13-10-326. Vacancy prior to primary election. - Montana Statutes

     13-10-326. Vacancy prior to primary election. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2):
     (a) if a candidate for nomination for a partisan office dies or withdraws 75 days or more before the primary election, the affected political party may appoint someone to replace the candidate by the procedure provided in 13-10-327; or
     (b) if a candidate for nomination for a partisan office dies less than 75 days before the primary election, the affected political party shall appoint a candidate after the primary election as provided in 13-10-327 if a candidate for that office for that party was not nominated at the primary election.
     (2) For an election conducted pursuant to 13-1-104(1)(a) or 13-1-107(1):
     (a) if a candidate for nomination for a partisan office dies or withdraws 85 days or more before the primary election, the affected political party may appoint someone to replace the candidate by the procedure provided in 13-10-327; or
     (b) if a candidate for nomination for a partisan office dies less than 85 days before the primary election, the affected political party shall appoint a candidate after the primary election as provided in 13-10-327 if a candidate for that office for that party was not nominated at the primary election.
     (3) This section does not allow a political party to appoint a candidate for an office if no candidate for nomination by that party filed for the office before the primary election.

     History: En. Sec. 82, Ch. 368, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 254, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 28, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 23-3321(2); amd. Sec. 76, Ch. 571, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 28, Ch. 250, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 273, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 292, L. 2009.