Angie N Posted April 1, 2021 at 12:16 AM Report Share Posted April 1, 2021 at 12:16 AM Hello I am seeking guidance on a couple questions related to Elections. Our bylaws just say that elections are done by secret ballot. We have 4 positions where there are 3 nominees for each office and 1 position where there is 1 nominee for 1 office. Here are my questions: 1) Is there a special rule that can voted on for the nominee with the least amount of votes to drop? 2) Are there are options for the candidate that is running unopposed to be declared the nominee elected even though the Bylaws say elections are done by secret ballot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted April 1, 2021 at 12:33 AM Report Share Posted April 1, 2021 at 12:33 AM 12 minutes ago, Angie N said: 1) Is there a special rule that can voted on for the nominee with the least amount of votes to drop? Yes, but members can still vote for the "dropped" nominees. For a rule like this to really have teeth to it, it would need to be in the bylaws. "An organization could suspend the rules, or adopt a special rule of order, so that the nominee with the fewest votes is dropped from the list of nominees for succeeding ballots in the expectation that voters will then confine their choice to the remaining nominees. Only a bylaws provision, however, could make the dropped nominee ineligible for election so as to render illegal any subsequent votes cast for that nominee. (See 46:2.)" RONR (12th ed.) 46:32n1 14 minutes ago, Angie N said: 2) Are there are options for the candidate that is running unopposed to be declared the nominee elected even though the Bylaws say elections are done by secret ballot? No. If the bylaws provide that a ballot vote must be taken, a ballot vote must be taken even if the candidate is unopposed, unless the bylaws provide an exception for this case. "If the bylaws require the election of officers to be by ballot and there is only one nominee for an office, the ballot must nevertheless be taken for that office unless the bylaws provide for an exception in such a case. In the absence of the latter provision, members still have the right, on the ballot, to cast “write-in votes” for other eligible persons." RONR (12th ed.) 46:35 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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