voting for multiple candidates

[Guest Tom Sheeran]

In an election in which there are eight candidates for four director offices, may members "bullet" vote or do the rules require that ballots must be cast for candidates based on the number of offices avaliable? That is, must a member cast four ballots for four of the eight candidates, or may they cast one to three?

[George Mervosh]

A member may partially abstain (bullet vote if you prefer). RONR, p. 394.

[Gary Novosielski]

In an election in which there are eight candidates for four director offices, may members "bullet" vote or do the rules require that ballots must be cast for candidates based on the number of offices avaliable? That is, must a member cast four ballots for four of the eight candidates, or may they cast one to three?

They may, in fact, cast zero to three.

Although it is common for such ballots to be marked "Vote for four" a voter can never be forced to vote, except for those candidates the voter actually wants elected. The phrase should be interpreted as "Vote for up to four" candidates.

In order to be elected, however, a candidate must be voted for on a majority of valid ballots cast for that office. If a number of voters withhold their votes from some candidates, it increases the chances that, upon counting the ballots, fewer than four people will be elected to those four seats. You don't simply install the top four vote getters unless they actually achieve a majority.

A second (or subsequent) ballot would be necessary to fill the unfilled seats, if any.