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Election Rules

LOCAL ELECTION RULES

CREATING A VACANCY OR ELECTION:

  • THE LOCAL MUST HAVE AN ELECTION BY DECEMBER (PREFERABLY BY JUNE 30) EVERY YEAR IN WHICH THERE IS A NATIONAL ELECTION.
  • OFFICERS SERVE UNTIL SUCCESSORS ARE ELECTED UNLESS OTHERWISE REMOVED.
  • IF NO ELECTION IS CALLED, THE REGIONAL EXECUTIVE MAY IMPOSE AN ELECTION AND SET THE TIME, DATE, AND PLACE OF THE ELECTION.
  • AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER MAY RESIGN IN WRITING TO THE CHAIR OR THE SECRETARY (OR SECRETARY-TREASURER) OF THE LOCAL.  THE RESIGNATION IS EFFECTIVE UPON RECEIPT OR THE DATE SET OUT ON THE RESIGNATION.  ONCE RECEIVED, A RESIGNATION MAY ONLY BE WITHDRAWN BY A VOTE OF THE LOCAL.  AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER MAY RESIGN IN PERSON AT A PROPERLY CONSTITUTED LOCAL MEETING.
  • IF NOTICE OF A RESIGNATION IS SENT TO THE REGIONAL OFFICE OR THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER, THE NOTICE IS TO BE FORWARDED TO THE LOCAL AND IS EFFECTIVE WHEN RECEIVED BY THE LOCAL.
  • A VACANCY IS CREATED IF:
    • The Executive Officer fails to be eligible to serve;
    • The Executive Officer dies;
    • The Executive Officer is removed by a duly constituted meeting of the Local;
    • The election of the Executive Officer is declared null by the Chief Electoral Officer;
    • A Court of competent jurisdiction vacates the Executive Officer’s position;
    • The executive Officer is elected to a different position within the Local; or
    • The Executive Officer is removed for cause by the Regional Executive of the Cabinet.

 

AN ELECTION – FILLING A VACANCY

  • NOTICE IS REQUIRED AT THE HOME OFFICE, AT THE REGIONAL OFFICE, ON REGIONAL AND HOME OFFICE SOCIAL MEDIA, ON THE LOCAL’S SOCIAL MEDIA (IF ANY), AND EITHER BY DIRECT NOTICE TO EVERY MEMBER, APPROPRIATE MEDIA NOTICE, OR PLACING NOTICES IN AT LEAST TWO (2) PUBLIC PLACES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
  • THE NEWEST PROPOSED REGULATION IS THAT NOTICE OF AN ELECTION SHOULD BE AT LEAST 30 DAYS, UNLESS AN EMERGENT MEETING IS NECESSARY AND APPROVED BY THE REGIONAL EXECUTIVE.  UNTIL THAT IS PASSED, THE USUAL NOTICE (7 DAYS) IS REQUIRED.
  • ONLY CITIZENS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL MAY VOTE;
  • PERSONS THE REGISTER WITH CRO ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE UNLESS THEY HAVE TRANSFERRED THEIR MEMBERSHIP TO A DIFFERENT LOCAL
  • CITIZENS WHO HAVE TRANSFERRED THEIR MEMBERSHIP BUT WHOSE TRANSFER HAS YET TO BE ENTERED INTO THE REGISTER ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IF THE PRESIDING OFFICER CAN VERIFY THAT:’
    1. The person is a citizen;
    2. The citizen has completed the transfer form;
    3. The form has been signed by the Local into which the citizen is transferring; and
    4. The form has been given to the CRO or the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer.
  1. LOCALS SHOULD TRY TO ACCOMMODATE CITIZENS BY OFFERING ONLINE PARTICIPATION TO CITIZENS AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY IF THE CAPACITY FOR THAT PARTICIPATION EXISTS AND THERE IS AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST IN ADVANCE.
  2. ONLY CITIZENS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL MAY RUN FOR AN EXECUTIVE POSITION.
  3. CANDIDATES MAY BE NOMINATED IN WRITING IN ADVANCE OF THE ELECTION IF:
    • nominated by two citizens who are members of the Local and
    • The candidate has confirmed the candidate’s willingness to serve in the position in writing.
  1. PERSONS MAY BE NOMINATED BY A MEMBER OF THE LCOAL AT THE MEETING PROVIDED THEY ACCEPT THE NOMINATION IN PERSON OR IN WRITING.
  2. PERSONS CURRENTLY SERVING IN EXECUTIVE POSITIONS MAY RUN FOR ANY VACANT POSITION WITHOUT RESIGNING THEIR POST.
  3. CANDIDATES WILL BE GIVEN A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE VOTERS BEFORE THE POLL IS OPENED. ONCE THE POLL IS OPENED.
  4. NO PERSON, INCLUDING ANY CANDIDATE OR PERSON ACTING FOR A CANDIDATE, SHALL INTERFERE WITH OR ATTEMPT TO INTIMIDATE ANY VOTER. NO PERSON, INCLUDING ANY CANDIDATE OR PERSON ACTING FOR A CANDIDATE, SHALL SUGGEST TO ANY VOTER HOW THE VOTER SHOULD VOTE ONCE THE POLLS HAVE OPENED.
  5. IF AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER RUNS FOR ANOTHER POSITION AND IS SUCCESSFUL, THEIR EXISTING POSITION IS VACATED, AND AN ELECTION FOR THAT POSITION MUST BE HELD.  THE ELECTION MAY BE HELD AT THE SAME MEETING IF APPROPRIATE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN.
  6. PERSONS WHO RUN FOR A POSITION MAY RUN IN SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS IF UNSUCCESSFUL IN THAT ELECTION.
  7. IF ONLY ONE CANDIDATE IS NOMINATED, THAT CANDIDATE WILL BE DECLARED ELECTED.
  8. IF AN ELECTION IS NECESSARY, THE PERSONS WILL VOTE USING THE BALLOTS AND MATERIALS PROVIDED. BALLOTS WILL BE INITIALLED BY THE RETURNING OFFICER AS THEY ARE PROVIDED TO CITIZENS, AND THE BALLOT RETURNED MUST HAVE THOSE INITIALS ON IT. EVERY PERSON WILL BE ENTITLED TO A SCREEN TO ENSURE THEIR VOTE IS PRIVATE.  BALLOTS WILL BE PLACED IN AN APPROVED BALLOT BOX BY THE RETURNING OFFICER.
  9. BALLOTS WILL BE COUNTED BY THE RETURNING OFFICER (AND ANY SUPPORTING ELECTION OFFICIALS). EACH CANDIDATE MAY HAVE A SCRUTINEER.  THE RETURNING OFFICER SHALL VERIFY THAT THE NUMBER OF BALLOTS PROVIDED AND THE NUMBER OF BALLOTS IN THE BALLOT BOX (TOGETHER WITH ANY BALLOTS KNOWN NOT TO HAVE BEEN RETURNED) IS THE SAME BEFORE COUNTING BALLOTS.
  10. ONLY BALLOTS THAT PROPERLY IDENTIFY THE VOTER’S CHOICE AND DO NOT PROVIDE ANY MARKINGS THAT WOULD IDENTIFY THE VOTER SHALL BE COUNTED.  SPOILED BALLOTS ARE NOT COUNTED TOWARD THE NUMBER NECESSARY FOR ELECTION.
  11. TO BE ELECTED, A CANDIDATE MUST RECEIVE 50% PLUS ONE OF THE VOTES CAST FOR ALL CANDIDATES. IF MORE THAN TWO CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING AND NONE RECEIVE THE NECESSARY VOTES, THE CANDIDATE WITH THE LOWEST TOTAL WILL BE ELIMINATED FOR THE NEXT BALLOT.
  12. ELECTIONS ARE HELD ACCORDING TO ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER.  THE DECISIONS OF THE PRESIDING OFFICE (ELECTORAL OFFICER OR REGIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER) ARE FINAL AND BINDING.