no nominee exists

[Guest tester]

In the event that no one is nominated to fill an open position set to expire at the end of a calendar year when would the next nomination occur? Would it occur at the next meeting or would the position go unfilled for it's term?

[dglynch]

What exactly happens at the end of a term when there is no election depends on the exact wording of the term of office in the bylaws. Can you copy and paste that section for us? It would looks something like "The officers shall serve for 2 years and until their successors are elected" or similar words.

In any case, an effective organization will strive diligently to fill all open positions, and not usually wait for a whole term to pass.

[Chris Harrison]

By the phrasing of your question it sounds like this actually hasn't happened so hopefully it won't. But if for some reason that does happen you should know that nominations technically aren't required in order to hold an election. Of course, proceeding to an election without nominations could be problematic since unless a majority of the voters want the same person you would have an incomplete election and it could be a long day. One option if the members want a bit of secrecy about who they nominate is to use a nominating ballot (RONR pp. 435-437). Each member would write down the name of someone they want to nominate for the office and everyone's name who is written down would be nominated

[Guest tester]

It reads:

All positions shall be for 1 (one) calendar year. the number of terms held by an eligible member is unlimited.

[Chris Harrison]

It reads:

All positions shall be for 1 (one) calendar year. the number of terms held by an eligible member is unlimited.

Uh oh! Since the bylaws set a fixed term of office without any qualifiers about successors the office will fall vacant when the officer's term ends (RONR pp. 573-574).

[dglynch]

It reads:

All positions shall be for 1 (one) calendar year. the number of terms held by an eligible member is unlimited.

Based on that, it seems if you were to fail to complete an election after one calendar year, the position would no longer be filled by anyone. Alternative wording might have left the previous year's officers in place until the election is completed.

If, at the election meeting, no one is willing to take on the role, the membership should postpone the election to an adjourned meeting or to the next regular meeting (assuming it happens within about 4 months*) and keep trying to find a volunteer.

* For a detailed explanation of the "within about 4 months" rule, see pp. 89-90.

[Shmuel Gerber]

Based on that, it seems if you were to fail to complete an election after one calendar year, the position would no longer be filled by anyone. Alternative wording might have left the previous year's officers in place until the election is completed.

If, at the election meeting, no one is willing to take on the role, the membership should postpone the election to an adjourned meeting or to the next regular meeting (assuming it happens within about 4 months*) and keep trying to find a volunteer.

* For a detailed explanation of the "within about 4 months" rule, see pp. 89-90.

I like to think of "quarterly" as referring to a quarter of a year, which is about 3 months. :-)

[Rob Elsman]

In the event that no one is nominated to fill an open position set to expire at the end of a calendar year when would the next nomination occur? Would it occur at the next meeting or would the position go unfilled for it's term?

The election should proceed, as scheduled in the bylaws. Blank slips of paper should be used as ballots, and members should write in their choice. Repeated rounds of voting will likely be necessary. When someone gets a majority vote and does not decline the office, the election is complete.

[J. J.]

I like to think of "quarterly" as referring to a quarter of a year, which is about 3 months. :-)

I think most people would say January 1 to April 30 was well more that three months. Granted, the regulars here are not "most people."