How not to fill legislative vacancies

Since 1936, legislative vacancies in Maryland have been filled by a Byzantine appointment process where the state central committee of the vacating senator’s or delegate’s party submits a name to the governor for an appointment to fill the vacancy. When vacancies occur early in a term, the appointee is able to serve for up to four years without voters having a say in who represents them. From 1776 to 1936, vacancies in the House of Delegates were filled by special elections, and from 1837, when state senators were first popularly elected, to 1936, vacancies in the state Senate also were filled by special elections.