General Assembly – Special Election to Fill a Vacancy in Office

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring special elections to fill vacancies in Maryland's state legislature (Delegates or Senators) if the vacancy occurs more than 55 days before the candidate filing deadline for the next regular statewide election. Currently, the governor appoints a replacement for such vacancies, but this amendment would mandate a special election instead when vacancies happen early in the term. The special election would be held concurrently with the regular statewide primary and general elections in the second year of the term. This change directly affects voters in districts with early vacancies and alters how legislative seats are filled, replacing gubernatorial appointments with elections under specific timing conditions.