(a) In case of a vacancy from any cause in any office, the full term of which, by the Constitution of Georgia, is to be filled by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, the Governor shall appoint and commission some qualified person to fill the vacancy until the next meeting of the General Assembly, when said vacancy shall be filled in the manner described in the Constitution of Georgia for filling the full term of such office. All existing vacancies and all vacancies which may occur during the session of the General Assembly shall be filled pursuant to this Code section.

(b) Where it shall be incumbent upon the Governor to appoint a public officer subject to confirmation of or by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, the office shall be deemed vacant at the expiration of the term of such officer, and he shall not hold over until his successor shall have been appointed and confirmed. The Governor may make an appointment to fill such vacancy ad interim; and the appointee shall hold office until the Senate shall next convene, at which time the Governor shall submit an appointment to fill such vacancy to the Senate for confirmation. The appointee, if confirmed, shall hold over until the expiration of the term for which he was appointed; provided, however, that the Governor shall not appoint ad interim any person previously rejected by the Senate. Whenever the Senate is in session, the Governor shall submit the names of appointees to fill all vacancies which will occur within eight months after the date fixed for the convening of the Senate.