§ 25-3902 — Procedure for filling vacancy in district office other than judge of district court; district convention; appointment by governor

(a) Except as provided in K.S.A. 25-312a, and amendments thereto, when a district convention is provided by law to be held to elect a person to be appointed to fill a vacancy in a district office, the county chairperson designated in subsection (b) or (c), within 21 days of receipt of notice that a vacancy has occurred or will occur, shall call and convene a convention of all committeemen and committeewomen of the party of the precincts in such district for the purpose of electing a person to be appointed by the governor to fill the vacancy. If such county chairperson is absent or for any reason is unable to call, or refuses to call such convention, then the county vice-chairperson shall call the convention and perform the other duties under this section required of such chairperson.
(b) If the district lies within a single county, the county chairperson of such county shall call the convention by mailing a notice, at least seven days before the date of the convention, to each precinct committeeman and committeewoman who is entitled to vote at the convention pursuant to subsection (e).
(c) If all or part of more than one county lies within the district, the county chairperson of the county in which the greatest number of qualified voters of the district reside shall call the convention by mailing a notice of the convention to each county chairperson of the party in each such county at least 10 days before the date of the convention. Such convention shall be held at a location within the district selected by the chairperson calling the convention. Such county chairperson, within three days after receipt of such notice, shall mail notice of the convention to the committeemen and committeewomen in their counties who are entitled to vote at the convention pursuant to subsection (e).
(d) The notice of such convention shall state:
(1) The place where the convention is to be held;
(2) the time when the convention will convene; and
(3) the purpose for which the convention is to be held.
(e) At the time and place fixed for holding the convention, the county chairperson who called the convention shall act as temporary chairperson and shall call the convention to order. One-third of the eligible members of the convention shall constitute a quorum for such election. In the event a quorum is not present at the time and place that such convention is called, the members present shall adjourn the convention to a day and time certain, which shall be not later than 14 days after such adjournment of such convention, and provide for notification of the time and place of such adjourned convention to be given to the eligible members not present. The convention shall organize by electing a permanent chairperson and such other officers as necessary. After the convention is organized, it shall elect a person to be appointed by the governor to fill the vacancy. Such election shall be by secret ballot and the person elected shall be the one who receives the majority of all the votes cast. If no person receives a majority of all votes cast on any ballot, the balloting shall continue until some person receives a majority of all the votes cast. Each committeeman and committeewoman of the party of the precincts in such district shall be entitled to vote. Except as provided in subsection (f), no precinct committeeman or committeewoman shall be represented or shall vote by proxy. The convention may adopt such rules necessary to govern its procedure in making nominations, voting, counting, and canvassing votes and for the conduct of any business which may properly be brought before the convention, but such rules shall not be in conflict with the provisions of this section.
(f) (1) A precinct committeeman or committeewoman may vote by proxy at a convention called pursuant to this section whenever such precinct committeeman or committeewoman is unable to attend the convention and cast such precinct committeeman's or committeewoman's ballot.
(2) A precinct committeeman or committeewoman may designate another precinct committeeman or committeewoman to cast such precinct committeeman's or precinct committeewoman's ballot at such convention by proxy. Any proxy authorized by this subsection shall:
(A) Designate the precinct committeeman or committeewoman who shall cast the precinct committeeman's or precinct committeewoman's vote by proxy;
(B) be signed by the precinct committeeman or precinct committeewoman authorizing the proxy; and
(C) contain an acknowledgment of such precinct committeeman's or precinct committeewoman's signature that complies with K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 53-5a17, and amendments thereto.
(g) After a person has been elected to be appointed to fill a vacancy in a district office, the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the convention shall execute a certificate, under oath, stating that such person has been duly elected to be appointed to fill such vacancy and shall transmit such certificate either by hand delivery by a person designated by such chairperson or vice-chairperson or by registered mail, return receipt requested, to the governor and a copy thereof to the secretary of state. If transmitted by registered mail, such certificate and the copy thereof shall be mailed within 24 hours of such election, unless the day following such election is a Sunday or legal holiday, in which case it shall be mailed by the next regular business day. Thereupon, and not later than seven days after such certificate is received in the office of the governor, the governor, or in the governor's absence the lieutenant governor, shall fill such vacancy by appointing to such district office the person so elected. In the event the governor or lieutenant governor fails to appoint any person as required by this subsection after receiving a lawfully executed certificate hereunder, such person shall be deemed to have been so appointed notwithstanding such failure. The person so appointed may qualify and enter upon the duties of the district office immediately after appointment.

Legislative History

L. 1972, ch. 131, § 2; L. 1975, ch. 216, § 2; L. 1976, ch. 181, § 15; L. 1990, ch. 130, § 4; L. 1995, ch. 192, § 10; L. 2004, ch. 93, § 9; L. 2021, ch. 64, § 34; January 1, 2022.