Elected without being present at meeting

[Andy Travis]

Hello,

Can a person be elected as an Officer on a Board of Directors if they are not present at the meeting? Or do they need to officially accept the nomination first?

Also, can a person not present at the meeting be elected to have signing authority? Or do they need to officially accept the nomination first?

Note: This person will not have an issue being elected to these positions but I would like to know the official RONR procedure.

 

Thank you in advance for your replies.

[Richard Brown]

RONR does not require that people either agree in advance to serve if elected or to be present at the election.  If someone elected to office has not previously consented to serve and was not present at the election, then his election becomes final when he is notified that he has been elected and he does not immediately decline.  

RONR has nothing to say about signing authority.  That is an administrative matter, not a matter of parliamentary procedure.

That is covered on page 444 of RONR as follows:  "TIME AT WHICH AN ELECTION TAKES EFFECT. An election to an office becomes final immediately if the candidate is present and does not decline, or if he is absent but has consented to his candidacy. If he is absent and has not consented to his candidacy, the election becomes final when he is notified of his election, provided that he does not immediately decline. If he does decline, the election is incomplete, and another vote can be taken immediately or at the next meeting without further notice. After an election has become final as stated in this paragraph, it is too late to reconsider (37) the vote on the election."