Relating to vacancies in offices of state officials

HB 2702 amends West Virginia law to change how vacancies in state elected offices are filled. It requires that anyone appointed to fill a vacancy in a partisan office (like Secretary of State or Treasurer) must have been a member of that officeholder's political party for at least one year before the vacancy occurred. For magistrate positions with more than two years remaining in the term, the bill mandates a nonpartisan election held concurrently with the next primary or general election, rather than an appointment. The bill also allows governors to appoint acting officials temporarily to handle duties until a permanent appointment is made, while maintaining party affiliation requirements for all partisan appointments.