Montana Code Annotated 1995

MCA ContentsSearchPart Contents


     7-4-2206. Vacancies. (1) For the purposes of this part, "vacancy" has the same meaning as prescribed in 2-16-501.
     (2) Vacancies in all county offices, except that of county commissioner, shall be filled by appointment by the board of county commissioners. Except for the justice of the peace, the appointee shall hold his office, if elective, until the next general election unless otherwise provided in subsections (3) or (4), and if not elective, the appointee serves at the pleasure of the commissioners.
     (3) Whenever a vacancy occurs 75 days or more before the general election held during the second year of the term, an individual shall be elected to complete the term at that general election. The election procedure to be used to elect the successor is as follows:
     (a) Whenever the vacancy occurs 75 days or more before the primary election during the second year of the term, the same procedure shall be utilized as is used to elect a person to that office for a full 4-year term.
     (b) Whenever the vacancy occurs after the 75th day preceding the primary election, any political party desiring to enter a candidate in the general election shall select a candidate as provided in 13-38-204. A political party shall notify the clerk and recorder of the party nominee. A person desiring to be a candidate as an independent shall follow the procedures provided in 13-10-501 and 13-10-502. The petition for an independent candidate shall be filed with the clerk and recorder on or before the 75th day prior to the general election. A candidate for a nonpartisan office shall file as provided in Title 13, chapter 14.
     (4) Whenever a vacancy occurs after the 75th day preceding the general election held during the second year of the term, the person appointed by the commissioners under 7-4-2206(2) shall serve until the end of the term.
     (5) Vacancies occurring in the office of justice of the peace shall be filled as provided in Title 3, chapter 10, part 2.

     History: En. Sec. 4315, Pol. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 2960, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 4728, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. Pol. C. Sec. 4109; re-en. Sec. 4728, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 134, L. 1939; amd. Sec. 16, Ch. 123, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 129, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 491, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 253, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 16-2406(part); amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 526, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 250, L. 1985.

Previous SectionHelpNext Section
Provided by Montana Legislative Services