N.Y. Public Officers Law § 42: Filling vacancies in elective offices

§ 42. Filling vacancies in elective offices. 1. A vacancy occurring

three months before the general election in any year in any office

authorized to be filled at a general election, except in the offices of

governor or lieutenant-governor, shall be filled at the general election

held next thereafter, unless otherwise provided by the constitution, or

unless previously filled at a special election.

2. A vacancy occurring by the expiration of term at the end of an even

numbered year in an office which may not under the provisions of the

constitution be filled for a full term at the general election held

prior to the expiration of such term, shall be filled at said general

election for a term ending with the commencement of the political year

next succeeding the first general election at which said office can be

filled by election for a full term.

3. Upon the failure to elect to any office, except that of governor or

lieutenant-governor, at a general or special election, at which such

office is authorized to be filled, or upon the death or disqualification

of a person elected to office before the commencement of his or her

official term, or upon the occurrence of a vacancy in any elective

office which cannot be filled by appointment for a period extending to

or beyond the next general election at which a person may be elected

thereto, the governor shall, unless otherwise provided for by authorized

local law, resolution or ordinance, make proclamation of a special

election to fill such office within ten days of the occurrence of a

vacancy, specifying the district or county in which the election is to

be held, and the day thereof, which shall be: a. not less than seventy

nor more than eighty days from the date of the proclamation to fill a

vacancy in the office of a representative in congress or for a vacancy

in any other office that is not in the state senate or assembly; and b.

not less than forty days nor more than fifty days from the date of the

proclamation to fill a vacancy in the state senate or assembly,

provided, however, that the governor may issue a proclamation to fill

any subsequent vacancy in the state senate or assembly for the same date

as any previously scheduled special election as long as the proclamation

is issued at least thirty days before the occurrence of the special

election.

4. a. A special election shall not be held to fill a vacancy in the

office of a representative in congress unless such vacancy occurs on or

before the first day of July of the last year of the term of office, or

unless it occurs thereafter and a special session of congress is called

to meet before the next general election, or be called after three

months before the general election in such year.

b. A special election shall not be held to fill a vacancy in the

office of state senator or in the office of member of assembly, unless

the vacancy occurs before the first day of April of the last year of the

term of office, or unless the vacancy occurs in either such office of

senator or member of assembly after such first day of April and a

special session of the legislature be called to meet between such first

day of April and the next general election or be called after three

months before the next general election in such year.

c. A special election shall not be held to fill a vacancy in any other

office subject to a proclamation by the governor pursuant to subdivision

three of this section unless the vacancy occurs before the first day of

April of the last year of the term of office.

d. If a special election to fill an office shall not be held as

required by law, the office shall be filled at the next general

election.

4-a. If a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator from

this state in any even numbered calendar year on or after the

fifty-ninth day prior to the annual primary election, or thereafter

during said even numbered year, the governor shall make a temporary

appointment to fill such vacancy until the third day of January in the

year following the next even numbered calendar year. If such vacancy

occurs in any even numbered calendar year on or before the sixtieth day

prior to an annual primary election, the governor shall make a temporary

appointment to fill such vacancy until the third day of January in the

next calendar year. If a vacancy occurs in the office of United States

senator from this state in any odd numbered calendar year, the governor

shall make a temporary appointment to fill such vacancy until the third

day of January in the next odd numbered calendar year. Such an

appointment shall be evidenced by a certificate of the governor which

shall be filed in the office of the state board of elections. At the

time for filing such certificate, the governor shall issue and file in

the office of the state board of elections a writ of election directing

the election of a United States senator to fill such vacancy for the

unexpired term at the general election next preceding the expiration for

the term of such appointment.

5. Whenever the authority to fill any vacancy is vested in a board and

such board is unable to fill such vacancy in an elective office by

reason of a tie vote, or such board neglects to fill such vacancy for

any other reason, the governor may, at the governor's discretion, make

proclamation of a special election to fill the vacancy.