When a vacancy occurs in the vice chair position, an election to fill that office must occur within 45 days of the position becoming vacant. Nominations for vice chairperson are normally solicited from the Commissioners at the winter meeting prior to the end of the chairperson's term. Nominees for the position shall represent a different membership category from that of the incoming chairperson. Four weeks prior to the scheduled vote, each nominee must submit a 200-word statement explaining why he or she is seeking the office. The statement is distributed to the full Commission prior to the vote.
Voting is conducted by mail through a secret ballot.
The results are mailed to Commission members within one week of tabulation and are formally announced at the next Commission meeting. Vacancies occurring outside normal term conclusions are filled through a similar process. Commission officers are expected to serve in several ex-officio capacities. The Commission chairperson serves as an ex-officio, voting member of the Budget and Personnel Committee and of the Policy Committee, and as chair of the Executive Committee. The Commission chairperson also serves on the WASC Board.