19-203a. Vacancy in office of commissioner created by an increase in the number of districts, filled by election; term of commissioner upon election. (a) Vacancies created in the office of commissioner by the board of county commissioner's adoption of a resolution or by judicial order pursuant to K.S.A. 19-204a, and amendments thereto, dividing the county into the number of districts approved by voters following an election expanding the size of the board of county commissioners pursuant to K.S.A. 19-204(c), and amendments thereto, shall be filled at the next regularly held general election.
(b) (1) If at the next regularly held general election more than a simple majority of commissioners are elected, persons elected to the positions created by an increase in the number of commissioner districts shall be elected for two-year terms and shall serve until their successors are qualified. Thereafter, such commissioners shall be elected to four-year terms and shall serve until their successors are qualified.
(2) If the next regularly held general election is in an odd-numbered year, persons elected to the positions created by an increase in the number of commissioner districts shall be elected for either one-year or three-year terms as determined by the board of county commissioners so as to prevent the election of more than a simple majority of commissioners at any subsequent general election. Such persons shall serve until their successors are qualified.
(c) For purposes of this section, "general election" means the same as defined in K.S.A. 25-2502, and amendments thereto.
History: L. 2017, ch. 36, § 2; L. 2024, ch. 24, § 3; April 18.
Attorney General's Opinions:
Expedited election process and timelines for filling county commissioner seat vacancies, due to the expansion of a county commission, that were set forth in the version of this statute in effect prior to April 18, 2024, only applied when the vacancies were to be filled at a special election. 2024-5.