The principal clerk shall in all cases be responsible for the acts of the principal clerk's deputies. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of the county clerk in any county, including counties with a population of less than 60,000 inhabitants, the chief deputy clerk shall perform all the duties appertaining to the office of county clerk until the successor of such clerk is elected or appointed and qualified as provided in Section 3-2011.
55 ILCS 5/3-2010