Can you decline a nomination but then run secretly for the write-in position

[Guest 4H Member]

We had nominations for the president’s position in our 4H Council last month. Member A was nominated for this position but turned it down because she didn’t have enough time and wanted to reduce responsibilities. The incumbent President was also elected and accepted the nomination. No one else was nominated and the incumbent President was running unopposed. 
Member A changed her mind and rallied enough votes as a write-in. We are a very small county and she got votes from members that never attend any meetings. Most members didn’t vote because they didn’t think it was necessary. All people at the meeting voted for the incumbent president except for Member A and one of her friends that joined the council that day so she could vote.

Member A won the election and everyone except her and her friend were surprised about the outcome.

My question is, can you run secretly even though you turned down the nomination in public?

[Joshua Katz]

On 11/12/2023 at 2:30 PM, Guest 4H Member said:

Member A won the election and everyone except her and her friend were surprised about the outcome.

My question is, can you run secretly even though you turned down the nomination in public?

Well, opinions here vary, I believe, as to whether you can decline a nomination. But assuming you can, there is no rule in RONR that would stop you from then running as a write-in.

On 11/12/2023 at 2:30 PM, Guest 4H Member said:

We are a very small county and she got votes from members that never attend any meetings.

But as members they have the right to vote. In politics, one strategy is to recruit non-voters instead of converting voters. It's risky, but it sometimes works.

On 11/12/2023 at 2:30 PM, Guest 4H Member said:

Most members didn’t vote because they didn’t think it was necessary. A

That sounds familiar. They were aware that write-ins exist, and so should have voted to guard against that possibility. To decline to vote is to acquiesce in what happens.

On 11/12/2023 at 2:30 PM, Guest 4H Member said:

All people at the meeting voted for the incumbent president except for Member A and one of her friends that joined the council that day so she could vote.

Do your bylaws allow for absentee voting? It is a bad idea to mix absentee and non-absentee votes, but if that's what your rules do, then that is the rule.

[Gary Novosielski]

On 11/12/2023 at 2:30 PM, Guest 4H Member said:

We had nominations for the president’s position in our 4H Council last month. Member A was nominated for this position but turned it down because she didn’t have enough time and wanted to reduce responsibilities. The incumbent President was also elected and accepted the nomination. No one else was nominated and the incumbent President was running unopposed. 
Member A changed her mind and rallied enough votes as a write-in. We are a very small county and she got votes from members that never attend any meetings. Most members didn’t vote because they didn’t think it was necessary. All people at the meeting voted for the incumbent president except for Member A and one of her friends that joined the council that day so she could vote.

Member A won the election and everyone except her and her friend were surprised about the outcome.

My question is, can you run secretly even though you turned down the nomination in public?

Obviously you can, since she did. Declining a nomination has no actual effect, except to warn people who may be considering voting for you that if elected you may well decline the office.  It doesn't trigger any rules that disqualify you or anything like that.

There are still the common problems of the bylaws not authorizing absentee voting, or such, but that's another issue.