Elected Official Vacancy Modifications

HB 315 modifies Utah's process for filling midterm vacancies in municipal offices (like city mayors or council members). It requires municipal bodies to publicly announce vacancies 14 days in advance, interview qualified candidates, and use a "game of chance" (such as a coin toss) to break ties when three or more candidates receive equal votes in the initial selection. The bill specifically defines terms like "vacancy" and "game of chance" while adding procedural steps for transparency. It directly affects Utah municipalities and their legislative bodies when filling unexpired terms. The changes apply to vacancies caused by resignation or other midterm departures, with no funding impact.