§1595 Vacancy in Office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor

Summary

If the Governor is temporarily sick or away, the Lieutenant Governor must do the Governor’s job. If the Governor permanently leaves office — by death, resignation, removal by recall, permanent disability, or any other reason — the Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor and serves the rest of the term and until a successor is elected and qualified at the next regular election for Governor. If the Lieutenant Governor is temporarily sick, away, or acting as Governor, the president of the legislature will act as Lieutenant Governor. If the Lieutenant Governor’s office becomes permanently vacant, the Governor will appoint a replacement with the legislature’s approval to serve the rest of the term and until a successor is chosen at the next regular election for Lieutenant Governor. If both top offices are temporarily vacant, someone designated by Virgin Islands law will act as Governor. If both offices are permanently vacant, the vacancy is filled as Virgin Islands law provides. No extra pay is given to someone merely acting as Governor or Lieutenant Governor unless they officially become the officeholder under these rules.