Elections, State Board of; appointment of Commissioner of Elections.

State Board of Elections; appointment of Commissioner of Elections. Changes the appointing authority of the Commissioner of Elections from the Governor to the State Board of Elections, with an affirmative vote of four of the five State Board members required for the appointment or removal of the Commissioner, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. The bill also changes the start of the four-year term of the Commissioner from July 1 of the year following a gubernatorial election to the second year following such election. The bill exempts the Department of Elections from provisions allowing the Governor to appoint a chief deputy and a confidential assistant for policy or administration. In the event that a vacancy occurs in the office of the Commissioner, the bill provides that the Director of Operations of the Department will perform the duties of the Commissioner until such vacancy is filled by the State Board. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026.