(a) The State Board of Elections shall consist of 11 members, including 2 members from Sussex County; 2 members from Kent County; 2 members from New Castle County; 2 members from the City of Wilmington; 2 at-large members; and the State Election Commissioner, who shall serve as an ex officio member subject to the limitations set forth in § 302 of this title. Each of the 2 principal political parties shall be represented at all times by not fewer than 5 members and at all times both principal political parties shall have equal representation in each county, in the City of Wilmington, and among the at-large members.
(b) In carrying out this section, the Governor shall appoint 10 members. The Governor shall initially appoint 5 members, with at least 2 from each of the 2 principal political parties, for a term of 2 years each, and 5 members, with at least 2 from each of the 2 principal political parties, for a term of 4 years each.
(c) Upon the expiration of the term of any appointed member of the Board, such member's successor shall be appointed by the Governor for a period of 4 years; provided, however, that such member shall hold office until that member's successor shall be duly qualified and provided, further, that the term of such successor shall commence on the date the successor is duly qualified. In the event a vacancy occurs in the Board from any cause, other than expiration of the term of a member, the Governor shall fill the vacancy for the residue of the term.
(d) The 10 members required to be appointed by the Governor from the 2 principal political parties under subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall be appointed from a list of not fewer than 3 nominees for each member to be appointed, which list shall be submitted by the state chair of the political party from which the appointment must be made. Such lists shall be submitted to the Governor within 30 days of the expiration or vacancy of any term herein when such expiration or vacancy leaves fewer than 5 members of the principal political party. Provided the General Assembly is in session, the Governor shall submit the Governor's own appointments from the names on the lists within 30 days of the date the Governor receives the lists. If a state chair does not submit a list to the Governor as provided in this subsection, then the Governor shall submit the Governor's own appointments for any vacancy.
(e) All members other than the State Election Commissioner shall be appointed by and with the consent of the majority of the members elected to the Senate.
(f) In the event that a vacancy exists on the Board of Elections, the Board of Elections can still meet to canvass any election it shall be prescribed to canvass provided that a quorum of its members are present and § 209 of this title shall be met.