Caryn Ann Harlos Posted January 2, 2023 at 05:29 PM Report Share Posted January 2, 2023 at 05:29 PM Can write-in votes on ballot elections be prohibited in the bylaws? Please note I understand why this may not be a good idea, so I am not asking that, but I am wondering if it is even permitted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Mervosh Posted January 2, 2023 at 05:49 PM Report Share Posted January 2, 2023 at 05:49 PM On 1/2/2023 at 12:29 PM, Caryn Ann Harlos said: Can write-in votes on ballot elections be prohibited in the bylaws? Please note I understand why this may not be a good idea, so I am not asking that, but I am wondering if it is even permitted. Yes. Although this may not be what you are thinking, RONR gives an example of depriving members of such a right: "A provision can be included to dispense with the ballot when there is only one candidate for an office, although this deprives members of the privilege of voting for “write-in” candidates in such a case." RONR (12th ed.), 56:26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryn Ann Harlos Posted January 2, 2023 at 06:15 PM Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2023 at 06:15 PM Yes thank you that is what I was thinking and I had that reference - my concern was that they call it a right and nowhere else say it can be disposed of through the bylaws, just that one instance, so I don't know if the RONR intent was that it couldn't be in other instances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted January 2, 2023 at 06:24 PM Report Share Posted January 2, 2023 at 06:24 PM I agree with Mr. Mervosh. The bylaws can prohibit write-in votes. Such a prohibition in the bylaws will supersede the provision in RONR. I have seen bylaws that do prohibit write-in votes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryn Ann Harlos Posted January 2, 2023 at 06:26 PM Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2023 at 06:26 PM You will likely be seeing language to this effect Mr. Brown. I think you can understand why in the organization we are both involved in, there is a HUGE taste to eliminate write-ins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmuel Gerber Posted January 2, 2023 at 08:20 PM Report Share Posted January 2, 2023 at 08:20 PM On 1/2/2023 at 12:29 PM, Caryn Ann Harlos said: Can write-in votes on ballot elections be prohibited in the bylaws? Please note I understand why this may not be a good idea, so I am not asking that, but I am wondering if it is even permitted. If there is a rule at a higher level than the bylaws that requires a ballot vote for elections, then it's possible that write-in votes cannot be prohibited in the bylaws. But if there is no higher-level rule that interferes, then the bylaws can allow or prohibit anything that enough members agree to (by a vote to adopt or amend bylaws). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted January 3, 2023 at 03:52 AM Report Share Posted January 3, 2023 at 03:52 AM On 1/2/2023 at 1:15 PM, Caryn Ann Harlos said: Yes thank you that is what I was thinking and I had that reference - my concern was that they call it a right and nowhere else say it can be disposed of through the bylaws, just that one instance, so I don't know if the RONR intent was that it couldn't be in other instances. Yes the bylaws can remove a shocking variety of rights, even very fundamental ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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