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Since You Asked: Parties would fill a presidential nominee vacancy Monday Sep 12, 2016 at 12:01 AM Let’s say it is Oct. 20 and something happens to either Hillary or Donald, and they are unable to continue running as president. Does the vice president nominee automatically step up and become the candidate? Or do the parties have to quickly nominate someone else? — Anne W., by email Your latter option is the correct answer, Anne, for both parties. Rule 9 of the Republican National Committee rules covers "Filling Vacancies in Nominations," and stipulates that should the party's presidential or vice presidential candidate leave the ticket for whatever reason, the vacancy may be filled either by a reconvening of the national convention or by the party committee itself. The vice presidential nominee is not given any preferential consideration. Because of the cost and time-consuming nature of reconvening a convention, the selection would likely be made by the Republican National Committee. Democrats have only one option, but it is the same as that which would likely be used by the GOP: The Democratic National Committee has the authority to select a presidential nominee, according to Article Two of the party rules. FYI, Anne, a party’s presidential nominee has never given up the nomination or died before the election. But in 1972, Democratic vice presidential nominee Thomas Eagleton gave up his nomination 13 days after the Democratic convention when stories broke that he had been treated for depression in the past and undergone electric shock therapy. George McGovern, the party’s presidential nominee, named Sargent Shriver as his new running mate and the Democratic National Committee voted to confirm Shriver’s nomination. — Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.