A special election will be held in early 2011 to fill a vacancy on the three-member Mississippi Transportation Commission.

Commissioner Bill Minor, who represents the northern one-third of the state, died Monday.

State law says the governor has 15 days to proclaim a special election, and the election takes place 60 days after the proclamation. That puts voting in January.

The winner will serve almost the final year of Minor’s four-year term.

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann says he’s recommending that Barbour set candidates’ qualifying deadline at least 45 days before the election so ballots can be prepared.

The regular election for all three Transportation Commission posts is in November 2011.