Amends GS 162-5.1 by adding Swain County to the scope of the statute, requiring that vacancies in the office of sheriff be filled as follows. Requires the county's coroner to execute all process directed to the sheriff until the board elects a sheriff to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. Sets out the qualification requirements and the process by which the board must select the replacement. Provides that if the office of coroner has been abolished, the chief deputy sheriff, or if there is no chief deputy, then the senior deputy in years of service, is to perform all the sheriff's duties until the county commissioners appoint a person to fill the unexpired term.