Publications

The Election Committee

The Election Committee, like any other Sub-Chapter Committee, is ordinarily appointed by the Sub-Chapter President, with the approval of the Executive Board. Some Sub-Chapters may attempt to provide for election of the Election Committee. Such attempts generally break down in discussions over who would conduct the election of the Election Committee and who would conduct the election of the Election Committee to conduct the election of the Election Committee and who would conduct the... .

There are some differences from other committees, however. In most Sub-Chapters, the President is an ex-officio member of all committees. But, he or she may not serve as a member of an Election Committee in any election where he or she is a candidate (nor may any other candidate serve on the Election Committee). Because of this restriction, it is generally best to wait until after the nominations have been completed before appointing the Election Committee.

The Election Committee has, in the words of the Retiree Elections Code, "general responsibility for the conduct of the election in accordance with the constitutions of the Chapter and Sub-Chapter" (Section 2, Sub-section B). This may involve some minor rulemaking regarding such matters as hours of voting, unless those matters are either covered in the Sub-Chapter constitution or have already been decided by membership vote. Aside from such matters, the Election Committee must be prepared to handle eight basic duties. The Committee must:

  • Make sure that each nominee has been offered the opportunity to decline the nomination.

  • Hear and decide, subject to membership approval, any challenge which may be made concerning the eligibility of any nominee.

  • Make sure that proper notice of the election is given. (If the nomination notice included the date, time and place for the election, no further notice is required.)

  • Prepare or supervise the preparation of the ballots.

  • Supervise the issuance and return of the ballots. This usually means either distributing ballots at the meeting and collecting them after they are marked or it may mean mailing ballots to the membership and receiving them by return mail.

  • Count the ballots and certify the results of the election.

  • Hear and decide any protests which may be filed concerning the conduct of the election.

  • Make a report to the membership concerning the results of the election and, subject to membership acceptance, the decisions made on any protests.
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