General Assembly - Special Election to Fill a Vacancy in Office

SB 5 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring special elections to fill vacancies in Maryland's General Assembly (Delegate or Senator positions) when the vacancy occurs on or before 55 days before the candidate filing deadline for the regular statewide election in the second year of a term. If this deadline is met, the Governor must call a special primary and general election to be held simultaneously with the regular statewide elections, rather than appointing a replacement. This directly affects voters and candidates in districts where legislative vacancies happen early in a term, as it ensures the replacement is chosen by voters in the next scheduled election cycle. Currently, vacancies are filled by gubernatorial appointment without a special election, but this bill would change that process for early vacancies.