19:5-4 Membership and organization of State committees; vacancies; national committee members.

19:5-4. The members of the State committee of each of the political parties shall be elected at the primary for the general election of the year in which a Governor is to be elected.

The number of males and females comprising the State committee of each of the political parties from each county may be determined by the bylaws of each such political party, but in any event in accordance with one of the following methods:

a. One male and one female member of the State committee to be elected in each county, each having one vote; or

b. Not less than 79 nor more than 82 elected members, to be apportioned among the several counties in accordance with population as determined at the most recent Federal decennial census; provided that each county shall have at least one vote, and provided further that the members of the State committee from each county shall be divided equally between males and females. In those counties with an odd number of State committee members, one seat shall be shared by one male and one female who shall each have one-half vote in all matters of the State committee; or

c. One male and one female member of the State committee to be elected in each county, each member having a vote weighted in strength on the basis of population as determined at the most recent Federal decennial census.

The members of the State committee of each of the political parties shall take office on the first Tuesday following their election, on which day the terms of all members of such committees theretofore elected shall terminate. The annual meeting of the State committee shall be held on the first Tuesday after such primary election at the hour and place to be designated in a notice in writing to be mailed by the chairman of the outgoing State committee to each member-elect. The members of the committee shall elect some suitable person as chairman. The committee shall have power to adopt a constitution and bylaws for its proper government. The chairman shall preside at all meetings of the committee and shall perform all duties required of him by law and the constitution and bylaws of such committee.

A member of a State committee of any political party may resign his office to the committee of which he is a member, and upon acceptance thereof by the committee a vacancy shall exist. A vacancy in the office of a member of the State committee of any political party, howsoever caused, shall be filled for the unexpired term by the members of the county committee of such political party in the county in which the vacancy occurs.

Members of the State committee shall serve for 4 years or until their successors are elected. The State committee shall choose its chairperson and the member or members of the national committee of its political party.

Amended 1948, c.216, ss.1,3; 1978, c.15, s.1; 2009, c.135, s.4.