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Elections to fill vacancies in office

Vacancies in office may occur for any number of reasons: death, resignation, transfer to another local because of a job transfer or promotion, removal from office following charges and trial procedures, or loss of eligibility for membership in the local. Officers may also be removed, if provided in the local constitution, for three or more consecutive unexcused absences from membership or executive board meetings.

There are two basic methods that may be used to fill vacant offices:

  1. Election by the executive board.
  2. Election by the membership in a special election.

If the first method is used, it means what it says — the executive board holds an election in which any board member who is present can nominate a candidate to fill the vacancy and, if there is more than one eligible nominee, the position is filled by a secret ballot vote in which each board member present casts one vote. If the second method is used, the notice requirements and all other rules pertaining to regular elections are in force. Local constitutions should provide which of these methods is to be used. If the local constitution is silent on the subject, the vacancy is filled by election by the executive board.

Vacancies may not be filled:

  1. By appointment by the president, even when that appointment requires subsequent ratification by the board or the membership.
  2. By selection by the executive board, subject to ratification at a membership meeting. If the membership is to vote on the question, they must be given the opportunity to nominate and elect, not just a choice between a board-selected candidate and no one.

Some locals provide in their constitutions that if the office of president becomes vacant, the vice president automatically succeeds to the presidency and the office of vice president is then declared vacant and filled. This is a perfectly proper procedure if it is spelled out in the local constitution.

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