approving a ballot

[Pastor Tim]

Our Conference elects officers by a) having a nominating committee prepare a ballot in advance of the conference and b) receiving nominations from the floor at the time of the conference.

A question has arisen of whether or not we have to vote to "approve" the ballot once nominations from the floor have been received.  Robert's Rules does not seem to require this. I wonder if this is one of those things we started doing at some point that is simply unnecessary.

Is it necessary to "approve the ballot" prior to voting?  Or is it sufficient for the chair to simply indicate something like "nominations from the floor have been received and are now close.  You may now vote."

[Rob Elsman]

Nothing in RONR (12th ed.) indicates to me that the nominating committee should prepare the blank ballot slips.  Ordinarily, the secretary prepares slips of paper on which the voter will indicate his vote or votes.  There is nothing in that to approve.

[Richard Brown]

Agreeing with Mr. Elsman, there is no need to approve a ballot and I don’t believe the subject is even mentioned in RONR.  Once there are no more nominations from the floor, the assembly may proceed to vote.

[Joshua Katz]

Agreeing with the above, you might ask those who assert that the ballot needs to be approved what the plan is if it is not approved.