(a) When a vacancy occurs in the office of judge of the probate court
in any county, it shall be the duty of the individual who assumes the duties of the judge, as provided in Code Section 15-9-10, within ten days after the vacancy occurs, to order a special election for the purpose of filling the vacancy. The election superintendent shall give notice of the special election by publication in the newspaper in which the citations of the judge of the probate court are published. The special election shall be held in accordance with Chapter 2 of Title 21.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Code section, if the vacancy occurs after January 1 in the last year of the term of office of the judge of probate court, the individual assuming the duties of the judge of the probate court shall be commissioned for and shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term of office.
(c) If a special election is held, the individual elected to fill the vacancy shall be commissioned for the unexpired term.