§17-1  United States senator.  When avacancy occurs in the office of United States senator, the vacancy shall befilled for the unexpired term at the following state general election; providedthat the vacancy occurs not later than 4:30 p.m. on the sixtieth day prior tothe primary for nominating candidates to be voted for at the election;otherwise at the state general election next following.  The chief electionofficer shall issue a proclamation designating the election for filling thevacancy.  Pending the election, the governor shall make a temporary appointmentto fill the vacancy by selecting a person from a list of three prospectiveappointees submitted by the same political party as the prior incumbent.  Theappointee shall serve until the election and qualification of the person dulyelected to fill the vacancy and shall be, at the time of appointment, and shallhave been, for at least six months immediately prior to the appointment, amember of the same political party as the prior incumbent.  The appointee shallbe a resident of the State.  If the prior incumbent was not a member of anypolitical party, the governor shall appoint a person who is not and has notbeen, for at least six months immediately prior to the appointment, a member ofany political party.  All candidates for the unexpired term shall be nominatedand elected in accordance with this title. [L 1970, c 26, pt of §2; am L 1973,c 217, §7(a); am L 2007, c 57, §2]