Annual election - no nominations from the floor

[Guest Lynda]

Our nominating committee selected the officers necessary and at the next meeting, we had no one run from the floor. The slate is unopposed. Does the club still have to hand out ballots to the members at the upcoming meeting and write the votes, or can an announcement be made that the slate is final and their term will start in July?

[jstackpo]

The use of ballots is required if your bylaws require them for those elections.

This is to allow for the (remote, perhaps) possibility of write-in votes.

[Chris Harrison]

Our nominating committee selected the officers necessary and at the next meeting, we had no one run from the floor. The slate is unopposed. Does the club still have to hand out ballots to the members at the upcoming meeting and write the votes, or can an announcement be made that the slate is final and their term will start in July?

If the bylaws don't require a ballot vote then the Chair can declare the unopposed nominees elected by acclamation (RONR p. 428). If a ballot vote is required per the bylaws then a ballot vote must be taken.

[Watson]

The use of ballots is required if your bylaws require them for those elections.

This is to allow for the (remote, perhaps) possibility of write-in votes.

[Watson]

Where there is only one nominee per office, is this truly a case of "fill in the blank?"

Would proper procedure dictate that each office be voted on separately so that the members could vote "yea" or "no?"

Is it permissable for the slate of nominees (one name per office) to be preprinted on the ballot if not so required by the bylaws?

[hmtcastle]

Where there is only one nominee per office, is this truly a case of "fill in the blank?"

Yes. You can fill in the blank with someone who wasn't nominated. It's called a write-in vote.

Would proper procedure dictate that each office be voted on separately so that the members could vote "yea" or "no?"

You can't vote "no" in an election. You can only vote for someone else.

Is it permissable for the slate of nominees (one name per office) to be preprinted on the ballot if not so required by the bylaws?

There's no rule in RONR against it but why would you want to give the selections of the nominating committee a greater advantage than those candidates nominated from the floor?