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Electing Multiple Candidates


Guest Tom Cooper

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What is the proper method for electing multiple candidates to a position? For example, if a 12-member body is electing two new members to the group from a slate of six, what is the proper method for voting and tabulating the votes such that the two most preferred candidates will be elected?

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What is the proper method for electing multiple candidates to a position? For example, if a 12-member body is electing two new members to the group from a slate of six, what is the proper method for voting and tabulating the votes such that the two most preferred candidates will be elected?

Give the voters a list of who are nominated (you could write the names on a blackboard somewhere in the hall) and hand out a piece of paper to each voter. Tell them to vote for not more than two people (and writing the name of someone who was not nominated is allowed unless the bylaws specifically prohibit it). Collect the ballots and count the number of votes for each candidate. The two candidates who get a majority vote (more than half of the voters voted for the candidate) are elected. If only one of the candidates gets a majority vote (or no one gets one) you have an incomplete election and you will need to have another round of balloting.

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Give the voters a list of who are nominated (you could write the names on a blackboard somewhere in the hall) and hand out a piece of paper to each voter. Tell them to vote for not more than two people (and writing the name of someone who was not nominated is allowed unless the bylaws specifically prohibit it). Collect the ballots and count the number of votes for each candidate. The two candidates who get a majority vote (more than half of the voters voted for the candidate) are elected. If only one of the candidates gets a majority vote (or no one gets one) you have an incomplete election and you will need to have another round of balloting.

Thank you. Just so I understand, if one candidate receives a majority of the votes on round one, is that candidate elected and then a second and subsequent rounds of voting held until a second candidate receives a majority of the votes? For example, if there are 12 voters electing two people and there are 6 candidates, if candidate A receives 12 votes, candidates B, C, and D each receive 4 votes, and candidates E and F receive zero votes, is candidate A elected and then another round of voting held with the remaining 5 candidates?

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Thank you. Just so I understand, if one candidate receives a majority of the votes on round one, is that candidate elected and then a second and subsequent rounds of voting held until a second candidate receives a majority of the votes? For example, if there are 12 voters electing two people and there are 6 candidates, if candidate A receives 12 votes, candidates B, C, and D each receive 4 votes, and candidates E and F receive zero votes, is candidate A elected and then another round of voting held with the remaining 5 candidates?

Correct.

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Thank you. Just so I understand, if one candidate receives a majority of the votes on round one, is that candidate elected and then a second and subsequent rounds of voting held until a second candidate receives a majority of the votes? For example, if there are 12 voters electing two people and there are 6 candidates, if candidate A receives 12 votes, candidates B, C, and D each receive 4 votes, and candidates E and F receive zero votes, is candidate A elected and then another round of voting held with the remaining 5 candidates?

"In an election of members of a board or committee in which votes are cast in one segment of the ballot for multiple positions on the board or committee, every ballot with a vote for one or more candidates is counted as one vote cast, and a candidate must receive a majority of the total of such votes to be elected. In such a case, if more than the prescribed number receive a majority vote, the places are filled by the proper number receiving the largest number of votes. If less than the proper number receive a majority vote, those who do have a majority are elected, and all other candidates remain on the ballot for the necessary repeated balloting. Similarly, if some candidates receive a majority but are tied for the lowest position that would elect, all of those candidates also remain on the next ballot." (RONR, 10th ed., p. 427).

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