If a deadline was given for nominations what is roberts rule if a nomination is submitted after the deadline?

[Guest Susan]

If a deadline was given for nominations what is roberts rule if a nomination is submitted after the deadline?

[Joshua Katz]

RONR doesn't answer this question, because the deadline or authority to set one arise in your own rules, not RONR. Who set the deadline, and from where did they obtain the authority to do so?

[Gary Novosielski]

On 3/4/2024 at 8:45 PM, Guest Susan said:

If a deadline was given for nominations what is roberts rule if a nomination is submitted after the deadline?

There's no rule on that because there are no deadlines for nominations in RONR.  In fact, nominations are in order even at the election meeting, if the rules in RONR apply.  But maybe they don't.  Are there rules in your bylaws about such things?  

What is your understanding of the meaning of the word deadline?

Edited March 5, 2024 at 04:43 AM by Gary Novosielski

[Josh Martin]

On 3/4/2024 at 7:45 PM, Guest Susan said:

If a deadline was given for nominations what is roberts rule if a nomination is submitted after the deadline?

How was this deadline established? What, if anything, do your rules say on this matter?

To the extent the deadline was properly established by an assembly or person with the authority to do so, nominations submitted after the deadline would not be valid, unless the assembly reopened nominations. Members could, however, still cast write-in votes for the person in question, unless the bylaws provide otherwise.

On 3/4/2024 at 7:48 PM, Joshua Katz said:

RONR doesn't answer this question, because the deadline or authority to set one arise in your own rules, not RONR.

I would disagree slightly - under RONR, the assembly itself would have the authority to set a deadline.

On 3/4/2024 at 10:35 PM, Gary Novosielski said:

There's no rule on that because there are no deadlines for nominations in RONR.  In fact, nominations are in order even at the election meeting, if the rules in RONR apply.

Not necessarily. If the method of nominations is nominations by mail or by petition, RONR does not provide that the assembly must accept further nominations at the election meeting, although certainly the assembly may do so if it wishes. If the assembly determines to conduct nominations by mail or by petition, it would seem in order and logical for the assembly to establish a deadline for nominations to be returned.

"If no method of making nominations is designated by the bylaws or rules and the assembly has adopted no order on the subject, anyone can make a motion prescribing the method of nomination for an office to be filled. When different methods are proposed, they can be moved as amendments, but are frequently treated as filling blanks (12:92–113). In that event, the vote is taken on the various suggested methods of nominating, in this order: (a) by the chair; (b) from the floor (sometimes called “open nominations”); (c) by a committee; (d) by ballot; (e) by mail; and (f) by petition (see 46). It should be noted that not all of these methods are appropriate or desirable in average societies." RONR (12th ed.) 31:3

"In organizations whose membership is widely scattered, the method of nominating by mail is often adopted. In such a case a nominating ballot can be prepared, deposited, and counted in the same way as an electing ballot—with the secretary of the organization mailing to every member a nominating ballot, plus instructions for completing and returning it as described in 45:57–61. Or, in some organizations, a blank on which each member can submit the names of desired nominees, in a signed ballot, is used instead of a secret nominating ballot." RONR (12th ed.) 46:25

"The bylaws may provide that a member shall be a nominee upon the petition of a specified number of members. Sometimes, a nominating petition blank is sent to the members with a copy of the list of nominees submitted by a nominating committee. In large state or national societies composed of local units, the blanks are sometimes sent to these units with instructions for their distribution or processing." RONR (12th ed.) 46:26

Edited March 5, 2024 at 11:13 AM by Josh Martin

[Joshua Katz]

On 3/5/2024 at 4:11 AM, Josh Martin said:

I would disagree slightly - under RONR, the assembly itself would have the authority to set a deadline.

On 3/4/2024 at 9:35 PM, Gary Novosielski said:

Agreed. I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that some person had set one.

[Gary Novosielski]

On 3/5/2024 at 8:50 AM, Joshua Katz said:

Agreed. I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that some person had set one.

Yes, the use of passive voice made that unclear.  If a deadline "was given" it helps to know who gave it, why, by what authority—things like that.

I was hasty in my earlier reply.  If the assembly itself set a deadline by adopting proper motions concerning the method of nomination, then even though this may vary from the default rules, it would be incorrect to say that the rules in RONR did not apply.  In that case I would describe the situation as one where the assembly "decided" on a deadline, rather than one where they were "given" a deadline, presumably by some person, say, or the board.