The Alabama House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill [HB 17 materials] to eliminate special elections when there is a vacancy in the US Senate.

Under HB 17 [text, PDF], when a vacancy occurred the governor would appoint a person until the next general election. Currently, the governor appoints someone who remains in office only until a special election.

Rep. Steve Clouse [official website], sponsor of the new bill, explained [WTVY report] that the cost of elections is the main motivation behind the legislation. He asserts that the state fiscal office calculated elections to cost $3.5 million, and so when adding the costs of a primary, general, and potential special election, the state is paying approximately $10 million.

The bill was approved by a vote of 67-31 and now goes to the Alabama Senate.

The legislation follows the contested election of Doug Jones [JURIST report] to fill the seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.