West Virginia Code § 3-5-19

Vacancies in nominations; how filled; fees
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(a) If any vacancy occurs in the party nomination of candidates for office nominated at the
primary election or by appointment under the provisions of section 11 of this article, the
vacancies may be filled, subject to the following requirements and limitations:
(1) Each appointment made under this section shall be made by the executive committee of
the political party for the political division in which the vacancy occurs: Provided, That if the
executive committee holds a duly called meeting in accordance with §3-1-9 of this code but
fails to make an appointment or fails to certify the appointment of the candidate to the
proper filing officer within the time required, the chairperson of uthe executive committee
may make the appointment not later than two days following the deadline for the executive
committee: Provided, however, That for a delegate district otr senatorial district situated
entirely within a single county, the county executive committee, or its chairperson if the
committee fails to act, may fill the vacancy and certify the candidate named to the
appropriate filing officer.
(2) Each appointment made under this sections is complete only upon the receipt by the
proper filing officer of the certificate of appointment by the executive committee, or its
chairperson, as the case may be, the certificate of announcement of the candidate as
prescribed in section seven of this agrticle and, except for appointments made under
subdivision (4), (5), (6) or (7) of this subsection, the filing fee or waiver of fee as prescribed
in section eight or eight-a of theis article. The proper filing officer is the officer with whom
the original certificate of announcement is regularly filed for that office.
(3) If a vacancy in nomination will be caused by the failure of a candidate to file for an office
or by withdrawal of a candidate, the vacancy may not be filled.(4) If a vacancy in nomination
is caused by the disqualification of a candidate and the vacancy occurs not later than 84
days before the general election, a nominee may be appointed by the executive committee
and certified to the proper filing officer not later than 78 days before the general election. A
canWdidate may be determined disqualified if a written request is made by an individual with
information to show a candidate's ineligibility to the State Election Commission no later than
84 days before the general election explaining grounds why a candidate is not eligible to be
placed on the general election ballot or not eligible to hold the office, if elected. The State
Election Commission shall review the reasons for the request. If the commission finds the
circumstances warrant the disqualification of the candidate, the commission shall authorize
appointment by the executive committee to fill the vacancy. Upon receipt of the
authorization, a nominee may be appointed by the executive committee and certified to the
proper filing officer no later than 78 days before the general election.
(5) If a vacancy in nomination is caused by the incapacity of the candidate and if the vacancy
occurs not later than 84 days before the general election, a nominee may be appointed by
the executive committee and certified to the proper filing officer no later than 78 days before
the general election.
(6) If a vacancy in nomination is caused by the death of the candidate occurring no later than
25 days before the general election, a nominee may be appointed by the executive
committee and certified to the proper filing officer no later than 21 days following the date
of death or no later than 22 days before the general election, whichever date occurs first.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in §3-10-1 et seq. of this code, if any vacancy occurs in a
partisan office or position other than political party executive committee, wheich creates an
unexpired term for a position which would not otherwise appear on the ballot in the general
election, and the vacancy occurs after the close of candidate filing for trhe primary election
but not later than 84 days before the general election, a nominee of each political party may
be appointed by the executive committee and certified to the proper filing officer no later
than 78 days before the general election. Appointments shall be filed in the same manner as
provided in subsection (a) of this section, except that the filitng fee shall be paid before the
appointment is complete.
(c) When a vacancy occurs in the board of education after the close of candidate filing for
the primary election but not later than 84 days before the general election, a special
candidate filing period shall be established. Csandidates seeking election to any unexpired
term for board of education shall file a certificate of announcement and pay the filing fee to
the clerk of the county commission no earlier than the first Monday in August and no later
than 77 days before the general elecgtion.

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