(a) Subject to the provisions of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 19-204b, and amendments thereto, when a vacancy occurs in the office of a member of the board of county commissioners, it shall be filled by appointment of a resident in the district to fill the office for the unexpired term and until a successor is elected and qualified. When a vacancy occurs before May 1 of the first even-numbered year following the commencement of a term of office, it shall be filled by the appointment of a resident of such district who shall serve until a successor is elected and qualified at the next general election. Such successor shall assume office on the second Monday of January next following such election.

(b) Appointments under this section shall be made in the manner provided by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-3902, and amendments thereto, for filling vacancies in district offices.

(c) Subject to the provisions of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 19-204b, and amendments thereto, vacancies created by an increase in the number of county commissioner districts in a county pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 19-204, and amendments thereto, shall be filled at an election as provided in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 19-203a, and amendments thereto.

(d) The candidate receiving the highest number of votes in each commission district shall serve until successors are elected and qualified at the next general election. Such successors shall assume office on the second Monday of January next following their election. If at the next general election following the special election more than a simple majority of commissioners are elected, persons elected to the positions created by an increase in the number of districts shall be elected for two-year terms and until their successors are qualified. Thereafter such members shall be elected to four-year terms and until their successors are qualified.