ARTICLE 57 ELECTIONS IN LOCALS 1 The election for officers of a local shall be held in November, 1969, 2 and each three (3) years thereafter. 3 An election to fill the offices of Local Committees of Adjustment 4 shall be held in November, 1970, and quadrennially thereafter. 5 An election for Legislative Representatives and Alternate Legislative 6 Representatives shall be held in November, 1971, and quadrennially --35-- 7 thereafter. Candidates for these offices must be qualified voters. 8 Local Committeepersons and Legislative Representatives shall 9 assume their office on January 1, following the year of the Quadrennial 10 election. 11 An election for Delegate and Alternate Delegate shall be held in 12 November, 1970, and quadrennially thereafter. In locals having 13 jurisdiction over more than one craft, the Delegate and Alternate 14 Delegate must be elected from different crafts. 15 Officers stipulated in this Article shall be elected by secret ballot at 16 a November meeting of the local, or by referendum vote, as provided 17 by existing by-laws or procedures of each local. Nominations must be 18 filed with the Secretary not later than the last regular meeting in 19 October in the year of election. Where nominations are made by 20 nominating petition, at least five (5) members eligible to vote shall sign 21 the petition. The Secretary shall promptly acknowledge receipt of all 22 petitions and read them at the last regular meeting in October. 23 The members present at the last regular meeting in October shall 24 set the date on which the ballots shall be counted and the election 25 held. 26 The Secretary shall prepare ballots showing the names of all 27 candidates and the offices for which they are nominated. 28 Incumbent officers shall appear first with names of other 29 candidates following in alphabetical order. 30 The ballots shall be prepared so as to provide a square opposite 31 each candidate's name in which the voter can mark his/her preference 32 of candidates. 33 In locals having more than one Local Committee of Adjustment for 34 different crafts, the Secretary will provide a separate ballot for all 35 eligible voters of each craft working under the jurisdiction of the 36 committee involved. 37 When voting by mail referendum the ballot shall be mailed by 38 government first-class mail to each member eligible to vote in 39 envelopes bearing a return address the same as the Post Office address 40 on the "Ballot" envelopes. Ballots shall be mailed at least fifteen (15) 41 days prior to the date set to tabulate the ballots, together with a leaflet 42 containing voting instructions, an envelope marked "A", and a stamped 43 envelope marked "Ballot" addressed to the Secretary in care of the 44 postmaster for mailing by the voter. 45 The leaflet containing voting instructions shall contain the 46 following: 47 "Instructions for voting by mail: The voter will make a 48 mark in the square of his/her choice, fold, and place 49 the ballot in the envelope marked 'A' and seal. Place 50 sealed envelope 'A' in envelope marked 'Ballot' and 51 seal. Place name and address in upper left-hand 52 corner of envelope marked 'Ballot' and mail. Do not 53 place any mark of identification on the ballot or the 54 envelope marked 'A' that would destroy the secrecy of 55 the ballot." --36-- 56 The Secretary shall arrange with the postmaster for a post office 57 box. The key or combination of such box shall remain in possession of 58 the postmaster. Such arrangement shall be confirmed by letter. 59 On the day set for the tabulation of the ballots and election,the 60 President will appoint three (3) tellers. A copy of the letter confirming 61 the arrangement with the postmaster will be furnished the tellers which 62 will authorize the postmaster to deliver the contents of the box to the 63 tellers at a given hour. 64 The tellers shall return to the local and canvass the ballots. They 65 will check the names on the envelopes marked "Ballot" against the list 66 of eligible voters furnished by the Secretary, open the envelopes 67 marked "Ballot", and remove the envelopes marked "A". After all 68 envelopes marked "Ballot" have been opened, and emptied, the 69 envelopes marked "A" shall be opened, ballots removed, and canvassed 70 by the tellers. The results shall be reported to the President of the local 71 in writing. 72 The candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast for a given 73 office shall be declared elected. If no one (1) of the candidates for a 74 given office receives a majority of the votes cast, another ballot shall be 75 submitted to all eligible voters upon which shall appear only the names 76 of the two (2) candidates receiving the highest numbers of votes cast 77 for that office. If any number of the candidates for a given office are 78 tied for the highest number of the votes cast, another ballot shall be 79 submitted to all eligible voters upon which shall appear only the names 80 of the candidates receiving the highest number of votes cast for that 81 office. If one (1) candidate receives the highest number but that 82 number does not constitute a majority of the votes cast for a given 83 office and any number of candidates are tied for the second highest 84 number of votes cast, another ballot shall be submitted to all eligible 85 voters upon which shall appear only the name of the candidate 86 receiving the highest number and the names of the candidates 87 receiving the second highest number of the votes cast for that office. 88 The Board of Trustees shall be elected by a majority of the ballots 89 cast. 90 The Secretary will keep all election records for one (1) year, 91 including used, unused and void ballots, eligible list, tally sheets, and 92 "ballot" envelopes used to mail in marked ballots. 93 When only one (1) nomination has been received for an office the 94 member so nominated will be declared elected on the day set for the 95 tabulation of ballots and election. 96 In the event of a permanent vacancy in any office, the local shall 97 proceed to fill the vacancy in accordance with the by-laws of the local 98 or as provided in this Article; except the Vice President shall succeed to 99 the office of President, the Alternate Legislative Representative shall 100 succeed to the office of Legislative Representative, and the Alternate 101 Delegate shall succeed to the office of Delegate. 102 In elections for Local Committees of Adjustment, only members in 103 service under the jurisdiction of such committee will be notified of such 104 election and permitted to file or sign nominating petitions and vote. --37-- 105 Locals failing to complete their regular elections during the month 106 of November, must notify the International President the reason 107 therefor and the date set for the completion of the election. 108 Locals must, following each election of officers or succession to 109 office, promptly notify the General Secretary and Treasurer, interested 110 General Chairpersons, and State, District, and Provincial Legislative 1ll Boards of the names and addresses of the new officers. 112 Local Officers, Committeepersons, Legislative Representatives and 113 Delegates upon leaving office must promptly transfer all property, 114 funds, securities, equipment and other effects of their office to their 115 successor. Any member failing to comply with the provisions of this 116 |