COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, VETERANS 
AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION 
 
 
BILL NO. 
36-0243 
 
Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
February 10, 2026 
 
 
 
An act amending title 2 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 8, section 111(a) to enact the Legislative 
Vacancy Succession Reform Act 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY:  
 
Senator Alma Francis Heyliger 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 
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SECTION 1.  This act may be cited as “Legislative Vacancy Succession Reform Act.” 
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SECTION 2.  Title 2 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 8, section 111(a) is amended by 
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striking the existing subsection (a) and inserting the following new subsection (a): 
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‘(a) If a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Legislature within the first 12 
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months of the legislative term, the certified candidate who received the next highest 
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number of votes in the most recent general election shall fill the vacancy.  If the candidate 
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who received the next highest amount of votes is unable to fill the vacancy, the next 
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highest vote getter shall fill the vacancy. If the vacancy exists 30 days after it was created, 
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the Governor may call a special election.’” 
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SECTION 3.  Title 2 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 8, section 111 is amended by adding 
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the following subsection (c): 
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‘(c) The Supervisor of Elections shall maintain and certify the list of candidates 
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to fill the vacany.” 
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BILL SUMMARY 
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This bill eliminates costly special elections by allowing the next highest vote-getter from 
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the most recent general election to fill legislative vacancies that occur within the first 12 months 
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of a legislative term to preserve democratic integrity while enhancing efficiency. 
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BR25-0415/September 3, 2025/CBM 
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