Elections, State Board of; appointment of Commissioner of Elections.

State Board of Elections; membership; appointmentof Commissioner of Elections. Exempts the Department of Electionsfrom provisions allowing the Governor to appoint a chief deputy anda confidential assistant for policy or administration. The bill expandsthe membership of the State Board of Elections (the State Board)from five members to seven members. The bill also gives the StateBoard the authority and duty to appoint the Commissioner of Electionsof the Department of Elections and requires an affirmative vote offive of the State Board's seven members for the appointment and removalof the Commissioner of Elections. In the event that a vacancy occursin the office of the Commissioner of Elections, the bill providesthat the Director of Operations of the Department of Elections willserve as the head of the agency until such vacancy is filled by theState Board. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1,2025.