Washington DC. – US Congressman Derek Kilmer is proposing a constitutional amendment dealing with how vacancies in Congress are temporarily filled.
Kilmer joined three other Representatives in presenting the proposal.
Currently, the Constitution mandates that House vacancies be filled by special elections. Those special elections can generally take three to four months.
Under the proposal, each newly elected representative would be required to provide a list of at least five individuals who are qualified to serve in their place in the event of their death during their term. Should a representative pass away, the governor of their state must select a replacement from the provided list within 10 days. The chosen individual from the list would then serve as a representative temporarily until a special election can be held to elect a new member.
Kilmer says the new proposal would ensure the continuity of the legislative branch during times of crisis and requires representatives to provide a list of designees who are qualified to serve in their place.