FERRIDAY — By law, the Ferriday Board of Aldermen will have to fill the seat vacated by Alderman Jerome Harris’ Tuesday death by March 5.

Ferriday is incorporated under the Lawrason Act, which specifies that within 10 days of the vacating of an elected seat, the town’s governing authority — in this case, the board of aldermen — are to appoint a person to fill the vacancy.

If the board fails to do so, the governor will fill the vacancy.

Because Harris’ unexpired term has more than one year left, the aldermen will have to issue a proclamation calling for a special election to fill the vacancy.

If the board does not do so, the governor will issue the proclamation.

The qualifications for alderman include being a voter of the district in which they reside, and must have been domiciled and actually resided in the town for at least the previous year.

Ferriday Town Clerk Gayle Cowan said the meeting to fill the vacated seat has not yet been scheduled, but that it will likely be mid-week next week.