In any county of the third class where the offices of the clerk of the circuit court and the recorder of deeds are combined and which will become a county of the second class on the first day of January next following the general election at which the circuit clerk ex officio recorder of deeds would normally be elected, the combined office shall not be filled at that general election, but candidates may file and stand for election for the separate offices of clerk of the circuit court and recorder of deeds and the winner of the election for each office shall assume his separate duties on the first day of January next following the election for the full four-year term of office.

(L. 1974 H.B. 1318)