Can Board Members throw away Ballots before elections in Texas

[Guest Elma Stine]

We are having our Annual election in July. One of the members wants to be a write in on the ballot. She was told they will not accept her name as a write in. So when its time to vote if her name gets written in on the Write-in blank. The Secretary of the Board, which is also a candidate running for election. Said when the ballots come in she personally will throw away ballots when they come in if they have the members name on them that wants to be a write-in/ Is that ethical or stupidity.

As members of a POA can we do anything about it!

No the Secreatry should not be counting or touching the ballots in any fomr or fashion!

[tctheatc]

You can arrange to have tellers handle the ballots. And make sure they are handled properly.

Perhaps your poa has a rule against write-ins?

[Rev Ed]

If the Secretary does this he/she should be removed from office as this goes against RONR. The only way it would be wrong for write-in candidates is if the By-laws specifically do not allow for write-in votes.

[jstackpo]

From what I have heard, most anything can happen in Texas.

However, the key phrase in your question is "She was told they will not accept her name as a write in."

WHO told her, and based on what rule? RONR's rule is that write-ins are allowed and proper unless there is an explicit prohibition in the bylaws. Is there?

If whoever did the "telling" insists on "not accept", INSIST that you be shown the rule in writing that rules write-in votes out of the mix.

[Guest Elma Stine]

There are no rules in our Bylaws about a Write in candidate

The Secreatary is a volunteer in the office. Appreciate the work, but if you are on a ballot "YOU SHOULD NOT TOUCH THE BALLOTS" much less throw them away!

The Secretary told her, she could not be a Write-in!

[Guest Edgar]

As members of a POA can we do anything about it!

Yes! Make sure that secretary, as well as the members of the board, gets nowhere near those ballots.

Remember the Alamo!

(Well, that didn't work out so well but still . . . )