Committee approves temporary appointment power for county election commissioners

Senate Bill 196, introduced by Senator Tucker and amended to add cosponsors, passed the Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs committee in a voice vote.

Senator Tucker said the bill responds to a problem raised by a Pulaski County election commissioner who resigned shortly before a primary election for health reasons. He said current law fills vacancies by election from county parties, which can leave a commission short when an election occurs. The bill preserves the county party's authority to permanently replace a commissioner but permits a county party chair to appoint a temporary commissioner until the election; if a county committee does not exist, the state party chair can make the temporary appointment. "So that's really all the bill does," Tucker said.

The committee also approved an amendment adding Senator Gilmore and Representatives Beatty and Ray as cosponsors; Senator Tucker described the amendment as a "Republican seal of approval" for the bipartisan application of the bill to county election commissioners of both parties.

Senator Dodson asked whether county committees are compelled to meet quickly to fill vacancies; Tucker explained the current law allows the state party chair to appoint after a 45-day wait if the county committee has not made an appointment, but the bill would allow immediate temporary appointments by the county or state chair without waiting 45 days.

Senator Tucker moved to pass the bill as amended; Senator Kroll seconded. The committee approved SB 196 as amended by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The transcript shows voice approval; no roll-call tally was recorded.