(a) When a vacancy occurs in the office of member of the state board of education, the county chairperson designated in subsection (b), (c) or (d), within 21 days of receipt of notice that a vacancy has occurred or will occur shall call and convene a district convention for the purpose of electing a person to be appointed by the governor to fill the vacancy. Such person shall be an elector of the same political party as that of the board member vacating such position and shall reside in the board member district corresponding to such board member position. If such county chairperson is absent or for any reason is unable to call or refuses to call such convention, then the county vice-chairperson shall call the convention and perform the other duties required of such chairperson under this section.

(b) If the board member district lies within a single county, the county chairperson of such county shall call a convention of all precinct committeemen and committeewomen of the party of the precincts in such district in the manner provided by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-3902(b) and (d), and amendments thereto, and such convention shall be conducted as provided in subsection (e).

(c) If all or part of more than one and less than five counties lie within the board member district, the county chairperson of the county in which the greatest number of qualified voters of the district reside shall call a convention of all precinct committeemen and committeewomen of the party of the precincts in such district in the manner provided by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-3902(c) and (d), and amendments thereto, and such convention shall be conducted as provided in subsection (e). Such convention shall be held at a location within the district selected by the chairperson calling the convention.

(d) If all or part of five or more counties lie within the board member district, the county chairperson of the county in which the greatest number of qualified voters of the district reside shall call a convention of all county chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the party of the counties in such district. Such convention shall be held at a location within the district selected by the chairperson calling the convention. Such county chairperson shall call the convention by mailing a notice to each such county chairperson and vice-chairperson, at least seven days before the date of the convention. Such notice shall state: (1) The place where the convention is to be held; (2) the time when the convention will convene; and (3) the purpose for which the convention is to be held, and such convention shall be conducted as provided in subsection (e).

(e) At the time and place fixed for holding the convention, the county chairperson who called the convention shall act as temporary chairperson and shall call the convention to order. One-third of the eligible members of the convention shall constitute a quorum for such election. In the event a quorum is not present at the time and place that such convention is called, the members present shall adjourn the convention to a day and time certain, which shall be not later than 14 days after adjournment of such convention, and provide for notification of the time and place of such adjourned convention to be given to the eligible members not present. The convention shall proceed to organize by electing a permanent chairperson and such other officers as necessary. After the convention is organized, it shall proceed to elect a person to be appointed by the governor to fill the vacancy. Such election shall be by secret ballot and the person elected shall be the one who shall receive the majority of all the votes cast. If no person receives a majority of all votes cast on any ballot, the balloting shall continue until some person receives a majority of all the votes cast. Each county chairperson and vice-chairperson of the party of the counties in such district shall be entitled to vote. Except as provided in subsection (f), no county chairperson or vice-chairperson shall be represented or shall vote by proxy. The convention may adopt such rules as necessary to govern its procedure in making nominations, voting, counting and canvassing votes and for the conduct of any business which may properly be brought before the convention, but such rules shall not be in conflict with the provisions of this section.

(f) (1) A precinct committeeman or committeewoman who serves as county chairperson or vice-chairperson may vote by proxy at a convention called pursuant to this section whenever such precinct committeeman or committeewoman is unable to attend the convention and cast such precinct committeeman’s or committeewoman’s ballot.

(2) A precinct committeeman or committeewoman may designate another precinct committeeman or committeewoman to cast such precinct committeeman’s or precinct committeewoman’s ballot at such convention by proxy. Any proxy authorized by this subsection shall:

(A) Designate the precinct committeeman or committeewoman who shall cast the precinct committeeman’s or precinct committeewoman’s vote by proxy;

(B) be signed by the precinct committeeman or precinct committeewoman authorizing the proxy; and

(C) contain an acknowledgment of such precinct committeeman’s or precinct committeewoman’s signature which complies with Kan. Stat. Ann. 2023 Supp. 53-5a17, and amendments thereto.

(g) After a person has been elected to be appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of member of the state board of education, the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the convention shall execute a certificate, under oath, stating that such person has been duly elected to be appointed to fill such vacancy and shall transmit such certificate to the governor. Thereupon, and not later than seven days after such certificate is received in the office of the governor, the governor, or in the governor’s absence the lieutenant governor, shall fill such vacancy by appointing to the office of member of the state board of education the person so elected. In the event the governor or lieutenant governor fails to appoint any person as required by this subsection after receiving a lawfully executed certificate hereunder, such person shall be deemed to have been so appointed notwithstanding such failure. The person so appointed may qualify and enter upon the duties of office immediately after appointment.

(h) A person shall be elected to be appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of member of the state board of education within 35 days after such vacancy occurs. If no person is so elected within the 35-day period, the governor shall fill such vacancy by appointment of an elector of the same political party as that of the board member vacating such position and who resides in the board member district corresponding to such board member position. The person so appointed may qualify and enter upon the duties of office immediately after appointment.