§ 2-15-206 — Presiding officer - Elector vacancy

(a) The secretary of state, or the secretary of state's designee, shall preside at the meeting of electors described in § 2-15-207 . (b) The position of an elector is vacant if the elector is not present to vote or vacates the office under § 2-15-207(c) . The electors present shall elect an individual as a substitute elector to fill a vacancy as follows: (1) If an alternate elector is present to vote, by electing an alternate elector for the vacant position; (2) If an alternate elector is not present to vote, by electing any resident citizen of the state to fill such vacancy; (3) If the vacant position is that of an unpledged elector and the alternate elector for that vacant position is not present to vote, or if there otherwise are no alternate electors eligible for the vacant position under subdivisions (b)(1) and (2), by appointing any immediately available individual who is qualified to serve as an elector and has been chosen through nomination by and plurality vote of the remaining electors, including nomination and vote by a single elector if only one (1) remains; (4) If there is a tie between at least two (2) nominees for substitute elector in a vote conducted under subdivision (b)(3), by appointing an elector chosen by lot from among those nominees; or (5) If all elector positions are vacant and cannot be filled pursuant to subdivisions (b)(1)-(4), by appointing a single presidential elector, with remaining vacant positions to be filled under subdivision (b)(3) and, if necessary, subdivision (b)(4). (c) To qualify as a substitute elector for a vacant position associated with an elector who had executed a pledge, an individual who has not executed the pledge required under § 2-15-204 , must execute the following pledge: "I agree to serve and to mark my ballots for President and Vice President consistent with the pledge of the individual to whose elector position I have succeeded."

Legislative History

Added by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 787,s 1, eff. 4/23/2024.