The election committee
The election committee, like any other local union committee, is ordinarily appointed by the local president, with the approval of the executive board. Some locals have attempted 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 locals, the president is an ex-officio member of all committees. The president may not serve as a member of an election committee in any election where the president 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 International Constitution, “general responsibility for the conduct of the election in accordance with the constitution.” This may involve some minor rule-making regarding such matters as hours of voting, unless those matters are either covered in the local constitution or have already been decided by membership vote. Aside from such matters, the election committee must be prepared to handle eight basic duties:
- To make sure that each nominee has been offered the opportunity to decline the nomination.
- To hear and decide, subject to membership approval, any challenge that may be made concerning the eligibility of any nominee.
- To 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.)
- To prepare or supervise the preparation of the ballots.
- To supervise the issuance and return of the ballots. This usually means setting up one or more polling places where members may receive their ballots, mark them in secret, and deposit them in a ballot box. In some locals, it may mean mailing ballots to the membership and receiving them by return mail.
- Counting the ballots and certifying the results of the election.
- Hearing and deciding, subject to membership approval, any protests that may be filed concerning the conduct of the election. Making a report to the membership concerning the results of the election and, subject to membership acceptance, the decisions made on any protests.