CWA Local 9400-News

CWA NEWS

The following Election Rules were adopted by CWA Local 9400. Included is Article XIII, Section 1 (Nominations) of CWA Local 9400 Bylaws which explains the nomination procedure, submitted by the Election Committee of CWA Local 9400.

Election Rules And Procedures

In order to vote in any election in CWA, you must be a member in good standing. Members in good standing are those persons who have filled out applications for membership and had them submitted to the Membership Committee for approval, and have been accepted by them and the membership pursuant to Article V, Section 2f of the CWA Constitution and Article V, Section 1 and 2 of the CWA Local 9400 Bylaws. No nominee shall run for more than one office. No member running for office shall remain a member of the Election Committee.

A. MANUAL BALLOTS:

1. Notification of any election will be published fifteen (15) days prior to any Election Day.

2. Election Committee will check name against membership lists and issue one (1) ballot per voter. Voter marks ballot and places in ballot box.

B. MAIL BALLOTS:

1. Ballots will be mailed (via U.S. First Class Mail) by Election Committee to all members in good standing within thirty (30) days after close of nominations to last known address of member.

2. Those members, who will not be at their regular mailing address during the period of the election, may make arrangements with the Election Committee for special handling of their ballots. All ballots returned as undeliverable will be picked up by the Election Committee and the committee will re-mail the ballots of those whose new and proper addresses have been obtained, if it is within a reasonable length of time for proper return to be tallied.

3. The ballots will be picked up at the Post Office the day set for tallying by the Election Committee and taken to the Local office for tallying.

4. No campaign literature will be mailed with the election material or posted on the bulletin boards belonging to the Local.

5. The bulk rate postage permit for the Local will be made available to all candidates for one (1) joint mailing. Campaign literature for the joint bulk mailing will be limited to no more than one 8 ½” x 11” sheet of paper with printing on either one or both sides.

6. All costs in using the Local’s bulk rate permit will be borne by the candidates. The candidates will include a disclaimer that the Local is not endorsing any particular candidate.

7. Candidates will be responsible for all local and material costs for any additional mailings of campaign material.

8. Nothing in these rules precludes any candidate from making additional mailings without the use of the Local’s postage permit, Hand billing or any other campaign in a legal manner is acceptable provided all costs are borne by the candidate's) or his/her supporters.

9. Nominees’ position on the ballot to be determined by drawing conducted by the Election Committee.

10. Candidate or one observer who is a member in good standing will be permitted to observe functions of the Election Committee in regards to the election.

11. Election Committee will check returned addressed envelopes to see that the name and address corresponds with the name and address on the membership lists and also mark the list indicating a ballot received.

12. Elections Committee will open returned addressed envelopes, and remove the ballot envelope placing it in a pile on the table. Election Committee will open ballot and stack the ballots for counting purposes in lots of 25.

13. Election Committee must keep the returned envelopes as part of the election record.

14. Questions regarding voter intent, marking a ballot, if questioned, will be decided by a vote of the Election Committee. Irregularities in marking the ballot for one office will void the vote for that office only.

15. The ballot will be tallied and a certification of the results will be sent to the Office of District 9. The results shall be reported to the membership at the next membership meeting. Results shall also be given to the President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Local.

C. CHALLENGES:

1. Any challenges of nominations must be submitted in writing to the Election Committee within ten (10) days of the close of nominations.

2. Any member may challenge the right of a person to vote. The Election Committee shall by vote decide the challenge.

3. Any challenge of the election procedures must be submitted in writing to the Election Committee within ten (10) days after the announcement of the results.

D. ELECTION RECORDS:

1. The Election Committee shall turn over to the Local Secretary-Treasurers or Secretary-Treasurer all records, including membership lists, returned envelopes, used and unused ballots, tally sheets, etc., used in the election.

2. The Local Secretary-Treasurers or Secretary-Treasurer and the Chairperson of the Election Committee shall destroy the entire record in accordance with the law.

The intent of these rules is to conduct all elections in the most democratic way possible and to give all candidates an equally fair method of giving exposure of their views, principles or beliefs before the membership at a nominal cost.