§583. Procedure for anticipated vacancies

A.(1) The authority required by law to call a special election to fill a vacancy in an office shall issue a proclamation ordering a special election to be held to elect a person to fill the full term of an office when it becomes certain, after the election for the term but prior to its commencement, that a vacancy will exist on the day when the term of the office commences as provided by the constitution or by law. The proclamation ordering the special election shall state the dates, in accordance with R.S. 18:402, on which the primary and general elections will be held.

(2) It shall become certain that a vacancy will exist on the day the term of office commences when the person elected to the office dies, makes a declaration to the secretary of state that he will not accept the office, or is disqualified by a court of competent jurisdiction.

B.(1) The declaration provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be signed by the official-elect and duly acknowledged by him before an officer authorized to administer oaths.

(2) The secretary of state shall immediately transmit notice of such declarations to the authority required by law to make the appointment to fill the vacancy and to the authority required by law to call the election to fill the vacancy if said authority is not the same as the authority required to make the appointment.

(3) Such declaration shall become irrevocable when received by the secretary of state, at which time an anticipated vacancy shall be deemed to have occurred.

C. When an elected official has properly tendered a notice of retirement or resignation which specifies a prospective effective date, an anticipated vacancy shall be deemed to have occurred on the date the notice of retirement or resignation becomes irrevocable. However, no special election shall be called to fill the anticipated vacancy if there is one year or less, or with respect to the office of state legislator six months or less, remaining between the prospective effective date contained in the notice of retirement or resignation and the end of the term of office of the resigning official.

D.(1) An appointment to fill an anticipated vacancy shall be made at the time the office is actually vacated and such appointment shall be made in accordance with the provisions of law applicable to the filling of vacancies in the affected office. An appointment to fill an anticipated vacancy that is made prior to the time the office is actually vacated is premature and without effect.

(2) A special election to fill an anticipated vacancy shall be called in accordance with the provisions of law applicable to the filling of vacancies in the affected office except the proclamation calling the special election shall be issued after an anticipated vacancy is deemed to have occurred. In determining the dates to be used to call the special election, the provisions of R.S. 18:402 shall apply.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 38, §1, eff. May 31, 1978; Acts 1990, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, No. 201, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2006, No. 403, §1, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2016, No. 281, §1, eff. May 31, 2016.