Special Election Timeliness Act

Summary#

This bill, the Special Election Timeliness Act, would change federal rules about filling vacancies in the House of Representatives. It amends 2 U.S.C. 8(a) to require that a State, District, or Territory hold a special election to fill a House vacancy no later than 180 days after the vacancy occurs, unless a regularly scheduled general election for that office is to be held at any time during the same 180-day period. The bill also (1) allows the Attorney General to sue a State chief executive in federal court to enforce the deadline, (2) creates a private right of action for an aggrieved person (including the Speaker or Minority Leader of the House) to seek court relief against the State chief executive, and (3) defines "special election" as an election that elects a candidate to fill the vacancy (not a nominating election). The text refers to exceptions in subsection (b) but does not include that subsection in the provided material. No publicly available information.

What it means for you#

  • If your Member of the House leaves office early, your State would generally need to hold a special election within 180 days unless a regular general election for that seat falls within those 180 days.
  • State chief executives (for example, governors) could face lawsuits from the U.S. Attorney General or from private parties if they do not follow the 180‑day rule.
  • The bill clarifies that the required election must actually elect a replacement and is not satisfied by a nominating contest.
  • No publicly available information on how States must run primaries, set exact dates, or handle ballot procedures under this bill.

Expenses#

No publicly available information about estimated costs, federal funding, or State fiscal effects in the provided text.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the provided material describing proponents' arguments or intended benefits beyond the bill text itself.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the provided material describing opponents' arguments or concerns.