(1) The term of office of township trustees elected in 1978 shall be 2 years. The term of office of all township officers listed in section 358 shall be 4 years beginning in the 1980 general election, and in all subsequent elections at which township officials are elected. All township officers’ terms shall commence at 12 noon on November 20 next following their election and they shall qualify before assuming the duties of their office. Each township officer shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified, but not beyond January 1 following the election. Failure of an elected township official to qualify by January 1 following the official’s election shall create a vacancy which shall be filled as provided in section 370. All elective township officers, other than those listed in section 358, shall be elected at the November election immediately preceding the expiration of their term and shall commence the duties of their office on November 20 but not before they qualify following their election.

    (2) A township officer elected in the general election shall remain in office for the full term if the officer failed to take the oath of office within the time prescribed by law and was subsequently appointed by the township board to the office for which the officer ran.