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A board regularly puts up someone already on the board as a candidate for an open position. If the members vote that person in, which they usually do, it creates a vacancy in their old position. The board immediately appoints some one to that position, thereby depriving the members of the right to run for that position. The bylaws allow for board appointments but no time frame is specified. This seems like a manipulative process but there seems to be nothing in place to stop it.

Hello, Our organization just held an election of officers. One newly-elected officer has had to resign before taking office. The officer is the president of a division within the organization, and there is no president-elect of the divisions. This is what our bylaws say: "All officers and elected members of the Executive Board shall take office at the adjournment of the annual conference and serve for a two year term or until their successors take office." In case of a vacancy, the Board appoints someone to fill the rest of the term. But the officer has not yet taken office. The bylaws do not mention holding a special election, but I'm wondering if that would be the right solution. I've searched through my copy of RONR, and find related situations, but they're not close enough to make it clear to me. Thanks for any advice.

The Chair of our organization has resigned. Our bylaws call for an election to fill the remainder of the term. The question is: if other officers wish to run for the Chair position, must they resign their seats in order to run? For example, would the Treasurer need to resign to run for Chair, therefor resulting in an election for Chair and Treasurer at the same time? Could the Treasurer then run for both the Chair and the Treasurer seat -- in order to keep the Treasurer seat if he/she lost the election for Chair? An issue is that if an officer wins the Chair seat, then their seat is open and the process has to be done all over again (costing time and money). There is more than a year left on these officers' terms. Our bylaws simply say regarding vacancies: "In the event of any such vacancy in the office of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, or District Co-Chairmen, the Central Committee shall meet within one hundred twenty (120) days after the vacancy occurs, or the next Convention shall meet, whichever is sooner, upon no less than ten (10) days prior notice, for the purpose of electing a successor. In the interim, the Chairman is authorized to fill any such vacancy on a temporary basis, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee."

Our association elects a new Vice President every year in late spring for a one year term. He/She then automatically elevates to the position of President the following year. The current VP is thinking of taking a job beginning Fall 2018 that would preclude his ongoing membership in the Association, which means he would also not be able to serve as President next year. Under our Bylaws, any vacancy in an elected position can be filled by President, with the approval of the Executive Board. There are no provisions for special elections, and we have never had a President who was not Vice-President the year before. Assuming the current VP accepts the new position: 1. If he does not resign before the end of this year, does the membership or President even have the power to replace him before his term ends? 2. If he does resign before spring elections, is it proper for the President to appoint a replacement, given that the new appointee would then become president? (the concern is having an unelected President who would have been VP for just a few weeks before elevating to President). 3. Alternately, can we hold a special election to fill the position of President for next Fall, and can we place any restrictions on who may run (e.g. "only past presidents" since they would not need the training that comes with being VP the previous year). Thanks! Paul

I have a chapter board who will be holding a special election for an executive board position. Another executive board and to run for the position. Questions, does she have to step down in her current position to run? If she runs and loses, can she reclaim her previous position. Should they include both positions in the special election?