Candidates for judge of probate court; declaration of nominees; certification of nominations; death or disqualification of candidate.

(1) The candidates for the office of judge of probate receiving the largest number of votes at any primary election, to a number equal to twice the number of places to be filled as set forth in the report of the board of county canvassers, based on the returns from the various election precincts or as determined by the board of county canvassers as the result of a recount, shall be declared the nominees for the office at the next November election. The board of county canvassers shall certify the nominations to the county election commission. (2) If, after the deadline for filing nominating petitions under section 433, there are fewer candidates for nomination or nominees for the office of judge of probate than there are persons to be elected because of the death or disqualification of a candidate more than 65 days before the general November election, then a person, whether or not an incumbent, may qualify as a nominee for that office at the general November election by filing nominating petitions with the county clerk or, in case of a probate district, with the secretary of state in the manner required by section 433. However, the filing shall be made before 4 p.m. on the twenty-first day following the death or disqualification of the candidate or 4 p.m. on the sixtieth day preceding the general November election, whichever is earlier, and the minimum number of signatures required is 1,000 or 1/2 the minimum number required under section 433, whichever is less. (3) The county clerk or, in case of a probate district, the secretary of state shall certify the nomination of each person who qualifies as a nominee under subsection (2) to the board of election commissioners specified by section 687 for the general November election.