary

• Requires special elections to fill any vacancy in an elective county office, called by the Governor within 30 days of the vacancy.

• Eliminates the previous appointment procedure for filling county office vacancies, replacing it with mandatory special elections in most circumstances.

• Provides an exception: no special election required if vacancy occurs in an even-numbered year when the office term expires the following year; in that case, the elected candidate is appointed by the Governor.

• Applies uniformly to all counties in Oklahoma, removing previous distinctions based on county population size.

• Effective date: January 1, 2015.